The 5 Best Planners For Students (Tested and Reviewed)
- Sean McCormick
- Sep 5, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
Last updated: December 2025
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This post breaks down the five best planners for students so you can best support your child as they build their executive function skills.
Table of Contents
Is your student struggling to balance schoolwork, sports, and a social life?
Are you in search of the perfect planner that fits neatly in a backpack but still has ample space for tracking assignments?
Do you wonder if a well-designed planner could be the key to improving your child's academic performance?
You're not alone.
Many parents are on the hunt for that elusive tool that will help their students stay organized and excel in their studies.
Well, your search might just be over.
Read on to discover 5 planners that has students and parents alike raving about its design and utility.👇
Why Finding The Best Planner For Your Student Matters
You might think a good planner just tracks homework, but it's so much more than that.
This simple tool can help students:
take control of their time
reduce stress
build critical executive function skills
Finding the right one, then, can be a gamechanger in their overall academic journey.
When students use a planner that truly matches their needs and preferences, they develop a stronger sense of ownership over their routines, which in turn encourages independence, accountability, and other important life skills like prioritization and goal setting.
And for busy families, the benefits extend to you, too.
Now, you can streamline communication between home and school.
Everyone will be on the same page regarding assignments, activities, and deadlines.
As school demands grow, the best planner grows with your child, supporting them as they face new challenges.
Three Common Mistakes Students Make When Using a Planner
Mistake #1: Choosing a planner that doesn't fit their needs (too complex or too simple)
Many students opt for planners that are either too detailed (full of sections they don’t use) or too basic, lacking the features they need.
This mismatch often leads to frustration and abandonment.
Take time to assess your student’s organizational style and needs before you buy.
Mistake #2: Forgetting to use the planner consistently
Many students start strong but fall off after a few weeks.
Building new habits takes time, so encourage your student to set aside a few minutes each day to review and update the planner.
Mistake #3: Not breaking down large assignments into smaller, manageable steps
Writing down just the due date and title of a big project is a mistake.
Encourage your student to break down large tasks into actionable daily steps so they can track milestones, set mini-deadlines, and celebrate small wins along the way.
The 5 Best Planners For Students
I recently tested out this planner and I've got to say, it's perfect for students and even professionals like myself.
What first caught my eye was its compact size, making it super convenient to carry around.
The quality of the material is top-notch, featuring vivid colors that are easy on the eyes.
One practical feature that stood out is that it lays flat when open; this makes jotting down tasks or notes a breeze.
It comes with a page marker and stickers, which are more than just fun; they're functional and add an extra layer to planning.
What's more, it's got both monthly and weekly planning pages, and even includes an added pocket for any important documents or notes.
Inspirational quotes peppered throughout the pages are a nice touch, offering a bit of motivation.
Although the white cover might be prone to dirt, that's a minor issue for a planner that gets so much right.
All in all, this planner offers a fantastic blend of utility and aesthetic appeal. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to stay organized in a stylish way.
This planner is excellent for students because it integrates academic tasks with lifestyle habits in a seamless way.
Its specific categories help manage school assignments, extra-curricular activities, and social life, making work-life balance achievable.
Built-in trackers for sleep and self-care serve as wellness reminders amidst academic pressures.
The undated format adds flexibility, allowing students to start planning at any time during the academic year.
Overall, it's a comprehensive tool for student success both academically and personally.
Students would particularly appreciate this planner for its user-friendly and straightforward layout, making it easy to manage school tasks, assignments, and extracurricular activities.
Its versatile styles, including daily, weekly, and habit-tracking options, align well with the varying organizational needs that students have, from short-term homework deadlines to long-term project planning.
The planner's quality construction and protective plastic cover make it durable enough to survive the school year, while its portability means students can easily take it from class to class.
With appealing aesthetics and color options, it also serves as a personal accessory that students would be happy to show off.
Overall, its design, functionality, and durability make it an ideal tool for students aiming to enhance their organizational skills and academic performance.
After testing this planner, I can confidently say it's a student's dream for staying organized.
The high-quality construction ensures it'll withstand daily wear and tear, and the ample space in each daily block is perfect for jotting down assignments, due dates, and other commitments.
One of the standout features are the tear-away pages, which make it easier to prioritize tasks.
It's compact enough to fit in a backpack but still offers enough real estate for meticulous planning.
This planner strikes the ideal balance between functionality and design, making it an indispensable tool for any student looking to streamline their academic life.
This planner is more than just a place to jot down appointments.
The design is sleek, and the layout is extremely user-friendly, with ample space for notes, including grid paper.
The hourly work section is especially useful for meticulous time-blocking, a feature busy individuals will appreciate.
One standout aspect is its eco-friendliness; it even comes with guidelines on how to recycle it.
While it's on the pricier side, the investment in your time management is worth every penny.
This planner is highly favored for its practical design and durability, making it particularly useful for students.
Users appreciate its perfect size, fitting easily into purses or bags without being bulky.
The planner's 15-minute increment scheduling helps users keep track of busy schedules.
Despite some critiques about the pricing and paper quality, long-term customers attest to its reliability, often reordering the same model year after year.
Additionally, its availability online offers both convenience and better pricing compared to in-store options.
A few users wished for added features like pockets, but overall, it's considered a consistent winner for organizing appointments and tasks.
Get organized...for good!
The quest for the perfect student planner doesn't have to be a complicated ordeal.
As we've explored, the right planner can be a game-changer in your child's academic journey, offering not just organization but a confidence boost as well.
With ample space for notes, vivid colors that spark joy, and convenient size options, these planners are more than just an organizational tool; they're a roadmap to success.
And if you still need help coming up with a system to make tracking assignments and progress easy, here's my student dashboard:
So why settle for disorganized chaos when a simple, effective solution is at your fingertips?
Equip your student with the planner they deserve and pave the way for a more organized, focused, and successful school year.
FAQs
How do I know which planner is best for my child?
Consider your child's organizational habits, preferred layout (daily, weekly, or monthly), the size of the planner, and whether they like extra features like stickers or trackers. Have your student try a few formats to see what feels most natural, since they're more likely to use and stick with something they find intuitive
How can I encourage my student to use their planner consistently?
Make it a part of their daily routine, such as reviewing or updating the planner every morning or evening. Positive reinforcement, like acknowledging their efforts, can go a long way. Some families set aside a dedicated planning time each week to review upcoming assignments and events together.
What is the difference between an academic and a standard planner?
Academic planners often follow the school year calendar (August–July) and include sections for class schedules, assignments, and exams. Standard planners usually run January–December and may focus more on general scheduling. For students, academic planners typically offer the most relevant structure.
The Bottom Line
If you're ready to help your student get and stay organized, investing in a high-quality planner and using it often is your golden ticket.
To recap, here are the top five best planners for students:
Best overall student planner: Indeme Student Planner
Best planner for boosting personal growth: Purpose Planner Undated
Best planner for students on a budget: Weekly Planner Notepad
Best desktop planner: Sweetzer & Orange Weekly To Do List Pad
Best 5" X 8" planner: AT-A-GLANCE Weekly & Monthly Planner
Hope this helps 🤙🏻
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P.S. If you want to work on executive function skills with your students, consider joining hundreds of other educators and parents who have completed my Semester Success Blueprint Course. In less than 2 hours, this comprehensive course will teach you and your student the system I developed to help hundreds of students learn how to manage school effectively and raise their self-awareness and engagement with school.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and growing my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.
Want me to speak on executive function skills at your event? Learn more about my speaking topics here.