Looking to stay productive without paying for premium planner apps? This guide breaks down the best free planner apps in 2025—from daily task managers like Todoist to family-friendly tools like Cozi. Whether you're organizing your day, home, or team, we’ve got the best options (all free!) to help you stay focused and stress-free.
Let me guess. You’ve tried so many planner apps, but they’re either too complicated, too expensive, or just not designed for real life. Maybe you’ve said things like:
- "I need a simple daily planner that actually keeps me on track."
- "Why are all the good planner apps locked behind a paywall?"
- "How can I get my whole family on the same page—without losing my mind?"
I’ve been there too. That’s why I put together this no-fluff, straight-to-the-point guide to the best free planner apps in 2025. Whether you’re planning your workday, managing a household, or just want something that works, this is for you.
Quick Preview: Top Free Planner Apps in 2025
| App Name | Best For | Platforms | Rating (1-5) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todoist | Daily productivity | iOS, Android, Web | 4.8 | Task lists, reminders, integrations |
| Cozi | Family planning | iOS, Android, Web | 4.6 | Shared calendars, lists, meal planner |
| Trello | Visual organization | iOS, Android, Web | 4.5 | Kanban boards, team-friendly |
| Google Tasks | Google ecosystem users | iOS, Android, Web | 4.3 | Simple lists, integrates with Calendar |
| TimeTree | Family + groups | iOS, Android, Web | 4.5 | Shared calendar, color coding |
| Notion | All-in-one planning | iOS, Android, Web | 4.7 | Notes, databases, calendars, templates |
Best Daily Planner App: Stay on Top of Your Everyday Tasks
If your day is packed with meetings, reminders, to-do lists, and sticky notes, you need a daily planner that keeps it all in one place.
✨ My Top Pick: Todoist
Why I love it: It’s clean, fast, and does exactly what I need without overcomplicating things. You can easily sort tasks by date, set recurring reminders, and even use voice input.
Features I use daily:
- Smart due dates like "every Monday"
- Sub-tasks to break things down
- Gmail and Google Calendar integrations
Whether you’re managing your personal day or coordinating a team, Todoist is versatile enough to grow with you.
Pro tip: Pair Todoist with a smart digital whiteboard like the NearHub S55 to display your to-do list on your wall while you work.
Other solid daily planner app options:
- Google Tasks: Extremely simple, especially if you live in Gmail.
- TickTick: Includes built-in Pomodoro timer and habit tracker.
- Microsoft To Do: Great if you're in the Office 365 ecosystem.
Best Free Planner App: Great Functionality Without the Price Tag
If you're like me, you're not trying to pay $10/month just to manage your schedule. Thankfully, some of the best free planner apps are totally capable—without upselling every feature.
✨ My Top Pick: Trello
Trello uses a visual board system that makes organizing tasks way more fun (and useful). Drag and drop tasks between "To Do," "Doing," and "Done," and color-code everything.
Why Trello rocks:
- Free forever (with generous limits)
- Great for solo users or small teams
- Works beautifully on mobile and desktop
You can use Trello for everything from trip planning to editorial calendars.
Bonus: Combine Trello with a camera whiteboard to brainstorm, plan, and visualize your boards in meetings.
Other great free planner apps:
- Notion: Highly customizable. Build your own planner template.
- ClickUp: Task management powerhouse, especially for freelancers.
- Any.do: Combines tasks, calendar, and grocery lists.
Best Family Planner App: Organize the Chaos at Home
Trying to coordinate school schedules, meal plans, soccer practice, and dentist appointments? A good family planner app is basically a lifesaver.
✨ My Top Pick: Cozi Family Organizer
This one’s designed specifically for busy families. Everyone gets their own color on the shared calendar, and it even has a meal planner built in.
What my family loves:
- Shared to-do and shopping lists
- Recipe box and meal planning
- One-tap reminders for events
Even better? Cozi’s completely free. No ads, no nonsense.
Cool use-case: Connect Cozi to a meeting room smart board in your kitchen or home office to keep the whole household synced.
Other top family planning apps:
- TimeTree: Beautiful shared calendar app that’s great for couples, roommates, or teams.
- OurHome: Adds chore tracking and points to get kids involved.
- FamCal: Simple, functional shared calendar and tasks.
Best Free Planner Apps: All-in-One Solutions That Do It All
If you’re looking for a do-everything app that covers daily tasks, long-term goals, and collaborative projects, you want an all-in-one planner.
✨ My Top Pick: Notion
Notion is basically digital Lego blocks. You can build task lists, Kanban boards, notes, habit trackers, goal dashboards—whatever you want.
Why Notion stands out:
- Fully customizable
- Templates for everything
- Syncs across devices instantly
You can use it solo or share pages with a team or family. It’s a planner, a second brain, and a journal all rolled into one.
Productivity tip: Use Notion alongside a smart whiteboard to brainstorm and organize your workspace visually.
Other multifunctional planner tools:
- ClickUp: Tons of features; works well for managing projects.
- Evernote: Still great for notes + tasks in one place.
- Airtable: Best if you love spreadsheets but want something prettier.
How to Choose the Right Planner App for You
Here are a few questions I always ask myself before committing to a new planner:
- What’s my main use case? (Daily tasks, family planning, work projects?)
- Do I need to share it with others? (Team or family?)
- What devices do I use most? (Phone, tablet, web, smart board?)
- Do I prefer lists, calendars, or visual boards?
Also, don’t forget to test drive a few! All of the apps on this list are free, so you have nothing to lose.
FAQs: Best Free Planner Apps in 2025
Q: What is the best free planner app for students?
A: Todoist or Notion. Todoist is great for managing assignments and reminders. Notion is perfect for combining class notes, deadlines, and schedules in one place.
Q: Can I use a planner app with my family?
A: Yes! Cozi and TimeTree are both designed with families in mind. They allow shared calendars, reminders, and shopping lists.
Q: Is Notion really free?
A: Yes, Notion’s free plan is generous for personal use. You only need to pay if you want team features or advanced storage.
Q: Can I connect these apps with my smart whiteboard?
A: Definitely. Many apps like Notion, Google Calendar, and Trello can be displayed or mirrored to a smart digital whiteboard for better visibility during work or meetings.
Q: What’s the most simple planner app?
A: Google Tasks. It’s clean, simple, and works right inside Gmail and Google Calendar.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re trying to manage a jam-packed day, bring order to your family’s chaos, or get more done at work, the right planner app makes a huge difference. And the best part? You don’t have to pay a dime.
Choose one from the list, give it a go, and see how it fits your lifestyle. You might be surprised at how much smoother your days run.
And if you're serious about getting organized, don’t stop at your phone—extend your setup with a smart whiteboard that brings your plans into the real world.
Stay organized, stay awesome – you've got this.
sales@nearhub.us
