IFTTT (If This Then That) is one of the most well-known automation platforms. It has been around since 2010 and connects hundreds of apps through simple trigger-action workflows called Applets. If you are looking to automate your email-to-calendar workflow, IFTTT might be your first thought.
But there is a catch: IFTTT was not designed to handle .ics files. When it comes to parsing calendar attachments from emails and turning them into accurate Google Calendar events, IFTTT has some fundamental limitations. This article compares IFTTT and InboxProcess for this specific use case so you can make an informed decision.
How IFTTT Approaches Email-to-Calendar
IFTTT works with "Applets" — simple automations where one trigger causes one action. For email-to-calendar, a typical setup looks like this:
- Trigger: New email arrives in Gmail matching certain criteria (sender, subject, label).
- Action: Create a Google Calendar event.
The interface is clean and the setup is quick — much simpler than Zapier's multi-step workflows. But the simplicity comes with a significant trade-off.
The .ics Parsing Problem
IFTTT's Gmail trigger gives you access to email metadata: the sender, subject line, body text, and received timestamp. It does not give you access to the contents of attachments. This means IFTTT cannot read .ics files at all.
When IFTTT creates a calendar event from an email, it uses the email's subject line as the event title and the received timestamp as the event time. The actual event data inside the .ics file — the real event title, the correct date and time, the location, the duration — is ignored entirely.
Here is a concrete example. You receive a flight confirmation email:
- Email subject: "Your Booking Confirmation - Order #AB12345"
- Email received: February 15, 2026 at 3:42 PM
- .ics attachment contains: "Flight KL1234 AMS to LHR" on March 8, 2026 at 9:15 AM, Gate B22, Duration 1h15m
An IFTTT Applet would create a calendar event titled "Your Booking Confirmation - Order #AB12345" scheduled for February 15 at 3:42 PM. That is when you received the email, not when the flight departs. The event title is the email subject, not the flight details. The location, gate number, and duration are missing entirely.
This is not a useful calendar event. It is a reminder that you received an email, not a representation of the actual event you need to attend.
Limited Filtering
IFTTT's free tier allows you to create a small number of Applets with basic triggers. You can filter by sender or subject keywords, but you cannot add conditions like "only trigger if the email has an attachment" or "only trigger if the attachment is a .ics file." This means every email from a particular sender triggers the Applet, even emails that are not calendar-related (marketing emails, receipts, account notifications).
IFTTT Pro ($3.49/month) and Pro+ ($14.99/month) unlock more Applets and some additional features, but they do not add .ics file parsing. The fundamental limitation remains regardless of the plan.
Execution Speed
IFTTT checks for new triggers on a polling schedule. On the free plan, this can be up to 15 minutes between checks. On Pro plans, it checks more frequently but still not in real time. If you forward a calendar email at 2:00 PM, the event might not appear on your calendar until 2:15 PM.
For most calendar events this delay is fine — a flight next week does not need to appear on your calendar within seconds. But for last-minute meeting invites or same-day reservations, a 15-minute delay can be the difference between showing up on time and missing the event.
How InboxProcess Approaches Email-to-Calendar
InboxProcess is built around a single capability: parsing .ics files from forwarded emails and creating accurate Google Calendar events. There is no trigger/action configuration, no Applet setup, and no workflow to design.
- Forward an email with a
.icsattachment to your InboxProcess address. - InboxProcess parses the .ics file, extracting the event title, date, time, duration, location, and description.
- The event appears on your Google Calendar with all the correct details.
Using the same flight example from above, InboxProcess would create a calendar event titled "Flight KL1234 AMS to LHR" on March 8, 2026 at 9:15 AM, with the location set to Gate B22 and a duration of 1 hour 15 minutes. That is the actual event — the one you need on your calendar.
Purpose-Built .ics Parsing
The .ics format (iCalendar / RFC 5545) looks simple on the surface, but real-world .ics files vary significantly. Airlines, hotels, scheduling tools, and event platforms all generate .ics files differently:
- Timezone handling: Some systems specify timezones using VTIMEZONE components, others use UTC offsets, and some use the TZID property. InboxProcess handles all three approaches.
- Character encoding: Event titles and descriptions may use UTF-8, quoted-printable encoding, or base64. Different generators make different choices.
- Recurring events: Some
.icsfiles define single events, others define recurring events with RRULE patterns. InboxProcess parses both. - Multi-event files: A single
.icsfile can contain multiple events (common with trip itineraries that include flights, hotels, and car rentals). InboxProcess creates a calendar event for each one.
For a deeper look at all the ways .ics files can go wrong, see why .ics files don't always add to Google Calendar.
IFTTT does not deal with any of this because it does not read .ics files at all. InboxProcess handles these variations because it is the core of what the product does.
Immediate Processing
InboxProcess processes forwarded emails in real time — typically within a few seconds. There is no polling interval. When you forward an email (or when your auto-forwarding filter sends it), the event is on your calendar almost immediately.
Works With Any Email Provider
IFTTT's email triggers are limited to Gmail (and a few other providers through dedicated channels). If you use Outlook, Yahoo Mail, ProtonMail, or a custom email provider, your IFTTT options for email triggers are limited.
InboxProcess does not require an email trigger integration because it works through email forwarding. Any email provider that can forward emails — which is all of them — works with InboxProcess. You forward the email to your InboxProcess address, and it handles the rest.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | IFTTT | InboxProcess | |---|---|---| | .ics file parsing | Not supported | Full parsing (title, date, time, location, duration) | | Event accuracy | Uses email subject/timestamp | Uses actual event data from .ics | | Timezone handling | N/A | Full VTIMEZONE, UTC offset, and TZID support | | Multi-event .ics | N/A | Creates separate events for each | | Setup time | 5-10 minutes | Under 2 minutes | | Execution speed | Up to 15 min (free), faster on Pro | Seconds | | Email providers | Gmail (primarily) | Any (via forwarding) | | Free tier | Limited Applets | Available | | Paid plans | $3.49 - $14.99/mo | Affordable single-purpose pricing |
When IFTTT Is the Right Tool
IFTTT excels at simple automations that do not involve file parsing: turn on your smart lights when you get home, log phone calls to a spreadsheet, get a notification when a specific website updates. Its simplicity is a strength for straightforward trigger-action pairs.
For email-to-calendar, IFTTT can work as a very basic reminder system — "I got an email from this sender, create a placeholder event." If approximate timing and generic titles are good enough for your use case, IFTTT does the job at a low cost.
IFTTT is also the right choice if you want to build simple smart home automations alongside your calendar workflow. It has strong integrations with smart home devices, fitness trackers, and IoT platforms that InboxProcess does not cover.
When InboxProcess Is the Right Tool
If you need accurate calendar events from .ics files, InboxProcess is the clear choice. There is no workaround or hack that makes IFTTT parse .ics attachments — it simply does not have that capability. InboxProcess was built from the ground up for this specific problem.
InboxProcess is the better fit when:
- You receive booking confirmations with
.icsattachments (flights, hotels, restaurants, events). - You use scheduling tools (Calendly, Cal.com, SavvyCal) that send
.icsfiles. - You need accurate event times, titles, and locations on your calendar — not just reminders that an email arrived.
- You want it to work across email providers, not just Gmail.
The Bottom Line
IFTTT and InboxProcess solve different problems. IFTTT connects apps through simple triggers and actions but cannot parse email attachments. InboxProcess does one thing — turns .ics email attachments into Google Calendar events — and does it well. For a full feature-by-feature breakdown, visit our InboxProcess vs. IFTTT comparison page. If you are also evaluating Zapier, read our InboxProcess vs. Zapier comparison.
If your goal is to get accurate, complete calendar events from email .ics files onto your Google Calendar, InboxProcess is the right tool. Try it free and see how it works with your next ICS to Google Calendar automation.