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I struggled about whether I should write this post. Not because I don’t have thoughts (and I do have them) but because the Kindle Scribe isn’t technically a planner. It’s an e-reader, first and foremost. A high-end one, sure, complete with a stylus so you can write directly on your books, underline quotes, scribble notes in the margins, and generally live your best annotated-reading life. And I love that part.
But the Kindle Scribe also has notebooks. Quietly tucked away in the menu is a feature that lets you create notebooks of your own -- lined, gridded, blank, even preformatted pages like habit trackers and planners.
And I started this blog to talk about stationery, so I wondered -- does this count as stationery? Then I remembered, this is MY blog and I make the rules and I can change them however I want. So for all intents and purposes, the Kindle Scribe counts as stationery for now.
So while I’m not here to review the Scribe as a whole, I do want to talk about what it’s like trying to use it as a planner.
What the Kindle Scribe Offers for Planning
The Scribe comes with a few built-in notebook templates, and among them are three undated planners and a habit tracker. Each requires the stylus to fill in, and thankfully the pen-to-screen response is excellent—smooth, quick, and surprisingly satisfying. Also handy is the eraser which, after using so often on the Scribe makes me really angry that the iPad Pencil doesn't have that feature. Oh iPad Pencil -- why must I pay $100 and double tap??
Anyway, here’s what you get:
Monthly Planner
This is a standard monthly layout with room to jot in small appointments or events. At the bottom of the page are two lined sections. I used mine for monthly goals and reminders, but they’re open-ended enough to suit whatever you need.
Weekly Planner
This one reminded me a lot of the Hobonichi Weeks, with a horizontal weekly layout. Unlike the Hobonichi, though, the Scribe gives you plenty of space to write across the weekdays. That said, the weekend section is cramped, so if you have a busy Saturday-Sunday schedule, this may not be ideal.
Daily Planner
Your full day broken down by the hour, with full rows to block off time or write your to-dos. If you’re someone who thrives on time-blocking, this might feel familiar and easy to use.
Habit Tracker
This one’s a little more structured: a 31-day grid, where you write your habits across the top and mark them off each day. It’s simple, clean, and works well if you want a full month’s view on one page.
Checklist Notebook
If you don’t need a full planner but still want to jot down to-dos, the Checklist notebook is exactly what it sounds like. It's a cute, flexible little list-maker.
Would I Use It as My Planner?
Not really.
I appreciate what the Kindle Scribe notebooks offer, but they don’t fit how I plan. I’ve dabbled, sure, but here’s what I don’t love:
Final Thoughts
The Kindle Scribe isn’t a replacement for my Hobonichi Cousin, my Weeks, or even a simple paper planner. But it is a great e-reader with some thoughtful, optional planner features. And if digital planning is more your style, or if you like having all your notes, books, and trackers in one device, it’s worth exploring.
Just don’t expect it to replace your stickers, washi tape, and lovingly inked daily layouts.
But the Kindle Scribe also has notebooks. Quietly tucked away in the menu is a feature that lets you create notebooks of your own -- lined, gridded, blank, even preformatted pages like habit trackers and planners.
And I started this blog to talk about stationery, so I wondered -- does this count as stationery? Then I remembered, this is MY blog and I make the rules and I can change them however I want. So for all intents and purposes, the Kindle Scribe counts as stationery for now.
So while I’m not here to review the Scribe as a whole, I do want to talk about what it’s like trying to use it as a planner.
What the Kindle Scribe Offers for Planning
The Scribe comes with a few built-in notebook templates, and among them are three undated planners and a habit tracker. Each requires the stylus to fill in, and thankfully the pen-to-screen response is excellent—smooth, quick, and surprisingly satisfying. Also handy is the eraser which, after using so often on the Scribe makes me really angry that the iPad Pencil doesn't have that feature. Oh iPad Pencil -- why must I pay $100 and double tap??
Anyway, here’s what you get:
Monthly Planner
This is a standard monthly layout with room to jot in small appointments or events. At the bottom of the page are two lined sections. I used mine for monthly goals and reminders, but they’re open-ended enough to suit whatever you need.
Weekly Planner
This one reminded me a lot of the Hobonichi Weeks, with a horizontal weekly layout. Unlike the Hobonichi, though, the Scribe gives you plenty of space to write across the weekdays. That said, the weekend section is cramped, so if you have a busy Saturday-Sunday schedule, this may not be ideal.
Daily Planner
Your full day broken down by the hour, with full rows to block off time or write your to-dos. If you’re someone who thrives on time-blocking, this might feel familiar and easy to use.
Habit Tracker
This one’s a little more structured: a 31-day grid, where you write your habits across the top and mark them off each day. It’s simple, clean, and works well if you want a full month’s view on one page.
Checklist Notebook
If you don’t need a full planner but still want to jot down to-dos, the Checklist notebook is exactly what it sounds like. It's a cute, flexible little list-maker.
Would I Use It as My Planner?
Not really.
I appreciate what the Kindle Scribe notebooks offer, but they don’t fit how I plan. I’ve dabbled, sure, but here’s what I don’t love:
- Slow page turning. It’s a digital notebook, not a paper planner. Flipping between pages isn’t snappy.
- Navigation isn’t intuitive. You can create sections and titles, but it takes too many taps to move between notebooks and layouts.
- Can’t see everything at once. No two-page layouts or visual overviews. It’s one page at a time, always.
Final Thoughts
The Kindle Scribe isn’t a replacement for my Hobonichi Cousin, my Weeks, or even a simple paper planner. But it is a great e-reader with some thoughtful, optional planner features. And if digital planning is more your style, or if you like having all your notes, books, and trackers in one device, it’s worth exploring.
Just don’t expect it to replace your stickers, washi tape, and lovingly inked daily layouts.
