Best 2026 Planners: Top Picks for Every Planning Style

Looking for the best 2026 planners but not sure where to start? I’ve used most of the well-known brands over the years—Hobonichi, Traveler’s Notebooks, Midori, MUJI, Moleskine, Leuchtturm, Erin Condren, and Rollbahn—and each one has its own style, strengths, and quirks.

Instead of guessing, here’s a simple breakdown of how these planners actually feel to use and what kind of planning habits they work best for.

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Budget-Friendly Planners

If you want a fresh start for 2026 without spending too much, or if your goal is simply to stay organized on a budget, there are several planners that offer great quality at a low price. These options are simple, practical, and work well even if you’re new to planning.

Planner Highlights

📖 MUJI 📖
under $20

MUJI’s affordable price is impressive considering the clean layouts and smooth paper quality. Their planners are light, simple, and great for beginners or anyone who wants a no-frills setup. If you just need something functional and minimal, MUJI is one of the best places to start.

📖 Midori Planner Refills 📖
around $20

Midori’s binder inserts stay in the affordable range as well. I used the System Techo (handmade by me!) for all of 2025, and it held up really well. The paper feels great, the design is cute without being overwhelming, and overall it was easy to use. The only downside is that the page size felt a bit small for me personally, which eventually led me back to Hobonichi. Still, as a budget option, it’s excellent. And if you want a cheaper binder, Amazon has tons of $10–$15 options that work just fine.

📖 Midori Pocket Diary 📖
around $20

If you’re not a fan of ring binders, Midori also has the Pocket Diary, which gives you the same Midori writing feel in a compact, portable format. It comes in two sizes, and each size has slightly different layouts depending on how much structure you prefer. True to the “pocket” name, it’s extremely compact and easy to carry, but the paper quality is still very much Midori—smooth, fountain-pen friendly, and pleasant to write on. I originally planned to get this one for 2025, but I eventually chose the System Techo binder instead, so the Pocket Diary stayed on my wishlist.

📖 Traveler’s Notebook Refills 📖
$10~$15

Traveler’s Notebook inserts are budget-friendly as long as you already own the cover. The monthly refill is usually around $10, and the undated weekly stays under $15. If you don’t mind adding dates yourself, it’s a great, customizable option without spending too much.

📖 Moleskine Essential Planner 📖
around $20

The Essential Planner(15-Month) is a solid entry-level Moleskine pick. It’s simple, clean, and uses a vertical weekly layout—great for people who want to plan by the hour or prefer a more structured weekly overview.

My Experience With Budget-Friendly Systems

MUJI was the easiest entry point for me—simple, lightweight, and affordable enough that I didn’t worry about messing it up. Midori’s binder inserts were my main planner for all of 2025, and I loved the paper and design, but the page size eventually felt too small, which pushed me back to Hobonichi. Traveler’s Notebook refills were only budget-friendly because I already owned the cover, and the Moleskine Essential Planner stood out mainly for its vertical layout. Overall, MUJI and Midori gave me the best value for everyday use.

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Fountain-Pen-Friendly Planners

If you use fountain pens, the paper quality of your planner matters more than anything else. Some planners handle ink beautifully, while others feather or bleed way too easily. These are the planners that consistently work well with fountain pens and make writing feel smooth.

Planner Highlights

📖 Hobonichi (Tomoe River Paper) 📖

Hobonichi is the first planner most fountain-pen users think of, and for good reason. Tomoe River Paper is thin but handles ink incredibly well—no messy feathering, clean lines, and beautiful shading. Hobonichi is actually the reason I started using fountain pens, because writing in it just feels that good.

📖 Midori MD Paper 📖

Midori’s MD Paper is thicker than Tomoe River but just as satisfying to write on. The surface is smooth, ink behaves predictably, and the warm cream tone makes handwriting look nicer. Drying time can be a bit slow, but it’s worth it for the writing feel.

📖 Traveler’s Notebook Inserts 📖

Many (but not all) Traveler’s Notebook inserts use MD Paper, so the writing feel is almost the same as Midori‘s. If you like a warm-toned, smooth surface with reliable ink performance, these refills are a great match.

📖 Leuchtturm1917 📖

Leuchtturm’s paper has improved over the years. It’s not perfect with every ink, but works well for most fountain pens without major bleed-through. If you switch between fountain pens and gel pens often, it lands in a comfortable middle zone.

My Experience Using Fountain Pens

If you use fountain pens only, I’d recommend Hobonichi without hesitation—the writing feel is the smoothest, and Tomoe River Paper handles ink beautifully. But if you want to mix fountain pens with gel pens or fineliners, I personally prefer Midori. On Tomoe River, a few gel-type inks tend to smudge more easily, while Midori’s MD Paper handles different pen types more consistently. For pure fountain-pen writing, Hobonichi is still my top pick, but for a wider mix of pens, Midori feels more reliable overall.

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Bullet Journal Planners

If you like customizing your own layouts, trackers, or weekly views, a bullet-journal-friendly planner makes a huge difference. Some planners are flexible and open, while others feel too structured to build spreads comfortably. These options work especially well for bullet journaling in 2026.

Planner Highlights

📖 Leuchtturm1917 📖

Leuchtturm1917 is still the most well-known bullet journal choice for a reason. The dot grid is clean, the pages open flat, and the overall structure makes it easy to build both simple and complex spreads. The paper isn’t the absolute best for fountain pens, but it performs well enough for most pens and markers. And if you choose the classic version, it’s usually under $20, which makes it one of the best budget-friendly options for bullet journaling.

📖 Traveler’s Notebook Inserts 📖

Traveler’s Notebook is a great option if you prefer freedom over structure. The inserts come in blank, grid, and dot grid formats, so you can choose exactly how much guidance you want. The only downside is page count—heavy writers may fill up inserts faster than expected. But for lighter or goal-based bullet journaling, it works extremely well.

📖 Moleskine 📖

Moleskine offers dot-grid notebooks that feel minimal and clean, which is perfect if you want a simple bullet journal setup. The paper isn’t the strongest for wet inks, but for gel pens, fine liners, and light drawing, it’s reliable and easy to work with.

My Picks for Bullet Journaling

Leuchtturm1917 still feels like the easiest overall choice because it’s structured enough without limiting creativity. Traveler’s Notebook is my favorite for lighter bullet journaling since the inserts are portable and customizable. Moleskine works well when I want something minimal and clean, especially for simple layouts. If you want flexibility, Traveler’s Notebook shines; if you want structure, Leuchtturm1917 is the safest pick.

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Weekly Planners

Weekly planners are great if you want a clear overview of your week without feeling pressured to fill a daily page. They keep things simple, organized, and easy to maintain. These are the weekly formats that stand out for 2026.

Planner Highlights

📖 Hobonichi Weeks 📖

Hobonichi Weeks is still my favorite weekly planner. It’s slim, lightweight, and surprisingly spacious. The left page gives you a structured weekly view, while the right side stays completely free—perfect for lists, reminders, habit tracking, or anything extra that comes up. It’s flexible without feeling messy, which is why I always end up returning to it.

📖 Moleskine Weekly Planner 📖

If you want a clean, professional layout with zero distractions, Moleskine Weekly is a strong pick. The simple structure makes it easy to map out your schedule, especially if you’re planning for work or school. Everything stays neat, predictable, and visually clean.

📖 Erin Condren Weekly Planner 📖

Erin Condren weekly layouts are spacious, colorful, and perfect for decorative planning. The thicker paper handles stickers and layering well, and the layout feels fun to use. If planning is something you want to personalize or make creative, this one is a great fit.

My Picks for Weekly Planners

If you’ve seen any of my journaling posts, you probably already know how much I love Hobonichi Weeks. It’s the planner I reach for the most because it’s portable, flexible, and still gives me enough room to plan without feeling cramped. But if you like writing a little bigger—or you want more space to decorate—Moleskine Weekly or the Erin Condren Weekly Planner might fit you better. Moleskine is clean and structured, while Erin Condren is much more open, colorful, and perfect for themed spreads.

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Decorative Planners

If you enjoy making your planner look cute, colorful, or themed, some brands handle stickers and layering much better than others. These options have paper thick enough for decoration and layouts that don’t feel cramped.

Planner Highlights

📖 Erin Condren Weekly Planner 📖

Erin Condren is the classic decorative planner. The pages are thick, the spaces are generous, and the entire layout is practically built for stickers. If you like adding color, icons, or seasonal themes, this planner makes decorating easy and enjoyable.

📖 Rollbahn Notebooks 📖

Rollbahn notebooks have thick, smooth paper that works surprisingly well with stickers, stamps, and layering. The spiral format also makes it easy to work on flat surfaces without bending the spine. If you want decorative freedom without a strict layout, Rollbahn is a great choice.

My Thoughts on Decorative Planning

Erin Condren is the most fun when I’m in the mood for stickers and color—it just handles everything well, and I’ve used it in the past for more decorative planning. Rollbahn, on the other hand, is something I haven’t personally used yet, but the open layout and flexible style make it feel like a great option for people who enjoy decorating freely. If decorating is part of your routine, these two are still the easiest picks in this category.

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Minimalist Planners

Minimal layouts help keep things visually clean and uncluttered. If you prefer a calm, simple look—or you get overwhelmed by too many design elements—minimalist planners can make planning feel lighter and more intentional.

Planner Highlights

📖 Midori 📖

Midori planners have a soft, warm paper tone and a clean layout that feels peaceful. The design is minimal without being boring, and the cream-colored paper adds a subtle warmth that makes writing feel nicer.

📖 MUJI 📖

MUJI is the most minimal out of all the planners here. Clear grids, open layouts, and no extra decoration. If you want something strictly functional and clean, MUJI is perfect.

📖 Moleskine 📖

Moleskine’s minimalist style is simple and professional. The black cover, understated lines, and clean weekly formats make it easy to use without distractions.

Why I prefer These Minimal Planners

Midori is my personal favorite because the cream paper feels warm and calming. MUJI is great when I want pure simplicity. Moleskine works when I want a clean, professional planner I can use anywhere. If you like minimal aesthetics, these three are the most reliable choices for 2026.

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Ultra-Portable Planners

If you carry your planner everywhere, weight and size matter. Some planners are slim and easy to throw into any bag, making them perfect for commuting, travel, or everyday use.

Planner Highlights

📖 Hobonichi Weeks 📖

One of the lightest planners with a full weekly layout. Easy to slip into any purse or pouch, and still roomy enough to plan comfortably.

📖 Traveler’s Notebook Passport Size 📖

Traveler’s Notebook Passport is compact, flexible, and perfect for quick notes on the go. I’ve even used it as a travel wallet—receipts, tickets, small lists—everything fits nicely.

📖 Moleskine Pocket 📖

If you want something pocket-sized for fast jotting, Moleskine Pocket notebooks are great. They’re small, discreet, and easy to carry anywhere.

How I use My Portable Planners

I honestly can’t pick just one portable planner, because each of these has played a completely different role for me. Hobonichi Weeks gave me the perfect balance of portability and writing space, so it naturally became my everyday planner. Traveler’s Notebook Passport was my all-in-one wallet whenever I traveled—I used it for tickets, receipts, quick notes, and everything else on the go. And the Moleskine Pocket brings back some of my favorite memories; I used it as a tiny travel sketchbook, and the feeling of drawing in it while traveling still sticks with me. Since each one fits a different part of my routine, there’s no single “best” pick here. They’ve all been great in their own way.

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Daily Journaling

Daily journaling needs space—enough room to write freely without feeling boxed in. If you like documenting your days or writing longer entries, these planners give you the space you need.

Planner Highlights

📖 Midori 1 Day 1 Page 📖

A full page per day, clean design, and lovely MD Paper. It’s perfect for long entries, mood logs, or creative daily notes. The book is definitely on the thicker side, but it opens flat so easily that the thickness never gets in the way, which makes it really comfortable to use every day.

📖 Hobonichi Cousin (A5) 📖

The Cousin gives you structure and freedom at the same time, with a full daily page and clean grids. If you want both space and organization, this is one of the best daily planners out there.

My Experience With Daily Journaling

I use Midori every day for personal journaling, and I keep an MD notebook for childcare notes—I like how simple and open the pages feel. I’ve always been curious about the Hobonichi Cousin because the structure and daily layout look incredibly useful, but since I prefer smaller planners, I haven’t made the switch yet. For now, Midori works best for my daily writing routine, but the Cousin is still on my list to try someday.

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Drawing & Creative Journaling

If you like sketching, painting, or mixing art with your planner, the paper quality matters. Some planners handle watercolor surprisingly well, while others offer inserts made specifically for art.

Planner Highlights

📖 Hobonichi 📖
Tomoe River Paper

Tomoe River Paper wrinkles a bit with watercolor but holds paint extremely well without bleeding. Colors stay vibrant, and the thin paper holds up better than expected. For colored pencils, though, the surface is a little too smooth for me—the texture doesn’t really show, and I personally prefer paper that gives colored pencils a bit more tooth.

📖 Traveler’s Notebook 📖
Watercolr-friendly inserts available

Traveler’s Notebook has sketch inserts, watercolor inserts, and smooth MD Paper inserts. If you want creative freedom, it’s the most versatile system for drawing and painting. A lot of people use it as their main sketch journal—especially for urban sketching—and there was a time when I also dreamed about filling a Traveler’s Notebook with fountain-pen sketches and watercolor pages. It’s one of those systems that naturally inspires you to draw.

📖 Midori 📖

MD Paper works well with fineliners, pencils, and light watercolor. It’s smooth enough for drawing and strong enough for small mixed-media elements.

📖 Moleskine 📖
Art Journal

If you want something dedicated purely to art, the Moleskine Art Journal is thick and durable—great for watercolor, gouache, markers, and sketching. I’ve seen so many people fill this notebook beautifully, and their sketchbooks always looked so inspiring and put-together that it made me want to try one myself.

My Thoughts on Creative Journaling

I enjoy drawing, but I don’t usually fill my planners or journals with heavy artwork, so I don’t really have a single “top pick” here. Still, a few stood out to me in different ways. Moleskine Art Journal felt really impressive when I saw it in person—the paper quality, the thickness, the way finished pages looked—it just had a very polished feel. Traveler’s Notebook is great for on-the-go sketching, but the watercolor inserts feel a little pricey, even though the portability is unbeatable. I’ve recently started drawing again, so I hope one day I’ll fill one of these completely with my own sketches.

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Final Thoughts

As the new year gets closer, I always feel that urge to get a little more organized. And with so many great planner brands now, it’s honestly a fun problem to have. If you’re new to planning, the best advice I can give is to pick a planner you’re genuinely excited about—even if it’s something you saw on Instagram.

And if nothing really “speaks” to you yet, starting with a budget-friendly option is the easiest way to figure out what you like. You’ll quickly learn your preferences once you actually use a planner day to day. I hope this guide helps you choose a 2026 planner that fits your routine and feels easy to stick with.