Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Calendly Clone with Adalo

This comprehensive tutorial will walk you through building a professional appointment scheduling app using Adalo's platform. With hundreds of tools available globally, Adalo stands out for its ability to create native mobile and web apps with powerful database functionality. You'll learn how to replicate core Calendly features including availability management, booking confirmations, automated notifications, and calendar synchronization—all without traditional programming skills.

Why Build an Appointment Scheduling App with No-Code Tools

The appointment scheduling software market is growing rapidly, driven by businesses seeking to eliminate manual booking processes. Traditional development approaches require months of coding and significant costs, but no-code platforms have changed the game.

The No-Code Advantage for Scheduling Apps:

• Speed to Market: Many builders can launch scheduling app MVPs in weeks on no-code platforms
• Cost Efficiency: Entry-level no-code platform plans are often affordable, compared to thousands for custom development
• Accessibility: Many no-code users have no formal programming background
• Business Impact: Digital appointment scheduling can save significant time for small businesses

Who Benefits Most:

• Freelancers and consultants managing client meetings
• Healthcare practitioners scheduling patient appointments
• Service providers coordinating bookings
• Educators arranging student sessions
• Small businesses automating their scheduling workflows

Research shows that automated schedulers can reduce double-bookings, while automated appointment reminders can help reduce no-shows.

What You'll Need Before Building Your Calendly Clone

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Before starting your build:

1. Adalo Account: Sign up at Adalo.com (free tier available)
2. App Concept: Define your target users (service providers and clients)
3. Feature List: Determine which scheduling features you'll include initially
4. Time Commitment: Plan for adequate time to build your MVP

Choosing the Right Adalo Plan for Your Scheduling App

Adalo offers multiple pricing tiers to fit different project needs. For current pricing and features, visit Adalo's pricing page.

Free Plan:

• Unlimited test apps with 200 records per app.
• Perfect for building and testing your scheduling logic
• 1 editor, unlimited screens and actions
• Web publishing on Adalo subdomain

Paid Plans:

• Custom domains and branding
• Publish to app stores
• Advanced integrations
• Additional storage and features

For scheduling apps, start with the free tier to build and test, then upgrade to a paid plan for production launch with a custom domain.

Core Features Every Appointment App Needs

Your Calendly clone should include:

• User authentication (service providers and clients)
• Calendar/availability management
• Time slot selection and booking
• Automated confirmation emails
• Reminder notifications
• User profiles and settings
• Booking history and management
• Calendar integration (Google Calendar via Zapier/Make; Apple/Outlook via downloadable .ics files)

Setting Up Your Database for Appointment Management

Your database structure is the foundation of your scheduling app. Adalo includes a built-in database with prebuilt property types perfect for appointment management.

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account and App

1. Navigate to Adalo.com and sign up
2. Click "Create New App"
3. Choose "Mobile App" (works for web too, with responsive design)
4. Name your app (e.g., "ScheduleNow")
5. Select "Start from Scratch" for full customization
6. Choose your brand colors and fonts
7. Click "Continue" to enter the app builder

Step 2: Enhance the Users Collection

Adalo automatically creates a Users collection. Let's customize it for scheduling:

1. Click the Database icon in the left sidebar
2. Select the "Users" collection
3. Click "+ Add Property" for each new field:

Basic User Information:

• Full Name (Text) - Already exists
• Email (Email) - Already exists
• Phone Number (Text)
• Profile Image (Image)
• User Type (Text) - Options: "Provider", "Client"
• Time Zone (Text) - Critical for scheduling across zones

Provider-Specific Fields:

• Business Name (Text)
• Job Title (Text)
• Bio (Text - Multiline)
• Booking URL Slug (Text - Unique identifier)
• Default Meeting Duration (Number) - In minutes
• Buffer Time (Number) - Minutes between appointments
• Calendar Color (Text) - For visual organization

Availability Settings:

• Working Days (Text) - Comma-separated: "Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday..."
• Working Hours Start (Text) - Format: "09:00"
• Working Hours End (Text) - Format: "17:00"
• Is Available (True/False) - Toggle for taking bookings

Learn more about database best practices.

Step 3: Create the Appointments Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Appointments"
3. Add the following properties:

Core Appointment Data:

• Appointment ID (Text - Set to "Auto-Generated")
• Title (Text) - Meeting subject
• Description (Text - Multiline) - Meeting details
• Start Time (Date & Time)
• End Time (Date & Time)
• Duration (Number) - In minutes
• Status (Text) - Options: "Pending", "Confirmed", "Completed", "Cancelled", "Rescheduled"
• Meeting Link (Text) - For virtual meetings (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)

Scheduling Details:

• Created At (Date & Time - Automatic)
• Updated At (Date & Time)
• Time Zone (Text)
• Location (Text) - Physical address or "Virtual"
• Cancellation Reason (Text)
• Cancelled At (Date & Time)

Reminder Settings:

• Reminder Sent (True/False)
• Reminder Time (Number) - Minutes before appointment
• Follow-up Sent (True/False)

Step 4: Create the Availability Slots Collection

This collection manages when providers are available for bookings:

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Availability Slots"
3. Add properties:

Slot Information:

• Day of Week (Text) - "Monday", "Tuesday", etc.
• Start Time (Text) - Format: "09:00"
• End Time (Text) - Format: "17:00"
• Is Recurring (True/False) - For weekly patterns
• Specific Date (Date) - For one-time availability
• Is Blocked (True/False) - For time off
• Slot Duration (Number) - Default meeting length in minutes
• Max Bookings (Number) - For group sessions

Step 5: Create the Meeting Types Collection

Different types of appointments with varying durations and settings:

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Meeting Types"
3. Add properties:

• Meeting Name (Text) - "15-Min Consultation", "60-Min Strategy Call"
• Duration (Number) - In minutes
• Description (Text - Multiline)
• Price (Number) - If charging for appointments
• Color Code (Text) - For calendar display
• Buffer Before (Number) - Minutes
• Buffer After (Number) - Minutes
• Is Active (True/False)
• Booking URL (Text)

Step 6: Set Up Database Relationships

Proper relationships ensure your data connects correctly:

In Users Collection:

• Add relationship to Appointments: "Appointments as Provider" (One User can have many Appointments as provider)
• Add relationship to Appointments: "Appointments as Client" (One User can have many Appointments as client)
• Add relationship to Availability Slots: "My Availability" (One User can have many Availability Slots)
• Add relationship to Meeting Types: "My Meeting Types" (One User can have many Meeting Types)

In Appointments Collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Provider" (Many-to-One)
• Add relationship to Users: "Client" (Many-to-One)
• Add relationship to Meeting Types: "Meeting Type" (Many-to-One)

In Availability Slots Collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Provider" (Many-to-One)

In Meeting Types Collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Provider" (Many-to-One)

These relationships enable you to query data like "Show me all appointments for this provider" or "Display this client's booking history."

Designing the User Interface with Adalo's Drag-and-Drop Builder

Adalo's visual builder makes it easy to create professional interfaces. Many first-time no-code builders report high satisfaction with tutorial-based builds.

Step 7: Build the Welcome and Authentication Screens

Welcome Screen:

1. Rename the default screen to "Welcome"
2. Add components from the left toolbar:
   
   • Image component for your logo (top center)
   • Text heading: "Schedule meetings without the back-and-forth"
   • Text subheading: "Connect with clients and manage appointments effortlessly"
3. Add two Button components:
   
   • "Get Started" → Link to "Sign Up" screen
   • "Login" → Link to "Login" screen
4. Style with your brand colors

Sign Up Screen:

1. Add new screen: Click "+" → "Sign Up"
2. Adalo auto-generates a signup form
3. Customize the form to include:
   
   • Email (required)
   • Password (required)
   • Full Name (required)
   • Phone Number (optional)
4. Add Dropdown for User Type:
   
   • Label: "I want to..."
   • Options: "Offer my services" (Provider), "Book appointments" (Client)
   • This updates the User Type property
5. Configure submit action:
   
   • If User Type = "Provider" → Navigate to "Provider Setup"
   • If User Type = "Client" → Navigate to "Client Home"

Login Screen:

1. Add new screen: "Login"
2. Use default login form (email + password)
3. Add conditional navigation after login:
   
   • If Logged In User → User Type = "Provider" → "Provider Dashboard"
   • If Logged In User → User Type = "Client" → "Client Home"

Step 8: Create Provider Setup Flow

New providers need to configure their scheduling preferences:

Provider Setup Screen:

1. Add new screen: "Provider Setup"
2. Add Form component connected to Users collection:
   
   • Update action: Logged In User
3. Include form fields:
   
   • Business Name (Text Input)
   • Job Title (Text Input)
   • Bio (Text Area)
   • Profile Image (Image Picker)
   • Booking URL Slug (Text Input with validation)
4. Add Text: "Set your availability"
5. Add Checkbox Group for Working Days:
   
   • Monday through Sunday
   • Store as comma-separated text
6. Add Time Pickers:
   
   • Working Hours Start
   • Working Hours End
7. Submit button: "Complete Setup" → Navigate to "Provider Dashboard"

Step 9: Build the Provider Dashboard

This is the home screen for service providers:

1. Add new screen: "Provider Dashboard"
2. Add Top Navigation Bar with:
   
   • App logo
   • Menu icon → Links to settings
   • User profile image
3. Create Statistics Cards section:
   
   • Text: "Today's Appointments" with count formula
   • Text: "This Week" with count formula
   • Text: "Upcoming" with filtered count
4. Add Calendar View section:
   
   • Install Calendar component from Adalo Marketplace
   • Connect to Appointments collection
   • Filter: Provider = Logged In User
   • Display: Start Time, Client Name, Status
5. Add Quick Actions buttons:
   
   • "Set Availability" → Availability screen
   • "Meeting Types" → Meeting types screen
   • "Share Booking Link" → Share sheet with URL
6. Add Upcoming Appointments List:
   
   • Filter: Provider = Logged In User, Status = "Confirmed", Start Time > Current Time
   • Sort: Start Time (Ascending)
   • Show: Client name, Meeting type, Time, Duration

Learn about responsive design for cross-device compatibility.

Step 10: Design the Client Booking Interface

Client Home Screen:

1. Add new screen: "Client Home"
2. Add Search Bar component:
   
   • Placeholder: "Search for service providers..."
   • Search Users where User Type = "Provider"
3. Add List of providers:
   
   • Data source: Users collection
   • Filter: User Type = "Provider", Is Available = True
   • Display for each:
     
     • Profile Image (circular)
     • Full Name (bold text)
     • Job Title (subtitle)
     • Business Name (small text)
     • Rating (if you add ratings)
   • Click action: Navigate to "Provider Profile" (pass provider as parameter)
4. Add My Appointments section:
   
   • Link to "My Bookings" screen
   • Show count of upcoming appointments

Provider Profile Screen:

1. Add new screen: "Provider Profile"
2. Add parameter: "Provider" (User type)
3. Display provider information:
   
   • Large profile image
   • Full Name (heading)
   • Job Title and Business Name
   • Bio (text area)
4. Add Meeting Types List:
   
   • Data source: Meeting Types
   • Filter: Provider = Current Provider, Is Active = True
   • Display: Meeting Name, Duration, Description
   • Optional: Price (if implementing payments)
   • Click action: Navigate to "Book Appointment" (pass meeting type)
5. Add "View Availability" button → Calendar preview

Implementing Calendar and Time Slot Selection Logic

This is the core of your scheduling app—where clients select available times.

Step 11: Create the Availability Management Screen (Provider)

Providers need to set when they're available:

1. Add new screen: "Manage Availability"
2. Add Toggle Switch for each day:
   
   • Monday through Sunday
   • Connected to Working Days property
3. For each active day, show:
   
   • Start Time picker
   • End Time picker
   • "Add Break" option (creates blocked slot)
4. Add "Block Time" section:
   
   • Date picker (single or range)
   • Time range
   • Reason (text input)
   • Creates Availability Slot with Is Blocked = True
5. Add List of blocked times:
   
   • Display existing blocks
   • Option to delete
6. Add "Save Changes" button → Update Logged In User

Step 12: Build the Booking Calendar Screen (Client)

Where clients select their appointment time:

1. Add new screen: "Book Appointment"
2. Add parameters:
   
   • Provider (User type)
   • Meeting Type (Meeting Types type)
3. Display booking details at top:
   
   • Provider name and image
   • Meeting type name and duration
   • Price (if applicable)
4. Add Calendar Component:
   
   • Install from Adalo Marketplace
   • Show current month
   • Highlight available dates
5. Add Time Slot Selection section:
   
   • This requires custom logic (see next step)
   • Display as buttons or list
6. Add Notes/Description text area:
   
   • Optional message for provider
7. Add "Confirm Booking" button (initially disabled)

Step 13: Implement Time Slot Filtering Logic

This is the complex part—showing only available times:

Available Time Slots Logic:

1. Selected Date → Filter Availability Slots:
   
   • Provider = Current Provider
   • Day of Week = Selected Date's day
   • OR Specific Date = Selected Date
   • Is Blocked = False
2. For each availability slot:
   
   • Start with slot Start Time and End Time
   • Divide into intervals based on Meeting Type Duration
   • Example: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 30-min meetings = 16 slots
3. Filter out booked times:
   
   • Check Appointments collection
   • Where Provider = Current Provider
   • And Start Time falls on Selected Date
   • Remove those time slots from available list
4. Apply buffer time:
   
   • If Provider has Buffer Time setting
   • Add buffer between appointments

Implementation in Adalo:

Since Adalo doesn't have built-in time slot generation, use this workaround:

1. Create a "Time Slots" helper collection:
   
   • Manually add common time slots (9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, etc.)
   • Or generate programmatically via Zapier/Make integration
2. On calendar screen, add Custom List:
   
   • Data source: Time Slots
   • Filter with custom formula:
     
     • Slot time is within provider working hours
     • No appointment exists at that time
     • Date matches selected date
3. Display as Button List:
   
   • Each button shows time (e.g., "2:00 PM")
   • Click stores selected time in temporary property
   • Enables "Confirm Booking" button

Step 14: Add Time Zone Support

Critical for scheduling across different locations:

1. In Users collection, ensure Time Zone property exists
2. On booking screen, show:
   
   • Provider's time zone
   • Client's time zone (if different)
   • Automatic conversion
3. Use formula to convert times:
   
   • Store all times in UTC
   • Display in user's local time zone
4. Add Time Zone Selector on profile:
   
   • Dropdown of common time zones
   • Updates user's Time Zone property

Building the Appointment Booking and Confirmation Flow

Step 15: Create the Booking Confirmation Action

When client clicks "Confirm Booking":

1. Add Custom Action to button:
   
   • Action 1: Create new Appointment
     
     • Provider = Current Provider (from parameter)
     • Client = Logged In User
     • Meeting Type = Current Meeting Type
     • Start Time = Selected Date + Selected Time
     • End Time = Start Time + Meeting Type Duration
     • Status = "Pending" (or "Confirmed" if no approval needed)
     • Time Zone = Logged In User → Time Zone
     • Title = Meeting Type Name + " with " + Provider Name
     • Description = Client's notes
   • Action 2: Navigate to "Booking Confirmed" screen
     
     • Pass: Created Appointment

Step 16: Build Booking Confirmed Screen

1. Add new screen: "Booking Confirmed"
2. Add parameter: Appointment (Appointments type)
3. Display confirmation message:
   
   • Success icon or animation
   • Text: "Your appointment is confirmed!"
4. Show appointment details:
   
   • Provider name and image
   • Meeting type
   • Date and time (formatted nicely)
   • Duration
   • Location/Meeting link
5. Add action buttons:
   
   • "Add to Calendar" → Generate calendar file
   • "View Appointment" → Navigate to appointment details
   • "Back to Home" → Navigate to Client Home
6. Trigger confirmation email (covered in notifications section)

Step 17: Create Appointment Details Screen

Both providers and clients need to view appointment details:

1. Add new screen: "Appointment Details"
2. Add parameter: Appointment (Appointments type)
3. Display full appointment information:
   
   • Status badge (color-coded)
   • Date and time (large, prominent)
   • Provider and Client info (depending on user role)
   • Meeting type and duration
   • Description/notes
   • Meeting link (if virtual)
   • Location (if physical)
4. Add conditional action buttons:
   
   • If Status = "Confirmed" and Start Time > Current Time:
     
     • "Reschedule" → Navigate to reschedule flow
     • "Cancel" → Show cancel confirmation modal
   • If Status = "Completed":
     
     • "Book Again" → Quick rebook
5. Add "Join Meeting" button:
   
   • Visible only if Meeting Link exists
   • Opens link in browser
   • Shows 15 minutes before appointment

Step 18: Implement Cancellation Flow

1. Create Modal or new screen: "Cancel Appointment"
2. Add warning message:
   
   • Text: "Are you sure you want to cancel?"
   • Show cancellation policy if applicable
3. Add Text Area:
   
   • "Reason for cancellation (optional)"
4. Add action buttons:
   
   • "Confirm Cancellation":
     
     • Update Appointment: Status = "Cancelled", Cancellation Reason = User input, Cancelled At = Current Time
     • Send notification to other party
     • Navigate back to appointment list
   • "Nevermind": Close modal

Step 19: Build Rescheduling Flow

1. Create screen: "Reschedule Appointment"
2. Add parameter: Appointment (Appointments type)
3. Show current appointment details
4. Add Calendar and Time Slot Selection (reuse booking logic)
5. Add "Confirm Reschedule" button:
   
   • Update Appointment: Start Time = New time, End Time = Calculated, Status = "Rescheduled" then "Confirmed", Updated At = Current Time
   • Send notifications to both parties
   • Navigate to updated Appointment Details

Adding User Accounts and Authentication to Your Scheduling App

Adalo handles most authentication automatically, but you'll want to enhance the user experience.

Step 20: Create User Profile Screen

1. Add new screen: "My Profile"
2. Add Form component:
   
   • Action: Update Logged In User
3. Include editable fields:
   
   • Profile Image (Image Picker)
   • Full Name (Text Input)
   • Email (Email Input - read only)
   • Phone Number (Text Input)
   • Time Zone (Dropdown)
   • For providers: Business Name, Job Title, Bio
4. Add "Save Changes" button
5. Add "Change Password" link → Password reset flow

Step 21: Implement Password Reset

1. Add screen: "Reset Password"
2. Add Email Input: "Enter your email address"
3. Add Button: "Send Reset Link"
   
   • Action: Send password reset email (built-in Adalo action)
4. Show confirmation: "Check your email for reset instructions"

Step 22: Add Provider Settings Screen

Additional settings for service providers:

1. Add new screen: "Provider Settings"
2. Create sections with Toggle Switches:
   
   • Notifications:
     
     • Email for new bookings
     • SMS reminders
     • Push notifications
   • Booking Rules:
     
     • Require approval for bookings
     • Allow same-day bookings
     • Minimum advance notice (hours)
     • Maximum advance booking (days)
   • Availability:
     
     • Currently accepting bookings (master switch)
3. Add "Save Settings" button

Step 23: Build Account Management

1. Add screen: "Account Settings"
2. Include options:
   
   • "Edit Profile" → Navigate to My Profile
   • "Notification Preferences" → Toggle settings
   • "Privacy & Security" → Password, data settings
   • "Help & Support" → Link to support resources
   • "Log Out" → Clear session and navigate to Welcome
   • "Delete Account" → Confirmation flow (with warning)

‍

Adalo highlights >99% average app uptime and 1M+ apps created on the platform.

Integrating Notifications and Reminders

Automated notifications are critical for reducing no-shows. Automated appointment reminders can help reduce no-shows.

Step 24: Set Up Email Notifications with Zapier

Adalo integrates with Zapier for email automation:

1. Create Zapier account at zapier.com
2. Create new Zap: "Adalo → Gmail/Email"
3. Trigger: New Appointment in Adalo
   
   • Filter: Status = "Confirmed"
4. Action: Send Email
   
   • To: Appointment → Client → Email
   • Subject: "Appointment Confirmed: [Meeting Type] with [Provider Name]"
   • Body: Include all appointment details, calendar link
5. Create similar Zap for provider notification
6. Create Zaps for:
   
   • Appointment cancelled
   • Appointment rescheduled
   • 24-hour reminder
   • 1-hour reminder

Step 25: Configure Push Notifications

For in-app push notifications (check current plan requirements):

1. In Adalo editor, go to App Settings → Notifications
2. Set up notification permissions:
   
   • Add "Request Notification Permission" action on app first launch
3. Create Custom Actions for notification triggers:
   
   • New Booking Received (to provider):
     
     • Trigger: When Appointment created where Provider = This User
     • Message: "[Client Name] booked a [Meeting Type] on [Date] at [Time]"
   • Booking Confirmed (to client):
     
     • Message: "Your appointment with [Provider Name] is confirmed for [Date] at [Time]"
   • Appointment Reminder (to both):
     
     • Trigger via automation (e.g., Zapier/Make or Notifications API) to send 24 hours before Start Time
     • Message: "Reminder: You have an appointment tomorrow at [Time]"

Learn more about push notifications.

Step 26: Add Calendar Integration

To sync with Google Calendar or Apple Calendar:

Option 1: Zapier Integration (Recommended)

1. Create Zap: "Adalo → Google Calendar"
2. Trigger: New Appointment (Status = Confirmed)
3. Action: Create Calendar Event
   
   • Calendar: Select provider's connected calendar
   • Event Title: Appointment → Title
   • Start Time: Appointment → Start Time
   • End Time: Appointment → End Time
   • Description: Client info, meeting link
   • Attendees: Client email, Provider email
4. Create reverse Zap for cancellations and updates

Option 2: .ics File Generation

1. Add "Add to Calendar" button on confirmation screen
2. Use a library like ics.js or an automation service like Make to generate .ics files:
   
   • Include appointment details
   • User downloads file → imports to their calendar

Step 27: Create Notification Preferences Screen

Let users control what notifications they receive:

1. Add screen: "Notification Settings"
2. Add Toggle Switches for:
   
   • Email notifications (booking confirmed, cancelled, reminders)
   • Push notifications (new bookings, reminders, updates)
   • SMS notifications (if implementing)
3. Add Dropdown for reminder timing:
   
   • Options: "No reminder", "1 hour before", "24 hours before", "1 week before"
4. Save preferences to user profile

Step 28: Build In-App Notifications List

1. Create Notifications collection:
   
   • Title (Text)
   • Message (Text)
   • Type (Text) - "Booking", "Reminder", "Cancellation"
   • Created At (Date & Time)
   • Read Status (True/False)
   • Relationship to User (recipient)
2. Add screen: "Notifications"
3. Add List of notifications:
   
   • Filter: User = Logged In User
   • Sort: Created At (Descending)
   • Display: Title, Message, Time ago
   • Visual indicator for unread
4. Add notification badge count to navigation

Testing Your Calendly Clone Before Launch

Thorough testing prevents embarrassing bugs and poor user experience. Many first-time builders who follow testing protocols report high satisfaction.

Step 29: Create Test Users and Data

1. In Adalo database, add test users:
   
   • Providers:
     
     • Dr. Sarah Johnson (Therapist)
     • Mike Chen (Business Coach)
     • Alex Rivera (Designer)
   • Clients:
     
     • Test Client 1
     • Test Client 2
     • Test Client 3
2. Create Meeting Types for each provider:
   
   • 15-minute consultations
   • 30-minute sessions
   • 60-minute workshops
3. Set availability for providers:
   
   • Different working hours
   • Some with blocked times
   • Various time zones

Step 30: Test Core User Flows

Provider Onboarding Flow:

1. Create new provider account
2. Complete setup wizard
3. Set availability (working hours, days off)
4. Create meeting types
5. Generate booking link
6. Verify: Profile displays correctly, booking link works

Client Booking Flow:

1. Create client account (or browse without login)
2. Search/browse providers
3. View provider profile
4. Select meeting type
5. Choose date and time
6. Confirm booking
7. Verify: Confirmation screen shows, email sent, appointment appears in dashboard

Appointment Management:

1. View appointment details (both roles)
2. Test reschedule function
3. Test cancellation
4. Verify: Status updates correctly, notifications sent

Edge Cases to Test:

• Booking at exact start of availability window
• Booking at exact end of availability window
• Same-day booking attempt
• Booking in different time zone
• Double-booking prevention
• Canceling within 24 hours
• Provider blocking time during booked slot
• Concurrent booking attempts (if possible)

Step 31: Test Across Devices

Use Adalo's responsive design features:

1. Desktop Testing:
   
   • Use Adalo web previewer
   • Test at 1920x1080 resolution
   • Verify: All elements visible, text readable
2. Mobile Testing:
   
   • Download Adalo mobile app (iOS/Android)
   • Test on iPhone and Android devices
   • Verify: Touch targets large enough, scrolling works smoothly
3. Tablet Testing:
   
   • Test on iPad or Android tablet
   • Verify: Layout adapts appropriately

Step 32: Verify Data Integrity

1. Check database relationships:
   
   • Appointments correctly link to Users
   • Meeting Types link to Providers
   • Availability Slots associate properly
2. Test data filters:
   
   • "My Appointments" shows only user's bookings
   • Provider dashboard shows only their schedule
   • Time slots filter correctly by date
3. Verify calculations:
   
   • End time = Start time + Duration
   • Appointment counts display accurately
   • Time zone conversions work correctly

Step 33: Test Integrations

1. Zapier/Email Integration:
   
   • Book appointment → Check confirmation email arrives
   • Cancel appointment → Verify cancellation email
   • Test reminder emails (may need to adjust timing)
2. Calendar Integration:
   
   • Check Google Calendar event created
   • Verify event details are correct
   • Test update sync when rescheduling
3. Payment Integration (if implemented):
   
   • Test with Stripe test cards
   • Verify payment recorded correctly

Step 34: Performance and Error Testing

1. Load Testing:
   
   • Create 50+ test appointments
   • Check if lists load quickly
   • Verify: No lag when browsing
2. Error Handling:
   
   • Try booking without selecting time
   • Attempt to book past date
   • Test with missing required fields
   • Verify: Appropriate error messages display
3. Offline Behavior:
   
   • What happens with poor internet?
   • Are there loading indicators?

Step 35: User Acceptance Testing

1. Invite 3-5 beta testers:
   
   • Mix of providers and clients
   • Vary technical skill levels
2. Ask them to complete key tasks:
   
   • Set up account
   • Book appointment
   • Manage their schedule
3. Collect feedback:
   
   • What was confusing?
   • What features are missing?
   • How's the overall experience?
4. Iterate based on feedback

The free tier provides unlimited test apps with 200 records per app, perfect for thorough testing before production launch.

Publishing Your Appointment Scheduling App to Web and Mobile

Publishing your app makes it accessible to real users. Adalo supports publishing to web, iOS, and Android.

Step 36: Prepare for Web Publishing

Web Publishing Checklist:

1. Final Design Review:
   
   • Check all screens for consistent styling
   • Verify responsive behavior
   • Test navigation flow
2. Content Review:
   
   • Proofread all text for typos
   • Check placeholder text is replaced
   • Verify images load correctly
3. Settings Configuration:
   
   • Set app icon (512x512px minimum)
   • Write app description
   • Add meta title and description for SEO

Step 37: Publish to Web with Custom Domain

1. In Adalo editor, click "Publish" in top right
2. Select "Web App"
3. Choose publishing option:
   
   • Free: Adalo subdomain (yourapp.adalo.com)
   • Paid Plan: Custom domain
4. For custom domain:
   
   • Purchase domain from registrar (typically $10-45/year)
   • In Adalo, go to Settings → Publishing → Web
   • Click "Add Custom Domain"
   • Enter your domain name
   • Follow DNS configuration instructions
   • Wait for propagation (up to 48 hours)
5. Click "Publish" → Your app is live!

Learn about publishing web apps.

Step 38: Prepare for Mobile App Publishing

iOS App Store Requirements:

• Apple Developer Account: $99/year
• App Icons: Multiple sizes (required by Apple)
• Screenshots: At least 5 per device type
• Privacy Policy URL: Required
• App Description: Compelling copy
• Keywords: For App Store search

Google Play Store Requirements:

• Google Play Developer Account: One-time fee of $25
• App Icons: Various sizes
• Screenshots: At least 2, recommended 8
• Feature Graphic: 1024x500px
• Privacy Policy URL: Required
• App Description: Store listing copy

Step 39: Publish to iOS App Store

1. Ensure you're on a paid plan (required for app store publishing)
2. In Adalo editor, go to App Settings → Publishing → iOS
3. Upload required assets:
   
   • App icon (1024x1024px)
   • Launch screen image
   • Screenshots
4. Enter app information:
   
   • App name (30 characters max)
   • Subtitle (30 characters)
   • Description
   • Keywords
   • Privacy policy URL
   • Support URL
5. Click "Request Build"
6. Adalo builds and uploads your iOS app directly to App Store Connect, where you select the build for TestFlight/review
7. Select the uploaded build in App Store Connect (no manual .ipa upload needed)
8. Complete App Store listing
9. Submit for review (review times vary)

Full guide: Publishing to iOS.

Step 40: Publish to Google Play Store

1. Ensure you're on a paid plan
2. In Adalo editor, go to App Settings → Publishing → Android
3. Upload required assets:
   
   • App icon
   • Feature graphic
   • Screenshots (phone and tablet)
4. Enter app information
5. Click "Request Build"
6. Download the Android App Bundle (.aab) file for Play Console submission
7. Upload to Google Play Console
8. Complete store listing:
   
   • Short description (80 characters)
   • Full description (4000 characters)
   • Categorization
   • Content rating
9. Submit for review (approval times vary)

Full guide: Publishing to Google Play.

Step 41: Manage Post-Launch Updates

Adalo offers manual publishing control:

1. Make changes in Adalo editor
2. Test thoroughly in preview mode
3. When ready, click "Publish"
4. Updates deploy:
   
   • Web: Instantly
   • Mobile: Users receive updates via the app store

Update Best Practices:

• Batch non-critical changes to reduce update frequency
• Test updates extensively before publishing
• Communicate major changes to users via email
• Monitor for bugs after each update
• Keep version notes for your records

Advanced Features to Enhance Your Scheduling App

Once your core scheduling app is working, consider these enhancements to stand out.

Step 42: Add Payment Processing with Stripe

Higher-tier plans support custom integrations:

1. Create Stripe account at stripe.com
2. In Adalo Marketplace, install Stripe Payment component
3. In Meeting Types collection, add:
   
   • Requires Payment (True/False)
   • Price (Number)
   • Stripe Product ID (Text)
4. On booking confirmation screen:
   
   • Add conditional visibility: If Meeting Type → Requires Payment = True
   • Display Stripe Payment component
   • Amount: Meeting Type → Price
   • On successful payment: Create Appointment, send confirmation
5. Create Payments collection to track transactions:
   
   • Link to Appointment
   • Store Stripe Charge ID
   • Store payment status

Pricing Models to Consider:

• Per-appointment fees
• Subscription plans (monthly booking credits)
• Premium meeting types (longer duration, special services)
• Deposit system (charged on booking, refunded if provider cancels)

Step 43: Implement Recurring Appointments

For clients who need regular sessions (weekly therapy, monthly check-ins):

1. Add to Meeting Types:
   
   • Allow Recurring (True/False)
   • Recurrence Options (Text) - "Weekly", "Bi-weekly", "Monthly"
2. On booking screen, add:
   
   • Toggle: "Make this a recurring appointment"
   • Dropdown: Recurrence frequency
   • Date picker: "Until when?" (end date)
3. Create custom action:
   
   • Loop to create multiple appointments
   • Example: Weekly for 12 weeks = 12 appointment records
   • Each with Start Time incremented by 7 days
4. Allow bulk management:
   
   • "Cancel all future appointments"
   • "Reschedule entire series"

Step 44: Add Group Booking Support

For workshops, classes, or group sessions:

1. In Meeting Types, add:
   
   • Allow Group Bookings (True/False)
   • Max Participants (Number)
   • Current Participants (Number - calculated)
2. In Appointments collection:
   
   • Change Client relationship to Many-to-Many
   • Add Participants List (relationship to Users)
3. Modify booking flow:
   
   • Show "Spots available: [Max - Current]"
   • Allow booking if spots available
   • Increment participant count on booking
   • Send confirmations to all participants
4. Create waiting list feature:
   
   • If full, option to join waiting list
   • Notify if spot opens

Step 45: Support Multiple Time Zones

Critical for global scheduling:

1. Store all times in UTC in database
2. Display times in user's local time zone
3. On booking screen:
   
   • Show both time zones if different
   • Example: "2:00 PM EST (11:00 AM PST)"
4. Add time zone auto-detection:
   
   • Use device location API
   • Set user's time zone on signup
5. Allow manual time zone selection:
   
   • Dropdown of all time zones
   • Update user profile

Step 46: Implement Waitlist and Availability Alerts

When desired times aren't available:

1. Create Waitlist collection:
   
   • Link to User and Provider
   • Desired Date Range
   • Desired Meeting Type
   • Notification Preferences
2. Add "Join Waitlist" option:
   
   • Shows when no slots available
   • User specifies date/time preferences
3. When provider adds availability:
   
   • Check for matching waitlist entries
   • Send notification: "New time available!"
   • Link directly to booking screen

Step 47: Add Analytics Dashboard for Providers

Help providers understand their business:

1. Create Analytics screen for providers
2. Display metrics:
   
   • Total appointments (this month, all time)
   • Revenue (if payment integrated)
   • Busiest days/times (data visualization)
   • No-show rate
   • Average booking lead time
   • Popular meeting types
3. Add date range filter
4. Add export option (CSV download)
5. Show trends:
   
   • Month-over-month growth
   • Cancellation patterns

Step 48: Implement Video Meeting Integration

For virtual appointments:

Option 1: Zoom Integration

1. Use Zapier to create Zoom meetings automatically
2. When appointment booked → Create Zoom meeting
3. Store Zoom meeting link in Appointment → Meeting Link
4. Display link on appointment details screen

Option 2: Google Meet

1. Calendar integration creates Google Meet link automatically
2. Store link in appointment record
3. Display "Join Meeting" button 15 minutes before start

Option 3: Custom Video Solution

1. Use third-party video API (Daily.co, Whereby)
2. Embed video component in app
3. Generate unique room link per appointment

Scaling Your Calendly Clone as Your User Base Grows

As your scheduling app gains users, you'll need to optimize performance and potentially upgrade your Adalo plan.

Step 49: Optimize Database Performance

1. Limit List Displays:
   
   • Show only next 30 days of appointments (not all historical)
   • Use pagination for long lists
   • Filter aggressively to reduce records loaded
2. Simplify Relationships:
   
   • Avoid deep nesting (User → Appointments → Meeting Types → Settings)
   • Denormalize some data (store provider name in appointment, not just relationship)
3. Index-Friendly Queries:
   
   • Filter by date ranges efficiently
   • Use Status field for quick filtering
   • Cache commonly used data

Step 50: When to Upgrade Your Adalo Plan

Adalo's pricing tiers support different scales. Check the current pricing page for up-to-date plan details and features.

Consider upgrading when:

• You need custom integrations (Zapier, Make)
• You want additional features
• You need more storage
• You have collaborators building with you
• You need multiple published apps
• You require priority support

Adalo states it maintains high uptime and processes millions of 20M+ daily data requests daily across the platform.

Step 51: Handle High-Volume Bookings

If your app sees significant traffic:

1. Consider External Database:
   
   • Integrate with Xano for scalable backend
   • Use Airtable for flexible data management
2. Implement Caching:
   
   • Cache provider availability to reduce database queries
   • Refresh every 5-10 minutes rather than real-time
3. Queue System:
   
   • Use Make or Zapier to queue notification sends
   • Prevents overwhelming email systems
4. Rate Limiting:
   
   • Prevent spam bookings (same user, multiple attempts)
   • Add CAPTCHA for signup (via custom component)

Step 52: Expand to Multiple Locations or Industries

Multi-Location Support:

1. Add Location property to Users (Providers)
2. Add location filter to client search
3. Create separate availability per location
4. Allow providers to manage multiple locations

Industry-Specific Features:

For Healthcare:

• HIPAA compliance considerations
• Patient intake forms
• Insurance verification
• Prescription management integration

For Education:

• Class rosters (group sessions)
• Assignment tracking
• Parent communication
• Grade/attendance integration

For Services (salons, spas):

• Service packages
• Loyalty programs
• Product sales integration
• Staff scheduling

Step 53: Monitor App Performance

Track key metrics:

1. User Metrics:
   
   • Active users (daily, weekly, monthly)
   • New signups per week
   • Provider vs. client ratio
2. Engagement Metrics:
   
   • Appointments booked per user
   • Repeat booking rate
   • Cancellation rate
   • No-show rate
3. Technical Metrics:
   
   • App load time
   • Error rates
   • Integration failures
   • Database query performance

Use Adalo's analytics and consider external tools like Google Analytics.

Step 54: Plan for Business Growth

Revenue Strategies:

1. Freemium Model:
   
   • Free tier: Limited appointments per month
   • Pro tier: Unlimited + advanced features
2. Commission Model:
   
   • Take small fee per booking
   • Implement via Stripe Connect
3. Subscription Model:
   
   • Monthly plans for providers
   • Tiered features (basic, professional, enterprise)
4. Premium Features:
   
   • Charge for SMS reminders
   • Charge for calendar integration
   • Charge for custom branding

Many builders make iterative updates within the first few months post-launch, so build with flexibility in mind.

Why Adalo Is the Best No-Code Platform for Building Your Scheduling App

Building a Calendly clone requires a platform that balances power with accessibility—and Adalo delivers exactly that. Here's why Adalo stands out for scheduling app development:

True No-Code, No-Compromise:

Adalo states that 1M+ apps have been created on the platform (with 2M+ end users and 20M+ average daily data requests), proving that you don't need to sacrifice functionality for ease of use. The platform lives up to its promise: "If you can make a slide deck, you can make an app!" Our step-by-step guide demonstrates that complex scheduling logic—availability management, time zone handling, automated notifications—is entirely achievable without a single line of code.

Built-In Database Power:

Unlike website builders adapted for apps, Adalo was purpose-built for app development with a robust database at its core. The ability to create complex relationships (Users → Appointments → Meeting Types) and implement custom formulas for time calculations gives you the flexibility to build sophisticated scheduling logic. You're not limited by pre-built templates—you can customize every aspect of your scheduling flow.

Publish Everywhere:

Adalo is one of the few platforms that truly delivers on cross-platform publishing. Build once, and publish your scheduling app as:

• A responsive web app (custom domain available on paid plans)
• A native iOS app (submit to App Store with $99/year license)
• A native Android app (Google Play one-time fee)

Design once in Adalo and publish to web, iOS, and Android—though you'll submit separate builds to each app store as required by Apple and Google.

Proven Scalability:

Adalo states it maintains high uptime and the infrastructure to process millions of data requests daily across the platform. The platform's proven user base shows it's production-ready for serious applications.

Ecosystem of Integrations:

Scheduling apps don't exist in isolation. Adalo's integration capabilities with Zapier, Make, Gmail, Google Calendar, Stripe, and Xano mean you can connect your scheduling app to the tools your users already rely on. The component marketplace offers dozens of additional components maintained by verified developers, extending your app's functionality without custom code.

Accessible Pricing for Entrepreneurs:

Start building for free with unlimited test apps, then scale to production with affordable paid plans. Check current pricing for up-to-date plan details. This pricing structure makes professional app development accessible to solo practitioners, small businesses, and entrepreneurs—exactly the audience most likely to benefit from custom scheduling solutions.

Community and Support:

With App Academy courses, extensive documentation, and an active community forum, you're never building alone. The Adalo experts network offers professional assistance if you need help scaling or customizing your scheduling app beyond the basics.

Whether you're a therapist looking to streamline client bookings, a consultant tired of email scheduling tennis, or an entrepreneur building the next scheduling platform, Adalo provides the perfect balance of power, flexibility, and accessibility to bring your vision to life.

‍Ready to build your scheduling app? Start by signing up for a free Adalo account, then follow this guide step-by-step. You'll be amazed at what you can create without code—because a world where only 1% of people can solve problems is a world missing 99% of its potential.