Alternatives · Daily Planners
Routine alternatives
Routine compared with 11 alternatives: Akiflow, Sunsama, Morgen, Motion, Ellie and 6 more.
Routine has a free plan. Paid plans start at $5 per month, billed yearly. 4 of the 11 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 7 more offer a free trial.
11 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoutineThis tool | Free plan · from $5/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Akiflow | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Sunsama | Free trial · from $17/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Morgen | Free trial · from $15/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Motion | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Ellie | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Amie | Free trial · from $20/mo | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| DayCaptain | Free trial · from $12/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Emery | Free trial · from $99/yr | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| PolyPlan | Free plan · from $34.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Structured | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Timestripe | Free plan · from $7/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
How each one differs from Routine
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Akiflow
Time-blocking planner that pulls tasks from other apps into one inbox
- Akiflow starts at $19 per month, billed yearly ($228). Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Routine has a free plan. Akiflow does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Routine lists a Linux app.
- Akiflow also covers booking links.
- Routine also covers meeting notes and notes.
Suits: People whose tasks are spread across email, chat and project tools
- Free trial · from $17/mo
Sunsama
Daily planner with guided planning routines and calendar timeboxing
- Sunsama starts at $17 per user / month, billed yearly ($204). Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Routine has a free plan. Sunsama does not, though it has a free trial.
- Sunsama also covers auto-scheduling, Pomodoro timer and goals.
- Routine also covers meeting notes and notes.
Suits: Professionals who want a fixed routine for planning each workday
- Free trial · from $15/mo
Morgen
Calendar and daily planner with AI-suggested time blocking
- Morgen starts at $15 per month, billed yearly. Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Routine has a free plan. Morgen does not, though it has a free trial.
- Morgen also covers auto-scheduling and booking links.
- Routine also covers meeting notes and notes.
Suits: People managing calendars across Google, Outlook and Apple accounts
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Motion
AI work planner that auto-schedules tasks on your calendar
- Motion starts at $19 per seat / month on team plans, billed annually (individuals from $29). Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Routine has a free plan. Motion does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Routine lists a Linux app.
- Motion also covers auto-scheduling and booking links.
- Routine also covers notes and time blocking.
Suits: People who want tasks placed on the calendar automatically
- Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Ellie
Daily planner with a brain dump list and calendar timeboxing
- Ellie starts at $9.99 per month, billed monthly (yearly billing saves 20%). Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Only Routine lists Linux and Android apps.
- Ellie can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Ellie also covers Pomodoro timer and time tracking.
- Routine also covers meeting notes and notes.
Suits: People who plan by timeboxing tasks next to calendar events
- Free trial · from $20/mo
Amie
AI meeting notes combined with a calendar and todo list
- Amie starts at $20 per user / month, billed annually ($25 billed monthly). Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Routine has a free plan. Amie does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Routine lists a web app.
- Only Routine lists Linux and Android apps.
- Amie also covers auto-scheduling.
Suits: People who want meeting notes, calendar and todos in one app
- Free trial · from $12/mo
DayCaptain
Keyboard-driven day planner with a task list beside the calendar
- DayCaptain starts at $12 per month minimum (€10); the subscriber picks the amount. Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Routine has a free plan. DayCaptain does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Routine lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Routine also covers meeting notes and notes.
Suits: Keyboard-oriented people who time-box their tasks each day
- Free trial · from $99/yr
Emery
Daily planner that sorts tasks and meetings into three priorities
- Emery starts at $99 per year. Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Routine has a free plan. Emery does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Routine lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Routine also covers meeting notes.
Suits: People who drop to-do apps once overdue tasks pile up
- Free plan · from $34.99/yr
PolyPlan
Visual timeline day planner that pulls in calendars and task apps
- PolyPlan starts at $34.99 per year (about $2.92 per month), or $5.99 billed monthly. Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Only Routine lists a Linux app.
- PolyPlan also covers templates and kanban boards.
- Routine also covers meeting notes and notes.
Suits: People who keep tasks in Todoist, TickTick or Things and events elsewhere
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Structured
Visual day planner that puts tasks and events on one timeline
- Structured starts at $2.99 to $7.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list). Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Only Routine lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Structured can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Structured also covers Pomodoro timer.
- Routine also covers meeting notes and notes.
Suits: People who prefer a visual timeline of the day to a plain task list
- Free plan · from $7/mo
Timestripe
Goal planner linking daily tasks to weekly, yearly and life goals
- Timestripe starts at $7 per month on the 5-year plan ($9 per month billed yearly). Routine starts at $5 per month, billed yearly.
- Only Timestripe lists a browser extension.
- Only Routine lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Timestripe also covers kanban boards and goals.
- Routine also covers meeting notes.
Suits: People who want daily tasks tied to quarterly, yearly and life goals
Limits worth knowing in Routine
- The Free plan is capped at 3 integrations, 3 custom databases and 250 AI credits.
- Time blocking and time boxing are not part of the Free plan; they start with Personal.
- AI meeting notes, AI agents, automations and time tracking require Professional or higher.
- Routine's download page says the web app is 30% slower than the desktop apps and lacks some functionality.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Routine?
The alternatives to Routine in this directory are Akiflow, Sunsama, Morgen, Motion, Ellie, Amie, DayCaptain, Emery, PolyPlan, Structured and Timestripe. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Routine.
Is there a free alternative to Routine?
Yes. Ellie, PolyPlan, Structured and Timestripe have a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Keep reading
- +4Best of
The best daily planner apps in 2026
Eight planners that put your tasks on the calendar, from a guided daily routine to fully automatic scheduling. Each pick says who it suits, what it costs and where it stops.
8 tools · Updated October 2026