Google Calendar
Direct answer
Google Calendar is the diary that should offer real empty slots. Appointment schedules are part of Calendar and do not need a second booking product for a single meeting type. An agent may draft the email that contains the link. It must not create events from a chat. Two writers on one diary will double-book you.
Quote visits, intro calls, and any meeting where double-booking wastes a morning.
Watch out. Two tools that can both create events will double-book you. Pick the booking page as the only writer.
Google Calendar appointment schedules are included with a normal Google account. You set the length, the hours, and the questions. People book a slot that is really empty.
Check the time zone, bank holidays, and the buffer between jobs. An agent can draft the email that sends the link. It should not create a second event from the words in a reply.
Playbooks using Google Calendar
- Weekly admin digestn8n2–3 hours the first timeabout £0 licence if self-hosted, or about £17 for Cloud Starter/mo
A Monday admin digest with n8n
Use n8n to email you one Monday morning note: unread mail that needs a reply, the week's calendar, and invoices you have marked overdue. It is a reminder, not a manager. Start on n8n Cloud if you do not want to host a server. Not live-tested yet.
- Meeting and job schedulingChatGPT30–45 minutesabout £0–£15/mo
A scheduling agent that does not touch the calendar
Set up a free Google Calendar appointment page so people book a real gap in your diary, then use ChatGPT only to draft the reply that sends the link. Do not let an agent create events from incoming email without you. This has not been live-tested.
Questions
Is appointment scheduling free?
It is included with Google Calendar. A Workspace subscription is separate if you need a company domain. Confirm on Google's pricing page before you assume a paid seat.
How is this different from Calendly?
Same job, different page. Use Calendar if you already live there. Use Calendly if you want its booking page and can accept its free-plan limit of one event type.
Can the agent see my whole diary?
Not in these guides. You share a booking link. You do not paste the diary into a chat.