So we’ve all heard of Erin Condren. And we all know how expensive those planners are. So if you’re a teacher (or someone looking to convert a teacher planner into a life planner) here are some alternative planners (that are just as nice / good quality)!

Alternatives to the Erin Condren Teacher Planner

1. Plum Paper

My favorite planner company! Not only do they have a vertical, horizontal and hourly layouts like the Erin Condren Planner, they have other layouts as well. My 2 favorites are the lined + list (which I use for brain dumping and recording what I actually did that day – helps see where I’m over-scheduling) and the Me Planner.

The Me Planner would make an ideal teacher planner – it has 7 sections and plenty of lined writing space.

Related:  Week 29: Plum Paper Me Planner 

Features of the Plum Paper Planner

• Divide week into 7 custom sections
• Start planner in ANY month
• Choose from 12-18 months
• Month & Year-at-a-Glance Pages
• Monthly Highlights Pages
• Monthly Notes Pages (2/mo)
• Double Sided Pocket Folder
• Durable Aluminum Binding Coil
• Durable Mylar Coated Tabs
• Paper Weight: 70lb text
• Paper Size: 7″ x 9″
• Tear proof & water resistant cover with a clear plastic protective sheet

Price: About $30 USD (plus optional add on pages)

2. Posy Paper

• Personalized cover (with plenty of options to choose from)
• clear plastic protective cover
• 12 months (you choose your start month)
• Monthly calendar
• Dated weekly lesson plan
• 2 notes pages between months
• Record keeping pages
• Classroom tab
• Monthly laminated tabs
• Metal spiral binding, pocket
• 70 lb paper

Price: $35 USD

3. Limelife Planner

Limelife have a variety of colorful planners! My personal favorite is layout C which would be ideal for a teachers planner with all the sections for different classes.

Related: Week 23: Using Limelife Planners Weekly Layout C 

They do have teacher planners with 5 day weeks as well.

Limelife are just as expensive as Erin Condren though.

They have free downloads on their website if you want to try it out before buying.

Related: Planner companies that will let you download, print and try their planner layout for free 

Limelife Planner Features

 

• Ultra-smooth 80# paper (the paper feels  really nice)
• 10 mil laminated permanent front and back cover 
• Heavy duty aluminum spiral binding
• Heavy-duty clear vinyl pocket for storing notes or stickers

 

• Birthdays and Special Dates pages
• Teacher schedule page
• Logins & Passwords page (double-sided)
• Mylar coated (laminated) colored tabs to separate each month
• A notes page before and after each monthly layout
• Twelve monthly layouts on two pages
• 20 pages of notes (on 10 sheets)
• 10 pages of graph paper (on 5 sheets)
• 3 Add-Ons of Your Choice

Price: $65 USD

4. SHP Planner

SHP Planners – simple, functional and affordable Etsy shop with life planners and teacher planners. Their planners are very similar to Posy Paper.

 SHP Planner Features

• Personalized cover (plenty of options to choose from!)
• 12 months (you choose the start month)
• 2 page weekly planner
• 2 page monthly calendar
• Extras pages such as classroom section, 2 notes pages between months
• Laminated tabs for each month
• Metal spiral binding
• Pocket
• 70 lb paper
• 7 x 9″ pages
• Clear glossy plastic protective covers

Price: $28 USD

Update: See my review of the SHP Planner in this post.

5. Purple Trail

Another planner company that doesn’t seem to get much publicity! This company’s planners remind me of a cross between LimeLife Planners and Plum Paper.

Purple Trail Planner Features 

• Materials: 80lb premium paper,
• Spiral metal coil
• Laminated covers
• Cardstock tabs
• Custom cover options 
• Option to add extra pages
• 6 x 8″ or 8.5 x 11″
• 12 or 18 month duration
• Option to have the weekly spread pre-filled  with your class names
• Choose from colorful or neutral inside pages

Price: $40 USD

Update: Purple Trail Weekly Planner Review

6. Blue Sky

Blue Sky have plenty of affordable planners in multiple sizes. I would love to try out their planners but they don’t ship to Australia (unless you purchase via Amazon)

Blue Sky Planner Features

• Academic and calendar year
• Colorful
• 2 page weekly spread
• 2 page Monthly calendar
• Twin-Wire binding 
• 5″ x 8″ or 8.5 x 11″

Price: Approx $20 USD

Related: Blue Sky Teacher Planner Review

7. Bloom Teacher Planner

Bloom have simple and affordable planners. They’re a great option if you’re just getting started planning. They’re undated so you can start planning anytime.

Bloom Teacher Planner Features

• 9″ x 11″ high with Clear Frost Plastic Cover
• 160+ colorful pages (100gsm paper)
• Undated 2 page weekly lesson planning
• Undated 2 page monthly calendars
• 5 day week with 7 sections per day
• Tabs
• Calendar runds from August – July)
• Coil binding
• Pocket on Back Inside Cover
• Extra pages:
• 1 Personal Info Page
• 1 How to Use Your Planner page
• 1 Info for the Sub Page
• 2 Student Information Pages
• 2 Call Home Logs
• 2 Graph Paper Pages
• “Important Dates” spread for easy yearly planning
• Every monthly view begins with a “Plan for the Month” page and ends with a “Month in Review” with notes page

Price: $30

Related: Bloom teacher planner review and flip through 

None of these planners interest you? I have a printable teacher planner that may be of interest to you!

Click here to find out more

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Related Posts:

• Using a planner key and symbols to code your planner (efficient planning methods)
• 50 Tips for writing a better to do list that will make you more productive
• Choosing sections for your planner: what to keep in your weekly planner versus a household binder 
• Best Weekly Planners For Under $50 

Prices in this post current as of November 2017.