The best digital planners for 2026–2027 (apps and PDF planners)
Hyperlinked PDF planners you write in by hand, and planner apps you type into, for iPad, Android tablets and e-ink tablets. Here's what each one is good at, what it costs and which device it suits.
Last updated How we compared
We make one of the planners on this list. Custom Digital Planner is our product and is marked “Our product” wherever it appears. None of the links on this page are affiliate links. We compared everything from public information (official sites, app store listings and launch announcements) rather than months of hands-on testing, and prices are as listed on November 5, 2026.
The quick answer
- Best overall ready-made plannerPassion Planner DigitalDated 2027, mid-year and student editions, with a free sample to try first.
- Best for iPadGoodNotes 6 with a hyperlinked PDF plannerHandles big planner PDFs and follows their links. Pair it with any planner below.
- Best for AndroidHappy Downloads in PenlyLow-cost bundles with explicit Penly support for Samsung tablets.
- Best for e-inkPlanner WizardFree, e-ink-first planners for reMarkable, Boox, Supernote and Kindle Scribe.
- Best for ADHDTiimoA visual timeline with timers, co-designed with ADHD and autism experts.
- Best for studentsNotabilityLecture audio and notes in one app, now with a one-time purchase option.
- Best free optionGoogle Calendar, or a free PDF sampleFree and everywhere. Passion Planner and Happy Downloads both offer free PDF planners.
- Best custom plannerCustom Digital Planner (ours)Your niche, dates, device and goals in a hyperlinked PDF. Preview free.
PDF planners for note apps
- PDF plannerOur product
Custom Digital Planner
A planner builder that makes a hyperlinked PDF to your spec
This is our product, so weigh what we say accordingly. Instead of buying a finished design, you choose one of 39 planner types (ADHD, teacher, budget, wedding and so on), the start month, 12 or 18 months, dated or undated, your device size, a theme and the sections you want. If you type a goal, AI writes a milestone for each month and an action for each week onto those pages. You can flip through the whole planner in your browser, watermarked, before paying.
Best for: People who want their own layout, dates and goals rather than a fixed design
- Price
- $9 per planner, or $29/year for unlimited planners
- Devices
- iPad, Android tablets and e-ink tablets, plus A4, A5, US Letter and Half Letter print sizes
- Links and tabs
- Yes: side tabs, calendar dates, weeks and a PDF outline
- Dated or undated
- Both, starting any month
- Free option
- Free watermarked preview of the whole planner; no free clean download
Good
- Sized for the device you choose, including e-ink and Android
- Any start month, so mid-year and academic planners work
- Change it and download again; regenerate for next year at no extra cost
Keep in mind
- Generated layouts, not hand-drawn designer pages
- Sticker books come with Pro and Seller, not the single planner
- PDF planner
Passion Planner Digital
Digital editions of the long-running paper planner
Passion Planner sells PDF versions of its paper planner layouts, with dated 2026 and 2027 editions, mid-year 2026–2027 and student 2026–2027 versions, and undated ones. It recommends GoodNotes, Notability and Xodo, and Noteshelf for Android tablets. There are free undated samples, which are a good way to see whether the layout suits you.
Best for: People who already like the Passion Planner paper layout
- Price
- About $40 per bundle on its site in November 2026
- Devices
- iPad and Android PDF apps; designed and mainly tested on iPad with GoodNotes
- Links and tabs
- Yes, the planners are sold as hyperlinked PDFs
- Dated or undated
- Both, plus mid-year and student editions
- Free option
- Free undated weekly and daily samples
Good
- Established, well-known layout
- Dated 2027, mid-year and student editions
- Free sample to try first
Keep in mind
- One of the pricier ready-made options
- Fixed layout; you can't remove sections
- PDF planner
Happy Downloads
A shop of digital planner bundles and stickers
Happy Downloads sells planner bundles (student, work, mom and more), sticker packs and other digital stationery. It supports GoodNotes, Notability, Noteshelf and Xodo, recommends Penly on Android, and has OneNote planners for Windows. Planners come dated or undated, and there's a free planner with dated monthly and weekly pages.
Best for: A low-cost ready-made planner, especially on Android with Penly
- Price
- Planner bundles listed at $12.99 in November 2026
- Devices
- iPad and Android PDF apps, plus OneNote versions
- Links and tabs
- Yes
- Dated or undated
- Both
- Free option
- A free planner with dated monthly and weekly pages, and free stickers by newsletter
Good
- Low price
- Android (Penly) and OneNote options
- Free planner to try
Keep in mind
- E-ink tablets aren't mentioned
- Ready-made layouts, so no custom sections
- PDF planner
The Dailee
Dated iPad planners made for GoodNotes
The Dailee makes dated GoodNotes planners for students, teachers and general use. Its 2026–2027 student weekly planner, for example, runs August 2026 to July 2027 with hyperlinked tabs and weekly spreads. The shop says its planners are designed and tested for iPad and it can't guarantee them on Android.
Best for: iPad and GoodNotes users who want a dated academic-year planner
- Price
- One-time purchase; the 2026–2027 student weekly planner was $18 in November 2026
- Devices
- iPad with GoodNotes
- Links and tabs
- Yes
- Dated or undated
- Mostly dated, with an undated option
- Free option
- No free planner found
Good
- Clear academic-year dating
- Made and tested for GoodNotes
Keep in mind
- iPad only, by the shop's own description
- GoodNotes is required
- PDF planner
My Remarkably Organized Planner Wizard
A web builder for hyperlinked e-ink planners
An independent web tool that generates hyperlinked PDF planners sized for e-ink screens: reMarkable, Boox, Supernote and Kindle Scribe. The core builder is free with no watermark. A paid Pro tier adds more templates and themes, custom time ranges and calendar syncing.
Best for: E-ink tablet owners who want a free, e-ink-first planner
- Price
- Free core builder; paid Pro tier (price not listed on its launch page)
- Devices
- reMarkable, Boox, Supernote, Kindle Scribe
- Links and tabs
- Yes
- Dated or undated
- Not stated on the page we checked
- Free option
- Yes, the core builder
Good
- Built for e-ink from the start
- Free without a watermark
Keep in mind
- E-ink only
- Pro pricing isn't published on the page we checked
- PDF planner
Etsy planner shops
Thousands of independent sellers
Etsy has the widest choice of digital planner designs, from minimalist to heavily decorated, usually as one-time downloads. Quality varies a lot between shops. Before you buy, check the listing names your app and tablet, that it's dated for the year you need (or undated), and read recent reviews that mention the links.
Best for: Finding a particular look or a very specific niche
- Price
- Varies by shop; usually a one-time purchase
- Devices
- Varies; check each listing
- Links and tabs
- Usually; check the listing
- Dated or undated
- Both
- Free option
- Some sellers offer free samples
Good
- Huge range of styles
- Small sellers and unusual niches
Keep in mind
- Quality and link testing vary by shop
- Device sizes vary, so check before buying
Planner apps, and the apps that host PDF planners
- App
GoodNotes 6
A handwriting note app, and the most common home for PDF planners
GoodNotes isn't a planner by itself; it's where most people use a PDF planner on iPad. It imports large PDFs, follows the planner's internal links in read-only mode, and has good pens, a lasso tool and stickers. It also runs on iPhone and Mac, and has Android, Windows and web versions.
Best for: Using a hyperlinked PDF planner on iPad
- Price
- Free tier with a limited number of notebooks; paid as an annual subscription or one-time purchase
- Devices
- iPad, iPhone, Mac; also Android, Windows and web
- Navigation
- Follows PDF links in read-only mode
- Dated or undated
- Depends on the PDF you import
- Free option
- Free tier
Good
- Handles big planner PDFs
- Strong pen and sticker tools
Keep in mind
- Paid plan needed beyond the free notebook limit
- App
Notability
A note app with audio recording, also used for PDF planners
Notability is popular with students because it records audio alongside handwritten notes. It opens PDF planners and follows their links when you're not writing. In July 2026 it brought back a one-time purchase option (Classic) next to its free Starter tier and Lite, Plus and Pro subscriptions.
Best for: Students who want lecture notes and a planner in one app
- Price
- Free Starter tier; Lite, Plus and Pro subscriptions; Classic one-time purchase
- Devices
- iPad, iPhone, Mac; Android and web
- Navigation
- Follows PDF links when you're not writing
- Dated or undated
- Depends on the PDF you import
- Free option
- Free Starter tier
Good
- Audio recording synced to notes
- One-time purchase option again
Keep in mind
- Several plans to choose between
- App
Zinnia
A planner and journal app with stickers and templates
Zinnia is a self-contained planning and journaling app for Apple devices, with planner templates, trackers, stickers and washi tape, and new content added monthly. It can sync with Google Calendar, link between pages and import PDFs.
Best for: Decorative planning and journaling without managing PDF files
- Price
- Free with limited content; premium is a weekly, monthly or yearly subscription
- Devices
- iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Navigation
- Links between pages
- Dated or undated
- Both
- Free option
- Free version with limited content
Good
- Lots of decorative content
- Google Calendar sync
Keep in mind
- Apple devices only
- Most content needs the subscription
- App
Structured
A visual day planner built around a timeline
Structured lays your day out as a timeline of tasks and calendar events, which suits people who time-block. The basic app is free. Structured Pro is available monthly, yearly or as a lifetime purchase.
Best for: Time-blocking your day on your phone
- Price
- Free; Pro is monthly, yearly or a lifetime purchase
- Devices
- iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Android
- Navigation
- Not applicable (an app, not a PDF)
- Dated or undated
- Dated (a live calendar)
- Free option
- Free version
Good
- Clear visual timeline
- Lifetime purchase option
Keep in mind
- Typing, not handwriting
- App
Sunsama
A guided daily planner for work
Sunsama walks you through planning each day: it pulls in tasks from your calendar and work tools, helps you choose a realistic amount, then reviews the day with you. It's a paid tool aimed at professionals, with a 14-day free trial.
Best for: Professionals who plan work across several tools
- Price
- $17/month billed yearly or $22 month to month, in November 2026
- Devices
- Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
- Navigation
- Not applicable (an app, not a PDF)
- Dated or undated
- Dated (a live calendar)
- Free option
- 14-day free trial, no free plan
Good
- Daily planning and review ritual
- Pulls tasks from other tools
Keep in mind
- No free plan
- Built for work more than personal life
- App
Motion
An AI calendar that schedules your tasks for you
Motion takes your tasks, deadlines and meetings and builds a schedule automatically, rearranging it when plans change. It's subscription only, with a free trial and no free plan, and it's one of the more expensive tools here.
Best for: People who want software to decide when tasks happen
- Price
- Subscription; free trial, no free plan
- Devices
- Web, desktop, iOS and Android
- Navigation
- Not applicable (an app, not a PDF)
- Dated or undated
- Dated (a live calendar)
- Free option
- Free trial only
Good
- Automatic scheduling
- Works across devices
Keep in mind
- Higher price
- Less hands-on than a paper-style planner
- App
Tiimo
A visual planner designed with neurodivergent people
Tiimo shows your day as a colour-coded visual timeline with timers, and says it was co-designed with ADHD and autism experts. The basic planner is free; Tiimo Pro is a yearly subscription with a 7-day trial.
Best for: ADHD and autistic adults who plan better with visual timers
- Price
- Free basic planner; Pro is a yearly subscription
- Devices
- iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Android, plus a web version
- Navigation
- Not applicable (an app, not a PDF)
- Dated or undated
- Dated (a live calendar)
- Free option
- Free basic planner
Good
- Visual timeline and timers
- Designed with neurodivergent users
Keep in mind
- Many features need Pro
- App
Google Calendar
The free calendar most people already have
Google Calendar is free with a Google account and is hard to beat for shared schedules, reminders and invitations. It isn't a place to journal, track habits or write by hand, which is why many people pair it with a PDF planner. Our planners can export your goal milestones as a calendar (.ics) file to add to it.
Best for: Appointments, shared family or team calendars, reminders
- Price
- Free with a Google account
- Devices
- Web, Android, iPhone and iPad
- Navigation
- Not applicable (an app, not a PDF)
- Dated or undated
- Dated (a live calendar)
- Free option
- Free
Good
- Free and everywhere
- Sharing and reminders
Keep in mind
- No handwriting, habits or journaling
Comparison table
- Custom Digital PlannerPDF planner · ours
- Price:
- $9 per planner, or $29/year for unlimited planners
- Devices:
- iPad, Android tablets and e-ink tablets, plus A4, A5, US Letter and Half Letter print sizes
- Customisation:
- High: sections, dates, theme, cover, habits and goals
- Free option:
- Free watermarked preview of the whole planner; no free clean download
- Passion Planner DigitalPDF planner
- Price:
- About $40 per bundle on its site in November 2026
- Devices:
- iPad and Android PDF apps; designed and mainly tested on iPad with GoodNotes
- Customisation:
- Low: choose the edition and colourway
- Free option:
- Free undated weekly and daily samples
- Happy DownloadsPDF planner
- Price:
- Planner bundles listed at $12.99 in November 2026
- Devices:
- iPad and Android PDF apps, plus OneNote versions
- Customisation:
- Low: choose the bundle and style
- Free option:
- A free planner with dated monthly and weekly pages, and free stickers by newsletter
- The DaileePDF planner
- Price:
- One-time purchase; the 2026–2027 student weekly planner was $18 in November 2026
- Devices:
- iPad with GoodNotes
- Customisation:
- Low
- Free option:
- No free planner found
- My Remarkably Organized Planner WizardPDF planner
- Price:
- Free core builder; paid Pro tier (price not listed on its launch page)
- Devices:
- reMarkable, Boox, Supernote, Kindle Scribe
- Customisation:
- Free layouts, with more options in Pro
- Free option:
- Yes, the core builder
- Etsy planner shopsPDF planner
- Price:
- Varies by shop; usually a one-time purchase
- Devices:
- Varies; check each listing
- Customisation:
- Varies; some sellers make custom versions
- Free option:
- Some sellers offer free samples
- GoodNotes 6App
- Price:
- Free tier with a limited number of notebooks; paid as an annual subscription or one-time purchase
- Devices:
- iPad, iPhone, Mac; also Android, Windows and web
- Customisation:
- Depends on the PDF
- Free option:
- Free tier
- NotabilityApp
- Price:
- Free Starter tier; Lite, Plus and Pro subscriptions; Classic one-time purchase
- Devices:
- iPad, iPhone, Mac; Android and web
- Customisation:
- Depends on the PDF
- Free option:
- Free Starter tier
- ZinniaApp
- Price:
- Free with limited content; premium is a weekly, monthly or yearly subscription
- Devices:
- iPhone, iPad, Mac
- Customisation:
- Medium: templates and decoration
- Free option:
- Free version with limited content
- StructuredApp
- Price:
- Free; Pro is monthly, yearly or a lifetime purchase
- Devices:
- iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Android
- Customisation:
- Medium: colours, icons, routines
- Free option:
- Free version
- SunsamaApp
- Price:
- $17/month billed yearly or $22 month to month, in November 2026
- Devices:
- Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
- Customisation:
- Medium
- Free option:
- 14-day free trial, no free plan
- MotionApp
- Price:
- Subscription; free trial, no free plan
- Devices:
- Web, desktop, iOS and Android
- Customisation:
- Medium
- Free option:
- Free trial only
- TiimoApp
- Price:
- Free basic planner; Pro is a yearly subscription
- Devices:
- iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Android, plus a web version
- Customisation:
- Medium
- Free option:
- Free basic planner
- Google CalendarApp
- Price:
- Free with a Google account
- Devices:
- Web, Android, iPhone and iPad
- Customisation:
- Low
- Free option:
- Free
How we compared them
- 01
It works on the device you own
We checked which tablets and apps each product supports, from its own site or app store listing. A planner that's lovely on iPad but untested on Android isn't the best one for a Galaxy Tab.
- 02
Getting around is quick
For PDF planners, that means hyperlinked tabs and dates. For apps, it means a clear day and week view.
- 03
It covers the dates you need
We looked for 2027 calendar-year editions, mid-year and academic 2026–2027 options, and undated versions you can start any time.
- 04
The price is clear
We noted whether you pay once or subscribe. Prices are what each site showed on the date at the top of this page, and they change.
- 05
You can try it first
A free sample, free tier or trial counts for a lot when you can't hold a digital planner in your hands.
- 06
You can make it fit
How much you can change sections, dates, layout and look.
Which kind of planner suits your device
iPad
Use a PDF planner in GoodNotes or Notability with an Apple Pencil, or a planner app if you'd rather type. Choose a portrait or landscape planner to match how you hold the iPad.
Android tablet
Penly, Samsung Notes, Noteshelf, Flexcil and Xodo all open PDF planners. Galaxy tablets have a 16:10 screen, so an Android-sized planner fills it better than an iPad one.
E-ink tablet
reMarkable, Kindle Scribe, Boox and Supernote work best with a high-contrast black-and-white planner sized for their screens. Update the tablet's software before importing a linked PDF.
Phone and computer
On a phone or laptop, a planner app usually beats a PDF: Structured, Tiimo, Sunsama and Google Calendar are all built for small screens and typing.
Paper
If you'd rather write on real paper, many digital planners, including ours, also come as printable A4, A5, US Letter or Half Letter files.
Planners for a specific need
If you know what you're planning, start from a planner built for it. Each one opens with the right sections and can be changed in the builder. Planning for next year? See the 2027 digital planner or the 2026–2027 academic planner.
Questions about choosing a digital planner
What are the best digital planners?
It depends on your device and how you like to plan. For a ready-made hyperlinked PDF, Passion Planner Digital and Happy Downloads are good starting points, used inside GoodNotes or Notability. For apps, Structured and Tiimo suit visual day planning and Sunsama suits work planning. If you want your own layout and dates, a builder like ours makes one to your spec.
Is a digital planner worth it?
If you already carry a tablet and stylus, usually yes: one file holds years of pages, links jump straight to any date, and you can add pages or stickers without buying refills. If you don't own a tablet, a paper planner or a free calendar app is cheaper. Our digital vs paper planner guide goes through the trade-offs.
Are there free digital planners?
Yes. Passion Planner offers free undated samples, Happy Downloads has a free planner with dated monthly and weekly pages, and the Planner Wizard's core e-ink builder is free. Google Calendar is free if you just need a schedule. Our builder lets you preview a full planner free, with a watermark; the clean download is paid.
What's the difference between a digital planner app and a PDF planner?
A PDF planner is a file of planner pages with clickable tabs that you write on by hand inside a note app like GoodNotes. A planner app is software with its own calendar, reminders and syncing, and you usually type. PDF planners feel closer to paper; apps are better at reminders and changing plans.
What's the best digital planner for iPad?
For handwriting, a hyperlinked PDF planner in GoodNotes 6 or Notability. Pick an iPad-sized file in portrait or landscape. See our iPad digital planner page for setup steps and app choices.
Can I use a digital planner on Android or Samsung tablets?
Yes. Penly, Samsung Notes, Noteshelf, Flexcil and Xodo open PDF planners, and most follow the links. Some shops design and test only for iPad, so check the listing says Android. Our Samsung Notes guide covers the details.
Do digital planners work on reMarkable or Kindle Scribe?
Yes, as PDFs. E-ink screens are black and white and redraw slowly, so choose a high-contrast planner sized for e-ink, and update the tablet before importing. See reMarkable planners and templates.
Should I get a dated or undated digital planner?
Dated planners save time because every date is filled in and linked. Undated ones let you start any day and skip weeks without wasting pages. If you want a dated planner that starts mid-year, choose one with a custom start month, like an academic 2026–2027 planner.
Want a planner built around you?
Pick your planner type, dates, device and goals, then flip through every page free before you pay.