Best ByDesign Alternatives in 2026
The top ByDesign alternatives are Sunsama, Amazing Marvin and Motion: 15 daily planner apps our editors would look at instead of ByDesign, in our ranking order.
ByDesign: A broad planner with scheduling, routines, notes, and timers across web, desktop, and mobile. Where it falls short: no free plan; access requires a paid option.
Switching from ByDesign? For most daily planner apps buyers the best ByDesign alternative is Sunsama, built for guided daily planning and workload control. On a budget, TimeHero starts at $4.60/user/mo. Reclaim AI has a free plan, which ByDesign does not.
Why People Look for a ByDesign Alternative
- No free plan; access requires a paid option
- Calendar integrations are limited to Google, Apple, and Outlook
- Broad workspace may be more than someone seeking a simple task list needs
- No free plan — 8 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallSunsama8.9
Guided daily planning and workload control
Visit Sunsama - Lowest priceTimeHero8.1
Paid plans from $4.60/user/mo
Visit TimeHero - Best free optionReclaim AI8.6
Has a free plan (ByDesign has none)
Visit Reclaim AI
All 15 ByDesign Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forGuided daily planning and workload control
- Better than ByDesign:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 3.0
A guided daily planner for turning tasks, calendars, and workload limits into a focused workday.
- Focus sessions
- Recurring tasks
- Calendar sync
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Sunsama -
Best forStructured planners with habits and projects
- Better than ByDesign:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 3.0
A flexible planner for people who want structured days without a fixed workflow.
- Recurring tasks
- Calendar sync
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Amazing Marvin -
Best forTeams needing AI scheduling and booking links
- Better than ByDesign:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 3.0
A broad AI planner for scheduling, booking, calendars, and project work.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Motion -
Best forAI calendar planning with team scheduling
- Better than ByDesign:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.6 vs 3.0
A web-based AI planner for balancing tasks, focus time, meetings, and team calendars.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Reclaim AI -
Best forPeople wanting automatic daily scheduling
- Better than ByDesign:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.5 vs 3.0
A flexible daily planner for people who want calendars to arrange tasks automatically.
- Recurring tasks
- Calendar sync
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit FlowSavvy -
Best forAll-platform time-blocking users
- Better than ByDesign:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.4 vs 3.0
A cross-platform planner that combines time blocking, calendars, tasks, and focus timers.
- Focus sessions
- Recurring tasks
- Calendar sync
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Routine -
Best forPower users needing an integrated planning inbox
- Better than ByDesign:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 3.0
A broad planning workspace for consolidating calendars, tasks, inboxes, and scheduling.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Akiflow -
Best forAdvanced multi-calendar scheduling workflows
- Better than ByDesign:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 3.0
A broad multi-calendar planner with strong scheduling tools but no free plan.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Morgen -
Best forProject-heavy automatic scheduling
- Better than ByDesign:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 3.0
A strong fit for project-heavy teams that need schedules to adjust as work changes.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit TimeHero -
Best forBudget users who want AI time blocking
- Better than ByDesign:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.0 vs 3.0
A capable free daily planner with AI scheduling and a focused $6 Pro tier.
- Focus sessions
- Recurring tasks
- Calendar sync
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Trevor AI -
Best forAdaptive AI scheduling across major calendars
- Better than ByDesign:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 3.0
A focused planner for turning priorities, routines, and calendar events into adaptive schedules.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit SkedPal -
Best forVisual routine planning and focus support
- Better than ByDesign:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.8 vs 3.0
A visual planner that combines routines, calendars, AI scheduling, and focus tools.
- Focus sessions
- Recurring tasks
- Calendar sync
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Tiimo -
Best forFree AI time-boxed daily plans
- Better than ByDesign:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.7 vs 3.0
A free time-blocking planner with AI plans, calendar sync, and flexible scheduling.
- Focus sessions
- Calendar sync
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit TimeFinder -
Best forVisual daily scheduling across Apple and Android
- Better than ByDesign:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.6 vs 3.0
A flexible visual planner for coordinating tasks, events, and reminders across platforms.
- Recurring tasks
- Calendar sync
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Structured -
Best forUsers needing broad integrations and AI planning
- Better than ByDesign:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.5 vs 3.0
A unified planner for calendars, tasks, meeting notes, and AI-assisted scheduling.
- Focus sessions
- Recurring tasks
- Calendar sync
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Amie
ByDesign Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to ByDesign?
Sunsama: #1 in our Daily Planner Apps ranking, with an editor score of 8.9 out of 10. A guided daily planner for turning tasks, calendars, and workload limits into a focused workday.
Is there a free alternative to ByDesign?
Yes. Reclaim AI, FlowSavvy, Routine, Trevor AI and Tiimo have a free plan or a free tier (8 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to ByDesign?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, TimeHero starts lowest, at $4.60/user/mo.
Why do people look for ByDesign alternatives?
No free plan; access requires a paid option; Calendar integrations are limited to Google, Apple, and Outlook; Broad workspace may be more than someone seeking a simple task list needs.
How do I switch from ByDesign?
Export your data from ByDesign (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel ByDesign.
How to Switch from ByDesign
- Export your data from ByDesign (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel ByDesign.
ByDesign vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Planning method | Calendar sync | Recurring tasks | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | ByDesign | No | Hybrid | Yes | 3.0 | ||
| 1 | Sunsama | No | $17/user/mo | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 2 | Amazing Marvin | No | $8/user/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 3 | Motion | No | $19/seat/mo | 8.7 | |||
| 4 | Reclaim AI | Yes | $12/seat/mo | 8.6 | |||
| 5 | FlowSavvy | Yes | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 6 | Routine | Yes | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 7 | Akiflow | No | $19/user/mo | 8.3 | |||
| 8 | Morgen | No | $10/seat/mo | 8.2 | |||
| 9 | TimeHero | No | $4.60/user/mo | 8.1 | |||
| 10 | Trevor AI | Yes | $5/mo | Time blocking | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 11 | SkedPal | No | 7.9 | ||||
| 12 | Tiimo | Yes | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 13 | TimeFinder | Yes | Time blocking | Yes | 7.7 | ||
| 14 | Structured | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | ||
| 15 | Amie | Yes | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | 7.5 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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