Finding the best daily planner apps can make a big difference in staying organized and on top of your tasks. These apps are designed to help you manage your day-to-day activities, set reminders, and keep track of important deadlines. With so many options available, it’s easy to find a planner app that fits your needs and preferences.
We’ve found and tested some of the best daily planner apps, focusing on those that offer a free trial or free plan. If you struggle to remember important tasks, using a daily planner—whether paper-based or a mobile app—can be a great way to stay on top of things.
We tested several daily planner apps, including Google Calendar, Amazing Marvin, Plaky, Notion, and Clockify. Our top pick is Google Calendar for its extensive features that helped us become more organized during testing.
In this article, we will explore some of the top-rated daily planner apps that offer features like task management, calendar integration, and customizable layouts.
Best Daily Planner Apps for Boosting Productivity
Looking for the best daily planner apps to boost your productivity? These apps are designed to help you manage tasks, set reminders, and organize your schedule efficiently. Whether you need to keep track of work projects, personal goals, or everyday tasks, these planner apps offer a variety of features to suit your needs.
Here’s the list of 5 best daily planner apps.
1. Google Calendar
Google Calendar is a popular scheduling tool that helps users organize their events, tasks, and appointments efficiently. The calendar has undergone a design update with the Material You aesthetic, which includes dynamic color theming and a cleaner layout for widgets. This redesign aims to provide a more cohesive and visually appealing user experience across Google services.
- Available for: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Wear OS
- Pricing: Free
Pros |
– Direct access for Gmail users to create events like meetings and tasks.<br>- Google Tasks tab for managing to-do lists, adding subtasks, and setting recurring tasks.<br>- Simple and intuitive interface with features like drag-and-drop, color-coding events, setting privacy, adding guests, and setting reminders. |
Cons |
– Can become overwhelming with too many events scheduled simultaneously.<br>- Does not support setting specific task durations, only start times. Requires creating events for specific end times. |
Best Feature |
Ability to subscribe to other people’s calendars, like teammates, to stay updated on their schedules. |
What’s New |
In October 2023, Google Calendar added an appointment scheduling feature for creating and sharing personal booking pages. They also improved large-scale meeting scheduling and enhanced the task view in the web version. |
2. Amazing Marvin
Amazing Marvin is a productivity app designed to help manage daily tasks and combat procrastination. It offers various productivity and motivation features that can be customized.
- Available for: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Pricing: $8/month (billed annually)
Pros
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Marvin excels at helping users organize their lives and stick to daily plans. It has a Today section for daily tasks, allows sorting tasks into different folders, and supports detailed task management with priorities, labels, time estimates, and recurring tasks.
The app also offers workflow customization, including strategies like the Eisenhower prioritization technique and the 1-3-5 day planning method.
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Cons |
It does not offer a free plan, and the mobile version can be less user-friendly compared to the browser version. |
Best Feature |
Gamification strategies help incentivize task completion and goal achievement. |
What’s New |
Version 1.63.0 introduced new strategies like Text Style and Mood Tracker, as well as Habit reminders and a variable tomato timer. |
3. Plaky
Plaky, a project management tool, has recently introduced several new features to enhance its functionality. These updates include the addition of a Gantt Timeline View, which provides a comprehensive visual representation of project timelines, allowing teams to manage tasks and coordinate more effectively. Additionally, Plaky has introduced private views, enabling users to customize their interfaces by selecting specific filters or criteria relevant to their tasks.
Available for: Web, iOS, Android
Pricing: Free; Pro and Enterprise plans available
Pros |
Plaky’s intuitive design makes daily project planning straightforward. It allows you to set up boards, manage tasks, and collaborate with teammates in real-time. You can customize boards, add custom fields, and use the Files tab for sharing documents. |
Cons |
Limited board views and lacks integration with popular apps like Google Calendar. |
Best Feature |
The Timeline field provides a visual representation of task progress. |
What’s New |
Plaky introduced Gantt view for better project timeline visualization. |
4. Notion
Notion has recently introduced several new features and improvements aimed at enhancing user experience and functionality. Notably, the Notion Calendar is now available on Android, allowing users to manage multiple Google calendars on the go and view their schedules across time zones. This feature expands Notion’s accessibility across all major platforms, including web, macOS, Windows, iOS, and now Android.
- Available for: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Pricing: Free; Plus and Business plans available
Pros |
Notion lets users create highly personalized planners using various content blocks. It supports a range of views, including table, board, timeline, and calendar. You can integrate it with Google Calendar for enhanced scheduling. |
Cons |
The steep learning curve and limited free plan can be challenging for new users. |
Best Feature |
Unlimited pages and blocks on the free plan. |
What’s New |
Notion recently added a Q&A feature for its AI and a Notion Calendar for integrated scheduling. |
5. Clockify
Clockify continues to be a leading choice in time tracking and project management software. Recently, Clockify has introduced several new features and improvements to enhance user experience. Key updates include a more streamlined interface, better integration options, and advanced reporting capabilities. Users can now schedule tasks, manage project budgets, and track time with ease, whether they’re using desktop, web, or mobile apps. The latest features also include GPS tracking for field teams and a robust set of tools for managing expenses and generating invoices.
- Available for: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Pricing: Free; Basic, Standard, Pro, and Enterprise plans available
Pros
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It allows users to time-block schedules, track time on tasks, and analyze productivity with detailed reports.
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Cons
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The tool is more geared towards teams and may feel overwhelming for individual use.
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Best Feature
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Detailed reports on time spent and project progress.
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What’s New
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Recent updates include break tracking, currency assignment for clients, and new invoicing features.
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Top 10 best daily planner apps
App |
Best for |
Free plan |
Pricing (starting at) |
Available for |
Google Calendar |
Work task and event scheduling |
✔️ |
$0 |
web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Wear OS |
Amazing Marvin |
Personal growth & motivation |
❌ |
$8/month |
web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
Plaky |
Daily project planning |
✔️ |
$3.99/user seat/month |
web, iOS, Android |
Notion |
Full planner customization |
✔️ |
$8/user/month |
web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
Clockify |
Daily time tracking |
✔️ |
$3.99/user/month |
web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
Apple Reminders |
Everyday reminders |
✔️ |
$0 |
macOS, iOS, Apple Watch |
Todoist |
Project to-do lists |
✔️ |
$4/month |
web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Apple Watch, Android, Wear OS |
Any.do |
Daily task prioritization |
✔️ |
$5/month |
web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Apple Watch, Android, Wear OS, Huawei |
Trello |
Kanban-style daily planning |
✔️ |
$5/user/month |
web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
ClickUp |
Goal tracking |
✔️ |
$7/member/month |
web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
How to Choose the Right Daily Planner App for You
Selecting the best daily planner app depends on individual needs and preferences. Start by identifying the specific features you require, such as task management, calendar integration, or collaboration tools. Consider the devices you use most frequently and ensure the app offers cross-platform compatibility for seamless access.
It’s also beneficial to read user reviews and try free versions or trials before committing to a paid subscription. This hands-on experience can help you determine if the app’s interface and functionalities align with your workflow and organizational style.
Criteria for Choosing the Best Daily Planner Apps
Selecting the best daily planner app involves evaluating several key factors:
- Usability and User Interface: The app should be intuitive and easy to navigate.
- Features and Functionalities: Look for apps with robust task management, reminders, and customization options.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: The app should work seamlessly across various devices.
- Customization Options: Ability to tailor the app to suit personal preferences.
- Cost and Value for Money: Evaluate whether the app offers a free version and the benefits of any premium features.
- User Reviews and Ratings: Insights from other users can help gauge the app’s reliability and effectiveness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the best daily planner apps can greatly enhance your productivity and organization. Whether you need a tool for work task and event scheduling like Google Calendar, or a platform for personal growth & motivation such as Amazing Marvin, there’s an app for every need. These apps offer features like task management, calendar integration, and customization options, making it easier to keep track of your daily tasks and long-term goals. Many of these apps, like Notion and Plaky, offer free plans and affordable pricing for more advanced features, ensuring there’s something suitable for everyone.
Best daily planner apps for mobile in 2024 – FAQs
What is the best app for scheduling your day?
The best app for scheduling your day is Google Calendar. It offers features like event scheduling, reminders, and integration with other Google services, making it ideal for managing both personal and professional tasks.
What is the best daily planner app for free?
Google Calendar and Todoist are among the best free daily planner apps. They offer essential planning features like task management, event scheduling, and reminders at no cost.
What is the best app to make a planner?
Notion is one of the best apps to create a custom planner. It allows for extensive customization with various content blocks, templates, and integrations, making it suitable for detailed personal and professional planning.
What is the best digital daily planner?
Todoist is highly regarded as the best digital daily planner. It offers a simple and intuitive interface, powerful task management features, and cross-platform support, making it easy to organize your daily tasks and goals.
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