- Student planner apps side by side
- Ten student planner apps to try
- Which planner suits your studies
- Build a revision plan you'll stick to
- Timetable apps, syllabus planners and study coaches
- Six things to set up on day one
- Planning habits that last all year
- Signs your planning isn't working
- My plain advice on student planner apps
- Frequently asked questions
A student planner app keeps your timetable, homework, exams and deadlines in one place on your phone, so nothing sneaks up on you. Some add grade tracking or syllabus import, and some build a study plan for you. Ten options follow, in no particular order, for school, college and university students.
Paper planners work brilliantly for about three weeks. Then the timetable changes, a deadline moves and the whole thing's at the bottom of a bag before you've noticed.
Planner apps fix that by sending reminders, syncing across devices and, in some cases, pulling deadlines straight from your syllabus or class platform. The apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the app's own website, read this week. My guide on how to use a monthly planner effectively has tips that work in any app.
Student planner apps side by side
I checked the free plan column on each provider's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names the tool, an account or a plan or version of it as free. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start, so check the provider's own page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| BalanceBoard | Academic tracker and wellness planner | Google Classroom deadlines in one dashboard | Yes |
| DormWay | Syllabus and semester planner | Turning a syllabus into a plan | Not stated |
| Helium | Online student planner | Colour-coded classes and grades | Yes |
| myHomework | Student planner and school tools | Schools rolling out one planner | Not stated |
| MyStudyLife | Student planner and study app | An AI study coach for exams | Yes |
| Power Planner | Homework planner app | Tracking grades and GPA | Yes |
| School Planner | Timetable and homework app | A simple timetable built by students | Yes |
| Shovel | Smart study planner | Fitting study time around real life | Not stated |
| StudySmarter | Learning app with study plans | Study plans plus flashcards | Yes |
| Todoist | To-do list and task manager | Students who also juggle work | Not stated |
Ten student planner apps to try
BalanceBoard
Best for: Students on Google Classroom who want every assignment pulled into one dashboard and broken into a single doable next step.
DormWay
Best for: College students who want to upload their syllabi and have deadlines, class times and grading weights organised for the semester.
Helium
Best for: Anyone who wants classes, homework, grades and notes in one colour-coded online planner that syncs to their phone.
myHomework
Best for: K-12 schools that want a digital student planner alongside hall passes and intervention time, managed by staff.
MyStudyLife
Best for: Students who want classes, homework, exams and revision planned in one place, with an AI study coach keeping them on track.
Power Planner
Best for: High school and college students who want assignments, schedules, grades and GPA tracked across Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
School Planner
Best for: Younger students who want their timetable, homework and exams in one clean app made by students, on phone or web.
Shovel
Best for: Busy college students who want their syllabus or Canvas tasks turned into a time-blocked schedule that protects their weekends.
StudySmarter
Best for: Revisers who want study plans, flashcards, AI notes and mock tests built from their own notes in one learning app.
Todoist
Best for: Learners juggling part-time work and side projects who want one to-do list for coursework and everything else in life.
Which planner suits your studies
- A college syllabus turned into a plan: DormWay.
- Grades and GPA tracking: Power Planner.
- Google Classroom deadlines: BalanceBoard.
- Study time blocked around real life: Shovel.
- A simple timetable for school: School Planner.
Build a revision plan you'll stick to
The NHS advises making a realistic revision schedule: work out how much you have to do and the time you have, then break it down into manageable chunks. It also suggests mixing up your subjects so you don't get bored.
A planner app makes that easy to do and easy to change. Put the exam dates in first, work backwards, and leave space for breaks, sleep and the things you enjoy. A plan with no slack in it falls apart the first time something runs late.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Timetable apps, syllabus planners and study coaches
Timetable apps are the classic student planner: classes, homework and exams in a calendar with reminders. They're ideal for school students and anyone whose week follows a set pattern, and they don't take long to set up.
Syllabus planners pull deadlines from course documents or class platforms, which saves a lot of typing at the start of term. Study coaches go further and suggest when to revise, often using AI to spread work across the days you have left.
Six things to set up on day one
- Your full timetable, including rooms and teachers.
- Every exam and coursework deadline you know about.
- Reminders a day or two before each deadline.
- Regular study blocks for each subject.
- Breaks, sport and time with friends.
- A weekly check to update everything.
Pre-med students with a heavy exam calendar can look at a roundup of apps for the MCAT.
Planning habits that last all year
- Add tasks the moment you get them. Not later that evening.
- Split big projects into small steps. Each with its own date.
- Review the week every Sunday. Ten minutes saves hours.
- Keep one planner, not three. Spread-out plans get forgotten.
Studying for the ACT as well? Daily practice apps are compared in a roundup of ACT prep apps.
Signs your planning isn't working
- Deadlines still take you by surprise.
- You plan more hours than you have.
- You haven't opened the app in a week.
- One subject always gets left until last.
Do you make student planner or study apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on student planner apps
Pick the simplest app that covers your timetable and deadlines, and use it every day for a fortnight before you decide it isn't for you. The best planner is the one you open without thinking, not the one with the most features.
If you're at college or university, a planner that reads your syllabus will save hours at the start of each term. For help turning that plan into focused revision, my guide to ChatGPT prompts for studying and revision is worth a look.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best student planner app?
It depends on your course and habits, so start with one that covers your timetable and deadlines and try it for two weeks.
Is there a free student planner app?
Several apps on this list name a free version or free account on their own site, so check the free plan column.
Can a planner app import my syllabus?
Some can read a syllabus or sync with class platforms, which saves typing deadlines in by hand.
Should I use a planner app or a paper planner?
Apps send reminders and sync across devices, while paper suits people who remember things by writing them down.
Can planner apps track grades?
A few include grade and GPA tracking alongside homework and exams.
How often should I update my planner?
Add tasks as soon as you get them and do a quick review once a week.
