There are two ways a scheduling tool can read your calendar: it can request full access and read every event's title and details, or it can use the free/busy API and see only when you're busy. The second is dramatically more private — and it's the only kind of access Cal Clear requests.
What the Free/Busy API Is
Google Calendar (and other providers) expose a free/busy endpoint that returns time ranges marked "busy" without any event content. A tool asking "is this person free Tuesday at 2pm?" gets a yes or no — not the meeting's title, attendees, location, or notes.
Why It's the Privacy-Right Choice
Full calendar read access means the vendor could see that your 2pm is "Divorce consultation — J. Smith" or "Oncology follow-up." Free/busy access means they see only that 2pm is taken. For anyone whose calendar names clients, patients, or sensitive matters, that distinction is everything. See OAuth scope audit.
How Cal Clear Uses It
Cal Clear requests free/busy scope only, across every calendar you connect. To build your availability, it merges the busy ranges from all your accounts and offers the gaps. It genuinely cannot read your event details — the permission to do so was never granted. This is what makes real-time conflict detection both accurate and private.
Accurate and Confidential at Once
You don't trade reliability for privacy. Free/busy data is exactly what's needed to prevent double bookings — nothing more is required. Cal Clear proves you can have both.
See It Work
Sign in at Cal Clear, connect your calendars, and watch accurate availability appear without exposing a single event title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the free/busy API in scheduling?
It's a calendar endpoint that returns only when you're busy, without any event details. Cal Clear uses it so it can prevent double bookings without reading your event titles.
Can a free/busy-only tool read my meeting titles?
No. Free/busy access returns busy time ranges only — no titles, attendees, or notes. Cal Clear requests this scope exclusively.
Is free/busy scheduling as accurate as full access?
Yes. Preventing double bookings only requires knowing when you're busy, which is exactly what free/busy provides — with far better privacy.
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