What Doodle Does and How to Start
Doodle is a free online tool that lets you propose multiple dates or times, then sends a link to other people so they can vote on which option works best for them. Instead of trading messages back and forth to find a time everyone can meet, you create a poll once and share the link — people vote, and you see at a glance which slot has the most yeses.
You do not need a Doodle account to create a poll. Go to doodle.com, click the blue "Create a poll" button on the homepage, and choose "Find the best time" from the menu. That takes you to the poll builder.
The tool works in a web browser on any device — phone, tablet, or computer. Doodle also has mobile apps for iOS and Android, though the website version has all the same features.
Key Takeaways
- You create a Doodle poll by entering a title, adding multiple date and time options, and then sharing the link with others — no account required.
- Voters see all the options you propose and click yes, no, or maybe for each one, and you can see results in real time as people respond.
- The poll stays open as long as you leave it open; you can close it manually or set an automatic closing date when you create it.
- Doodle polls are not password-protected by default, so anyone with the link can vote — use the privacy settings if you want to limit who can see results.
Setting Up Your Poll Title and Description
After you click "Find the best time," the first screen asks for a title. This is what voters see at the top of the poll, so make it clear what you are scheduling — for example, "Team lunch on Tuesday" or "Project kickoff meeting." Keep it short and specific.
Below the title is an optional description field. Use this to add context: "We need to pick a time that works for the whole team" or "Please vote for all times you can make." This helps voters understand what they are voting on and why their response matters.
You can also add your name in the "Your name" field so voters know who created the poll. This is optional but helpful, especially if you are sending the poll to people who might not recognize your email address.
Adding Dates and Times to Your Poll
The next section is where you propose the actual options. Click "Add a date" and a calendar pops up. Select the first date you want to propose. Doodle shows you that date and gives you a text field to enter specific times.
Type the times you want to offer for that date. You can enter them however you want — "9am", "9:00 AM", "09:00" — and Doodle will understand. Press Enter or Tab after each time to add another one. For example, if you are scheduling a meeting on March 15, you might add "9am", "10am", and "2pm" as three separate options.
After you finish with one date, click "Add a date" again to propose a second date. Repeat until you have entered all the dates and times you want voters to choose from. Most polls have between 3 and 8 options total — too many options make it harder for people to decide.
You can delete any option by hovering over it and clicking the trash icon. You can also edit an option by clicking on it directly.
Choosing Who Can Vote and How They Vote
Before you share the poll, scroll down to the "Settings" section. Here you decide how voting works.
Under "Participants," you can choose whether voters need to enter their name before voting. The default is "Names required," which means each person types their name so you know who voted for what. If you select "Anonymous," people can vote without identifying themselves — useful if you want honest feedback without social pressure.
Under "Voting," you can choose between two response types. "Yes/No/Maybe" is the standard option: voters click yes, no, or maybe for each time slot. "Yes/No" removes the maybe option, which can be useful if you need a clear yes or no answer. Some polls use "Preference" mode instead, where voters rank the options from best to worst, but that is less common for scheduling.
You can also set a "Closing date" if you want the poll to stop accepting votes on a specific day. If you do not set one, the poll stays open until you manually close it.
Sharing Your Poll and Tracking Responses
Once you finish setting up, click "Create poll" at the bottom. Doodle generates a unique link to your poll — something like doodle.com/poll/abc123xyz. Copy this link and send it to the people you want to vote. You can paste it into an email, text message, Slack, or any other communication tool.
People who click the link see your poll title, description, and all the date and time options you proposed. They enter their name (if you required it), then click yes, no, or maybe for each option. When they are done, they click "Submit."
You can watch responses come in real time. Go back to your poll link anytime to see who has voted and what they chose. Doodle shows you a grid with each person's name down the left side and each time slot across the top, so you can spot which option has the most yeses at a glance.
Finding the Best Time and Closing the Poll
As votes come in, look for the time slot with the most "yes" responses. Doodle highlights the winning option in green. If there is a tie, you may need to pick between the tied options or propose a tiebreaker.
Once enough people have voted and you have found a time that works, you can close the poll. Click the three-dot menu on your poll page and select "Close poll." After you close it, no one can vote anymore, but people can still see the results.
You can also delete the poll entirely from that same menu if you no longer need it. Deleted polls cannot be recovered, so only do this if you are certain you will not need the results later.
After you pick the final time, send a follow-up message to all voters confirming the decision and any other details they need — like a meeting link, location, or what to bring.
Privacy and Security Considerations
Doodle polls are not password-protected by default. Anyone who has the link can see the poll and vote on it. If you are scheduling something sensitive or want to limit who can see the results, use the privacy settings.
In the Settings section, look for "Visibility." You can choose "Public" (anyone with the link can see it), "Unlisted" (only people you send the link to can find it), or "Private" (only you can see the results, though people can still vote). For most scheduling polls, "Unlisted" is the right choice — it keeps the poll out of search results but lets everyone you invited vote.
Doodle stores the names and votes you collect. If you are concerned about privacy, avoid using the poll for sensitive information. For routine scheduling — meetings, lunches, events — the default settings are fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit a poll after I share it?
Yes. You can add or remove time options, change the title or description, and adjust settings even after people have started voting. Any changes you make appear immediately for new voters, but people who already voted keep their original responses.
What if someone votes for a time they cannot actually make?
You can see each person's name next to their votes, so if someone votes yes for a time and then tells you they cannot make it, you can follow up with them directly. There is no way to lock votes or prevent changes once someone submits.
Do I need to create a Doodle account to make a poll?
No. You can create and share a poll without signing up. If you create an account, Doodle stores your polls so you can access them later, but it is not required to get your free guide.
Can I use Doodle for something other than scheduling meetings?
Yes. You can use Doodle to vote on restaurant choices, event dates, or any other decision where you want to propose multiple options and see which one most people prefer. The "Find the best time" poll type works best for scheduling, but the voting mechanism is flexible.
What happens to my poll data after I close it?
Closed polls stay on Doodle unless you delete them. If you created an account, you can access closed polls anytime. If you did not create an account, you can still view the poll as long as you have the link, but Doodle may delete it after a long period of inactivity — typically several months.