Similar to the Hobonichi above, Jibun Takeo uses super thin, super soft paper that makes it possible to contain all of these pages and books without making it a super-thick planner. I tested the B5 Slim size, which is longer but thinner than A5, and I was surprised at how happy I was with the space I had for my weekly plans and more, with all the pages it includes. I also really like the Ideas book in the back of my never-ending lists and notes, and I can easily replace it if I fill it up before the year is out. It’s an even bigger investment than the Rotarunner and I don’t have everything on one page of Jibun, but I really like it and find myself reaching for it more and more.
day designer
daily planner
Daily planners give you an entire page for each day, and Day Designer is great for people who want space for both a full calendar and a nice long to-do list for each day. Half of the page runs from 5am to 9pm, giving you plenty of room to schedule meetings, plan workouts, or block client appointments. The other half has a long list you can fill out, plus space at the top of the page for the three most important things, any due dates, and dinner.
It’s a little bulky, as it has a page for every single day of the year along with monthly spreads, but it’s not so big that you can’t tote it in a roomy backpack or tote bag. I also like that it’s not too long, with a square A5 design, but still has enough room for a nice long to-do list. I wish it had room for more miscellaneous lists and notes, but if that’s not something you need, you’ll be happy with this planner.
plum paper
A5 Vertical Preferences Planner
The Plum Paper A5 planner has the perfect amount of customization without feeling like I had to do too much work to create it, and it has lots of beautiful covers and color options to choose from. I personally like the Vertical Priorities layout, which I customized to include a Priorities section for my son, but you can choose from other layouts – there are 10 different types of layouts, from vertical and horizontal to student and goal setting, then within each type there are two to four types of layouts. You can also choose from a variety of covers that you can customize with things like your name or the year, and a huge range of add-ons like monthly workout summaries, baby tracking pages, and more.
The A5 size is easy to use and I can take where I want, and you can start the planner in any month you want – which is great if you suddenly want an annual planner in March or July without needing to skip all those extra months. You’ll find a double-sided folder in the back, which I usually use for stickers and important paperwork I need to keep track of. Speaking of stickers, I love Plum Paper’s cute sticker sets ($5+), which range from matching ones to cute seasonal stickers from their add-on pages, and I can create my own custom stickers on Plum Paper’s website.
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Courtesy of Big A## Planner
big a## planner
2026 Big A## Planner
Not surprisingly, given the name, there’s nothing secret about this planner. With its bright blue cardstock cover and 11-by-14-inch profile that’s big enough to fit into any purse or small bag, it’s for those who live or plan to live on a larger scale. A companion to motivational speaker and entrepreneur Jesse Itzler’s Big A## Calendar (as seen in our gift ideas for people who work from home), this spiral-bound “planner for highly visual people” depicts each month in its entirety in a two-page spread, with large 2.5-by-2.5-inch sections for each day. At the top of each page are motivational quotes (sample: “To do extraordinary things, put yourself in extraordinary circumstances”), and the back of the planner contains a goal-tracker version of the Big A## calendar – every day of the year at a glance.
There are five lined pages for notes, a running pace chart if you find yourself overcome by a sudden burst of energy, and a year in review worksheet with boxes to keep track of year highlights like “favorite new music,” new things I tried, and “career milestones.” If inspiration suddenly strikes that needs sharing, there’s a 300-square-inch dry-erase board in the back that can be propped up for impromptu meetings or demonstrations. i feel more energetic Look On this. I wish the days of the week were on one page instead of both, so I could fold it in half on my desk and keep it open (when opened, its footprint is only 2 feet wide – a significant amount of desk real estate), but as someone who takes copious amounts of handwritten notes, it’s a worthy compromise for me for the sheer amount of daily writing space. -Kat Merk
There are lots of quirky planners out there, but Ban.do is one of the most fun options that’s within almost everyone’s budget. From a page for tracking books you’ve read to an entire page dedicated to your astrological birth chart, it’s hard to resist the fun that Ban.do’s planners provide. The weekly layout has enough room for daily planning, and you’ll find fun extras like a monthly meal plan and three pages of included stickers. There are also undated ($25) versions if you want full date flexibility.
There are a lot of different cover options, and while these are available on Amazon, each cover has its own separate listing, so it may take some time to sift through and find your options. It’s a little easier to shop all the designs on Ban.do’s own site. You can also find the 17-month planner on sale because the start date is August 2025, but the planner runs through the end of 2026.
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Courtesy of Happy Planner
The Happy Planner
2026 planner
Happy Planner has a huge range of planners, with multiple designs ranging from vertical layouts to large dashboards and even designs built for work. There’s plenty of space in these spacious planners, but the design seems like it would be a perfect fit for students, whether they’re full-time or just taking classes in the evening or after work. Divider pages are cute and sometimes include phrases and quotes, but they definitely have a youthful feel to them.
You can choose between classic, skinny classic, mini or large sizes and dated or undated pages. There are also daily planners, designed for teachers and students, among many others. The unique binding design makes it easy to take pages out or add them back in, and you can even get extension packs to add a few more months or keep track of things like your budget and fitness goals.
We tested more planners
We’ve tried lots of different planners. Here are all our thoughts on what we tested.
Agendio Planner starting at $47:If you can’t find the right planner for you, it’s time to create your own. It sounds intimidating, but Agendaio makes it very easy with its completely custom planners, allowing you to choose from pre-made pages or design your own (with some limitations – it’s not as open-ended as a program like Canva) to create the perfect monthly, weekly, and daily spreads. You can also design your own additional pages, like workout trackers or reading lists, which you can add either for each month or at the end of the planner. The price can vary greatly depending on what you want to add to it.
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