Similar to the Hobonichi above, the Jibun Techo uses super thin, super soft paper that makes it possible to include all of these pages and books without making it a super-thick planner. I tested the B5 Slim size, which is taller but skinnier than an A5, and I was surprised how happy I was with the space I had for my weekly plans and so much more with all the included pages. I also really like the Ideas book in the back for my never ending lists and notes, and that I could easily swap it out if I filled it before the year is up. It’s a bigger investment than the Roterunner and I don’t have everything on a single page on the Jibun, but I really love it and find myself reaching for it more and more.<\/p>\n
\n
Another Great Daily Planner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
- \n
- \n\n
![\"Overhead](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/67898890da34f22db6bdc44e\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Day-Designer-Daily-Planner-inside-spread-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Nena-Farrell.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/684cae8c20b6eac6138b5d74\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/azure%2520source%2520Day%2520Designer.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nDay Designer<\/p>\n
Daily Planner<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Daily planners give you an entire page for each day, and the Day Designer is great for anyone who wants space for both a full calendar and a nice long to-do list for each day. The schedule half of the page goes from 5 am to 9 pm, giving you plenty of room to schedule meetings, plan workouts, or block out client appointments. The other half has a long to-do list you can fill in, plus the top of the page has a space for the three most important things, any due dates, and dinner.<\/p>\n
It’s a bit on the bulky side, since there’s a page for every single day of the year along with monthly spreads, but it’s not so big that you can’t bring it in a spacious backpack or tote bag. I also like that it’s not too tall, with a square A5 design, but still has plenty of 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, then you’ll be happy with this planner.<\/p>\n
\n\nBest Customizable Planner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n- \n
- \n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/684cad8b34ca3a16f0545523\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Plum-Planner-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Nena-Farrell.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/684cae0cc0283f38558a1643\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/weekly%2520layouts_source%2520Plum%2520Paper.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nPlum Paper<\/p>\n
A5 Vertical Priorities Planner<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Plum Paper A5 Planner has the perfect amount of customizability without feeling like I have to do too much work to create it, and has a lot of beautiful covers and color options to choose from. I personally love the Vertical Priorities layout, which I customized to include a priority section for my son, but you can choose from other layouts\u2014there are 10 different types of layouts, going from vertical and horizontal to student and goal setting, then anywhere from two to four types of layouts within each type. You also choose from a huge variety of covers that you can customize with things like your name or the year, and choose from a huge range of add-ons like monthly workout summaries, baby tracking pages, and so much more.<\/p>\n
The A5 size is easy to use and tote around wherever I want, and you can have the planner start on any month you wish\u2014great for if you want an annual planner suddenly in March or July without needing to skip all those extra months. You’ll find a two-sided folder in the back, which I usually use for stickers and urgent paperwork I need to handle. Speaking of stickers, I love Plum Paper’s chic sticker sets ($5+) that range from matching their add-on pages to cute seasonal stickers, and that I can make my own custom stickers on Plum Paper’s website.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n- \n
- \n\n
![\"Jesse](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/684caf0fff419dbae9caeaa1\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Jesse-Itzler-The-Big-A##-Planner-2025-open-spread-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Kat-Merck.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/684caee4ed6499b3afc53c5e\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/blue%2520spread%2520source%2520Big%2520A##%2520Planner.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\nCourtesy of Big A## Planner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\nBig A## Planner<\/p>\n
The 2026 Big A## Planner<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Not surprisingly, given the name, there\u2019s nothing discreet about this planner. With its bright-blue cardstock cover and 11- by-14-inch profile too big to fit in any purse or small bag, this is for people who live\u2014or plan to live\u2014large. The companion to motivational speaker and entrepreneur Jesse Itzler\u2019s<\/a> Big A## Calendar (as seen in our Gift Ideas for People Who Work From Home<\/a>), this spiral-bound \u201cplanner for highly visual people\u201d depicts each month in its entirety across a two-page spread, with oversized 2.5-by 2.5-inch squares for each day. Motivational quotes top each page (sample: \u201cTo do exceptional things, put yourself in exceptional situations\u201d), and the back of the planner contains a goal-tracker version of the Big A## Calendar\u2014every day of the year at a glance.<\/p>\n
There are five lined pages for notes, a running-pace chart should you find yourself overcome with a sudden burst of energy, and a Year in Review worksheet with boxes for keeping track of year highlights such as \u201cfavorite new music,\u201d new things I tried,\u201d and \u201ccareer milestones.\u201d If sudden inspiration strikes that needs to be shared, there\u2019s a 300-square-inch dry-erase board in the back that can be propped up for impromptu meetings or demonstrations. I feel more energized just looking<\/em> at it. I do wish the days of the week were on one page instead of across both, so I could keep it open folded in half on my desk (when opened, its footprint sprawls just under 2 feet wide\u2014a significant amount of desk real estate), but as someone who takes copious handwritten notes, it\u2019s a worthy trade-off for me for the sheer amount of daily writing space. \u2014Kat Merck<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n- \n
- \n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/684cb0f2df5d9c8059755733\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Ban.Do-Planner-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Nena-Farrell.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/684cb11634ca3a16f0545525\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/cherries%2520source%2520BanDo.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThere are a lot of quirky planners, but Ban.do is one of the most fun options that’s within just about everyone’s budget. From a page to track the books you read to an entire page dedicated to your astrological birth chart, it’s hard to resist the fun that Ban.do’s planners offer. The weekly layout has enough room for daily planning, and you’ll get fun extras like monthly meal planning and three pages of included stickers. There are also undated ($25)<\/a> versions if you want full date flexibility.<\/p>\n
There are lots of different cover options, and while these are available on Amazon<\/a>, each cover tends to have its own separate listing, so it can take some time to comb through and find your options. It’s a little easier on Ban.do’s own site to shop all the designs. You can also get the 17-month planners on sale<\/a> since the start date is in August 2025, but the planner goes through the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n- \n
- \n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/681294454f55e80621cf9f41\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/Happy-Planner-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Nena-Farrell.jpg\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n
\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/media.wired.com\/photos\/684cb1dbdf5d9c8059755735\/4:3\/w_640%2Cc_limit\/onyx%2520color%2520source%2520Happy%2520Planner.png\"\/)
<\/picture><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\nCourtesy of The Happy Planner<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\nThe Happy Planner<\/p>\n
2026 Planners<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Happy Planner has a huge range of planners, with tons of designs ranging from a vertical<\/a> layout to a large dashboard<\/a> to even a design made for work. There’s lots of space in these spacious planners, but the design seems like it would be perfect for students, whether they’re full-time or just taking classes in the evenings or after work. The divider pages are cute and sometimes include phrases and quotes, but definitely have a youthful feel to them.<\/p>\n
You can choose between Classic<\/a>, Skinny Classic<\/a>, Mini<\/a>, or Big<\/a> sizes, and dated<\/a> or undated<\/a> pages. There are daily<\/a> planners, ones tailored to teachers<\/a> and students<\/a>, among many others. The unique binding design makes it easy to take pages out or add them back in, and you can also get extension packs<\/a> to add a few more months or to keep track of things like your budget<\/a> and fitness<\/a> goals.<\/p>\n
\nMore Planners We Tested<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
We’ve tried tons of different planners. Here are all of our thoughts on everything we’ve tested.<\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- \n