Ellie Planner

Ellie Planner is a daily planning app built around capturing tasks, arranging them on a Kanban board, and assigning them a place in the calendar. It is best suited to people who prefer time blocking, a native iOS experience, and a deliberate daily planning routine. Its visual scheduling and tracking are compelling, but the most complete workflow requires a paid plan.

Overview

Ellie separates capture from scheduling with Brain Dump and a daily Kanban. You can unload unstructured tasks first, then move the useful items into a plan for the day. Dragging a task from the Kanban into the calendar turns an intention into a timeboxed block, which is more actionable than leaving priorities in a conventional list.

That workflow favors users who organize work around specific periods of the day. Analytics and a built-in time tracker provide a check on whether planned time matches actual time, while focus sessions support concentrated work. Recurring tasks and calendar synchronisation make the app suitable for routines, not just one-off planning. The trade-off is that key controls such as timeboxing and recurring tasks are reserved for Pro.

Key features

Brain Dump and daily Kanban

Brain Dump reduces the friction of recording tasks before deciding when they belong. The daily Kanban then provides a staging area for turning that collection into a manageable plan. This is a strong fit for people who want a repeatable morning or evening reset; users seeking only a fast checkbox list may find the extra planning structure unnecessary.

Calendar timeboxing and sync

Timebox mode lets you drag tasks into the calendar and see how the day is allocated. Pro adds Google and Apple Calendar integration, while Ellie also lists Outlook integration. The result is most useful when your schedule, rather than a priority ranking alone, determines what can realistically get done.

Tracking and organization

The built-in tracker and analytics show how time is spent, adding accountability to the plan. Focus sessions support deliberate work intervals. Pro also includes labels, subtasks, due dates, reminders, and recurring tasks, giving structured projects more control than the free tier.

Integrations and privacy

Optional connections include Google, Apple, and Outlook calendars, plus Notion, Zapier, and Siri shortcuts. Google connection is optional; when enabled, Ellie processes calendar data for the selected features under Google’s User Data Policy and Limited Use requirements. Ellie says it does not sell user data or run ads, and users can export their data or delete their account from the web and mobile apps. Stored data is protected using commercially acceptable safeguards against loss, theft, unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification.

Pricing

Plan	Price	What you get
Free	free, billed forever	Unlimited tasks, Brain Dump, and iPhone, iPad and web access.
Pro	$9.99 a month, billed monthly	Everything in Free, plus Timebox mode, Google and Apple Calendar, recurring tasks, labels and subtasks, due dates and reminders, and AI Assistant.
Lifetime	$299.99 a month, one payment with no recurring bill	Pro features forever.

The Free plan is appropriate for unlimited task capture and basic Brain Dump planning on Apple mobile devices and the web, but it omits the calendar-centered workflow that distinguishes Ellie. Pro is the practical choice for users who need timeboxing, sync, recurring routines, and richer task structure. Lifetime suits a long-term Ellie commitment and avoids recurring billing, although its one-payment price is substantial.

Platforms

Ellie is available on iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. The free plan specifically includes iPhone, iPad, and web access. This gives Apple users a native mobile route while retaining desktop and browser options; Android is not included among the listed platforms.

Who it's for

Choose Ellie if you want a simple daily planner with Brain Dump plus Daily Kanban planning, visual time blocking, and a native iOS app. It is particularly suitable for individual users who measure their day in calendar blocks and want time tracking to compare intention with reality. It is less suitable if Android access, broad team collaboration, or a fully featured free calendar workflow is essential.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Brain Dump to Kanban workflow: captures loose thoughts before turning them into a focused daily plan.
• Concrete timeboxing: dragging tasks into the calendar makes capacity and commitments visible.
• Tracking built in: analytics and a time tracker connect plans with actual time spent.
• Privacy controls: no ads or sale of user data, with export and account deletion options.
• Broad desktop coverage: iOS, macOS, web, and Windows support the same planning approach.

Cons

• Core scheduling tools are paid: Timebox mode, calendar integrations, recurring tasks, and reminders require Pro.
• Lifetime pricing is high: the one-payment option costs $299.99 a month as listed, despite no recurring bill.

Alternatives

For a wider survey of planning styles, see Time Blocking Apps, Daily Planner Apps, To-do list apps, and Calendar apps.

• Routine is the better choice when Android, Linux, and broader cross-platform coverage matter, with a free tier that includes three integrations, three custom databases, and 250 AI credits.
• Pomodoist suits readers who specifically want an open-source option.
• Dainvo is worth considering for users who need Android and Linux desktop support alongside a free tier and trial.
• Open Sunsama fits people seeking a free, self-hosted or hosted time-blocking option for personal use.
• TimeFinder offers a free core tier for users who want a simpler alternative with optional premium features.
• FlowSavvy is the alternative for automatic scheduling and repeating-task limits rather than Ellie’s Kanban-to-calendar workflow.
• Sorted³ is aimed at Apple users who want iOS and macOS planning with Auto Schedule and iCloud Sync.
• SuperPlanner is a lower-cost Apple-focused alternative, with Pro plans starting at $4.99 a month.

Verdict

Ellie Planner is a strong choice for individuals who want to turn a daily task dump into visible calendar blocks and then review how their time was actually spent. Pro is the plan that delivers that complete experience. Look elsewhere if Android support, team-oriented collaboration, or a fully featured free scheduling tier matters more than Ellie’s focused Brain Dump and timeboxing workflow.