Tiimo vs Structured: Which Visual Planner Suits ADHD?

You've tried the paper planner with the pretty cover and the to-do app with fourteen nested folders. Both worked for about four days, then became one more thing you feel guilty about opening.

So now you're looking at visual planners, the apps that show your day as a timeline of colourful blocks instead of a list. Two names keep coming up: Tiimo and Structured. They look similar, both talk about ADHD-friendly planning and both have a free version. Choosing can easily become a three-hour research spiral.

This guide compares what each app offers today, based on the companies' own websites, help pages and App Store listings, so you can pick one, set it up in 15 minutes and get back to your day. We haven't tested either app long-term, so this is a facts-first comparison, not a personal review.

Why visual planners help some ADHD brains

The National Institute of Mental Health describes inattention in ADHD as including difficulty "keeping on task, or staying organized", and notes that symptoms can make it hard to get things done. A plain list doesn't help much with that. It tells you what exists, but not when it happens, how long it takes or what comes next.

A visual timeline makes time something you can see: a two-hour block looks bigger than a 15-minute one, and the gap before your next appointment is a visible space, not a vague feeling. If you struggle with the sense that time is slippery, our guide to time blindness tips goes deeper into why this matters.

Research on planning apps specifically for ADHD is still limited, and neither app is a treatment. Think of them as external scaffolding: a place to put your plan so your working memory doesn't have to hold it.

Tiimo at a glance

Tiimo describes itself in its FAQ as a visual daily planner "designed to support neurodivergent brains", and its homepage says it was built with ADHD and autism in mind while being meant for anyone who finds planning hard. It was named iPhone App of the Year at the 2025 App Store Awards, according to Tiimo's own site.

Key features listed on Tiimo's site include:

Visual timeline with colours, icons and adjustable layouts.
Focus timer with a countdown progress ring and step-by-step checklists inside each task.
AI planning, where you type or speak your tasks and, in Tiimo's words, the AI "builds step-by-step plans and estimates time for you".
To-do list that turns a brain dump into steps and simple priorities.
Mood tracking to log how you feel and spot patterns.
Widgets and Live Activities so upcoming tasks and timers show without opening the app.
Calendar import from Google, iCloud, Outlook and others, per the FAQ.

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, Mac and a web planner. The Tiimo pricing page is clear that the web app is a premium feature.

Free version: Tiimo offers "a selection of planning tools to help you get started" on iOS and Android only. Its App Store listing sums up the free version as "Basic planner, limited AI chats, 1 profile."

Price: Tiimo's pricing page doesn't list amounts; it says your local price is shown at checkout. When we checked the App Store listing in late October 2026, it showed Monthly Pro at $12.00 and Yearly Pro at $54.00, among other price points; prices may vary by country. The 7-day free trial applies only to the yearly plan, and monthly billing starts immediately.

Structured at a glance

Structured, made by unorderly GmbH, pitches a single visual timeline combining tasks, calendar events and focus sessions. It isn't marketed only to ADHD users.

According to Structured's help article on free versus Pro features, the free version includes:

Timeline, all-day and Inbox tasks
Subtasks, notes, icons and colour coding
Notifications and alerts
Drag and drop, and duplicating days
Sync, timeline views and widgets
An Energy Monitor, plus layout and font-size options

Structured Pro adds Structured AI, calendar import, reminders import, recurring tasks, Replan, custom notifications, a custom colour palette and premium icons.

Platforms: Structured's help centre lists iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Android and Structured Web. The Android article says it needs Android 11 or later and that "not all Pro features from iOS are available on Android yet". The web article has a similar caveat for the browser version.

Price: Structured's help centre says the app "can always be downloaded and used for free", and What is Structured Pro? explains Pro comes as monthly, yearly or a one-time lifetime purchase, with prices set by region and local purchasing power. When we checked the App Store listing in late October 2026, it showed several price points, including monthly options of $2.99 and $6.99, yearly options from $9.99 to $49.99, and Lifetime at $99.99. Prices may vary by country.

A note on prices: all of these figures come from the company sites and App Store listings at the time of writing. Prices vary by country and currency, and both companies change them. Always check the price shown in your own app store before you pay.

Honest strengths and weaknesses

Tiimo: where it shines

It helps you start, not just schedule. Step checklists and a visual countdown inside each task are useful if your problem is less "when do I do this?" and more "how do I actually begin?"
AI task breakdown is aimed at exactly the moment when a task feels like a fog.
Mood tracking sits alongside the plan, which suits people whose energy and emotions change what's realistic on a given day.

Tiimo: where it falls short

The free version is thin. Basic planner, limited AI and one profile on mobile only. Most of what makes Tiimo distinctive sits behind Pro.
It costs more. At the App Store prices we saw, Tiimo's yearly plan was more than Structured's highest yearly option.
The trial only comes with the yearly plan, so you need to remember to cancel if it isn't for you. Set a phone reminder for day five.

Structured: where it shines

A genuinely usable free tier. Timeline, Inbox, subtasks, notifications, widgets and sync are all free.
Lifetime option. If subscriptions feel like a monthly leak in your budget, a one-time purchase can be a relief.
Clean and quick. Fewer features means fewer settings to get lost in.
Inbox for loose thoughts that haven't got a time yet.

Structured: where it falls short

Recurring tasks are Pro. If you want your morning routine to appear every day automatically, you'll need to pay or duplicate days manually.
Calendar import is Pro, so free users can't see work meetings in the same timeline.
Less built-in support for starting tasks. It shows you the plan, but it's lighter on the "now do step one" scaffolding.
Android and web lag behind iOS, according to Structured's own help pages.

Who each app suits

Tiimo may suit you if:

You freeze at the start of tasks and want each one broken into visible steps.
You like the idea of AI turning a messy brain dump into a plan.
You want mood and energy check-ins built in.
The yearly price fits your budget without becoming another source of guilt.

Structured may suit you if:

You mainly need to see your day and how long things take.
You want a free app that's useful without paying.
You prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription.
You already use a separate to-do app and just want a timeline. If you're still choosing one, our Notion vs Todoist vs Obsidian comparison may help.

Can't decide? Try Structured's free version first. If you find yourself wishing for more hand-holding, that's useful information before you start Tiimo's trial.

How to set up either app in 15 minutes

The aim is not a perfect system. It's one usable day. Set a timer and stop when it goes off.

Minutes 0-2: Install and skip the extras. Download the app, create an account and skip optional tours and themes.
Minutes 2-5: Brain dump into the inbox or to-do list. In Structured, use the Inbox; in Tiimo, use the to-do list. Type everything on your mind for today and tomorrow without sorting it. Stuck? Try our 5-minute brain dump.
Minutes 5-7: Add your fixed anchors. Put in the things that happen at a set time: work, school run, appointments, meals. If you have Pro or a trial, import your calendar instead of typing them.
Minutes 7-10: Place three tasks, not twelve. Drag just three tasks from your list onto today's timeline. Give each a realistic length, then add 50% for transitions and the unexpected.
Minutes 10-12: Pick one colour system. One colour for work, one for home, one for rest. Resist designing a 12-colour scheme.
Minutes 12-14: Set two notifications. One at the start of your first task, one before your most important appointment. More than that and you'll start swiping them away.
Minutes 14-15: Add the widget. Put the app's widget on your home screen. If you can't see it, you'll forget it exists.

Tomorrow, open the app once in the morning and once at lunch. If you want a gentler way to think about blocks of time, read our guide to time blocking for people who hate schedules.

A worked example: one Tuesday

Here's what a first day might look like in either app, written as a simple template you can copy:

08:00-08:30 Morning routine (icon: sun). Steps: shower, dress, breakfast, meds.
09:00-12:00 Work block (anchor from calendar).
12:00-12:45 Lunch and a short walk (colour: rest).
13:00-13:45 Reply to the three emails flagged yesterday (task 1).
15:00-15:30 Book dentist appointment (task 2). Step 1: find the number.
18:00-18:30 Dinner prep (anchor).
19:30-19:50 Tidy kitchen surfaces only (task 3).
Inbox / to-do: everything else, waiting without guilt.

Notice the empty spaces. They're where the day absorbs the things you didn't plan for. This is the heart of the no-guilt planning system in Book 1 of The ADHD Workshop Series, Your Brain Is a Workshop, Not a Warehouse: a plan is a tool to help you, not a test you can fail.

Or use paper or Google Calendar instead

You don't need a specialist app to plan visually. Two free options work well for many people:

Paper timeline. Draw a vertical line down a page, mark the hours, and shade blocks for each task with highlighters. Seeing it on your desk can work better than an app you have to open. Our guide to planner layouts for overwhelmed people has simple layouts, and there are free printables on our tools page.

Google Calendar. Create an extra calendar called "Plan" in a bright colour and add tasks as timed events beside your appointments. Use the day view on your phone with a notification at the start of each block. It's less pretty, but it's free and you may already use it.

The best planner is the one you'll actually look at on a bad day.

Common mistakes

Spending the evening customising instead of planning. Themes and icons are fun, which is why they eat your time.
Filling every minute. A packed timeline looks productive and falls apart by 10am. Leave gaps.
Paying for a year before trying the free version. Start free, then trial.
Treating a missed block as failure. Drag it to later or tomorrow. Moving things is the whole point of a flexible timeline.
Running two planners at once. Pick one place for your day.
Switching apps every fortnight. Give one app two weeks before deciding it doesn't work.

If this doesn't work

If neither app sticks after a fair try, that isn't a character flaw. Some people find screens too distracting and do better with paper. Others need a person, not an app, and do better with a regular check-in with a friend.

Try shrinking the system to three tasks and one notification. If even that feels impossible most days, it's worth talking to someone. This article is not medical advice. If planning difficulties are affecting your work, health or relationships, please talk to your doctor or a qualified health professional about assessment and support.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is Tiimo or Structured better for ADHD?

Neither is better for everyone. Tiimo has more built-in support for starting tasks, like step checklists and visual timers. Structured is simpler and cheaper, with a more generous free tier, so it suits people who mainly need to see their day.

Is Tiimo free?

Tiimo has a limited free version on iOS and Android: a basic planner, limited AI chats and one profile, per its App Store listing. The web planner and most features need Pro, and the 7-day trial comes only with the yearly plan.

Is Structured free?

Yes. The free version includes the timeline, Inbox, subtasks, notifications, widgets and sync. Recurring tasks, calendar import and Structured AI require Structured Pro.

How much does Tiimo cost?

When we checked the App Store listing in late October 2026, Tiimo Pro was listed at $12.00 monthly and $54.00 yearly, among other price points. Tiimo says local prices are shown at checkout and may vary by location, so check your own app store before you buy.

Does Structured have a lifetime option?

Yes. Structured Pro comes as a monthly or yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. The App Store listing showed Lifetime at $99.99 when we checked, but prices are set by region, so yours may differ.

Do Tiimo and Structured work on Android and computers?

Both have Android apps and work on Mac and the web. Tiimo's web planner is a Pro feature. Structured's help pages say some features available on iOS aren't yet on Android or the web.