Ellie Planner reviewed: the brain-dump and drag-and-drop daily planner app for iOS, macOS, Windows and web, with pricing and feature breakdown for 2026.
Category
Productivity
Pricing
Freemium, from Free (Pro from $9.99/month)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Headquarters
Dallas, Texas, United States
Free PlanWindowsWeb AppiOSFreemiumMac
Overview
Ellie Planner is a daily planning app built around a brain-dump task list and a drag-and-drop day timeline, created by Dallas-based solo developer Chris Raroque.
It is available on iOS, macOS, Windows, and the web, with a free tier for basic task capture and a paid Pro tier that unlocks timeboxing and calendar integrations.
Key Features
Ellie's workflow starts with an unstructured braindump area for capturing tasks, then lets users drag items onto a visual day timeline to timebox their schedule.
Additional features include recurring tasks, subtasks, due dates, unlimited labels, basic time tracking and analytics, and integrations with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Siri Shortcuts.
Pricing
Ellie offers a free plan with unlimited task creation and core braindump functionality with no credit card required.
Ellie Pro adds timebox mode, calendar integrations, and unlimited labels and subtasks for $9.99/month, with a one-time lifetime purchase option also available and a 50% student discount on annual pricing.
Key Features
Braindump task capture — Quickly capture every task or idea into an unstructured list without assigning time or priority upfront.
Drag-and-drop day timeline — Visually schedule braindump tasks onto a Kanban-style timeline to timebox an entire day.
Recurring tasks and subtasks — Set up repeating tasks and break larger items into subtasks for more granular planning.
Unlimited labels — Organize tasks by project, context, or category using an unlimited number of custom labels.
Calendar integrations — Sync with Google Calendar and Apple Calendar so scheduled tasks and existing events appear together.
Siri Shortcuts support — Quickly add tasks to Ellie using Siri Shortcuts on Apple devices.
Time tracking and analytics — Track time spent on tasks and view basic analytics on how a day or week was actually spent.
Multi-platform native apps — Native apps for iOS, macOS, and Windows, plus a web app, provide broader coverage than most mobile-first planners.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Free plan offers genuinely unlimited task creation with no credit card required
Native apps for iOS, macOS, and Windows in addition to the web, unusual for a planner app of its size
One-time lifetime purchase option available for users who prefer not to subscribe
Simple, focused two-step brain-dump-then-schedule workflow that is easy to learn
Cons
No native Android app, leaving Android users limited to the web app
Built and supported largely by a single developer, which can affect the pace of updates and support
Core timeboxing feature and calendar integrations are locked behind the paid Pro tier
Smaller feature set and integration ecosystem compared to larger, team-oriented planning tools
Pricing
Free $0 N/A
Ellie Pro (Monthly) $9.99/month Monthly
Ellie Pro (Lifetime) $299.99 one-time One-time payment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellie Planner free?
Yes, Ellie offers a free plan with unlimited task creation and braindump functionality. The Pro tier, which unlocks timebox mode and calendar integrations, costs $9.99/month or is available as a one-time lifetime purchase.
Does Ellie have an Android app?
No. Ellie is available on iOS, macOS, Windows, and the web, but there is currently no native Android app; Android users can use the web version.
Who built Ellie Planner?
Ellie was built by Chris Raroque, a solo indie developer based in Dallas, Texas, who has also worked on other projects including Mogul and Aloa.
Does Ellie integrate with Google Calendar?
Yes, Ellie Pro integrates with both Google Calendar and Apple Calendar so scheduled tasks appear alongside existing calendar events.
Is there a student discount for Ellie Pro?
Yes, Ellie offers a 50% discount off the yearly Pro price for verified students who contact support directly.
What makes Ellie different from a regular to-do list app?
Ellie separates task capture from scheduling: tasks first go into an unstructured braindump list, then get dragged onto a visual day timeline to timebox them into real time, rather than sitting on a static, ever-growing list.