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best planner app for ipad with pencil

08/03/2025

Planning is an essential part of staying organized and productive, especially in our fast-paced world. With the advent of digital technology, convenient tools like planner apps for the iPad equipped with Apple Pencil support have emerged, allowing users to blend the tactile experience of handwriting with the versatility of digital features. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best planner apps for iPad that seamlessly integrate with Apple Pencil, helping you streamline your planning process and boost your productivity.

Why Use Planner Apps for iPad?

Before diving into specific apps, let’s explore why you might consider using a planner app on your iPad with Apple Pencil support:

  1. Flexibility: Digital planners allow you to customize layouts, adjust fonts, and use a variety of colors, which you can’t easily achieve with traditional paper planners.

  2. Accessibility: With cloud storage options, you can access your planner from multiple devices, ensuring that your plans are always at your fingertips.

  3. Organization: Many planner apps allow you to categorize tasks, set reminders, and create visual elements that help keep you organized.

  4. Environmentally Friendly: Using a digital planner significantly reduces paper waste, making it a more sustainable choice in the long run.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the best planner apps available for the iPad that utilize Apple Pencil support.

1. Notability

Notability is one of the most popular note-taking apps on iOS, and it’s perfect for planning as well. With its rich feature set, you can easily create to-do lists, take handwritten notes, and organize your thoughts all in one place. Here’s how Notability stands out:

  • Apple Pencil Support: The app offers excellent Apple Pencil support for drawing and handwriting, making it an ideal choice if you prefer jotting down notes by hand.

  • Audio Recording: You can record audio while you write notes, which is handy for lectures or meetings.

  • PDF Annotation: Import PDFs and annotate them directly within the app. Great for marking up documents or planners.

  • Cloud Sync: Notability offers seamless syncing with iCloud, ensuring that your notes are accessible on your iPhone or other devices.

For a versatile planner experience, download Notability here.

2. GoodNotes 5

GoodNotes 5 is another stellar option for planners on the iPad. Renowned for its handwriting recognition and organizational features, it enables you to manage your planning tasks effectively.

  • Handwriting Recognition: GoodNotes can convert your handwritten notes to typed text, allowing for easy searching and organization of your notes.

  • Customizable Templates: Users can create or download various planner templates, including daily, weekly, and monthly layouts.

  • Intuitive Interface: The app’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate through your notes and folders.

  • Folder Organization: You can create an organized library of your planners and notes, ensuring you can quickly find what you need.

To elevate your note-taking and planning experience, check out GoodNotes 5 here.

3. Things 3

If you’re looking for an app focused on task management with a sleek design, Things 3 is worth considering. This app combines elegant presentation with robust features that enable effective planning.

  • Task Management: Create tasks, set deadlines, and organize them in different projects, making complex planning straightforward.

  • Calendar Integration: Things 3 integrates with your calendar, ensuring you never miss a deadline or appointment.

  • Focus Mode: The app allows you to focus on the tasks at hand by temporarily hiding distractions.

  • Apple Pencil Support: You can annotate tasks and notes directly within the app using Apple Pencil.

To simplify your task management and planning, download Things 3 here.

4. Trello

Trello is a versatile project management tool that can double as a digital planner. Its card-based interface makes it easy to keep track of tasks, projects, and deadlines.

  • Kanban Boards: Organize your tasks with boards, lists, and cards. It’s visually appealing and efficient for managing numerous projects at once.

  • Collaboration Features: Trello is great for group projects, allowing multiple users to collaborate in real-time.

  • Integrations: The app integrates with various tools like Google Drive, Slack, and more, enhancing productivity.

  • Visual Organization: With the use of stickers and labels, you can customize your planner aesthetically.

Explore how Trello can help organize your projects by downloading it here.

5. Todoist

For those who prefer a straightforward to-do list app, Todoist is an excellent choice. This task management app provides a clean interface and powerful features to help you plan efficiently.

  • Quick Add Feature: Easily add tasks and assign due dates and priorities using natural language input.

  • Projects and Sub-Tasks: Organize tasks into projects and create sub-tasks for more complicated workflows.

  • Recurring Tasks: Set tasks to repeat daily, weekly, or monthly, ensuring you stay on top of regular responsibilities.

  • Apple Pencil Compatibility: Use the Apple Pencil to quickly jot down tasks and notes within the app.

Get organized and boost productivity with Todoist here.

6. Microsoft OneNote

If you’re looking for a fully-featured note-taking and planning app, Microsoft OneNote is hard to beat. It offers great functionality and integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Office products.

  • Rich Formatting Options: You can format notes with different fonts, colors, and highlighting options.

  • Hierarchical Organization: Create notebooks, sections, and pages to keep your planning organized.

  • Collaboration: Share your notes and planners with others, allowing for collaborative planning.

  • Apple Pencil Support: Use OneNote with your Apple Pencil to take handwritten notes or draw directly on your digital pages.

Start organizing your notes and plans with Microsoft OneNote here.

7. GoodDay

GoodDay is an all-in-one work management tool that combines task management, project planning, and team collaboration. It’s perfect for both personal planning and professional project management.

  • Comprehensive Features: From Gantt charts to task boards, GoodDay offers versatile tools for any planning style.

  • Team Collaboration: GoodDay excels in team settings, allowing for seamless communication and project tracking.

  • Customizable Workspaces: Users can tailor their workspace to fit their unique needs, making planning intuitive.

  • Priority Labels: Use different labels to prioritize tasks effectively.

Elevate your planning and project management with GoodDay here.

8. Planner Pro

Planner Pro is specifically designed for those who want an all-in-one planner app for managing tasks, schedules, and notes effectively.

  • Day, Week, Month Views: Offers multiple views that cater to different planning preferences, whether you like viewing your tasks by day, week, or month.

  • Task and Event Integration: Integrates tasks with calendar events to give you a holistic view of your schedule.

  • Apple Pencil Support: Easily annotate your planner using the Apple Pencil, allowing for a personal touch.

  • Customizable Interface: Users can adjust the layout and content according to their individual planning styles.

Check out Planner Pro for efficient planning by downloading it here.

Conclusion

Choosing the right planner app for your iPad can significantly enhance your productivity and organization. Whether you prefer an app focused on note-taking like Notability and GoodNotes 5, project management tools like Trello and GoodDay, or task-oriented apps like Things 3 and Todoist, there is a digital planner available that can cater to your unique needs.

Before you make your decision, consider your specific planning requirements: Do you need collaboration features? Are you focused on task management or note-taking? Once you have narrowed that down, you can select the best planner app that integrates seamlessly with your Apple Pencil and iPad.

By adopting digital planning tools, you’ll not only streamline your tasks but also have the added benefit of reducing paper waste, making for a more sustainable life. Happy planning!