A shared calendar instead of announcements in WhatsApp groups
WhatsApp groups are great for quick conversation, but the answer to “what time is Friday’s meeting?” ends up under hundreds of messages. A calendar keeps dates and times in one always-current place. You do not have to give up the chat: the two complement each other.
| Topic | WhatsApp group | Rubu |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Fast, real-time conversation, already on almost everyone’s phone. | Keeping a schedule organized around date, time and place. |
| Finding the schedule | You search the message stream; pinning helps but stays limited. | Month, week and day views, colour-coded by category. |
| Who can change what | Admins can restrict who posts, but it can stay unclear which message supersedes an earlier date. | Per-category permissions: only authorised people edit an event, and the calendar holds one current version (Pro). |
| Recurring meetings | Announced again each time. | One rule: “every 2nd and 4th Wednesday”; exceptions edited per day. |
| People outside the group | People must be invited, and group members see each other’s phone numbers. | A public calendar page (Pro) without sharing phone numbers; editing members sign in with an account. |
| Alerts | Every message notifies, so an important notice can drown in chat noise. | Event reminders and change alerts, selectable per category (Pro, iPhone and Android apps). |
| Adding to a personal calendar | Copied by hand. | An ICS subscription link brings events into Google, Apple or Outlook calendar automatically (Pro). |
The comparison is based on generally known public information; third-party products change over time.
What a WhatsApp group does well
- Real-time chat, Q&A and photo sharing; no new tool to learn.
- Everyone already has it and uses it daily.
- The easiest route for informal, fast announcements.
When a shared calendar fits better
- When you want dates and times in one place that is always current.
- When you have regular meetings: enter a rule once and stop re-announcing.
- When you want to share the schedule with people who are not in the group.
- When you want to limit who can edit what.
Use both: WhatsApp for chat, the calendar for the schedule
Leave the chat group as it is and pin a message with your Rubu calendar link. The regular schedule lives in the calendar while chat stays chat. Members can also add the schedule to their phone calendar through the Pro subscription link. Rubu does not send email for events; use app notifications or your chat group to spread the word.
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to close our WhatsApp group?
No. The group stays for chat; pin the calendar link in it. Rubu aims to keep the schedule tidy, not to replace WhatsApp.
Do members have to sign in to Rubu?
For people who only view, the public calendar page (Pro) is enough. Those who need edit rights or notifications sign in with an account.
How does everyone learn about a change?
On Pro, people using the apps get an instant change notification. You can also mention the change briefly in the chat group.
How far does the Free plan go?
Free is for one user: you enter events and recurring meetings yourself and follow them in the views. Team members, categories, notifications and the public calendar are Pro (₺249/month, ₺2,499/year, 7-day free trial).
See also: Features, Pricing, Associations and NGOs, Sports clubs, Rubu vs Google Calendar