Top Tools for Digital Planner Creation in 2025

Hi Planner Creators!

If you're ready to dive into the world of digital planner creation, you’ll need the right tools to make your designs pop. From crafting stunning layouts to automating the linking process, the right software can save you hours of work and help you produce planners that people will love to use. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best tools for digital planners and what makes them shine

1. Canva

Best for: Beginners and intermediate creators

Why it’s great: Canva is a favorite among planner creators because it’s incredibly user-friendly. It offers pre-designed digital planner templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and access to thousands of fonts, images, and icons.

Features to love:

  • Easily create undated or dated planner pages.
  • Resize designs to fit different platforms like tablets or phones.
  • Export directly as a PDF, ready to use in apps like GoodNotes or Notability.

Pro Tip: Pair Canva with PDF-Linkr to get around that pesky page limit in Canva.  PDF-Linkr allows you to create your planner in Canva sections then download, merge and hyperlink so your planner is ready for distribution.

2. PowerPoint

Best for: Flexible design with precise control

Why it’s great: PowerPoint isn’t just for presentations! Its grid systems and intuitive interface make it ideal for creating custom digital planner designs. You can experiment with layouts, use layering tools, and align elements precisely.

Features to love:

  • Easy text formatting for creating planner headers and to-do lists.
  • Add shapes, tabs, and interactive buttons.
  • Save your design as a PDF to keep your planner file resolution crisp.

Pro Tip: Use PowerPoint’s "Insert Link" feature for simple hyperlinks, or upload your exported PDF to PDF-Linkr to automate the linking process across all pages in minutes.

3. Affinity Publisher

Best for: Advanced creators with design experience

Why it’s great: Affinity Publisher is a powerful tool for creators who want complete control over their digital planner design. It’s like a lighter, more budget-friendly alternative to Adobe InDesign, but with all the tools you need to create professional layouts.

Features to love:

  • Design multi-page planners effortlessly with master page templates.
  • Add stylish typography, intricate patterns, and detailed color schemes.
  • Export your planners in various formats, including PDF for tablets.

Pro Tip: Use Affinity Publisher to create complex planner layouts, then let PDF-Linkr handle the hyperlinking for a polished final product.

4. Keynote

Best for: Mac users looking for simplicity

Why it’s great: Keynote, Apple’s presentation software, works beautifully for creating digital planners. Its clean interface is perfect for building sleek, minimalist designs.

Features to love:

  • Create interactive elements using Keynote’s hyperlink tool.
  • Adjust sizes to fit iPads and other Apple devices seamlessly.
  • Export as a PDF and share it online with ease.

Pro Tip: Combine Keynote’s linking abilities with PDF-Linkr to handle external links, such as website URLs or calendar integrations.

5. GoodNotes (For Testing)

Best for: Ensuring your planner is functional

Why it’s great: While GoodNotes isn’t a design tool, it’s essential for testing your planner’s usability. Upload your designs to check for alignment, link accuracy, and overall user experience.

Why Linking Tools Are Game-Changers

No matter which design software you use, the manual task of linking tabs, sections, and calendars can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where tools like PDF-Linkr come in:

  • Automate the addition of hyperlinks across your entire planner.
  • Generate Google and Apple Calendar links in one click.
  • Save hours of repetitive work so you can focus on designing.

Finding the Right Tool for You

Choosing the best tool for your digital planner creation comes down to your experience level and personal preferences. Canva is ideal for quick, visually appealing planners. PowerPoint and Affinity Publisher are excellent for creators who want more advanced control. And remember, tools like PDF-Linkr are the perfect companions to streamline the linking process, ensuring your planners are both beautiful and functional.

Happy planning, and don’t forget to experiment with these tools to see which one helps your creativity shine!

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