Before you can decorate a digital planner, you need an app to plan in. The two giants are GoodNotes and Notability, but they are not your only options, and the right one depends on how you work. Here is an honest comparison for 2026.
GoodNotes: the planner favorite GoodNotes is the most popular choice for digital planners, and for good reason. It handles PDF planners beautifully, has an excellent stickers and elements workflow, and its folder system keeps multiple notebooks tidy. Hyperlinked planners (where you tap a tab to jump to a month) work flawlessly here. If decorating and using template planners is your main goal, GoodNotes is the safest pick.
Notability: the note-taker's choice Notability shines for handwriting and recording. Its audio recording syncs to your notes, which is wonderful for students and meetings. It handles stickers well too, though its planner workflow feels slightly less polished than GoodNotes for heavily hyperlinked templates. If you take a lot of raw notes alongside planning, it is excellent.
Other worthy options - Noteshelf is a strong, often-overlooked alternative with great handwriting and sticker support. - Samsung Notes is the natural home for Galaxy Tab users and has improved hugely. - OneNote is free and cross-platform, though its freeform pages suit planners less neatly.
How to choose Ask yourself two questions. First, what device do you have? These apps are strongest on iPad with an Apple Pencil; Android users should look hardest at Samsung Notes or Noteshelf. Second, what is your main use? Choose GoodNotes for decorated, hyperlinked planning, Notability if audio notes matter, and a free option if you just want to try the waters.
Whatever you pick, your stickers will work in all of them, since they are simply images you drag onto the page. Start with the app that matches your device and habits, and you can always switch later.