5 Best Digital Planning Apps in 2025 — Tested and Ranked

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There are dozens of digital planning apps out there. Most aren't worth your time. After testing all of them seriously, here are the five that actually deliver.

1. GoodNotes 6 — Best overall

If you're buying a PDF digital planner, GoodNotes is the app to use. Hyperlinks work flawlessly, handwriting is smooth and searchable, and the organisation system is genuinely beautiful.

One-time purchase at $9.99 — no subscription, no surprise charges.

2. Notability — Best for audio notes

If you take meeting notes or lecture notes alongside your planning, Notability's audio sync feature is unmatched. You can tap any word in your notes and hear what was being said when you wrote it.

Less ideal for planners specifically, but excellent for students and professionals.

3. Notion — Best for digital-only planners

Notion isn't a PDF app — it's a block-based workspace. If you prefer building your own planning system from scratch rather than using a pre-made PDF, Notion is incredibly powerful and flexible.

Free tier is generous. The learning curve is real but worth it.

4. Apple Notes — Best free option

Underrated. Apple Notes improved dramatically over the past few years. If you just want a simple, fast digital notebook with no cost and no friction, it works well for light planning. Not suitable for hyperlinked PDF planners.

5. Obsidian — Best for linked thinking

Obsidian is for people who want to connect ideas across notes — a "second brain" system. Brilliant for journaling and knowledge management, but overkill for most planners.

The verdict

For PDF digital planners like ours: GoodNotes, full stop. For building your own system: Notion. For simplicity and zero cost: Apple Notes.

Whatever app you choose, you'll need an Apple Pencil to get the most out of it on iPad.