Align vs Ellie Planner
Align
align.day
Ellie Planner
ellieplanner.comSide by side
| Figure | Align | Ellie Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $9.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 4 |
| Spec score · Time Blocking Apps | 8.1 (#17) | 8.7 (#4) |
| Spec score · Daily Planner Apps | 7.6 (#109) | 8.9 (#13) |
| Calendar sync | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Intended users | The maker describes Align as a personal daily planner for people who want to organize tasks, routines, and existing calendar commitments with visual time blocks. | The maker describes Ellie as a fit for people who want a simple app, the Brain Dump plus Daily Kanban planning system, or a native iOS app. |
| Mobile platforms | ios | ios |
| Planning method | time blocking | time blocking |
| Privacy | The maker says app data is stored locally and can sync to the user’s private iCloud account; it says it does not collect, share, or sell personal data. | Ellie says it does not sell user data or run ads, and users can export their data or delete their account from the web and mobile apps. |
| Recurring tasks | Yes | Ellie supports recurring tasks for routines and other rituals. |
| Support | The maker lists in-app help documentation, email support, and blog posts as support channels. | The maker lists [email protected] for support and contact. |
Plans
Align
- Align Plus WeeklyPrice not published
- Align Plus MonthlyPrice not published
- Align Plus YearlyPrice not published
- Align Plus LifetimePrice not published
- Align FreeFree
- Align PlusPriced on request
Ellie Planner
- FreeFree
- Pro$9.99 a month
- Lifetime$299.99 a month
- Lifetime$299.99, paid once
In their own words
Align
Align is an iPhone planner that combines tasks and calendar events in a visual time-blocked schedule. Users can drag or resize blocks, set alerts when blocks start or reminders in advance, and add checklist subtasks. Completing every subtask marks the parent block finished. Blocks can repeat daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly, and Align imports events from calendars available through the device’s iOS calendar system. Align Plus can move later blocks while preserving their duration. The free plan includes unlimited time blocks, calendar sync, recurring blocks, reminders, colors, icons, and drag-and-drop planning. Plus is an optional in-app subscription or one-time purchase, with weekly, monthly, yearly, and lifetime options listed; prices appear in the App Store. Align requires iOS 17 or later. It runs on iPad in iPhone compatibility mode, while other Apple platforms are not supported today. The maker says data is stored locally or synced to a private iCloud account and that it does not collect, share, or sell personal data.
Ellie Planner
Ellie Planner is a daily planner for collecting tasks and shaping them into a plan for the day. Its Brain Dump feature provides a place to offload tasks, while the Daily Kanban lets users drag tasks into a calendar to block out time. Ellie also lists analytics, a built-in time tracker, recurring tasks, and focus sessions. Optional connections include Google, Apple, and Outlook calendars, along with Notion, Zapier, and Siri shortcuts. The app is listed for iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. The free plan includes unlimited tasks, Brain Dump, and access on iPhone, iPad, and web. Pro costs $9.99 a month and adds timebox mode, Google and Apple Calendar, recurring tasks, labels, subtasks, due dates, reminders, and an AI assistant. A Lifetime option is listed at $299.99 a month, with the plan described as one payment and no recurring bill. Ellie says it does not sell user data or run ads, and users can export their data or delete their account. Google calendar access is optional.