1️⃣ Trials/Free Version - See if the app provides a trial or free version so you can see whether you like it or not. Thankfully more and more apps are providing free trials before you commit.

2️⃣ User Experience - See how you like using the app. Is it easy to learn and use? Is the user interface enjoyable to use? Or is the app super overwhelming and difficult to understand? Each app will feel different to each person but you'll find one that works best for you after some trial and error.

3️⃣ Price - Does the price of the app fit within your budget? Is it a one time fee or a monthly/yearly subscription? Don't download an app just because everyone is talking about it yet it's costing you more money than you'd like to spend. Find one that fits within your budget and works best for you.

4️⃣ Handwriting - If you plan to use your own handwriting (vs using a font), do you like how your handwriting looks in the app? You wouldn't think this would be a big deal but there are some apps where my handwriting looks great and others that make it look horrendous 🙈 I tend not to use the apps where my writing looks bad.

5️⃣ Features - What features does the app offer and will you actually use them? It's easy to get influenced by the hype around a new app and it's "amazing" new features. But will you actually use them? Which features do you need? For students, having the option to add audio to their notes is key but, for me, I never use the audio tool. Choose an app based on how you'll be using it, not for the hyped up new features you might not use.

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1️⃣ Can I use Apple Keynote or Microsoft PowerPoint for my digital planners?
Nope, both those apps are used in the creation of digital planners but not for the using of digital planners. You'll want to stick to PDF annotation apps like the ones mentioned above.

2️⃣ Is Notion a digital planning app?
Notion is a software that you can use as a planning tool. BUT you cannot buy a digital planner (in PDF format) from a shop and use it inside of Notion. Notion is it's own planning software. If you'd like to use Notion as your planning tool, you can buy pre-made Notion planners on Etsy or create your own.

3️⃣ Do I have to have an iPad to use a digital planner? 
Nope! There are many great digital planning apps you can use on your Android or Windows tablet. Take a look at the list above to see what options you have out there. Even though there is a lot of favouritism around iPads in the digital planning world, you can definitely digital plan on your Android or Windows tablet.

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1️⃣ Once you've purchased a digital planner, download the PDF directly onto your tablet. Choose a folder to save it in.

2️⃣ Open the PDF annotation app you want to use and find the + button. Select "Upload Document" (your app might say it a bit differently but look for the option to upload your own document, not create a new notebook). 

3️⃣ Select your digital planner PDF from whatever folder you've saved it to and voila! It'll be added to your app and you're ready to start digital planning!