OpenSlot vs Scheduling Polls (FindTime)
Scheduling Polls — the built-in Outlook feature that replaced FindTime — lets attendees vote on a shortlist of times. OpenSlot skips the voting round entirely: it computes when everyone is actually free and gives you the list. Both live in Outlook and both are aimed at meeting scheduling, which makes the difference in approach worth understanding before you pick.
Where Microsoft Scheduling Polls (FindTime) shines
- It's free and built into Outlook — nothing to install or pay for.
- Democratic scheduling: when the meeting time is genuinely a group decision, voting distributes the choice.
- Auto-books the meeting once votes agree, with holds on tentative times.
Where OpenSlot takes a different approach
- No voting round-trip: polls add days of latency while attendees vote (or forget to). A computed list needs zero cooperation from anyone.
- Works for external conversations: a poll asks outsiders to engage with a Microsoft voting page; a pasted list works in any email thread, to anyone.
- You stay in control: you offer the times; there's no risk the group votes for the slot you hated.
- Output is portable text — usable in chat, documents, and ticket systems, not just meeting invites.
Side by side
| Microsoft Scheduling Polls (FindTime) | OpenSlot | |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Attendees vote on candidate times | Computes actual free/busy overlap |
| Latency | Wait for votes | Instant |
| External recipients | Interact with a voting page | Read plain text in your email |
| Cost | Included in Microsoft 365 | Free plan; paid plans for teams |
| Control | Group picks | You offer the times |
| Output | A booked meeting | A paste-ready list (and then your meeting) |
The honest verdict
Choose Scheduling Polls for internal meetings where the time is a genuine group decision and nobody minds a voting round.
Choose OpenSlot when you want the answer now, when the recipient is external, or when the output needs to be text in a conversation rather than a poll.
Try the list approach
Every new OpenSlot account starts with 14 days of Pro — no card. Sign in with Microsoft, pick people, paste the times.
Try OpenSlot freeMicrosoft Scheduling Polls (FindTime) is a trademark of its owner; OpenSlot LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. Their product evolves — verify details and pricing on their own site. Comparison reflects our understanding as of August 2026.