Rainlendar review

Rainlendar takes a different approach from the rest of the list: instead of opening a window when you need it, it keeps your calendar, events and tasks drawn on the desktop. You can show several windows at once, such as this month and next month or two separate task lists, and change the look with skins, categories and Lua scripts. Events support multiple alarms with snooze, a quick-add box accepts a single line of text with recurrence, and printing can produce lists, calendar layouts or PDFs. Data is kept in the standard iCalendar format and backed up every day. The same data, skins and scripts work on Windows, Mac and Linux, with .deb packages for Ubuntu-based systems. Rainlendar Lite is free, while Rainlendar Pro adds CSV import and export and sync with services such as Google Calendar for a one-time license fee, which the site listed in euros from our location, so the USD price is pending. It suits people who want a glanceable calendar more than a full scheduling suite.

Who it is for

People who want their events and tasks always visible on the Windows or Linux desktop.

Price

Rainlendar Lite free; Rainlendar Pro one-time license: see vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Calendar, event and task windows that sit on the desktop
• Skins, categories and multiple windows for custom layouts
• Alarms with snooze and multiple alarms per event
• Data stored in the standard iCalendar format with daily backups
• Pro adds Google Calendar sync and CSV import and export

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux with the same data and skins
• Strength: Lite version is free
• Strength: Pro is a one-time license, with free upgrades for existing owners
• Weakness: Syncing with online calendars needs Pro
• Weakness: Price was shown in euros when we checked
• Weakness: Skins and Lua scripting take time to set up

Key facts

• Free version: Rainlendar Lite
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
• Languages: Over 50
• Data format: iCalendar

Where it ranks

Rainlendar is No. 10 in our Best Desktop Calendar Apps verdict.