16 Best Planners for Moms and Busy Families 2023

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There’s one little secret I’d like to share with you that took me way too long to realize…

Every busy mom needs a good planner.

A few years ago, I was a new mom who thought she didn’t have time to keep up with a planner.

I assumed I could remember #allthethings and get away with storing all of my important dates and to-do’s inside my head.

It turns out my memory isn’t as wonderful as I assumed it would be – and neither is my ability to find random pieces of paper with lists written all over them at any given time.

Fortunately for me (and every other busy mom), there are planners that are designed specifically for busy moms like us who need help staying on top of things while juggling everything else life throws our way.

If you like this post, you might also like:

• Cute weekly meal planners
• Our review of the best family calendar app

👉 Use code LEMONSANDLATTES to save 10% on your favorite Clever Fox planner!

Best planners for busy moms 2023

• Best planner for the working mom: The Living Well Planner
• Best dated weekly planner (coiled): Erin Condren Coiled LifePlanner
• Best dated weekly planner (softbound): Erin Condren Softbound LifePlanner
• Best dated mom planner: PurpleTrail Mom Planner
• Best 90-day mom planner: Savor Beauty Planner
• Best daily planner for moms: Day Designer for Blue Sky
• Best planner for DIY moms: The Happy Planner
• Best family planner for moms: Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer
• Best planner for family with multiple schedules: momAgenda Desktop Planner
• Best portable undated weekly planner: Clever Fox Weekly Planner
• Best planner for moms with ADHD/ADD: Clever Fox Daily Planner
• Best ultra portable planner for moms: Bloom Daily Planners
• Best planner for creatives: Bullet Journal
• Best budget planner for moms: Clever Fox Budget Planner
• Best magnetic weekly planner for the fridge: Cinch! Dry Erase Fridge Calendar
• Best family planner notepad: Bliss Collections Family Planner

Why should a busy mom use a planner, anyway?

A planner is more than just a schedule or a pretty notebook. There are several advantages to using one, especially if you are a busy mom.

Reason #1: Hello, organized life!

If you use a planner correctly, it’s one of the best ways to stay organized.

A planner will help you stay on top of all your important dates and things to do. No more missed appointments or due dates (as long as you are diligent about writing them in as SOON as you are aware of them).

It will also help you keep everything in one place so there are never any surprises.

Reason #2: Less stress

And when you’re organized and have all your ducks in a row, you’re less likely to feel frazzled as well.

It’s such a nice feeling knowing that nothing important is going to slip through the cracks.

Reason #3: Better time management and productivity

You’ll get more done, too. You can prioritize and plan your days and weeks ahead of time. You’ll know exactly what you need to get done and it will keep you on track.

Magical things happen with your personal goals when you are focused and using your time wisely!

Reason #4: Creative outlet

A planner can also be a creative outlet.

Some moms decorate theirs with stickers, washi tape, and other accessories. Others just write in the basics and call it a day.

Many organizers these days offer a spot for you to doodle or express yourself. They also may offer prompts that will encourage creativity and goal-setting.

Depending on the type you choose, you can make it as simple or complex as you’d like.

How to choose a planner

There are tons of options that are all designed for us busy moms, but you really need to find the right one that suits your needs.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself.

How do you plan to use your planner?

Are you wanting it simply for keeping up with the basics like due dates, birthdays, appointments, etc.?

Or, are you looking for an ultimate life organization tool that has extras like meal planning, budgeting, goal setting, personal to-do lists, etc.?

For some moms, something basic may be all you need. Others may need a product that includes some of those other areas.

What type of design do you prefer?

Do you love a colorful planner or do you prefer a more minimalist look?

Also, do you have a preference for the binding? Some people like coil binding because it can be folded back while others prefer softbound.

What type of layout do you like best?

Do you prefer a weekly spread or a daily spread? Vertical or horizontal? Is time blocking or hourly planning important to you?

Weekly spreads usually include monthly calendars plus weekly planning pages that are spread across two pages.

Here’s an example of a vertical weekly spread from my PurpleTrail Mom Planner:

And here’s a horizontal weekly spread from my Erin Condren Coiled LifePlanner:

Daily spreads, on the other hand, devote an entire page to each day of the week. Daily planners are commonly shorter than weekly planners since they do use more pages than a weekly planner.

What about portability?

Planners come in a variety of sizes. If portability matters to you, you may want to look for a smaller planner (such as an A5 or possibly even smaller) that’s easier to carry along with you.

If you’re looking for a product you can take with you to school, for example, consider how much space it will take up in your book bag.

What is your budget?

In order to get everything you’re looking for in a planner, are you willing to splurge a bit or are you on a tight budget?

This very question will narrow down your choices fairly quickly as a lot of the nicer planners are a bit more “premium” when it comes to pricing.

However, don’t feel like you have to splurge. If you are on a budget and don’t have a need for a fancier planner, there are several budget-friendly options that do the basics quite well.

What about customization options?

Do you care about the way it looks or whether or not the brand allows customizations? Or are you cool with using it straight out of the box?

Some companies will offer an option to have your name printed on the front. They may also let you choose your own cover design.

It’s probably not a deal breaker, but if you want to have any control over the look of your planner, this might be consider while you’re shopping around.

How much freedom do you want or need to have with your planner?

Branching off from the previous question – Are you the DIY type or do you get bored easily?

If you are a mom who tends to get bored with planners easily, you may want to consider choosing a planner that will allow you to add additional designs, pages, or inserts.

Sometimes having the freedom to switch it up is exactly what you need!

Dated vs undated: Which is better?

There is somewhat of a debate as to whether a dated planner or undated planner is better. One is not really better than the other. It all depends on your preferences.

Are you cool with writing in the dates yourself?

With dated planners, of course, you won’t have to spend any extra time writing in the dates since it’s already done for you. For a lot of busy moms, this speaks for itself.

With an undated planner, you will have to spend a bit of time carefully writing in the dates yourself. And I say carefully because I think it’s important to note how easy it is to make an honest mistake when you are writing in the dates manually. (It’s probably best to not fill in an undated planner too far ahead of time.)

Another important point to consider, most dated planners will either start at the beginning or middle of the year. Some allow you to choose your starting month. Overall, with a dated planner, you are somewhat limited.

With an undated planner, you can choose for your planner to start whenever you want (unless the months are already marked).

Will you have gaps in between uses?

If for some reason you stop using your planner for a few weeks or months, with a dated planner, this “gap” will be outdated and no longer of any use.

With some undated planners, it’s much easier to pick up where you left off, even if you have skipped a significant amount of time.

An undated planner gives you an extra opportunity to be creative

If you have found that a bullet journal is too overwhelming for you but you still want to express your creativity, an undated planner may be a better fit for you.

Since you are in charge of writing in your own dates and months, you can make them as colorful and decorative as you want.

Bottom line: Both dated and undated planners have their places.

A dated planner may be best for busy moms who prefer to not hassle with any extra work.

If you prefer a bit of extra freedom to express your creativity and you want to ensure that absolutely no page goes to waste (even if you have a gap in use here and there), then an undated planner will probably suit you best.

What are the best pens for planners?

If you are looking for the best pens to use with your planner, you can’t go wrong with this colorful set.

You’ll get 16 colorful fine-point pens (8 total colors) that write smoothly and won’t bleed through your planner pages.

What is the best planner for moms?

Now for the best mom planners!

Whether you are looking for the best planners for moms that work or you’re a busy stay-at-home mom and you need to organize your entire life and schedule, this list has you covered.

1. Best planner for working moms: The Living Well Planner

The Living Well Planner is B-E-A-utiful and easily my favorite undated planner for moms who work.

If you want a planner that will organize more than just your schedule, you will love the Living Well Planner because it was created to help you organize your entire life and has additional features that your basic planner does not usually have (like goal setting, budget planning, and more).

This is the perfect one to start the new year off with.

Why moms like it:

• Long-term and monthly goal setting
• Includes a formula for crushing your goals
• View your year at a glance
• Weekly planning with time blocking (vertical layout)
• Manage your budget
• Plan your meals and shopping lists
• Keep track of your projects
• Clean design
• 12-month calendar
• Wire binding
• 7.5″ x 9.5″

Things to consider:

• May be a little on the pricier side if you are on a budget or know you will not use the extra features
• Undated – You’ll have to write the dates in yourself (But there are advantages to this!)

👉 Check out the Living Well Planner here!

2. Best dated + customizable planner: Erin Condren Coiled LifePlanner

The Erin Condren planners are definitely not the new kids on the block. This means they’ve had plenty of time to perfect their planners.

And they definitely have. With the Erin Condren LifePlanner, you’re getting lots of color and options to really make it the perfect planner for you.

If you are looking for the best planner for moms in college, this planner is also an excellent option if you’re needing to keep up with your schedule and assignments for school.

With the Coiled LifePlanners, you may choose between their daily or weekly layouts.

The weekly planners are available in horizontal, vertical, daily, and compact vertical. The daily planners come in 6-month books, but you can choose to purchase a set so that you’re covered for the entire year.

Why moms like it:

• Lots of customization options to make it fit your needs
• Available in daily or weekly layouts
• 3 Weekly layout options: Vertical, horizontal, and hourly
• 4 design options currently
• Includes sticker sheets
• Has an inside pocket/folder
• Mini months
• Monthly quotes
• Productivity pages and notes
• 12-month 2023 calendar for the weekly layout and 6-month for the daily
• Coil binding
• 2 size options

Things to consider:

• No designated sections for meal planning or budget management, although there is a snap-in meal planner you can purchase separately. However, this is not a deal-breaker if you will not use these additional features.

👉 Check out the Erin Condren LifePlanner here!

3. Erin Condren Softbound LifePlanner

Do you love the Erin Condren LifePlanner, but are not a fan of the coil binding or don’t have a need for stickers/extras?

Say hello to the Erin Condren Softbound LifePlanner!

Why moms like it:

• Ideal for both right-handed and left-handed moms (it lays flat!)
• 3 Weekly view options: Vertical, horizontal, and hourly
• 4 designs
• Vegan leather softbound cover
• Dated monthly/weekly spreads
• Additional notes
• 12-month 2023 calendar
• Available in 2 sizes: 8″ x 10″ or A5

Things to consider:

• Doesn’t have the bells and whistles of some of the other planners – Just a really nice basic weekly planner with an A5 size option if you value portability.

👉 Check out the Erin Condren Softbound LifePlanner here!

4. Best mom planner that is dated + personalizable: PurpleTrail Mom Planner

Another great option if you’re looking for a planner you can personalize is the PurpleTrail Mom Planner.

Much like the Erin Condren LifePlanner, you have a wide variety of cover designs to choose from, which is great.

But the PurpleTrail Mom Planner doesn’t stop there– You also have to option of adding your name and even your own photo to the cover of your planner if you’d like.

One feature I appreciate about this planner is that you have the option to choose any start date you’d like. You also have several options when it comes to the length of your mom planner (6-month, 9-month, 12-month, 15-month, or 18-month).

Why moms like it:

• Wide variety of cover designs
• 3 Cover types to choose from: Synthetic, laminate, and hardcover
• Dated full spread monthly calendar
• Weekly pages with vertical layout
• 2 Color schemes: Colorful or neutral gray
• Monthly page for birthdays and events
• Select your start month and planner length (6, 9, 12, 15, or 18 months)
• Each monthly divider features dots like a bullet journal (which is fun for doodling)
• Includes full list of holidays in the front
• Coil binding
• 6″ x 8″ or 8.5″ x 11″
• Additional add-ons available (stickers, pocket folder, and other misc. add-on pages)

Things to consider:

• The main thing you don’t have control over with this planner is the layout– It only comes with the vertical weekly layout. So, if you were hoping for a horizontal spread, this may not be the planner for you.
• No extras like goal setting or meal planning (but they do have a separate meal planner)
• No inside pocket/folder (although you can grab one as an add-on)

👉 Check out the PurpleTrail Mom Planner here!

5. Best 90-day mom planner: Savor Beauty Planner

I absolutely adore the Savor Beauty planners! What sets them apart from other planners is that they only focus on 90 days at a time.

This can be especially helpful if you want to focus on quarterly goals instead of monthly ones.

I love how the planner’s tabs are divided into weeks. Each week also has a place for you to do a brain dump and pinpoint your top priorities to focus on the week.

There’s also a little section where you can brainstorm how you can focus on self-care as well – which is super nice because self-care is an area we tend to neglect as busy moms.

If you’re looking for a 90-day planner with vertical weekly planning, I think you’ll love this one.

Why moms like it:

• Not dated
• Focuses on 90 days at a time
• Emphasis on self-care
• Includes sections for AM and PM rituals
• Includes sections for brain dumps and defining priorities
• Weeks are divided into 12 tabs
• Includes a notes section at the back
• 2 sticker sheets
• Vertical weekly planning
• Hardcover (also comes in several cute designs)
• A5 (5.8” x 8.3”)

Things to consider:

• No inside storage pocket
• Since this is a 90-day planner, you will have to buy a new one every quarter. (I highly recommend buying the bundle!)

👉 See if the Savor Beauty planners are right for you!

6. Best day planner for moms: Day Designer for Blue Sky

If you’re looking for a day planner that does the basics very well, take a look at the Day Designer for Blue Sky planner.

It’s nice, functional, and it includes a goal-setting section. 🥳

If you were hoping to find a day planner that lasts longer than the typical 6 months, you’ll be happy to hear that this planner will last the whole year.

Why moms like it:

• Hourly time blocking
• Space for your top 3 daily priorities
• Space for your to-do list
• Goal setting
• Morning & evening routine
• Twin wire binding
• 12-month 2023 calendar with bonus months
• 5″ x 8″ or 8 x 10″

Things to consider:

• No additional space for extras like meal planning or budgeting
• No inside pocket or folder
• No stickers or extras

👉 Check out the Day Designer Planner here

7. Best customizable planner for DIYers: The Happy Planner

The Happy Planner is one of the best planners for creative moms. If you love to DIY and customize, this is the perfect planner for you!

The BIG Happy Planner pages are the same size as US Letter (8.5 x 11), so you can add any printable page you want to your planner.

This includes any Happy Planner inserts from around the web and any printables you find here too.

You’ll never get bored with this one since you can change it up as much as you want – whenever you want.

Why moms like it:

• Plenty of free inserts on Pinterest, etc. to help you customize
• Dated monthly/weekly spread
• Horizontal or vertical layout
• Discbound system – Easily add/remove pages
• 12-month 2023 calendar
• 7″ x 9.25″

Things to consider:

• If you want to add additional pages, you’ll have to also purchase a special hole punch

👉 Check out the Happy Planners here

8. Best family planner for moms: Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer

If you’re looking for a basic planner or organizer to stay on top of your family’s schedule and you don’t want to splurge on a premium planner, Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer might be a good fit.

The weekly menus and grocery planning pages (with perforated lists) are a nice touch with this family planner.

Why moms like it:

• Weekly horizontal layout & monthly calendars
• Plan your menus and grocery lists
• Create weekly to-do lists
• Dated weekly/monthly spread
• Color-coded sticker sheets
• Inside storage pocket
• Wire-o binding
• 17-month 2023 calendar
• 6 x 8″

Things to consider:

• Honestly – Not the cutest design, but it IS functional
• No tabs for quick access

👉 Check out Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer here!

9. Best planner for family with multiple schedules: momAgenda Desktop Planner

The momAgenda Desktop Planner was designed for busy moms by a mom of 4 herself. It’s a perfect option if you’re shopping for a new planner before school starts.

If you need to manage more than one schedule, this family planner is a great option for keeping up with all the daily routines. It includes separate spaces for up to 4 kids to help you easily keep up with everyone’s activities, appointments, and more – all in one place!

This one is best for busy families with multiple schedules, and the “luxe” design is quite nice.

Why moms like it:

• Dated weekly & monthly spread
• Vertical weekly planning with lines
• Includes space for mom and up to 4 kids or family members
• 2 Ribbons to quickly find your place
• Available in 6 different colors
• Personalization option available
• 19-month July 2022 through December 2023 calendar
• 7″ x 9″

Things to consider:

• No additional space for extras like meal planning or budgeting
• No inside pocket/folder
• No stickers or extras are included

👉 Check out the momAgenda Desktop Planner here!

10. Best portable undated weekly planner for moms: Clever Fox Weekly Planner

If portability and productivity matter to you and you’re cool with an undated planner, definitely take a look at the Clever Fox Weekly Planner.

If you are a goal-oriented mom who gets excited about goal-setting, making lists, vision boards, and the like, this may be the perfect planner for you!

Clever Fox’s main goal is to keep you productive and focused so that you can hit your goals.

Why moms like it:

• Weekly & monthly spread
• Write your own dates
• Emphasis on goal setting
• Weekly spread includes a personal to-do list and habit tracker
• Vision board
• Included 150 colorful stickers
• Inside storage pocket
• 12-month 2023 calendar
• Comes in several different colors
• Faux leather cover
• A5 (5.8” x 8.3”)

Things to consider:

• This may not be the right planner for you if you aren’t concerned with goal setting
• You will have to write in the dates yourself

👉 Check out the Clever Fox Weekly Planner! – Use code LEMONSANDLATTES to save 10%!

11. Best planner for moms with ADHD: Clever Fox Daily Planner

If you were hoping for a portable mom planner that has a focus on productivity BUT you prefer a daily spread rather than a weekly spread, Clever Fox also has a daily view option.

I love day planners because they help you laser-focus on one day at a time. This planner is a great option for moms with ADHD or anyone who feels like they need that little extra bit of laser focus.

This one will easily become one of your favorite day planners!

Why moms like it:

• Daily & monthly spread
• Not dated
• Emphasis on goal setting
• Weekly spread includes a personal to-do list and habit tracker
• Vision board
• Comes with 150 colorful stickers
• Inside storage pocket
• 6-month calendar
• Comes in a variety of different colors
• Faux leather cover
• A5 (5.8” x 8.3”)

Things to consider:

• Heavy emphasis on priorities and goal setting
• Since this one is undated, you will have to write in the dates yourself

👉 Check out the Clever Fox Daily Planner!

12. Best ultra portable planner for moms: Bloom Daily Planners

The Bloom Daily Planners are cute and functional if you are looking for an ultra-portable planner with a weekly spread and don’t mind a horizontal layout. These have a 4″ x 6″ option– That is tiny!

And, if you are interested in self-improvement, the bonus life coaching pages are a nice addition.

Why moms like it:

• Dated weekly & monthly spread
• Goal list
• Purpose & values page
• Monthly task tracking
• Bill tracking
• Affirmations list
• Notes pages
• Website login tracker
• Coil binding
• Inside storage pocket
• 12-month 2023 calendar
• Available in 4″ x 6″ or 5.5″ x 8.25″ or 8.5″ x 11″

Things to consider:

• Several extra life coaching pages + inspirational quotes– If this isn’t your cup of tea, this planner may not be right for you
• Weekly spread is horizontal with no vertical option

👉 Check out the Bloom Daily Planners!

13. Best planner for creative moms: Bullet Journal

Bullet journals (BUJO) have taken over the planner world and are definitely one of the best planners for moms – Especially if you feel like traditional planners stifle your creativity.

This video explains a little more about what a bullet journal is and how it works:

Why moms like the bullet journal:

• Customize as much as you want
• Use as much (or as little) color as you want
• Let your creativity run wild
• Easy (and fairly inexpensive) to get started
• Plenty of bullet journal ideas out there for inspiration

Something to consider:

• If you’re trying to choose between a bullet journal and a traditional planner, it basically boils down to this: Do you want complete freedom to customize every single thing to do with your planner? Including designing every page?
• Or do you find that you do better when you have a framework to work with? If you are a creative or love to DIY, but a bullet journal gives you a little too much freedom, The Happy Planner gives you the best of both worlds and might be the perfect planner you’ve been looking for.

👉 This notebook will help you get started with bullet journaling

14. Best budget planner for moms: Clever Fox Budget Planner

If you haven’t decided on a planner yet because you were hoping to find one with more emphasis on managing your finances, you may want to consider getting a separate budget planner in addition to your main planner.

Sometimes you need more than a simple budget planner insert. 🤷🏻‍♀️

One option that a lot of moms love is the Clever Fox Budget Planner because it’s small, undated, and allows you to manage your family’s finances all in one place.

Why moms like it:

• Undated
• Emphasis on goal setting
• Financial goal setting + breakdown
• Includes pages for brainstorming your plan/strategy
• Includes pages for savings and debt tracking
• 2 pages for Christmas budgets
• Annual summary
• Sturdy pen loop
• Inside storage pocket
• 12-month calendar
• Hardcover (also comes in several color options)
• A5 (5.8” x 8.3”)

Things to consider:

• If you don’t want to buy a separate planner, you may want to consider keeping track of your finances using a spreadsheet instead

👉 See if the Clever Fox Budget Planner is right for you!

15. Best magnetic weekly planner for fridge: Cinch! Dry Erase Fridge Calendar

For some busy moms, a magnetic weekly planner for the fridge may be more useful than a traditional planner.

Although, if you want to use both, you certainly can.

With a magnetic fridge calendar, you can easily make changes, wipe off the old week, and start fresh each week.

It’s a simple way to keep the whole family on the same page since everyone can check the fridge to see what’s coming up for the week.

Why moms like it:

• Stain-resistant
• Includes 4 fine-tip markers
• Includes large eraser
• Keeps the entire family organized

Things to consider:

• Since you will only be able to fill this in week-by-week, you still may need to use a calendar app (such as the Cozi Family Organizer App) or traditional planner in addition to the magnetic fridge planner.

👉 Check out the Cinch! Dry Erase Fridge Calendar here!

16. Best family planner notepad: Bliss Collections Family Planner

Not everyone is a fan of dry erase boards. They do have their pros and cons.

However, if you like the idea of having your family planner on the fridge but don’t want a dry erase board, you do have an option!

Meet the Bliss Collections Family Planner. It has 50 undated sheets that are US letter size (landscape variation). So, it’s essentially a notepad for your fridge.

There’s plenty of space for planning your daily meals, appointments, activities, field trips and other school events, chores, etc.

There’s also room for adding up to 4 kids’ names.

Why moms like it:

• Space for up to 4 kids
• Vertical planning layout
• Undated, so it will never expire if you take a break from using it
• Keeps the whole family organized

Things to consider:

• If you are looking for a solution that will last you an entire year – While this notepad comes close, it won’t quite last you an entire year since there are only 50 pages.

👉 Check out the Bliss Collections Family Planner Notepad here!

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I hope this list has helped you find the perfect paper planner to keep your life organized!

If it seems like there are too many options to choose from, it may be helpful to take a few extra minutes to brainstorm exactly how you will use your planner and narrow down the features that matter to you most.

Ask yourself questions like what type of layout are you looking for. Do you need any extras such as goal setting, budget planning, etc.? Do you want your planner to come with stickers? Does portability make a difference?

Remember, the best planner for one mom may look completely different for another.

Have you decided on one? I’d love to know which is your favorite and why if you have a few extra minutes to drop a comment.