A digital planner is simply a PDF you write on with a note-taking app. Download the PDF, open it in GoodNotes, Notability or another PDF annotation app, and write on it with a stylus or your finger. If the planner has a clickable index, tap a section name to jump to it. On an iPad in GoodNotes, just tap the link; on Android and Windows, switch to Read Only mode, or press and hold the link and choose Open Link.
What you need
- A tablet: iPad, an Android tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab and others) or a Windows touchscreen laptop.
- A note-taking or PDF app: GoodNotes (iPad, Android, Windows), Notability (iPad), Samsung Notes (Galaxy devices), Xodo (Android, iPad, Windows) or any app that can annotate PDFs.
- A stylus is nicer, but not required.
Step 1: Download the PDF
After you buy, the download link appears on the order confirmation page and in your email. Open it on the tablet and save the PDF to Files (iPad) or Downloads (Android).
Step 2: Import it into your app
| App | How to import |
|---|---|
| GoodNotes (iPad) | Open the PDF in Files, tap Share, and choose GoodNotes; or in GoodNotes tap New → Import and pick the file. Import it as a new document. |
| Notability (iPad) | Tap Share on the PDF and choose Notability, or use Notability's import option. |
| GoodNotes (Android / Windows) | Use New → Import in the app and choose the PDF from your device. |
| Samsung Notes | Open the PDF with Samsung Notes, or import it from the app, then write with the S Pen. |
| Xodo | Open the PDF in Xodo and use the annotation tools. |
Step 3: Use the hyperlinks
Hyperlinked planners have an index or tabs that jump to sections.
- GoodNotes on iPad: tap the linked text or tab to follow it.
- GoodNotes on Android, Windows or web: switch to Read Only mode and tap the link, or, in edit mode, press and hold the link and choose Open Link.
- Other apps: if tapping a link draws a line instead of jumping, switch from the pen to a selection or reading tool and tap again.
- No links? Most apps also show the PDF's bookmarks / outline, a list of sections you can tap to jump.
Step 4: Set it up to reuse
- Keep a blank master. Duplicate the whole document before writing, so you always have a clean copy.
- Duplicate pages you need more of. Most apps let you duplicate a page from the page thumbnails; handy for extra weekly or daily pages in an undated planner.
- Write in the dates. Undated planners let you start any month; write the month and dates on each calendar page as you go.
- Back up. Turn on your app's cloud backup so your planner survives a lost or reset tablet.
Prefer paper? Print it on A4
Open the PDF on a computer, choose A4 paper and Actual size / 100% scaling (not "fit to page") so margins stay even. Print only the pages you need, and reprint undated pages as often as you like for your own use. A local print shop can print and spiral-bind it.
Our planners
All our planners are A4 PDFs that work in GoodNotes, Notability and other PDF apps, or print at home, and every file includes PDF bookmarks for quick navigation. The Undated Digital Planner adds a clickable index and brings everything together in 42 pages: year at a glance, yearly goals, 12 monthly calendars, weekly and daily pages, habit trackers, a monthly budget snapshot, a project planner and notes. ₹599. Browse all printable planners.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a PDF planner in GoodNotes?
Yes. Import the PDF into GoodNotes as a new document and write on it with a stylus or finger. Any links in the PDF keep working.
Why are the hyperlinks in my planner not working in GoodNotes?
On Android, Windows and web, GoodNotes follows links in Read Only mode, or when you press and hold a link and choose Open Link. On iPad you tap the link directly.
Can I use a digital planner on an Android tablet?
Yes. Use GoodNotes for Android, Samsung Notes, Xodo or another PDF annotation app to import and write on the PDF.
Can I print a digital planner?
Yes. Print on A4 paper at Actual size or 100% scaling, and reprint undated pages as often as you need for personal use.
Do I need an Apple Pencil for a digital planner?
No. A stylus makes writing easier, but you can write or type with your finger in most apps.
App menus change between versions; if a step looks different, check your app's help pages.