# Shovel

> Study planner that checks if you have time for every task

Shovel is a study planner for students that works out how much study time a schedule really leaves and compares it with the time each task needs. Tasks come from a PDF syllabus or a synced school platform, and students then block out when they will work on each one. A measure the vendor calls the Cushion shows, task by task, whether there is enough time before the deadline. Shovel runs as a web app with companion phone apps and is sold by subscription after a 7-day free trial.

- **Category:** Daily Planner Apps
- **Made by:** How To Study Smart, LLC
- **Website:** https://shovelapp.io/
- **Runs on:** Web, iOS, Android
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

Shovel is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39 per year ($3.25 per month), or $9.79 billed monthly.

- **Pricing model:** Free trial
- **Free plan:** None.
- **Free trial:** 7-day free trial on both the monthly and yearly plans. Billing starts after the trial unless it is cancelled.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly | $39 per year, shown as $3.25 per month paid yearly | Full access for a year after a 7-day free trial. The page labels it a limited-time back-to-school offer and gives no end date. |
| Monthly | $9.79 per month | Full access billed monthly after a 7-day free trial, cancellable at any time. The page shows $9.79 beside a crossed-out $19.99. |

Read from https://shovelapp.io/pricing/ on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Shovel before buying.

## Ways to pay less

- **About 67% less on the yearly plan** (Annual discount): The pricing page lists $9.79 per month or $39 per year. Twelve monthly payments would come to $117.48. The yearly price is labelled a limited-time back-to-school offer. Source: https://shovelapp.io/pricing/

## Key features

- **Syllabus upload and school sync:** AI Syllabus Upload turns a PDF syllabus into tasks and events, and courses can sync live with Canvas, Brightspace, Moodle or Google Classroom.
- **Planning tasks into study time:** Each task is assigned to specific study blocks, so a due date becomes a plan for what to work on, when and for how long.
- **The Cushion:** Compares the study time available before each deadline with the time the task is estimated to need, and plots every task above or below a zero line.
- **Schedule of available time:** Classes, activities, meals and personal time are blocked out to reveal the hours left for studying. Events can repeat every set number of weeks.
- **Time estimates and timer:** Reading time is calculated per task, exam and assignment estimates can be adjusted as work progresses, and a built-in timer records time spent on each task.
- **External calendars:** Google, Apple and Outlook calendar events can be shown inside Shovel, and the Shovel calendar can be shared out to those calendars.

## Good for

- College students planning a full semester of readings, assignments and exams
- Students whose school uses Canvas, Brightspace, Moodle or Google Classroom
- Students who want a warning before they run short of study time

## Worth knowing

- There is no free plan. Access needs a paid subscription once the 7-day trial ends.
- The phone apps are companions: an account has to be set up in the web app first, and the vendor says not to use the mobile app on tablets.
- On computers and tablets Shovel is installed from the browser as a progressive web app, not as a native desktop program.
- The US App Store lists two "Lifetime plan" in-app purchases, at $13.99 and $46.99, that the website's pricing page does not mention.

## Works with

Canvas, Brightspace, Moodle, Google Classroom, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook

**Tags:** Time blocking, Tasks, Calendar, AI features

## Alternatives

- [MyStudyLife](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mystudylife): Student planner for classes, homework, exams and grades. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/mystudylife-vs-shovel)
- [Power Planner](https://toolgpa.com/tools/power-planner): Homework planner with class schedules and GPA calculation. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/power-planner-vs-shovel)
- [School Assistant](https://toolgpa.com/tools/school-assistant): Free school planner for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/school-assistant-vs-shovel)
- [FlowSavvy](https://toolgpa.com/tools/flowsavvy): Calendar that auto-schedules tasks and replans when things change. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/flowsavvy-vs-shovel)
- [Motion](https://toolgpa.com/tools/motion): AI work planner that auto-schedules tasks on your calendar. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/motion-vs-shovel)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://shovelapp.io/
- https://shovelapp.io/pricing/
- https://shovelapp.io/about/
- https://shovelapp.io/full-demo/
- https://courses.shovelapp.io/courses/how-to-use-shovel-knowledge-base/
- https://courses.shovelapp.io/lessons/how-to-sync-school-platforms-with-shovel/
- https://courses.shovelapp.io/lessons/pdf-syllabus-upload/
- https://courses.shovelapp.io/lessons/the-cushion-procrastination-curve/
- https://courses.shovelapp.io/lessons/phones-how-to-install-shovel-on-your-phone/
- https://courses.shovelapp.io/lessons/computers-how-to-install-shovel-on-your-computer/
- https://courses.shovelapp.io/lessons/tablets-how-to-install-shovel-on-tablets/
- https://courses.shovelapp.io/lessons/cancel-pause-subscription/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shovel-study-planner/id1467742357
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.howtostudyincollege.shovel&hl=en_US&gl=US

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/shovel
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).