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Custom Digital Planner
iPad

iPad digital planner, sized for your screen

A digital planner for iPad that you write in with an Apple Pencil, in the note app you already use. Every tab and date is linked, and you choose the planner type, start month, sections, theme and goals before you download.
Build an iPad plannerHow to import it

Portrait or landscape?

iPad portrait is a 3:4 page with side tabs, the classic digital planner. iPad landscape gives wide two-column pages, handy with a keyboard case or Split View. A 3:4 page fills 12.9- and 13-inch iPads exactly; on 11-inch models, the standard iPad and iPad mini, which have slightly taller screens, your app shows a thin margin or lets you zoom to fit. Both sizes are included in the price.

Compare every size and app
  • iPad — PortraitThe classic 3:4 iPad planner with clickable side tabs.GoodNotes, Notability, Noteshelf, Xodo, Collanote, ZoomNotes
  • iPad — LandscapeWide two-column spreads with a keyboard-friendly layout.GoodNotes, Notability, Noteshelf, Xodo
Step by step

How to set up a digital planner on iPad

The steps are much the same in every PDF note app.

  1. Choose a note app

    GoodNotes, Notability, Noteshelf, Xodo, Collanote and ZoomNotes all open hyperlinked PDF planners. If you don't have one yet, GoodNotes and Notability are the most popular for planning.

  2. Download the planner on the iPad

    Download the PDF in Safari. It's saved to the Downloads folder in the Files app. From a computer, AirDrop it or use iCloud Drive.

  3. Open it in your app

    In Files, press and hold the PDF, tap Share and choose your note app. Import it as a new notebook rather than adding it to an existing one.

  4. Use links outside pen mode

    Most apps follow links when you're not writing. Switch to read or view mode to tap tabs and dates, or tap with your finger if your app is set so only the Apple Pencil draws.

  5. Write, then keep a backup

    Pick two or three pens and one highlighter per colour meaning, and turn on your app's iCloud backup. Keep the original PDF in case you need to re-import it.

Which iPad app to use

Any PDF annotation app that follows internal PDF links will work. The main differences are the pens and extras:

  • GoodNotes: the most common choice for planners, with strong pen tools, a lasso and stickers. See GoodNotes digital planners.
  • Notability: good for students, since it records audio alongside your notes.
  • Noteshelf: also on Android, so it suits people who switch between tablets.
  • Xodo: a full PDF viewer and annotator.
  • Collanote and ZoomNotes: other iPad note apps that open hyperlinked PDFs.

Every tab, month, date and week label is a link to another page in the same PDF. Apps follow them when you're not in pen mode. If a tap leaves a dot instead of jumping, switch to read or view mode. Our planners also include a PDF outline, which most apps show in their page or bookmark view.

To remove a section, switch it off in the builder and download again, rather than deleting pages in the app, which can break the links that point to them.

Dark mode on iPad

If you plan in the evening, a dark planner reduces glare: choose Dark Academia, Midnight Neon or Charcoal Minimal and write with light ink. App-level dark modes usually only darken the toolbars. The dark mode guide covers writing and highlighting on dark pages.

Planner types

Every planner type for iPad

Pick a planner type to see its pages. Every one comes in iPad portrait and landscape.
Questions

iPad planner questions

Still stuck? Ask us and we'll help.

What's the best digital planner for iPad?

For handwriting, a hyperlinked PDF planner in GoodNotes or Notability. Which planner depends on what you're planning; our roundup of the best digital planners compares ready-made planners, planner apps and builders.

Do I need an Apple Pencil?

Any stylus that works with your iPad and note app will do. The Apple Pencil gives the best writing feel and palm rejection, but you can also type into most note apps.

Which iPads does it work on?

Any iPad that runs a PDF note app such as GoodNotes or Notability. The 3:4 iPad size fits every model; on iPads with slightly taller screens you'll see a thin margin.

Is there a free iPad planner?

You can build a full planner and flip through every page free in your browser, with a watermark. The clean PDF is a paid download. Other makers' free planners are listed in our roundup.

Can I use the planner on my iPhone too?

If your note app syncs between devices, like GoodNotes or Notability with iCloud, you can open the same planner on your iPhone. The pages are sized for a tablet, so it's best for quick checks on a phone.

Can I get a dated 2027 iPad planner?

Yes. Start it in January 2027, or any other month, and choose 12 or 18 months. See the 2027 digital planner.

Make your iPad planner.

Choose the planner type, dates, sections and goals, then flip through every page free before you pay.

Build an iPad plannerCompare planners