MasterPlan review
A freeform desktop planner for solo creatives, with a one-time $20 price.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
MasterPlan is an offline-first desktop planning and ideaboard tool for independent developers and other creatives who want to arrange work visually. Its freeform grid holds task, timer, note, map, and media cards, with support for images, GIFs, sounds, and web references. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and its developer describes it as an individual planning tool rather than a collaboration platform. That makes it a fit for solo workflows, not teams seeking shared project coordination.
Its file-based approach is a notable part of the workflow: projects are stored as human-readable JSON, which can be kept under version control. Embedded browser cards keep web references alongside plans, while customizable themes let users adjust the workspace. Automatic to-do lists and timer cards add task tracking and time tracking within the same visual canvas. This combination suits people who prefer a flexible board over a conventional, structured project-management setup; buyers looking for verified task views or integrations should consider another tool.
The published plan is a $20 USD one-time purchase called MasterPlan, with lifetime updates and a Steam key. There is no free plan; a demo is available, but it cannot save projects, so it is not an ongoing free workflow. For a solo creative who wants an offline visual planner and is comfortable managing projects locally, the purchase is straightforward. People who need guest access, collaboration, or a broader team-oriented system should look elsewhere.
MasterPlan pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Freeform grid combines task, timer, note, map, and media cards
- Automatic to-do lists and timer cards support personal planning
- Human-readable JSON project files work with version control
- Where it doesn't
- Designed for individual planning, not collaboration
- No guest access
- The demo cannot save projects
MasterPlan fact sheet, pricing and score →
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