A Digital Planner Search
I googled the internet for an app that has the ability to allow me to keep a todo list and then take that list and place it onto a calendar. I went through a lot of sources and sites and even YouTube videos. The most important thing is the calendar and todo list must be included in the free version of the app. Otherwise I might as well stay with Google Calendar.
Some apps I tried and some I just looked over the features. A lot were eliminated just from the list of features.
Helpful Search Results
9 Best Daily Planner Apps 2025
Reddit Post - Tried a few todo apps and here’s my take.
The List
Plaky
xTiles
Todist
Routine
Craft
Reclaim
Anydo
Structured Daily Planner
Morgen
Ellie
ByDesign
Rocket 135
Twos App
Brite
Lifestack
So here are the apps that made it to the “try list”:
Ellie
Structured Daily Planner
Routine
Somehow Routine won in the end. I needed a way to plan and see my todo list and if there is a notion integration is a plus. I looked at all of these apps and googled "to the end of the earth”. I tried out Ellie and any.do but it didn’t even last an hour before I thought, Routine does this. I just didn’t know how to make the notion tasks and due dates be the same thing.
Turns out they are not the same item. The Notion tasks that show up in the inbox are independent of the notion task itself. I could drag the items in Routine to the day and hour needed. This is what I wanted. Somewhere to plan out Notion projects and hold my todo list. Who would have thought that I had what I needed this whole time.
Routine is free to use and free to integrate Notion. Looking at the list above, everything has a free plan but the limitations and trying them all out would be too much.
How did Routine win in the end?
I already have a Routine account. Like stated before, I was just confused by what the Notion integration does. After understanding that, I got what I needed. A way to view tasks on the calendar with all of my calendars.
The Problem with Routine
It loads slowly sometimes. In the week of searching for an app, the app was down. Now you can see how that can ruin a first impression. It makes the app look unreliable. I was trying to see if there was any information on what was happening. I found nothing. The Twitter feed was quiet. The website was returning 404 errors. Now I hope this isn't a current occurrence because I get enough of this with Notion. I don’t want an unreliable app.
Why not a Notion Calendar?
NO iPad app. Like that it was just. I don’t tend to plan anything on my iPhone, just doing a quick todo list, nothing more. The calendar app has gotten nothing since it was acquired from Cron. Cron did the work for Notion. They just put their name on it.
What apps do you use?
Leave a comment to let me know. I would love to see what’s out there that isn’t talked about like the mainstream apps.