Best Daily Planner App Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best daily planner apps:
Managing multiple projects is no small feat. You juggle deadlines, tasks, and team dynamics daily. That's where a digital planner app comes in handy to help you keep everything on track.
In my experience, the right tool can make all the difference. It helps you organize tasks, prioritize work, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks. I test and review software independently, aiming to provide you with unbiased, well-researched insights.
In this article, I'll walk you through the top day planner apps that can benefit you and your team. You'll find out which one best suits your needs, helping you manage projects more efficiently. Let's dive in and find the perfect fit for your workflow.
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Best Daily Planner App Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top daily planner app selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for habit tracking features | Free plan available | From $35.99/year | Website | |
| 2 | Best for to-do lists and project management | Free plan available | From $4.99/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 3 | Best for Microsoft 365 task-tracking integration | Free plan available | From $99.99/year (included in the Microsoft 365 subscription) | Website | |
| 4 | Best for shared scheduling reliability | Free trial + free plan available | From $7/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 5 | Best for automated AI-driven daily planning | 7-day free trial and demo available | From $29/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 6 | Best for cross-platform integration | 7-day free trial | From $19/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 7 | Best for intentional guided daily rituals | 14-day free trial available | From $20/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 8 | Best for quick task entries | Free forever | Free with a Google account | Website | |
| 9 | Best for gamified habit and task management | Free plan available | From $9/month (+$3 per additional member) | Website | |
| 10 | Best for multi-calendar visibility | 30-day free trial available | From $10/seat/month (billed annually) | Website |
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Accelo
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.4 -
Wrike
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.2 -
monday.com
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
Best Daily Planner App Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best daily planner apps on my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros and cons, integrations, and ideal use cases for each tool to help you find the best one for you.
TickTick is a task management app you can use to increase productivity. It assists you in organizing tasks, setting reminders, and tracking daily habits to achieve your goals.
Why I picked TickTick: TickTick integrates a habit tracker directly into its task management system. You can set daily, weekly, or monthly habits and track your progress over time. The app's Pomodoro timer helps you stay focused and productive during work sessions. TickTick's flexible recurring tasks make it easy to manage ongoing responsibilities.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include a built-in calendar view that provides a visual representation of your tasks, the ability to create checklists within tasks for better organization, and a priority setting that helps you focus on the most important actions.
Integrations include Microsoft Outlook, Siri, Alexa, IFTTT, Slack, Zapier, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Flexible recurring tasks
- Pomodoro timer included
- Integrates habit tracking
Cons:
- May not suit complex workflows
- Limited project management features
Any.do is a to-do list app for you to manage your personal daily tasks, family events, and team's work all in one place. It offers a straightforward interface that helps you manage your to-do lists, set reminders, and plan your schedule.
Why I picked Any.do: Any.do is known for its simplicity in task management, making it easy for you to create and organize tasks. The app's drag-and-drop functionality allows you to quickly rearrange tasks by priority. Any.do's reminder system ensures you never miss important deadlines.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include a focus mode to reduce distractions while working, a grocery list to manage shopping tasks, and voice entry for hands-free task management.
Integrations include Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Slack, Zapier, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Voice entry capability
- Drag-and-drop functionality
- Flexible reminder system
Cons:
- Majority of useful tools behind paywall
- Customer support can be inconsistent
Microsoft To Do is a task management app that works within the Microsoft ecosystem. It helps you organize tasks, set reminders, and collaborate within familiar Microsoft tools.
Why I picked Microsoft To Do: It's tightly integrated with other Microsoft services, making it ideal for those already using the Microsoft suite. You can sync tasks with Outlook for flawless task management. The My Day feature helps you focus on daily priorities, and the app's ability to share task lists improves team collaboration.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include the ability to create subtasks for better task breakdown, customizable themes to personalize your workspace, and a smart suggestions feature that recommends tasks for the day.
Integrations include Microsoft Outlook, OneNote, Microsoft Teams, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- My Day feature for priorities
- Syncs with Outlook tasks
- Smart list and custom views
Cons:
- Integration scope is narrow
- Not ideal for non-Microsoft users
Google Calendar is a scheduling tool you and your team can use to manage events and appointments efficiently. It enables you to coordinate schedules and collaborate on shared calendars, making it ideal for team environments.
Why I picked Google Calendar: Google Calendar excels at team scheduling, allowing you to view and manage multiple team calendars in one place. Its event sharing feature lets you invite others to meetings and events. The ability to set reminders ensures your team stays on top of important tasks, and the color-coding feature helps differentiate between personal and professional commitments.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include customizable event notifications to keep you informed, timezone support to make scheduling across regions easier, and a simple drag-and-drop interface for rescheduling events.
Integrations include Google Meet, Notion, Google Sheets, Doodle, Zoom, Slack, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Handles scheduling in differing time zones
- Color-coded calendar events
- Effective team scheduling and event sharing
Cons:
- Poor handling of recurring event changes
- Limited task management features
Motion is an AI-powered productivity app tailored for project management and scheduling. It primarily caters to teams and individuals looking to strengthen their task management and scheduling efficiency.
Why I picked Motion: It offers an AI-driven scheduling approach, with several unique tools. Its AI Project Manager automates project planning and helps you organize tasks efficiently. The AI-powered Gantt Chart provides a visual timeline for tracking progress, which is particularly useful for managing complex projects. These features help you manage your time and resources effectively.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include an AI Task Manager that efficiently prioritizes tasks, an AI Calendar that integrates scheduling and time management, and an AI Meeting Assistant that simplifies meeting scheduling, all of which work together to optimize your daily workflow.
Integrations include Zoom, Google Meet, Google Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Integrates well with calendars
- Auto captures meeting notes
- AI-driven project management
Cons:
- High price point with no free version
- Complex user interface
Akiflow is a task management app with productivity tools designed for professionals seeking efficient, cross-platform organization. It helps you centralize your tasks and schedules, making it easier to manage daily responsibilities.
Why I picked Akiflow: Akiflow excels in cross-platform integration, allowing you to sync tasks across multiple devices. Its intuitive interface provides a clear view of your action items and calendar events. The app's ability to aggregate items from various sources ensures you never miss important deadlines.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include a command bar for quick navigation and task management, keyboard shortcuts and a quick-add feature to speed up your workflow, and a focus mode that helps minimize distractions.
Integrations include Google Calendar, Slack, Trello, Todoist, Asana, Notion, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Smart command bar
- Strong integration capabilities
- Efficient cross-platform sync
Cons:
- Collaboration is not in-built
- Feature overlap can be initially overwhelming
Sunsama is a daily planner app that uses time blocking to organize your workday effectively. It helps you focus on daily tasks and align them with your long-term goals.
Why I picked Sunsama: Its intuitive interface allows you to drag and drop tasks into your calendar. The app's ability to set daily goals helps you stay on track with your priorities. Sunsama's focus on reflection at the end of the day helps you evaluate your productivity.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include a day planner mode to outline your day, task drag-and-drop functionality for easy scheduling, and a reflection feature to promote end-of-day evaluation. These features work together to improve your daily workflow.
Integrations include Google Calendar, Todoist, Slack, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Aligns tasks with goals
- Encourages daily reflection
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
Cons:
- Missing advanced task hierarchy
- No offline mode
Google Tasks is a simple task management tool that organizes daily to-dos efficiently. It allows you to create, manage, and track tasks directly from your Google account.
Why I picked Google Tasks: It's perfect for quick task entries, letting you add tasks with minimal clicks. You can integrate tasks with your Gmail and Calendar, allowing for efficient task management. Its integration with other Google services elevates productivity by keeping everything in one place.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include creating subtasks for a more detailed task breakdown, setting due dates to ensure timely completion, and sorting tasks by date or priority for better organization.
Integrations include Google Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Assistant, Google Keep, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Syncs across devices
- Task prioritization options
- Integrates with Google services
Cons:
- Missing built-in search functionality
- No collaborative sharing or team tools
Habitica is a task management app that turns your to-do list into a role-playing game. It will appeal to you if you enjoy gamification and want to boost your productivity through engaging activities.
Why I picked Habitica: Habitica transforms your tasks into an interactive game. The app encourages collaboration by allowing you to join parties and complete quests with friends. The gamified elements make task management more enjoyable and motivating.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include a reward system that incentivizes task completion, a customizable avatar for personalizing your experience, and social features that let you compete with friends. These features create a fun and engaging environment for managing tasks.
Integrations include Zapier, Slack, Google Calendar, GitHub, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Motivating reward system
- Social collaboration features
- Customizable avatar options
Cons:
- Gamification can become a distraction
- May not suit serious workflows
Morgen is a scheduling and calendar management tool you can use when you need to coordinate your time efficiently. It helps you manage multiple calendars and organize your daily schedule.
Why I picked Morgen: Morgen excels at calendar integration, allowing you to manage multiple calendars in one place. Its smart scheduling feature finds optimal meeting times across calendars. The task management functionality lets you integrate tasks directly into your schedule. In my experience, Morgen's interface makes it easy to switch between different calendar views.
Standout Features and Integrations:
Features include time zone management to schedule meetings across different time zones, customizable reminders to keep you on track with your tasks, and a unified calendar view to manage your time effectively.
Integrations include Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Apple Calendar, and more.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Handles different time zones
- Integrates tasks into your schedule
- Manages multiple calendars
Cons:
- Occasional sync delays
- Limited task organization options
Other Daily Planner Apps
Here are some additional daily planner app options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
Daily Planner App Selection Criteria
When selecting the best daily planner apps to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points, such as managing task overload and improving time management. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Manage tasks and to-do lists
- Set reminders and deadlines
- Sync across multiple devices
- Provide calendar views
- Allow for task prioritization
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Gamification elements
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Integration with voice assistants
- Customizable templates
- Time tracking capabilities
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive interface design
- Ease of navigation
- Minimal learning curve
- Customizable user settings
- Responsiveness and speed
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to templates
- Supportive chatbots
- Webinars and live demos
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider's customer support services, I considered the following:
- Availability of live chat support
- Access to a knowledge base
- Responsiveness of email support
- Availability of phone support
- Community forums and user groups
Value for Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Availability of free trials
- Features offered for the price
- Flexible pricing plans
- Cost against benefits
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Commonly mentioned pain points
- Frequency of updates and improvements
- Customer retention rates
- Feedback on customer support quality
How To Choose a Daily Planner App
It's easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here's a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What To Consider |
|---|---|
| Scalability | Will the tool grow with your team? Consider whether it can handle an increasing number of users or tasks without performance issues. Look for tools that offer scalable plans or additional features as your needs evolve. |
| Integrations | Does it connect with your existing tools? Ensure it integrates with key software like calendars, email, and project management tools. App integration can save time and reduce manual data entry. |
| Customizability | Can you tailor it to fit your workflow? Look for options that let you customize views, notifications, and task categories to match your workflow. Beware of tools that are too rigid and don't adapt to your processes. |
| Ease of use | Is it intuitive for your team? Evaluate the interface and user experience. A steep learning curve can hinder adoption. Test the tool with a few team members to gauge usability before committing. |
| Implementation and onboarding | How quickly can you get started? Assess the availability of tutorials, guides, and support during setup. A smooth onboarding process can lead to faster adoption and less disruption to your workflow. |
| Cost | Does it fit your budget? Compare pricing plans and what's included. Consider any hidden costs, such as add-ons or fees for extra features. Look for free trials to test the tool before making a financial commitment. |
| Security safeguards | Are your data and privacy protected? Check for features like encryption, two-factor authentication, and compliance with data protection regulations. Security is critical to protect sensitive information and maintain trust. |
| Support availability | Is help available when you need it? Consider the support channels offered, such as chat, email, or phone. Responsive support can resolve issues quickly and keep your team productive. |
What Is a Daily Planner App?
A daily planner app is a digital tool that helps you organize and manage your daily tasks and schedules. Professionals like project managers, executives, and freelancers often use these tools to increase productivity and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Task management, calendar integration, and reminder capabilities help you stay organized, meet deadlines, and prioritize effectively. These tools provide overall value by simplifying daily planning and improving time management.
Features
When selecting a daily planner app, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Task management: Allows you to create, organize, and prioritize tasks to help keep track of your to-do list.
- Calendar integration: Syncs with your existing calendar to manage appointments and deadlines all in one place.
- Reminders and notifications: Send alerts to ensure you don't miss important tasks or events.
- Customizable views: Let you adjust how your tasks and schedules are displayed, making it easier to focus on what matters.
- Collaboration tools: Enable you to share tasks and schedules with team members, fostering teamwork and communication.
- Habit tracking: Helps you monitor and develop new habits by tracking your progress over time.
- Time tracking: Allows you to monitor how much time you spend on tasks, improving productivity and time management.
- Recurring tasks: Automate repetitive tasks by setting them to repeat at regular intervals, saving you time.
- Note-taking: Provides a space to jot down important information or ideas related to your tasks.
- Goal setting: Helps you set and track long-term goals, keeping you motivated and focused on achieving them.
Benefits
Implementing a daily planner app provides several benefits for your team and business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Improved organization: Helps you keep tasks and schedules in one place, reducing clutter and confusion.
- Boosted productivity: Encourages efficient task management and time tracking, allowing you to focus on priorities.
- Better time management: Provides reminders and notifications to keep you on schedule and prevent missed deadlines.
- Increased collaboration: Facilitates sharing of tasks and schedules, improving communication and teamwork.
- Goal achievement: Supports goal setting and tracking, keeping you motivated and on track to achieve them.
- Habit development: Offers tools for habit tracking, helping you build and maintain productive routines.
- Stress reduction: Simplifies planning and organizing, reducing the mental load of managing daily tasks.
Costs and Pricing
Selecting a daily planner app requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in daily planner app solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Daily Planner Apps
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic task management, limited integrations, and essential reminders. |
| Personal Plan | $2.99-$29/user/month | Advanced task management, calendar sync, and basic collaboration tools. |
| Business Plan | $29+/user/month | Team collaboration features, priority support, and advanced analytics. |
| Enterprise Plan | On request | Custom integrations, dedicated account management, and upgraded security features. |
Daily Planner App FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about the daily planner apps:
Can a daily planner app integrate with other tools I use?
Yes, many daily planner apps offer integrations with popular tools, such as calendars, email, and project management software. Check the app’s integration options to ensure compatibility with your existing systems. Straightforward integration reduces manual data entry and maintains consistency across platforms.
How do daily planner apps help me manage team projects?
Daily planner apps let you assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress in one place. This helps your team stay on the same page, which reduces missed deadlines and keeps everyone accountable. Many apps also offer notifications, easy file sharing, and collaboration tools.
Are daily planner apps suitable for teams?
Yes, daily planner apps can be great for team collaboration. Look for features such as shared calendars, task assignments, and collaboration tools. These features help keep everyone on the same page and improve communication. Ensure the app supports multiple users and offers permission settings to manage access effectively.
How can a daily planner app help prevent project delays?
Planner apps give you a clear overview of tasks, deadlines, and dependencies. Real-time updates and reminders help you spot bottlenecks and adjust plans quickly, keeping projects on track and enabling you to respond to issues as they arise.
Is it secure to use a daily planner app?
Yes, most daily planner apps prioritize security with features like encryption and two-factor authentication. Check if the app complies with relevant data protection regulations. Ensure you use strong passwords and update them regularly to strengthen security. It’s important to choose an app that offers solid security measures to protect your information.
Is it worth paying for a premium daily planner app versus using a free version?
A paid subscription for a planner app usually offers more integrations, advanced reporting, automation, and priority support. If you manage larger projects or teams, these features can boost your productivity and save time, making a paid upgrade worth considering.
What's Next:
If you're in the process of researching a daily planner app, connect with a SoftwareSelect advisor for free recommendations.
You fill out a form and have a quick chat where they get into the specifics of your needs. Then you'll get a shortlist of software to review. They'll even support you through the entire buying process, including price negotiations.
