Parker Planner Classic (old version) vs Pencil Planner
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Parker Planner Classic (old version)
This is the legacy version of a productivity app, originally released in 2012. It offers quick to-do list creation and notes that can be pinned to specific days. The app is no longer supported and will be removed from the App Store soon.
- Two-tap entry
- Quick to-do list
- Pinned notes
- Legacy version
- No longer supported
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Parker Planner Classic is the legacy version of Parker Planner created in 2012 and is no longer supported. We want to still make this app available for a while for those who purchased it. Soon, however we'll be removing it from the AppStore as all our efforts will be spent on Parker Planner, a free to try and subscription-based productivity app. Welcome to the Parker Planner Classic, thank you for downloading this app. Super fast two-tap entry. Quick and easy to-do list. Notes that pin on the day you make them. Parker Planners began in 2006 as a paper planner company. Our products started out as pocket-sized and that’s why it converted to iPhone so well! This version of the app is no longer actively supported. Please see Parker Planner in the AppStore and bask in the glory of sync across devices, Reminder Sync, and multiple device support! Link to new app - http://apple.co/2mugEfe
Pencil Planner
This app allows users to visually plan their schedules by drawing appointments directly onto a calendar. It offers an intuitive, pen-on-paper experience for effortless scheduling, making it ideal for families and couples to coordinate activities and boost overall productivity.
- Draw appointments directly on calendar
- Intuitive pen-on-paper planning
- Visual family planner
- Couple calendar for shared planning
- Boost productivity and organization
- Supports iPad stylus input
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Ditch the Text, Draw Your Schedule with Stift! Tired of typing appointments? Stift lets you unleash the power of your tablet pen. Draw your schedule directly on the calendar! Why Stift? Effortless Scheduling: Draw appointments for any day, week, or month. It's that simple! Natural Planning: Forget the keyboard frustration. Stift feels intuitive, just like using a pen on paper. Perfect for Families: Coordinate everyone's activities with a visual, fun family planner. Keep track of soccer practice, music lessons, and movie nights - all in one place! Boost Productivity: Manage your time visually and stay organized with Stift. Work together: Use the calendar as a couple calendar and plan your year together. Stift: The fun and easy way to schedule your life. Please read the licensed application end user license agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ And our Terms of Service: https://www.s5t.app/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pencil Planner at 4.6 against Parker Planner Classic (old version)'s 4.0. Pencil Planner also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 46%). Parker Planner Classic (old version)'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Pencil Planner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months. Parker Planner Classic (old version) asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pencil Planner holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Parker Planner Classic (old version)'s written reviews are positive against 84% of Pencil Planner's.
Parker Planner Classic (old version) ships an update monthly, Pencil Planner every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Parker Planner Classic (old version) | Pencil Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (8 ratings) | 4.6 (12 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 46.1% of reviews | 84.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 12 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Matraex | TNX Apps UG |
Customer experience
Parker Planner Classic (old version)
Pencil Planner
Bugs and requests
Parker Planner Classic (old version)
Reported bugs
18 issues- App crashes on launch or when opening
- Crashes when adding or editing events
- Crashes when switching between views
- Calendar entries disappear after saving
- Notes disappear when pressing done
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- App freezes when editing existing appointments
- Crashes on iOS 7 and older versions
- Inability to add items to calendar
- Blank page appears when clicking notes
- Keyboard issues in note entry (missing done button)
- Calendar display colors incorrect in week/today views
- Unwanted calendars showing despite being unchecked
- Cannot delete events properly
- Event time changes reverting unexpectedly
- App closes when accessing previous day entries
- Scrolling issues in long notes
- Month view not loading or missing after updates
- To-do items not syncing properly after updates
Requested features
15 requests- Sync to-do lists with Apple Reminders app
- iPad and multi-device support
- Landscape orientation mode
- Date-specific to-do items with due dates
- Advanced recurring event options (every other day, specific dates, etc.)
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- Customizable colors for different calendars
- Search functionality for events
- Weekly and monthly goal tracking
- Font and color customization
- Ability to hide specific calendars properly
- Default calendar selection for new events
- Notification/reminder customization
- Event location display on calendar view
- Ability to assign importance levels to tasks
- Current time block indicator in day view
Pencil Planner
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Parker Planner Classic (old version)
No in-app purchases
Pencil Planner
- Quarterly Pro$2.993 Months
- Yearly Pro7 Days trial$7.991 Year
- Pro$12.99
Questions
Is Parker Planner Classic (old version) free?
Is Pencil Planner free?
Which has better reviews, Parker Planner Classic (old version) or Pencil Planner?
Do Parker Planner Classic (old version) or Pencil Planner have ads?
Which is updated more often, Parker Planner Classic (old version) or Pencil Planner?
Other comparisons
