Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. Guides

Do you need a Skylight Plus membership to use the Skylight Cal Max?

By
A person using the Skylight.
Skylight

If you’re looking for an easy way to organize all your tasks, the Skylight Cal Max is a great option. Along with serving as a digital calendar and picture frame, it lets you coordinate family chores and meal planning in one convenient location. Skylight offers a premium membership plan called Skylight Plus, which unlocks many of the best features of the Cal Max and its other product, the Skylight Frame. But do you need a Skylight Plus membership to use the Skylight Cal Max or Frame? Or can you use it for free without signing up for a subscription?

Here’s a rundown of what Skylight Plus unlocks, along with a look at whether owning the Skylight Cal Max is worth owning without a membership.

Recommended Videos

What does Skylight Plus unlock?

The Skylight Cal Max on a wall.
Jon Bitner / Digital Trends

Skylight Plus costs $39 per year, and it unlocks some of the best features of your Cal Max and Skylight Frame. Here’s a full rundown of everything offered by Skylight Plus.

  • Online access to view, download, or share via your desktop or smartphone app.
  • The ability to send greeting cards and doodles to the Cal max.
  • The option to create and view photo albums.
  • Remote control for Frame settings.
  • Cloud backup for your data.
  • Slideshow mirroring to view your galleries on any support device.
  • Sync more than one calendar.

If you own multiple Skylight devices, you’ll be glad to know that a single Skylight subscription works with all of them. Other members with access to these devices can also make use of your Skylight Plus membership, unlocking all the features for everyone connected to your gadgets.

Related

What can you do without a Skylight Plus membership?

The Skylight Cal Max installed on a wall.
Skylight

While you can still use your Skylight Cal Max or Frame without a Plus membership, you’ll be quite limited in what’s available. The big issue is that you can only sync one calendar to your Cal Max, which means family members won’t be able to each upload their own personal schedule. You can, however, continue to do the following on Cal Max for free:

  • Sync one online calendar.
  • Create Dinner Plans.
  • Create a Chore Chart.
  • Create Custom Lists.

If you’ll be using the Cal Max solo or with a small family, you might be able to get by without a Skylight Plus membership. But because so many convenience features are unlocked with the plan, most users will find the $39-per-year subscription to be a necessity.

If you’re using the Skylight Frame, you’ll only be able to send photos. That means you’re missing out on creating albums or accessing your device remotely — which are big selling points of the gadget.

In short, most users will find a Skylight Plus subscription to be a necessity. You can certainly still use your Frame or Cal Max without Skylight Plus, but expect to be limited in what you can do.

Editors’ Recommendations

Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Roborock S8 Max Ultra: Which is the better robot vacuum?
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra are two of the newest additions to the Roborock family. Along with having almost identical names, these robot vacuums share much of the same spec sheet -- including the ability to mop and vacuum in a single cycle before automatically emptying their dustbin and cleaning their mops. They're impressive gadgets by all accounts, but since they're wildly expensive, you'll want to carefully compare the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra before adding one to your home.

If you need help, here's a comprehensive look at these two premium robot vacuums, including a comparison of their vacuuming and mops skills, a look at their docking station perks, and a final determination of which is likely best for your needs. Keep in mind that you really can't go wrong with either product -- after all, they're two of the most expensive robots in the category -- but one might be a slightly better fit for your household than the other.
Pricing and availability

Read more
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Narwal Freo X Ultra: Which is the best premium robot vacuum?
Narwal Freo X Ultra with dock in home.

Few robot vacuums and mops are as well-rounded as the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Narwal Freo X Ultra. The two premium robots will vacuum and mop entirely on their own, before returning to their docks to automatically clean their mopheads and empty their dustbins. That sort of functionality doesn't come cheap, with both products carrying hefty price tags that'll put a big dent in your budget.

Because they're so expensive, you'll want to pay close attention to the differences between these two robot vacuums. Both are great additions to any household, but one might be a better fit for your needs than the other.

Read more
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo: Which premium robot vacuum is best?
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

Roborock and Ecovacs are two of the biggest names in the world of robot vacuums. The companies have been producing some of the best robot vacuum and mop combos for years, and that trend has continued into 2024 with the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo. Both are ultra-premium devices that clock in at over $1,000, and we awarded both of them impressive scores in our reviews. In short, it's hard to go wrong with either robot vacuum.

However, there are some key differences between the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo. From suction power and mopping skills to pricing and additional features, here's a comprehensive look at the two robot vacuums to help you decide which is best for your home.
Pricing and availability

Read more