Short answer
PCalendar's page reads much like Photo2Calendar's: photos, screenshots, text and PDFs go in, AI finds times and event details, you tick the events to keep and sync to Google, Apple and Outlook calendars, and the subscription removes ads, improves detection accuracy and exports .ics. Its system bar is low (iOS 13) and its store text lists 8 languages including Chinese. SnapCal is iPhone only from iOS 17 and focuses on Chinese chat and poster screenshots, one event each, written to the iPhone calendar and optionally Feishu. On an older iPhone, or needing PDFs or Outlook, pick PCalendar; wanting a free allowance and Feishu sync, pick SnapCal. Third-party facts checked 2026-10-16.
The differences at a glance
| Photo To Calendar | PCalendar | SnapCal | |
|---|---|---|
| What it mainly does | Per its page: import from photos, screenshots, text or PDFs; AI finds times, schedules, appointments and event details; tick events to keep; sync to Google, Apple and Outlook calendars; generate and share .ics | Triggered from the share sheet, a Shortcut or the in-app Recent Screenshots; a confirmation screen lets you edit title, date, time and place; writes to the iPhone calendar and can sync to Feishu Calendar; one screenshot makes one event |
| Platform and requirements | iPhone; iOS 13.0 or later; the page lists English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish and Chinese | iPhone |
| Price | Free to download; the subscription (monthly/yearly) covers ad removal, more accurate AI detection and .ics export; exact price: not verified | Free tier of 10 recognitions a month; subscription (US$1.99 monthly, US$9.9 yearly) or a lifetime plan unlocks unlimited use; the price in the app applies |
| Where data goes | The page says AI extracts data from images and text and recommends reviewing detected events; how images are sent and kept: not verified | The screenshot is compressed and sent to an AI service for recognition and not kept afterwards; on-device OCR is only for the preview and is not uploaded |
| Update status (check date) | Store page shows version 1.0, released 2025-09-27; no ratings yet | See each App Store page for current details |
Third-party entries come from the other product's official pages (read on 2026-10-16) and are its own statements, not our tests. Prices and requirements change, so check the official page on the day you download. "Not verified" means we did not see it on an official page, not that it does not exist. Our own column comes from our home page and privacy policy.
When to pick Photo To Calendar | PCalendar
- Your iPhone is still on iOS 13 to 16 and cannot install SnapCal (iOS 17 or later).
- Your calendar is Outlook or Google, and you need schedules from PDFs turned into events too.
- You need an .ics file for colleagues and accept that the subscription covers it.
When to pick SnapCal
- Your iPhone is on iOS 17 or later and you want 10 free recognitions a month without meeting ads or a subscription first.
- Your screenshots are mostly Chinese chats, group notices and posters and you want Feishu Calendar sync.
- You want to edit each field on a confirmation screen before anything reaches the calendar.
Limits of SnapCal
- One screenshot makes one event, so an image with several events has to be captured in several passes.
- The screenshot is compressed and sent to an AI service for recognition (not kept afterwards), so it is not purely on-device; on-device OCR is only for the preview and is never uploaded.
- iPhone only for now: no Mac or Android version.
Three things to test yourself before you commit
- Check your system version first: Settings → General → About; below iOS 17 only PCalendar will install.
- Take 3 Chinese notice screenshots, compare the results and see whether the free tier shows ads.
- Take a PDF and see which app handles it; SnapCal only handles screenshots.
Moving over from Photo To Calendar | PCalendar, or using both
PCalendar syncs events to Google, Apple or Outlook calendars, so saved events need no migration. To switch to SnapCal, finish any unconfirmed events in PCalendar first, then install SnapCal and use the share sheet for new screenshots. The two can coexist, and if your calendar is Outlook you can keep PCalendar for that part.
FAQ
Does PCalendar support Chinese?
Its store text lists 8 languages including Chinese, but the interface languages on the store page show English only. We have not tested how it reads Chinese screenshots and make no claim.
Does PCalendar need a subscription?
It is free to download; the subscription covers ad removal, more accurate detection and .ics export. The price is not stated on the page, so we mark it not verified.
Is PCalendar still updated?
The store page shows version 1.0 (2025-09-27). We state that fact and make no claim about maintenance.
How should I choose?
Older iPhone, Outlook or PDFs: PCalendar. iOS 17 or later, Chinese screenshots or Feishu Calendar: SnapCal.
Sources and check dates
- Photo To Calendar | PCalendar App Store 页面（美区，Apple iTunes Lookup 读取） (checked 2026-10-16)
