Top 8 planners of 2026: Roterunner, Hobonichi, Kokuyo

Similar to the Hobonichi above, the Jibun Techo uses ultra-thin, ultra-smooth paper which makes it possible to include all those pages and books without making it too thick a planner. I tested the B5 Slim size, which is longer but thinner than the A5, and was surprised at how happy I was with the space available for my weekly plans and so much more with all the pages included. I also really love the ideas book in the back for my never-ending lists and notes, and I can easily replace it if I fill it up before the year is out. It’s a bigger investment than the Roterunner and I don’t have everything on one page on the Jibun, but I really like it and find myself reaching for it more and more.

Daily planners give you a full page for each day, and the day designer is great for anyone who wants space for a full calendar and a nice long to-do list for each day. Half of the schedule on the page runs from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., 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 out, plus the top of the page has space for the three most important things, any due dates, and dinner.

It’s a bit bulky, since there’s a page for every day of the year along with monthly spreads, but it’s not so large that you can’t bring it in a spacious backpack or large suitcase. I also like that it’s not too long, with a square, A5-sized layout, but still has plenty of room for a nice long to-do list. I wish there was room for more lists and miscellaneous notes, but if that’s not something you need, you’ll be happy with this planner.

The Plum Paper A5 planner has the perfect amount of customizability without feeling like I have to do a lot of 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’ve customized to include a priority section for my son, but you can choose from other layouts — there are 10 different types of layouts, from vertical and horizontal to setting students and goals, and then anywhere from two to four types of layouts within each type. You can also choose from a wide variety of covers that you can personalize with things like your name or year, and choose from a wide range of add-ons like monthly workout summaries, kids tracking pages, and more.

The A5 size is easy to use and can be carried anywhere I want, and you can have the planner start in any month you want – which is great if you suddenly want a yearly planner in March or July without having to skip all those extra months. You’ll find a double-sided folder at the back, which I usually use for stickers and urgent papers I need to deal with. Speaking of stickers, I love Plum Paper’s stylish sticker sets ($5 and up) that range from matching extra pages to cute seasonal stickers, and I can create my own custom stickers on the Plum Paper website.

Not surprisingly, given the name, there is nothing secret about this scheme. With a bright blue cardstock cover and an 11 x 14-inch profile that’s too large to fit in any purse or small bag, this is for people who live—or plan to live—large. A companion to motivational speaker and entrepreneur Jesse Itzler’s Big A## Calendar (shown in our Gift Ideas for People Who Work from Home), this “spiral planner for high-vision people” depicts each month in its entirety across two pages, with oversized 2.5 x 2.5-inch squares for each day. Motivational quotes at the top of each page (sample: “To do extraordinary things, put yourself in extraordinary situations”), and the back of the planner includes a goal-tracking 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 surge of energy, and a year-review worksheet with boxes to track highlights of the year like “favorite new music,” new things you tried, and “career milestones.” If sudden inspiration strikes that needs to be shared, there’s a 300-square-inch dry erase board in the back that can be propped up for meetings or impromptu demos. I just feel more energized I’m looking In it. I wish the days of the week were on one page instead of both, so I could keep it open folded in half on my desk (when open, its footprint extends to less than two feet—a lot of desk real estate), but as someone who takes copious handwritten notes, it’s a worthy trade-off for me for the massive amount of daily writing space. —Kat Merck

There are a lot of weird planners out there, but Ban.do is one of the most fun options that falls within almost everyone’s budget. From a page to keep track of the books you’re reading to an entire page dedicated to your astrological birth chart, it’s hard to resist the fun Ban.do charts have to offer. The weekly layout has enough space for daily planning, and you’ll get fun extras like monthly meal planning and three pages of stickers included. There are also undated versions ($25) if you want the flexibility of a full date.

There are a lot of different cover options, and although they are available on Amazon, each cover tends to have its own separate listing, so it may take some time to comb through and find your options. It is a little easier on Ban.do’s own website to purchase all the designs. You can also get 17-month schemes on sale from the start date of August 2025, but the scheme will run until the end of 2026.

Happy Planner has a wide range of layouts, with many designs ranging from a vertical layout to a large dashboard and even a business-specific design. There’s a lot of space in these spacious layouts, but the design looks like it would be perfect for students, whether they’re full-time or taking classes in the evening or after work. The split pages are cute and sometimes include phrases and quotes, but they definitely have a youthful feel.

You can choose between Classic, Classic Slim, Small, or Large sizes, and dated or undated pages. There are daily planners, specially 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 also get extension packs to add a few more months or to keep track of things like your budget and fitness goals.

More charts we’ve tested

We’ve tried a lot of different planners. Here are all our thoughts on everything we tested.

Agendio Planner starts at $47: If you can’t find the right planner for you, it may be time to design your own. This may sound intimidating, but Agendio makes it super easy with its fully customizable layouts, 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, such as exercise trackers or reading lists, which you can add for each month or to the end of the planner. The price can vary greatly depending on what you choose to add to it.