If you own an iPad and use GoodNotes, you already have everything you need to be organized. The only thing standing between you and a functional planning system is finding the right template. There are hundreds out there — some free, some paid, some genuinely beautiful and others that look like they were designed in 2005. This article cuts through the noise.
We tested the most-downloaded GoodNotes planner templates across both free and paid categories. Here’s what’s actually worth your time.
What Makes a Good GoodNotes Planner Template
Not every PDF that calls itself a planner works well in GoodNotes. Here’s what to look for:
- Proper margins — GoodNotes needs space to avoid accidental pen strokes being clipped. Look for at least 0.5-inch margins.
- Vector-based elements — If a planner uses only flat images, text will look blurry when you zoom in. Vector-based elements stay crisp at any zoom level.
- Hyperlinked navigation — The best templates include a table of contents where each tab links directly to the right page. This is what makes digital planning genuinely better than paper.
- Consistent page sizing — A planner built for Letter size will feel cramped on smaller iPads. Look for templates that support multiple page sizes or A5 as a safe default.
Free GoodNotes Planner Templates: What Works and What Doesn’t
The free GoodNotes planner ecosystem is uneven. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Template | Free? | Pages | Hyperlinked? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoodNotes Built-in Templates | Yes | Limited | No | Decent starter, no customization |
| Various Free Pinterest Downloads | Yes | Varies | Rarely | Inconsistent quality, often image-based |
| GoodNotes Marketplace | Mixed | 10–50 | Usually | Better selection, still hit-or-miss |
Free templates are a good way to test whether digital planning works for you before spending money. But most free options sacrifice the hyperlinked navigation, clean layout, and daily structure that make a planner actually useful day-to-day.
Ink & Order Planners: Featured Pick Premium
Ink & Order builds planners specifically for GoodNotes and similar PDF-native apps. The layouts are clean, hyperlinked, and designed around how people actually plan — not just how planners look on a shelf.
Featured: Ink & Order Planners
Three options depending on what you need. All include hyperlinked tabs, clean layouts, and work in GoodNotes, Notability, or any PDF reader.
The Daily Planner ($5) covers one full day per page with time-blocking columns, a priorities section, and a habit tracker. Pages are organized into Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Tomorrow, which forces you to review where you actually are in the day rather than just writing a to-do list and ignoring it.
The Budget Planner ($7) tracks income, fixed expenses, variable spending, and savings goals across a full month. Unlike spreadsheet-based budgets, you can write and circle amounts with your Pencil, which many people find more engaging than typing numbers into a cell.
The Bundle ($10) includes both planners plus any future templates released. For $3 more than buying the Daily Planner alone, you get the complete system — daily structure plus financial clarity. Most people who buy one eventually buy the other.
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How to Install Any GoodNotes Planner Template
Whether you go free or paid, the setup process is identical:
- Download the PDF to your iPad (email attachment, Files app, or directly from the website)
- Open GoodNotes and tap the + button to create a new notebook
- Select Import and choose the PDF file from your Files
- Rename and organize — give your notebook a clear name (e.g., “2026 Daily Planner”) and move it into a dedicated folder so it’s easy to find
That’s it. Once imported, the template is yours to write on, annotate, and reuse across multiple years. Some planners — including the Ink & Order templates — include year-over-year pages so you can compare where you were at this point last year.