Best Digital Wall Calendar · Skylight Alternatives

Best Skylight Calendar Alternatives

The best Skylight Calendar alternative is the Cozyla Calendar Plus 2 (24-inch): Cozyla says sync, chores, rewards and meal planning need no paid plan, where Skylight puts meal planning and rewards in its $79-a-year Plus. Hearth is the alternative for routine-focused families, and Apolosign adds Google Play apps with no required subscription.

Two different digital calendars side by side on a light wall, one landscape and one portrait

Our top 3

Top picks at a glance

Best Skylight alternative#1
Cozyla Calendar Plus 2 (24-inch) calendar

Cozyla Calendar Plus 2 (24-inch)

Premium price range

Family features included with no plan, two-way sync and Google Play.

See sizes ›
Best for routines#2
Hearth Display (27-inch) calendar

Hearth Display (27-inch)

Premium price range

A tall wall screen for kids’ routines and rewards, with membership.

See sizes ›
Best with apps, no fee#3
Apolosign Digital Calendar (21.5-inch) calendar

Apolosign Digital Calendar (21.5-inch)

Mid-range price range

Android calendar with a dedicated calendar mode, broad sync and no required plan.

See sizes ›

In detail

Who each one suits

Specifications, sync lists and subscription terms are each brand’s own; notes draw on brand help centers and independent reviews. We have not tested or used these calendars ourselves.

Best Skylight alternative#1

Cozyla Calendar Plus 2 (24-inch)

Cozyla’s 24-inch Calendar Plus 2 is the strongest case for skipping a subscription: Cozyla says calendar sync, chores, rewards and meal planning all work without a paid plan. It is an Android 14 device with Google Play, so it doubles as a big wall tablet.

Why it stands out

  • Two-way sync with Google, iCloud (via an app-specific password), Outlook and CalDAV, plus Yahoo, Cozi or any calendar link.
  • Up to 8 profiles; chores with points and reminders; meal planner that builds a grocery list.
  • Rotating wall mount included, so it can hang in portrait or landscape.
Screen24-inch touch
PlacementWall (rotating mount included)
Syncs withGoogle, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo, Cozi, CalDAV
SubscriptionNot required; optional AI plan
CameraNone built in

Good fit if

  • You want family features included in the price.
  • You like the idea of Google Play apps on the same screen.

Skip it if

  • You want the simplest possible screen for a grandparent: an Android tablet has more to learn.
  • You want a small counter display: look at the 15.6-inch models.

The optional Calendar Super plan ($69.99 a year, per Cozyla) adds Smart Planning, Smart Input, an Art Gallery and the unlimited AI Voice Agent. Reviewers at T3 found some invites did not sync until the phone app was opened.

Best for routines#2

Hearth Display (27-inch)

Hearth is a tall, portrait-only 27-inch screen built around routines, to-dos and rewards for kids. It is the most “family command center” of the group, and the most expensive to run: those routine and reward features need Hearth’s Family Membership.

Why it stands out

  • Kids earn stars for routines and to-dos and spend them on rewards you set, with streak tracking (Hearth’s description).
  • Hearth Helper turns a photo of a paper schedule or school lunch menu into events for a parent to approve.
  • Two-way sync with Google, so events added on the screen land in Google Calendar.
Screen27-inch touch, portrait
PlacementWall only (mount included)
Syncs withGoogle, Apple, Outlook, Cozi
SubscriptionFamily Membership, $9/mo per Hearth
CameraNot stated by Hearth

Good fit if

  • Your main goal is morning and bedtime routines for young kids.
  • You have a wall near an outlet and are happy to pay $9 a month (Hearth’s price) for the extras.

Skip it if

  • You want a counter display: Forbes notes it is not designed for a desk or counter.
  • You want to avoid an ongoing fee: lists, routines, rewards and meal planning all need membership.

Hearth’s own pages disagree on whether membership is needed just to set up the screen; plan on starting the 30-day trial.

Best with apps, no fee#3

Apolosign Digital Calendar (21.5-inch)

The 21.5-inch Apolosign is a bigger version of the same no-subscription Android calendar, sized for a family wall without the cost of a 27-inch screen.

Why it stands out

  • Same sync list and dual calendar/Android mode as the 15.6-inch.
  • Anti-glare 1080p screen, portrait or landscape.
  • Wall mount included.
Screen21.5-inch, 1080p anti-glare touch
PlacementWall (mount included)
Syncs withGoogle, Apple, Outlook, Yahoo, Cozi
SubscriptionNot required, per Apolosign
CameraNone listed

Good fit if

  • You want a wall screen bigger than 15 inches on a mid-range budget.
  • You do not want a monthly or yearly fee.

Skip it if

  • You need a counter stand in the box (the 21.5-inch includes the wall mount only).
Also worth a look

Everblog HomeCal (21.5-inch)

Everblog’s 21.5-inch HomeCal is Forbes’ pick for a calendar without a subscription. Everblog says every feature is free, including meal planning, a food inventory and a points-based task manager, and it lists TeamSnap among its calendar sources.

Why it stands out

  • Syncs Google, Outlook, Apple, Cozi, Yahoo and TeamSnap, per Everblog.
  • 1080p screen, portrait or landscape; quad speakers and dual mics.
  • 2-year warranty and 180-day returns, according to Everblog.
Screen21.5-inch, 1080p touch
PlacementWall (strap included; stand extra)
Syncs withGoogle, Apple, Outlook, Yahoo, Cozi, TeamSnap
SubscriptionNone, per Everblog
CameraNone listed

Good fit if

  • Your kids play team sports and you want TeamSnap on the wall.
  • You want a big screen with no plan to pay for.

Skip it if

  • You need dependable two-way sync: The Gadgeteer reported one-way Gmail and partial Apple sync.
  • You want a stand included (it is extra).
Also worth a look

Dragon Touch Digital Calendar (21.5-inch)

Dragon Touch sells its calendar in sizes from 10 to 32 inches; the 21.5-inch is the middle of the range. The brand says it needs no monthly subscription, with meals, rewards and chores included.

Why it stands out

  • Syncs Google, Apple, Outlook, Yahoo, Cozi and public-link calendars through its free app.
  • Auto-rotates between portrait and landscape; wall mount included.
  • Up to 2 years of warranty if bought from Dragon Touch directly, per the brand.
Screen21.5-inch touch
PlacementWall or counter, auto-rotates
Syncs withGoogle, Apple, Outlook, Yahoo, Cozi
SubscriptionNot required; paid Magic Import
CameraNone listed

Good fit if

  • You want a large no-subscription screen and mostly need the calendar.

Skip it if

  • You want apps or widgets: The Gadgeteer found it runs a locked-down older Android with no Google Play.
  • You want polished software: the same review reported time errors and settings that did not save.
Also worth a look

Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd gen)

The Echo Show 15 is a 15.6-inch Alexa smart display that can hang on a wall and show a shared family calendar, lists and sticky notes. It is a good fit if you already live with Alexa, and a poor fit if you want a screen without a camera.

Why it stands out

  • Links Google, Microsoft and Apple calendars through the Alexa app.
  • Doubles as a smart home controller with a built-in hub, per Tom’s Guide.
  • Wall mount and remote in the box.
Screen15.6-inch, 1080p touch
PlacementWall (mount included); stand extra
Syncs withGoogle, Microsoft, Apple via Alexa app
SubscriptionAlexa+ $19.99/mo or free with Prime
Camera13MP with physical shutter

Good fit if

  • Your home already uses Alexa.
  • You want smart home control and Alexa as well as a calendar.

Skip it if

  • You want no camera in the kitchen: it has a 13MP camera (with a physical shutter).
  • You want several family calendars side by side: Forbes found it weaker at showing more than one.

Amazon has also announced a newer Echo Show 16; check which model is current when you buy.

Like Skylight, minus the yearly fee?

Our top alternative includes chores, rewards and meal planning with no paid plan, according to Cozyla.

See customer reviews ›

Tips

Three things that make the difference

01

Decide what you are avoiding

If it is Skylight’s Plus fee, look at no-subscription screens. If it is the size, look at 21.5 to 32 inches. The right alternative depends on why Skylight did not fit.

02

Keep the sync list in view

Skylight covers Google, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo and Cozi. Make sure the alternative covers the same calendars you use; Bsimb, for example, lists only Google and iCloud.

03

Compare simplicity, too

Android-based alternatives such as Cozyla and Apolosign add app stores. That is flexible, but there is more to learn than on Skylight’s calendar-only screen.

Honest note

Skylight remains our best overall pick for a reason: its sync list is broad, it needs no plan for the calendar and its screens have no camera. Alternatives win on price or features, but some have rougher software, according to independent reviews.

FAQ

Questions people ask

What is the best alternative to the Skylight Calendar?

The Cozyla Calendar Plus 2, for families who want chores, rewards and meal planning without a yearly fee. Hearth suits routine-focused families, and Apolosign suits people who want Google Play apps.

Is there a Skylight Calendar without a subscription?

Skylight itself works without Plus for the calendar and chores. If you want meal planning and rewards with no fee, Cozyla and Dragon Touch say they include meal planning and rewards, and Everblog lists meal planning and a points-based task manager.

Is Hearth better than Skylight?

Hearth is better at kids’ routines and rewards, on a bigger portrait screen, but needs a $9-a-month membership for those features. Skylight is more flexible to place and costs less to run.

Is the Echo Show a good Skylight alternative?

For Alexa homes, yes. It shows a family calendar, lists and sticky notes on a wall. It is weaker at showing several calendars, according to Forbes, and it has a camera.

Are cheaper Skylight alternatives reliable?

Some reviewers reported problems: The Gadgeteer found time errors on a Dragon Touch, and one-way Gmail sync on an Everblog. Check recent buyer reviews and keep the return window in mind.

Can I turn a screen I already own into a Skylight-style calendar?

Yes, with software. DAKboard says any internet-connected device with a current web browser can be a display, and Mango Display runs on TVs, tablets and Echo Show screens. Both charge for their fuller plans.

The right screen for why Skylight didn’t fit

Want the full picture? See our best digital wall calendar picks, compared by sync, size and subscription, and the FAQ on setup and privacy.