Head-to-head · Study Planner Apps
Sylly vs Shovel
Sylly leads on 1 check, Shovel on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreSylly · 7.5/10
- Free planonly Sylly
- Free trialonly Shovel
Sylly scores higher on our rubric for study planner apps: 7.5 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.
Sylly offers free plan; Shovel doesn't.
Sylly is the better fit for students wanting AI notes and study materials. Shovel is the better fit for students wanting time-blocking with LMS imports.
- Sylly fits best
Students wanting AI notes and study materials
- Shovel fits best
Students wanting time-blocking with LMS imports
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Side by side
| Feature | Sylly 7.5/10 Visit ↗ | Shovel 7.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Ranking | #6 in Study Planner Apps | #7 in Study Planner Apps |
| Best for | Students wanting AI notes and study materials | Students wanting time-blocking with LMS imports |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | — | $39/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile, Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, iOS | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Live chat | |
| Integrations | 1 integrations | 7 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business |
| Features Sylly 4/5 · Shovel 4/5 | ||
| Assignment tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exam planning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Revision scheduling | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Recurring study sessions | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Calendar sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Available platforms | web, ios | web, ios, android |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Sylly is a study-planning workspace for university and post-secondary students who want course organization and AI study support in one place. It brings classes, syllabi, assignments, exams, lectures, notes, flashcards, practice tests,… Read the review → |
Shovel is a study-planning application for college students who need more than a basic task list. It brings coursework, assignments, exams, classes, activities, and available study time into one schedule. Students can import syllabus PDFs… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Sylly — where it wins
- Parses syllabi into deadlines, grade weights, and study sessions
- Generates notes, flashcards, practice tests, and grounded study chat
- Combines lecture transcription, grade tracking, and Apple Calendar export
Where it doesn't
- Available only on the web and iOS
- Free Plan limits classes, AI generations, chat, and recording time
- Calendar integration is limited to Apple Calendar
Shovel — where it wins
- Imports syllabus PDFs and connects with Canvas, Moodle, and Google Classroom
- Combines workload estimates, time blocks, timers, grades, and progress tracking
- Works across web, iOS, and Android with calendar integrations
Where it doesn't
- No free plan is available
- Desktop setup is required before using the mobile experience
- The monthly plan costs $9.79, while the annual plan uses annual billing
- Sylly7.5/10 · Free plan
A broad AI study workspace that brings planning, notes, revision, and grades together.
Visit SyllyFull verdict → - Shovel7.4/10 · 7-day trial
A focused planner for turning coursework, deadlines, and study time into a workable schedule.
Visit ShovelFull verdict →
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All study planner apps comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update





