The 10 Best Planners (Paper & Digital) — From a Happy Planner Girl
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I’ll just say this upfront:
I’m a Happy Planner girl.
Stickers, discs, seasonal swaps, color-coded chaos, I love all of it.
But over the years (and especially as life got messier, louder, quieter, and more reflective), I’ve tried a lot of planners. Paper. Digital. Minimal. Maximal. Ones that promised to “change my life” and ones that just held my grocery list and mindless thoughts.
So if you’re trying to figure out what planner actually fits your life not your fantasy self—here are 10 of the best planners, paper and digital, you may be interested in trying out.
1. Happy Planner (Paper)
Best for: Creative planners, sticker lovers, visual thinkers
This one’s home base for me.
I love that it’s customizable. If a season of life changes, my planner changes with it. Add pages. Remove pages. Switch layouts. No guilt.
It’s not about perfection it’s about making planning feel like self-care, not homework.
✔ Discs = flexibility
✔ Stickers = joy
✔ Undated options = grace
2. Erin Condren LifePlanner (Paper)
Best for: Structure lovers who want pretty
If you like clean lines but still want color, this is a solid choice. Erin Condren planners are sturdy, polished, and make you feel like you’ve got your life slightly more together than you actually do.
Not as flexible as Happy Planner but very satisfying.
3. Passion Planner (Paper)
Best for: Goal setters and big-picture thinkers
This planner asks why, not just what.
If you’re in a season of redefining purpose (hello, midlife), Passion Planner can help you slow down and reflect while still getting things done.
Less decorative, more intentional.
4. Hobonichi Techo (Paper)
Best for: Journalers and memory keepers
This one is beloved for a reason. Thin paper, thoughtful layouts, and room to write not just plan.
If your planner doubles as a journal or emotional brain dump, Hobonichi might be your thing.
5. Panda Planner
Best for: Gratitude and Productivity
This planner blends planning with mindfulness. If your days feel heavy or scattered, this one gently nudges you toward gratitude and focus without being preachy.
Great for anxious planners.
6. Notion (Digital)
Best for: Everything in one place people
Notion is powerful, but only if you like setting things up.
You can create dashboards for life, work, content, goals, and planning but it’s more “build your own system” than “open and go.”
I like it for content planning, not daily life.
7. GoodNotes (Digital)
Best for: Digital sticker lovers & iPad users
This is basically Happy Planner… but digital.
You can import planner templates, use digital stickers, and still get that creative feeling minus the paper clutter.
Great if you love planning but want less stuff.
8. Apple Calendar + Reminders (Digital)
Best for: Simple, no-nonsense planning
Sometimes simple wins.
I have used this for appointments, reminders, and things that must happen. It’s not pretty but it’s reliable.
Think of it as your planner’s responsible older sister.
9. Google Calendar (Digital)
Best for: Shared schedules and time blocking
If you share calendars with family, work, or collaborators, Google Calendar is a must. Which I use just about everyday.
Color coding = sanity
Notifications = lifesaver
This works best alongside a paper planner—not instead of one.
10. A Hybrid System (Paper + Digital)
Best for: Real life
Here’s the truth no one tells you:
You don’t have to choose.
Paper for reflection, creativity, and planning joy.
Digital for reminders, appointments, and backup.
This is the system that’s worked best for me, especially at this stage of life.
Final Thoughts From a Planner Girl
Planners don’t fix your life. They hold it. The best planner is the one you’ll actually open, on tired days, emotional days, and ordinary days.
For me?
Happy Planner will always have my heart. But I’ve learned it’s okay to mix tools, change systems, and let planning support who I am now. Not who I used to be or who I think I should be.
