If you don't use Gmail for email but need to sync Outlook Calendar with a smartphone, Outlook.com is an option. If you own your own domain name, Office 365 hosted Exchange offers a much better sync experience.
At this time, the only way to sync a calendar between Outlook (Windows desktop) and free Gmail email accounts that syncs both ways and allows you to create events in Outlook is using a utility. If you only need to view a calendar in Outlook and won't be adding appointments to it, you can subscribe the Google calendar in Outlook's File, Account Settings, Subscribed Calendars. This creates a read-only calendar in Outlook! (It also triggers send and receive errors which are harmless but annoying.)
Sync Outlook to Google Calendar, Contacts, Tasks! Two-way sync is enabled by default, or choose one way sync. Set the Auto Sync feature for every 15 minutes or manually sync on your own. Outlook Categories map to Google Groups One user-license is valid on up to 3 PCs. Free Trial Available.G-Suite subscribers can use a sync utility provided by Google.
Microsoft is working on a "Microsoft Cloud" solution that will sync Gmail calendar & Contacts to Outlook using a Microsoft Exchange account. It is available in Outlook 2016 for Mac and the Outlook app for smartphones but is not yet available in Outlook for Windows.
You can use one of the following utilities to sync your Outlook calendar (and contacts) with Gmail.
Tools in the Spotlight
CompanionLink for Google
 | Do you need a solution to sync Outlook and Gmail Calendar and Contacts when Gmail ends ActiveSync? CompanionLink keeps Microsoft Outlook and your Google account synchronized. Make changes in Outlook and those will update your Google account. And vice versa. Set the auto-sync feature to automate the entire process. CompanionLink works with any Google, Gmail, or Google Apps account. |
| Companionlink for Outlook
| CompanionLink synchronizes Outlook data with phones and other supported desktop applications and web-based services (like Google). Companionlink supports all versions of Outlook, including Outlook 2013 32-bit and 64-bit, and Windows 10. Version 9 |
Tools
| 4Team Sync2 for Outlook | Sync Outlook using Sync2 for Microsoft Outlook without a server. Sync Microsoft Outlook with Google Calendar, and Android phone. Synchronize Microsoft Outlook between multiple PCs using an external USB device, shared network folder of FTP. Share Outlook Calendar with Google Calendars. Sync Outlook Calendar, Contacts and Tasks folders. Includes improved product installation process and first start user experience. The update comes with improved performance of the software. Try the new Sync2 2.86 version now. |
| AkrutoSync | Use AkrutoSync to synchronize your Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes directly with any Android, iOS (iPhone or iPad) or Windows Phone devices. AkrutoSync runs on your computer, not in the cloud. The program works with the phone's built-in apps, so there are no additional apps to install on the phone. After the initial set-up, the program syncs automatically. It works over Wi-Fi or the Internet. Akruto syncs Outlook with unlimited number of phones and tablets even if they are different brands and operating systems. Synchronization history feature lets you restore data if you change or delete something inadvertently. |
| Calendar Sync for Outlook and Google Calendar | Software to sync Outlook Calendar appointments with Google Calendar events. Allows you to sync one-way with either Outlook or Google as master as well as 2way sync by last changed appointments/events. Option to schedule a sync at regular intervals. |
| CompanionLink for Mac | CompanionLink for Mac keeps Outlook for Mac contacts, calendars, tasks, and categories synchronized with either a Google account, smartphone, or tablet. You can choose your destination in the Settings menu of the software. Two-way direct sync. |
| Contacts Sync for Outlook and Google Contacts | Contacts Sync - Synchronize Outlook Contacts with Gmail - Freeware and Pro version. 2way contacts sync, sync Outlook Categories, pictures, notes, sync by last changed contact, skip Outlook Category, sync Outlook Contacts to 2 Gmail accounts, Preview Sync with option to download entire Outlook/Gmail contact list as single CSV file and more. |
| EVO Collaborator for Outlook | EVO Collaborator for Outlook is a CardDAV and CalDAV add-in supporting 32- and 64-bit Outlook 2007 to 2013. Sync Outlook address books with CardDAV servers and calendars and tasks with CalDAV servers. Works with SabreDAV-based WebDAV servers, iCloud and Yahoo and AOL (in read only mode). Map Outlook's default address book, calendar or task within a CardDAV/CalDAV profile. Download EVO Collaborator for Outlook |
| GO Contact Sync Mod | GO Contact Sync Mod synchronizes your Microsoft Outlook contacts with your Google Mail address book, including pictures, categories and notes. Since version 3.5.6 it also syncs your Outlook Notes on demand to Google Drive. Since version 3.7.0 it also syncs your Outlook Calendar Appointments on demand to Google Calendar. This Mod fork adds many enhancements and bug fixes to the obviously dead project 'Go Contact Sync'. |
| gSyncit | gSyncit is an Outlook add-in that allows for two-way synchronization between Outlook calendars, contacts, notes, and tasks with your Google, iCloud, AOL, Fruxx, Yahoo, Memotoo and many other "DAV" enabled services. Also includes support for syncing attachments for calendar events. Works with Microsoft Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or Office 365 (Desktop Client) on Windows 7 and newer. |
| OggSync | Sync Google calendars and contacts with Outlook. Requires yearly subscription. |
| Outlook CalDav Synchronizer | Outlook CalDav Synchronizer is a free Outlook Plugin, which synchronizes events, tasks and contacts between Outlook and Google, SOGo, Nextcloud or any other CalDAV or CardDAV server. Supported Outlook versions are Office 365, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007. |
| Outlook Google Calendar Sync | Outlook Google Calendar Sync is completely free and syncs between any Outlook calendar and a Google calendar of your choice - either in a single direction or two-way. Attendees, reminders, free/busy attributes are all synced, events can be merged with existing if necessary, and even words in calendar subject's can be obfuscated if you have security concerns. Syncs can be configured on an automatic schedule, or simply upon request. It does not need to be installed (can just be unzipped) and works behind web proxies. Supports Outlook 2003 right through to Outlook 2016 64-bit! |
| Outlook4Gmail | Outlook4Gmail is a free Outlook add-in providing easy contacts synchronization of your Outlook and Gmail accounts and address books.This add-in uses these Outlook and Gmail contact details: Name, Company, Phones, Emails, Addresses, Dates, Persons, Notes, etc. You define the direction of synchronization/update: you can sync or update either the Outlook or the Gmail address book (one-way synchronization) or choose to update both accounts simultaneously (two-way synchronization). Paid version syncs Gmail calendar too. |
| Topalt Sync for Google and iCloud | Automatically synchronize your Outlook calendar and contacts with Google or iCloud. Access Outlook calendar and contacts on your Android phone or iPhone/iPad. |
You can create a Gmail account using your email address, then sync your Outlook calendar with the Gmail calendar and Android devices.
More Information
Additional articles on using Gmail with Outlook
Per Support at Outlook for Android, the "Microsoft Cloud" sync solution mentioned in the story above for adding internet calendar sync to Office 365 Exchange customers is currently rolling out. Presently (03/25/2018) it is not yet available on the servers for my domain, but the rollout is expected to be completed "in a few weeks." Please join me in prayer. :-) - JBD
Yeah, they are slowly adding accounts to the Microsoft Cloud, in part because it's considered a beta service.
It's not expected to be offered to Outlook windows desktop users for months though, in part because of the sheer number of users and making sure the service can handle the volume.
Hi, I have an office 365 account using my own domain. How can I check if my account has the "Microsoft cloud " ?
If you have a custom domain hosted in either outlook.com using their custom domain program or in a business account in office 365, it is in the microsoft cloud.
Gmail/ google accounts would be the only thing using the 'microsoft cloud' at this time - to bring calendar & contact sync to mobile devices and mac outlook.
Hello, Diane. For personal accounts and devices... I am moving (sigh) from WP to Android, as generic as possible. I use Outlook 2010 on 2 PCs. I have at least 1 Outlook.com account, where my contacts, etc. are sometimes successfully synced with my desktop and WP, and other email accounts that do not require syncing other than mail. I plan to use my Outlook.com account as primary on my Android, with no GMail account (rebel). I do not require real-time sync, although syncing via Outlook.com will probably do that. I've narrowed down to CompanionLink, AkrutoSync, as I am more looking to sync Outlook/Office to Android than to Google. I have already installed Outlook for Android. Most discussions are related to Google sync. Muchas Gracias.
if you have outlook.com account, you don't need anything to sync - set the account up in outlook (autoaccount setup will add it as an exchange account) and add it to the android - if using the native app, choose exchange account type and outlook.office365.com if asked.
Hi Diane, I work for an educational non-profit that currently uses MS Outlook (2010, 2013, 2016, 2011 for Mac and 2016 for Mac) and would like to start using Google Calendar for their calendaring solution. We are looking for a calendar sync solution so that folks can still use their Outlook calendar to interface, two way sync, with Google Calendars. We currently have G Suite for Non-Profit (Education) and we also have a number of Mac users that we need to accommodate. We need a calendar sync solution for around 60 employees. Can you recommend a calendar sync solution for this situation?
companionlink will likely work best right now, but microsoft is working on a solution that syncs gmail calendar & contacts via the Microsoft cloud. It's in early testing and likely won't be widely available for 6 months (or more).
Almost 1.5 years later....
for the Microsoft cloud? It's enabled in Mac and the mobile devices, plus windows 10 mail, but the sheer numbers of outlook desktop uses with Gmail accounts means they need to be 00% sure the backend can handle the traffic.
Hi Diane, I recently retired and migrated off of a hosted MS Exchange 2010 account that synced with my desktop and also with my Android phone (via ActiveSync). Emails, calendar, contacts, etc. worked perfectly in every direction. Now I have an account on Outlook.com and my personal Win 8.1 PC has the Office 2013 retail client that includes Outlook 2013. I have a new Android phone (GS7-not the jihad/Note version), which is registered with a Google account. The PC’s Outlook syncs with the Outlook.com account OK. However, I’ve been struggling with how to get the same level of functionality on the phone without opening Outlook.com on a phone browser. I tried the Play Store’s MS Outlook for Android but it was very wanting (although MS is updating it frequently). It has nowhere near the full functionality of PC Outlook. Email is ok, but contacts, etc. is bad. Many calls to MS support proved that. I’ve searched several web sites for a solution, but most of the postings dated into 2015 and earlier. I would greatly appreciate suggestions of how to set up the phone to work seamlessly with Outlook and have the same functionality. At this time, I would like… Read more »
There is no client for Android (or Apple) that offers the full functionality of the rich desktop client. Your options are either the native email app or the outlook app. Main difference is the outlook app hase calendar & people in one app with mail, not individual apps.
With Outlook.com on the new server, set up the account as Exchange (sometimes called Corporate). If asked for a server name, use outlook.office365.com.
Setting up an Outlook.com mail which then retrieves the mail for you own mail. The outlook.com mail is sync with Outlook on you PC as well as any given mail system on your phone. This is a robust setup, which allows you to add and edit, mail, calendar, contacts on PC, Outlook.com and phone. The only drawback is that 5-10 min delay from Outlook receives mail form your initial mail system.
Hi Soren, My experiences with Outlook.com through September were not that good. It did not handle contacts or contact edits well at all. Have you been able to make it sync contacts both ways from an Android?
The calendar & contacts should sync both ways. Is mail syncing?
I am looking for the best way to sync Calendar & Contact & Tasks of Outlook 2016 on my PC with my iphone and other PCs.
My main email address is IMAP (not Exchange Active Sync), therefore I am looking for an external solution.
I am considering two options: 1/Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook® (paid) and 2/iCloud (free)
Is one of them to be preferred, and for which reasons?
With iphones, i generally recommend sticking with the apple solution but if your email address is google, then I'd use a utility that syncs outlook to gmail.
Icloud is another option. If you create an mail account with Apple, you can sync your Android over the Icloud sky. This only requires that you download Apples Icluod app to your computer and i.e Icould sync to your Android.
I just discovered IQTELL. It seems to work great, and the basic version is free. It will sync up to five emails, including Gmail and Outlook, and calendars, etc., for about $5 a month. I am in the 30-day free trial period but so far it is exceeding expectations.