2027 planners compared: diary, business planner, app or planner system?
There are SO many 2027 planners out there. Gorgeous diaries, undated planners, wellness journals, apps... How do you know which one will actually help your business?
Rather than pitting one brand against another, I’ve put the different KINDS of planner side by side. Because the kind of planner matters far more than the colour of the cover. (Although I do love a gold foil cover.)
The five kinds of 2027 planner
1. A dated diary
Brilliant for appointments and remembering birthdays. But it doesn’t ask you anything. It won’t help you decide what to sell in March, or notice that your sales dipped in June.
2. An undated planner
Start any time, which is lovely. The catch is you write in every date yourself, and there are no key dates, so Mother’s Day still sneaks up on you.
3. A general “life” or goals planner
Great for habits, wellbeing and personal goals. Some have a business page or two, but they’re not built around marketing, money and selling.
4. A planner app
Always in your pocket, with reminders and ticks. But lots of us think better on paper, and an app on its own is easy to forget once the notifications get switched off.
5. A planner system
A paper planner, an app, training and support, all working together. This is what the Awesome Marketing Planner™ System 2027 is, and it’s why I made it that way.
Side by side
| Dated diary | Undated planner | Goals planner | Planner app | Awesome Marketing Planner System | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper to write on | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes, A5 hardback |
| On your phone | No | No | Usually not | Yes | Yes, the planner app |
| A marketing plan for every month | No | Rarely | Rarely | Depends | Yes |
| Key dates for your marketing | Some | No | Some | Depends | Yes, UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia |
| Sales target and cash flow | No | Rarely | Rarely | Depends | Yes, in the book and the app |
| Training for every page | No | No | Rarely | Rarely | Yes, the Planner Portal |
| Other people doing it with you | No | No | Sometimes | Rarely | Yes, the Facebook group |
| A weekly nudge | No | No | No | Notifications | Yes, the Monday Bum Kick |
| Start any time | No | Yes | Depends | Yes | No: January to December 2027 |
“Depends” and “rarely” mean it varies from planner to planner: always check what’s inside before you buy.
So which is best for you?
- If you just need to remember appointments, a simple dated diary is perfect. Don’t overcomplicate it!
- If you want to start mid-year, go undated.
- If your focus is habits and wellbeing, a goals planner will suit you beautifully.
- If you run a small business and want your marketing to actually happen in 2027, you want something that plans your marketing AND keeps you going. That’s a planner system.
Why I think a system wins (and why I made one)
I’ve been making marketing planners since 2017. And the honest truth is that the planner was never the hard part. Keeping going was.
A book can’t remind you on a Monday morning. It can’t show you a video when you don’t know what to write. It can’t cheer when you have a win. So for 2027 I built the whole thing as six parts that work together:
- 📖 The printed PlannerA5 hardback in midnight blue with gold foil and a pink ribbon, with a monthly bundle for every month.
- 🎓 The Planner PortalMy training for every page, with QR codes in the planner that take you straight to the right video.
- 📱 The planner appYour numbers, cash flow, what you sell, ideas when you’re stuck, and your marketing streak.
- 👭 The Facebook groupPlan alongside other women in business, all using the same planner.
- 👢 The Monday Bum KickAn email every Monday with one thing to do that week.
- 🖍️ The ExtrasWorksheets, extra resources, and colouring sheets for slowing down.
Still deciding? Read The best 2027 planner for small business owners for the seven things I’d look for in any planner.
Love, Claire x
Your questions
What’s the difference between a diary and a business planner?
A diary tells you what day it is and holds your appointments. A business planner asks you questions: what you want to sell, how you’ll tell people about it, and how your money is doing, so the plan turns into action.
Is a dated or undated planner better?
An undated planner means you can start any time, but you have to write every date in yourself. A dated planner, like the Awesome Marketing Planner (January to December 2027), is ready to go, with the key dates already on every month.
Can I have a paper planner and an app?
Yes. The Awesome Marketing Planner System 2027 includes both: the A5 hardback planner and the planner app, plus the Planner Portal, the Facebook group, the Monday Bum Kick and the extras.