Operations
Part of What a Content Calendar Template Should Include
Free content calendar templates: HubSpot's file formats against Asana's project template
Free content calendar templates compared: HubSpot's Excel, Google Sheets and Google Calendar files against Asana's free editorial project, with the fields each one names, the plan questions and the checks to run before adopting either one.
What to take away
- Start with HubSpot's spreadsheet files if two to five people own one file. Start with Asana's template if the calendar must assign tasks and hold approvals in one tool.
- HubSpot's editorial calendar comes as an Excel file, a Google Sheets version and a Google Calendar version, behind a download form.
- Asana's editorial calendar is a free project template built on custom fields, not a file.
- Approvals and guest access depend on the Asana plan. Third-party comparisons place approvals on the Advanced plan, so check Asana's pricing page before you commit.
Which resource fits which team
Start with HubSpot's spreadsheet files if your team is small and already works in a sheet. Start with Asana's editorial calendar if the calendar has to assign work, hold approvals and show owners in one place.
Both starting points were checked on 17 October 2026, against Asana's template page and against third-party guides to the HubSpot files. Neither was tested by importing a live calendar, so run the sample test below before you adopt either one.
Free content calendar templates shorten the blank-page stage. For the field list to keep, read what a content calendar template should include.
What each free resource contains
| Team and situation | Resource | Where to find it | Confirm before adopting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two to five people, one file owner | HubSpot editorial calendar | HubSpot Resources, Templates, search 'editorial calendar' | Download form fields, sharing permissions and link durability, none of which were checked on the file itself |
| Production team with approvals and handovers | Asana editorial calendar | Asana template gallery, search 'editorial calendar' | The plan that includes approvals, the guest limit, the approval field values, export, and behavior after a downgrade |
| Any team keeping a permanent record | Your own master | Built from either starting point | Evidence, rights, access, upkeep |
Asana's editorial calendar is a project template, not a file. Its template page lists these custom fields: post due date and related assets, primary channel, content status, content type, approval status and publish date. It names Calendar View, and gives "not started", "in review" and "ready to publish" as examples of content status. The page does not list every value, so check the copy in your own workspace.
HubSpot's package comes as an Excel file, a Google Sheets version and a Google Calendar version, with setup instructions. Third-party guides list the columns differently. One lists author, deadline and promotional channel. Another lists content title, author, due date, publish date and target keywords. Read the headers of the file you download, not these lists. The same guides describe the files as static, with no automation or automatic sync.
Asana template fields to verify
- Signup and exact plan
- Project views and custom fields
- Tasks, owners, channels
- Approval status and production steps
- Publication dates and external access
- Export and maintenance controls
HubSpot file formats at a glance
Format
- Excel
- Spreadsheet editing
- Google Sheets
- Collaborative editing
- Google Calendar
- Schedule view
Primary use
- Excel
- Formulas and validation
- Google Sheets
- Permissions and history
- Google Calendar
- Link durability
How to get each one
- HubSpotsearch HubSpot's Resources, Templates section for "editorial calendar", and choose the format you need.
- Complete the download form. Third-party guides report that it asks for a name and an email address, and that signing up also subscribes you to HubSpot's marketing emails.
- Open the file, check the sample rows for old dates, and update or delete them.
- Asanain your workspace's template gallery, search "editorial calendar" and add the project to a test team. The template page asks you to sign up before you use it.
- Check your plan before inviting anyone from outside the team.
Write your own field list before you copy either structure.
Plan tiers, not prices
Asana's template page does not name the plan needed for approvals or guests. It links to Asana's general pricing page. Third-party comparisons place approvals on the Advanced plan and unlimited free guests on Starter. Those comparisons were not checked against Asana's own pricing page, so confirm both points there.
This article gives no Asana prices. HubSpot's templates are free downloads. Their real cost is the staff time to keep them current. No source measures that time, so run your own four-week test.
Setup and upkeep
Setup means importing fields, deleting sample rows and writing your own status values. Upkeep means adding items and chasing owners.
As a starting point, this article suggests one named owner with edit rights plus a backup, a short review slot each week, and one shared set of status values. These are recommendations, not measured figures.
Test a sample before you adopt either one
Run one sample through each template: an update, a launch, a creator partnership, a translation and an expired asset. Score how each handles ownership, approvals and dates.
Export the sample and confirm that IDs, dates, links, status values and non-Latin text survive the export.
Common questions
Which one should a two-person team start with?
HubSpot's spreadsheet files. The download is free, and the file stays yours if you change tools later.
What does 'free' exclude?
The download itself is free. HubSpot asks for an email address, Asana's approval features depend on the plan you choose, and your team's time is never free.
Can I export my data and leave later?
Test it before you commit real campaign data. Confirm that IDs, dates, links and status values survive the export.
