Your digital planner is a PDF, but the app you use is what makes it feel interactive. The right annotation app lets you write, type, highlight, add stickers, duplicate pages, and tap through the planner’s hyperlinks.
For most users, I recommend starting here:
iPad: Goodnotes, Notability, or Noteful*
Samsung: Noteshelf or Goodnotes
*I don't have guides written yet for Noteful, but many people have recommended it to me
App Pricing
App pricing changes often, and some prices vary by country, device, or app store. Before choosing an app, always check the current price in the App Store, Google Play Store, or the app’s official website.
| App | Typical pricing model | Important pricing note |
|---|---|---|
| Goodnotes | Free plan, then paid yearly plans | The free plan has a 5 MB import size limit, so full digital planners over 5 MB usually require a paid plan. The journals I offer are below the 5MB import limit. Goodnotes currently lists individual paid plans starting at $11.99/year. (GoodNotes) |
| Notability | Free plan, then paid yearly plans | Notability has a free starter option, but limits number of edits and some advanced features may require a paid plan. (Notability) |
| Noteful | Free app with low-cost Pro upgrade | Noteful is often one of the more budget-friendly iPad options. The App Store lists in-app purchases, including a Pro upgrade. (App Store) |
| Noteshelf | App-store pricing / in-app purchases | Noteshelf is available on Android, iOS, and Windows. Pricing can vary by platform, so check your device’s app store. (Google Play) |
Features
If you’re just dipping your toes into digital planning and aren’t ready to commit to a paid app yet, I recommend starting with Notability. It allows you to import a full-size planner without needing to upgrade right away, making it a great low-pressure way to try digital planning and see if it fits your routine. Instead of limiting by file size, it limits by edits per month. If you find that you hit this limit early on and you are enjoying digital planning, then I would consider switching to Goodnotes. Goodnotes is my top recommendation for digital planning overall because of how easy it is to duplicate pages and organize stickers into collections!
| Feature | Goodnotes | Notability | Noteful | Noteshelf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Digital planning, PDF planners, stickers | Notes, lectures, meetings, audio recordings, study tools | Simple, budget-friendly PDF planning on iPad | Digital planning on Samsung Tablets |
| PDF planner use | Very strong | Good, but more note-taking focused | Strong, especially for a simpler app | Strong, especially on Samsung tablets |
| Hyperlinks/tabs | Works well for digital planners | Works, but may feel less planner-centered | Works well for PDF planners | Works well for PDF planners |
| Handwriting | Excellent | Excellent | Very good | Very good, especially with S Pen on Samsung |
| Typing | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Stickers/images | Very planner-friendly, with sticker collections to stay organized | Usable, but less intuitive for some planner workflows | Supports images/stickers, but with a simpler workflow | Good for stickers/images, especially for everyday planner use |
| Page duplication | Strong and commonly used for planner templates | Available, but less intuitive | Available and fairly simple | Available and useful for planner templates |
| Audio recording | More limited depending on plan/platform | One of Notability’s strongest features | Available, but not the main focus | Available in some versions, but not the main focus |
| AI/study tools | Available in newer paid plans | Strong focus on summaries, quizzes, flashcards, and transcription | More limited | More limited |
| Free version | Limited; unable to use full digital planners because of file size limitations | Free starter option, but limits edits per month | Free version available with optional low-cost Pro upgrade | Pricing varies by platform/app store |
| Best value for planners | Usually better if you are ready to use a paid app | Better if you also need audio/study features | Great budget-friendly option for iPad users | Great value for Samsung users |
| The Elegant Planner built-in guides | Yes | Yes | Not yet | Yes |
