Answering Your FAQs about a Digital Planner!

Are you wondering if a digital planner is right for you? I always thought I was a paper planner girl, but I’ve got to say that once I tried a digital planner, I was hooked! If you’re still not sure, check out this video where I address some of our most frequently asked digital planner questions. Or, feel free to keep reading. Hopefully I will answer some of yours!

What is a digital planner?

If you’re starting from square one and don’t even know what a digital planner is, don’t worry! You’re not alone. A digital planner is an electronic planner that you use on your tablet and write in using a tablet pencil. It’s important to note that a digital planner is NOT a planner that you print out, and it is also not an app. It’s essentially a file that you open and edit using your tablet.

What is the best digital planner?

Our Get Organized HQ Digital Planner, of course! (Though I might be just a teensy bit biased.) In all seriousness, there are a few key things to look for when deciding on a digital planner. First of all, does the digital planner have hyperlinks? Hyperlinks are buttons or text you can tap on that will take you to different pages of the planner. Hyperlinks make it MUCH easier to navigate a digital planner than going through page by page.

Secondly, do you like the design of the digital planner pages? This question is probably the same whether you’re looking at a digital or paper planner. Do you like the layout of the pages and does it work for you?

Thirdly, does the digital planner allow you to customize anything? The best digital planners allow you to add more pages, or choose your own page layout. For instance, our Sweet Life Digital Planner includes monthly, weekly, AND daily pages, so you can use the ones that work best for you. The Sweet Life Planner also includes pages for notes with a variety of page options (lined, dotted, blank, etc.). If you like one particular page style better, you can always add more to your digital planner. And there’s no bulk to worry about, since it’s digital!

Is a paper planner better to use than a digital
planner?

Short answer: it depends. This really comes down to your own lifestyle and personal preference. I know some people just love putting a literal pen to paper. I am one of those people as well! However, I have found that digital planners really combine the best of both worlds. They’re easy to navigate, give you lots of page options without the bulk, and you still get the feeling of writing things down by using the tablet pencil. Keep in mind that if you don’t love technology or if you don’t want to spend the money on a tablet, then a digital planner is probably not for you.

What types of devices is your digital planner compatible with?

Great question! You sure don’t want to pick out a device only to find out it doesn’t work with your digital planner. Most iPad or Android tablets are going to work fine.

Just keep in mind that you want one that is going to work with a tablet pencil. Trust me, writing in your planner is way easier if you have a tablet pencil! And it also needs to support an app that can load the digital planner. For iPad, we recommend GoodNotes 5, and for Android we recommend Xodo or Noteshelf. I have a tutorial for using GoodNotes with your digital planner that you'll definitely want to check out!

Check out our device recommendations for digital planners in more detail here.

How do I know if my device is compatible with a pencil for my digital planner?

The easiest way to find the answer to this question is to Google the name of your device and “tablet pencil” together. The good news is that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a tablet pencil. We have written a comprehensive review here of our favorite tablet pencil. And it even works with an iPad! Keep in mind that a stylus is not the same thing as a tablet pencil. A stylus taps like your finger. A pencil lets you handwrite on your device.

Does your digital planner work on either a smartphone or a computer?

Ok, let’s break this one down. The technical answer? Yes, your digital planner will work on a smartphone or a computer. However, it is going to be a lot harder to write in your planner if you’re on a device that does not use a pencil. Some people do it and are happy with it! But I find it a lot easier to use my digital planner on my iPad. That being said, even though I do all of my editing in my digital planner on my iPad, I can also pull it up on my phone to look at it while I’m out, which is very convenient. You just have to make sure you have the planner synced across your devices. This should be pretty straightforward for Apple products using GoodNotes 5. It’s a little trickier for Android and PC users. We’ve created a tutorial here that shows you how to do this using the Xodo app here.  Click here for that tutorial

Does this digital planner send notifications?

The Sweet Life Planner does not send reminders or notifications. We would recommend using a calendar or reminders app for that.

Do I need to be on Wifi in order to use this planner?

You do need to have internet access in order to download your digital planner. Once it’s on the device, you no longer need internet in order to use it. If you want to sync it across multiple devices, you will need to be connected to the internet on both devices every time you want to sync it.

What cases do you recommend for your tablet?

I use an iPad, and I have the Keyboard Folio. I love that it’s really flat with no bulk. It has a built-in keyboard, closes magnetically, and the cover can flip all the way over to the back. Tasha has a more protective case that includes a holder for the pencil. It’s bulkier, but probably protects the iPad better. Keep in mind that the iPad Pro allows you to magnetically connect your pencil to the iPad, so there’s not a need for a pencil holder on your case.

Can I make my own digital planner?

Making your own digital planner is certainly not for everyone. Digital planners are so easy to customize, that most of the time it’s not even necessary to make your own. That being said, if you really want to try it, we recommend using Adobe InDesign because it allows you to add hyperlinks – a must-have for a digital planner!

I hope we were able to answer some of your digital planner questions! Don’t forget to check out our Get Organized HQ Digital Planner to see if it’s a good fit for you.