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
- 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!
Found this post helpful? Pin it!
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.
Rae McDonald says
For an Australian alternative, have you come across Whistle&Birch? They are a small business based in Melbourne.
I haven’t tried out their teacher layout, but I have their vertical layout and I LOVE it. No more expensive dollar conversion and shipping for an EC for me! Their teacher planners are at https://www.etsy.com/shop/whistleandbirch?section_id=20304442
Rachael says
Hi Rae, I have heard of Whitsle and Birch – they are on my planner shopping list 🙂
There are definitely plenty of cheaper alternatives to Erin Condren: https://allaboutplanners.com.au/similar-and-cheaper-alternatives-to-the-erin-condren-life-planner/ – Her planners are nice but the shipping charges to Australia are ridiculous!