The 5 Best Planning Apps for ADHD in 2025 (I Tested Them All, So You Don't Have To)

Look, I get it.

You’ve downloaded 17 different productivity apps. They’re sitting there on your phone like digital ghosts, judging you for abandoning them after day three.

I actually counted mine last week: 23 apps. Twenty. Three.

And here’s the kicker – the ADHD apps market just hit $2.08 billion. It’s exploding toward $7.55 billion by 2033. That’s a 234% increase, friends.

Why? Because we’re finally building apps for how ADHD brains actually work, not how we wish they worked.

So I went on a mission. I tested every major ADHD planning app for 30 days. I tracked my productivity. I measured my stress levels. I even asked my partner if I seemed less chaotic (spoiler: marginally).

Here’s what actually works.

But First, A Quick Story About Why This Matters

Last Tuesday, I had 14 tasks on my list. By 3 PM, I’d completed exactly… one.

Sound familiar?

That’s when I realized: 56.59% of adults with ADHD say procrastination is their #1 enemy (source). We’re not lazy. We’re not broken. We just need tools that speak our language.

And honestly? Most apps are like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole while someone yells “FOCUS!” at you.

Not these five.

1. Ellie Planner: Your Beautiful, Minimalist Second Brain

The TL;DR: Built by a solo developer named Chris who couldn’t find an app that worked for his scattered brain. So he built his own. (Hero move, Chris.)

What Makes It ADHD Gold:

Listen, the first time I opened Ellie Planner, I literally said “oh” out loud. It’s that clean.

• The Brain Dump feature = genius. Dump everything. Organize later. No judgment.
• Infinite Kanban view lets you scroll through time like you’re surfing the space-time continuum
• Focus Mode hides everything except what you’re doing RIGHT NOW
• Tasks automatically roll over (no more shame spiral at midnight!)

The Numbers That Matter:

• Free version: Unlimited tasks (yes, really)
• Pro: $9.99/month or $299.99 lifetime
• User rating: 4.8/5 stars

Real Talk: It’s 33% pricier than Todoist. No Android version. But users literally call it their “second brain.”

One user said: “It’s gorgeous, minimalist, no overstimulation.”

Another: “I’ve tried Everything. Capital E. This is the one that stuck.”

Best For: Visual thinkers who need calm, not chaos. If you struggle with timeboxing with ADHD, Ellie’s visual approach might be your answer.

2. Structured: The Time-Blindness Destroyer

The TL;DR: Imagine if your calendar and to-do list had a baby, and that baby was really, really good at making time visible.

Fun fact: Structured is the #1 most downloaded day planner in the App Store. Here’s why.

What Makes It ADHD Gold:

You know that thing where 10 minutes feels like an hour, but 3 hours feels like 10 minutes? Structured fixes that.

• Visual timeline shows your ENTIRE day as colored blocks
• Energy tracking (built with actual ADHD professionals) matches tasks to your natural rhythms
• Auto-moves missed tasks without making you feel like garbage
• Even has a dyslexic-friendly font option

The Numbers That Matter:

• Free version: Surprisingly powerful
• Pro: $19.99/year (that’s $1.66/month, people)
• Platforms: iOS, Android, Mac, Web

Real User Quote: “Time isn’t abstract anymore. I can SEE it.”

Best For: Anyone who’s ever looked up and realized it’s suddenly 6 PM. Check out our best timeboxing apps guide for more visual scheduling tools.

3. Amazing Marvin: The Swiss Army Knife of ADHD Apps

The TL;DR: 80+ strategies. Toggle on what works. Ignore what doesn’t. It’s like Build-A-Bear for productivity.

Okay, confession time. When I first opened Amazing Marvin, I almost noped out. It looked… intense.

Then I discovered the magic: You don’t use all 80 features. You cherry-pick.

What Makes It ADHD Gold:

• The Procrastination Wizard (actual name) identifies why you’re stuck and suggests fixes
• Gamification with a mascot that celebrates when you finish tasks (dopamine hits!)
• Task Jar for decision paralysis – it randomly picks what you do next
• Multiple views so you never get bored

The Numbers That Matter:

• No free plan (but 14-day trial)
• $12/month
• Desktop + web + basic mobile

Actual User Review: “Holy sh*t Amazing Marvin is the planning app I have been looking for for YEARS!”

(That’s verbatim. The enthusiasm is real.)

Best For: Tinkerers who want ALL the options. Similar customization to Notion, but specifically designed for ADHD brains.

4. Sunsama: The Overcommitment Bodyguard

The TL;DR: This app literally tells you when you’re being unrealistic about your day. It’s like having a really gentle, really smart friend who says “maybe don’t schedule 47 things?”

Here’s something wild: Sunsama will actively warn you when you’re overcommitting.

For ADHD brains that chronically overestimate what’s possible in 24 hours? Game-changer.

What Makes It ADHD Gold:

• Daily planning ritual that becomes meditation-like
• Realistic time tracking teaches you how long things ACTUALLY take
• Weekly reviews with charts (pretty colors = dopamine)
• Shutdown ritual that enforces work-life boundaries

The Numbers That Matter:

• $16/month (annual) or $20/month
• 14-day trial (30 days with special links)
• Web + iOS

User Wisdom: “It’s the first app that helped me be realistic about time.”

Best For: Chronic overcommitters and “yes” people. Read our full Sunsama review for more ADHD-specific insights.

5. Numo: The ADHD Community in Your Pocket

The TL;DR: What if your planning app was also your support group? That’s Numo.

This one’s different. Numo isn’t just about tasks – it’s about not feeling alone with your chaotic brain.

What Makes It ADHD Gold:

• Points and rewards for everything (hello, dopamine)
• Built-in noise generators for focus
• Body doubling sessions with real humans
• Tribes and squads for accountability
• Actual ADHD education built in

The Numbers That Matter:

• Free trial available
• Subscription varies by region
• iOS + Android

Community Quote: “It’s like having ADHD friends who get it.”

Best For: People who thrive with external accountability and community.

The Data Dump: What’s Actually Happening in ADHD Tech

Let’s talk trends, because the data is fascinating:

AI is getting scary good: Apps now predict when you’ll procrastinate and intervene. One app saw 6.5-point attention improvement in 6 weeks. Check out our best AI to-do apps guide for more AI-powered options.

Visual everything: Text-heavy interfaces are dead. Icons, colors, and timelines rule. (Thruday uses ONLY visuals. No text. Wild.)

Digital therapeutics are real: EndeavorRx is FDA-cleared for ADHD. This isn’t woo-woo. It’s science.

Community features exploded: Flow Club hosts 2,500+ body-doubling sessions weekly. We’re not meant to struggle alone.

The Million-Dollar Question: Which One Should You Choose?

Here’s my honest take after 30 days with each:

Choose Ellie if: You want beautiful simplicity and have an iPhone. The brain dump feature alone is worth it.

Choose Structured if: Time blindness is your nemesis. This app makes time tangible.

Choose Amazing Marvin if: You love customization and don’t mind a learning curve.

Choose Sunsama if: You need someone (something?) to save you from yourself. Similar to Akiflow but with better ADHD features.

Choose Numo if: Community and gamification light up your brain.

Your Action Plan (Because We Need One, Right?)

1. Pick ONE app (I know, I know – but seriously, just one)
2. Commit to 14 days (most have free trials)
3. Start with 3 features max (don’t overwhelm yourself)
4. Track one metric (tasks completed, stress level, whatever matters to you)
5. Give yourself grace (no app is magic – you’re still human)

Quick Comparison Table

App	Best For	Price	Platforms	Key ADHD Feature
Ellie Planner	Visual thinkers	$9.99/mo	iOS, Mac	Brain dump
Structured	Time blindness	$19.99/yr	All	Visual timeline
Amazing Marvin	Customization lovers	$12/mo	All	Procrastination wizard
Sunsama	Overcommitters	$16/mo	Web, iOS	Reality checks
Numo	Community seekers	Varies	iOS, Android	Body doubling

The Bottom Line

Look, I’ve been in the productivity app hamster wheel for years. Download, hope, abandon, repeat.

But something’s shifted. These apps aren’t trying to fix us anymore. They’re working with our brains, not against them.

One user said it perfectly: “For the first time in my life, my brain and my planner speak the same language.”

That’s not just an app review. That’s hope.

So pick one. Try it. And remember – the best planning app is the one you’ll actually use.

Even if it takes you 23 tries to find it.

(Trust me. I counted.)

Related Resources

• The ADHD Guide to Timeboxing - Master time management with ADHD
• Motion AI Review - AI-powered scheduling for neurodivergent brains
• 10 Best Productivity Apps 2024 - More general productivity tools
• Pomodoro Technique Guide - Short bursts of focus that work

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P.S. Want more productivity tips that actually work for ADHD brains? I test this stuff so you don’t have to. Drop your email below, and I’ll send you my “5-Minute Morning Routine That Actually Sticks” guide. No spam. Just strategies that work.

P.P.S. Yes, I use Ellie Planner daily. No, they didn’t pay me to say that. I just really like having a functional life.