Whether you’re building an app or website from the ground up or adding to existing content, the organization of planned information should forever be on the top of your shortlist of note-worthy tasks. Choosing the best content planning tools comes down to deciding what’s in line with your needs, abilities and goals.
Putting all your faith into a solution that worked great for some other company’s success is meaningless if you don’t have similar skills and needs. Pick a tool that compliments your talents and get the most out of it, or know when to hire someone.
Content organization tools comparison chart (top 10 highest rated)
| Product | Best for | Our rating | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slickplan | Overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $34.99-$114.99/mo |
| GatherContent | Enterprise | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $99-$799/mo+ |
| EasyContent | Automation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $79-$499/mo |
| Content Snare | Customer input | ⭐⭐⭐ | $29-$179/mo+ |
| DYNO Mapper | Accessibility | ⭐⭐⭐ | $49-$360/mo |
| Narrato | Artificial intelligence | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $0-$18/mo+ |
| Contentful | Marketing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | $489/mo+ |
| Qurate | Integrations | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Custom only |
| Apple/Freeform | iOS compatibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Free |
| Google Docs | Budgets | ⭐⭐⭐ | Free |
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What are the best content planning tools? Here’s our top 10 list:
While it’s great to have options when hunting for the best content planning tools, it can feel overwhelming sifting through them all. Comparing this and that software, if they have a plan that fits your needs and budget, etc. It’s a lot.
So we put all the best in one list.
Some of these are designed for smaller companies and don’t need a big song and dance since they’re fairly straightforward while others are made for people who have seriously mastered these skills and then some.
1. Slickplan (best content planning tool overall)
Slickplan’s dedicated website planning suite with built-in collaboration tools provides an easy handoff experience between users. Our industry-leading tools keep customers coming back for every project time and time again. Tools include a visual sitemapper and site crawler, diagramming maker for mapping user flow, and of course, our online content planner.
Pros:
Superb functionality and easy-to-use tools with transparent and affordable pricing. Content creators can draw up new content with simple drag-and-drop content blocks and easily keep track of progress. That’s only the beginning though. Slickplan is built for teams to create collaboratively; you can manage your entire content workflow, have multiple editors and then export/integrate your newly created content directly into the CMS of your choice.
Cons:
With an impressive feature set for content planning and a suite of tools for all parts of the website planning process, including an ability to present UI/UX mockups, Slickplan truly helps you get things done. There is a drawback though, there isn’t a way to make wireframes but integrations with apps like Figma and XD as well as interactive commenting easily make up for that.
Slickplan’s Content Planner provides an easy workflow for content teams across the board. In terms of value for the money and the number of tools available, we’ve got the goods and are constantly working on adding more!
2. GatherContent (Great for large teams)
GatherContent, as the name suggests, allows large teams to work collaboratively on multiple projects with massive amounts of content. Content planning made simple through collaboration and easy project management.
Pros:
With room for unlimited users, Gather Content takes content marketing and content creation to a whole new level. Their content strategy tools are aimed toward non-profits, agencies, higher education, government and healthcare industry needs.
Cons:
Sticker price may be a turn-off for some. While each level of service includes unlimited users, the prices might be too much to handle even with an annual discount. There is a free trial but no free version, so to use the service long term you have to pay.
GatherContent has lots of great project management tools and is designed especially to handle lots of users working together. Task management and project management help optimize loads of great content in a collaborative effort, no matter the type of content.
3. EasyContent (intuitive content automation tool)
EasyContent is designed with content teams in mind and collaboration at the heart of its functions. As a result, content ideas have the chance to flow freely with this intuitive product.
Pros:
With everything from content calendars to templates to a content editor and asset library, brainstorming sessions and content creation are simplified from start to finish. Easy approvals for entire pieces of content or just sections. Unlimited users on all service tiers allow expanded teams to work collaboratively to get any job done.
Cons:
This may not be a suitable option for smaller teams or individuals with smaller sites or businesses. While the entry-level pricing offers three projects and unlimited users at a great price for a larger team but probably not appealing to those who don’t need more than one project and an army of content creators.
EasyContent is an excellent option for big teams and those with specific needs. Their integrations and API are easily accessible and they’ll even work with Standard and Premium tier customers to create custom integrations if needed.
4. Content Snare (content request and collection tool)
An app from our friends in the land Down Under, Content Snare offers content collection and organization all in one place. A simple and clean design makes it easy for clients to add content without a lot of confusion.
Pros:
A clever, customer request-based content collection system. What exactly does that mean? Users can create completely custom requests that then get sent to their clients. From there, clients add content without having to be taught an entirely new system.
Cons:
KanBan-based arrangement (think Trello) and content management may be too simplified for some users with large sites or advanced technical needs. They do offer a list and grid view but that may be even less of an option for sites with greater needs.
Content Snare is a good option for clients who aren’t interested in learning new software or getting their hands too messy trying to help put a site together but still want to be part of the process. The request system simplifies that and avoids having to use Dropbox and a hundred other apps to get a simple site published.
5. DYNO Mapper (a focus on web accessibility)
DYNO Mapper includes a very basic content planning module among their tools but maybe the most interesting feature they have is a website accessibility tool. They also know their way around search engines and have a few SEO tricks up their sleeves.
Pros:
To be honest, the feature set that DYNO Mapper provides with their content planner is pretty limited when compared with other options on our list. While they do offer the tool, it’s just not what they’re known for. That said, the ability to test the accessibility of a site or app against established guidelines is a cool one.
Cons:
They’re asking a lot for what you’re getting. They do have a crawler, but it maxes out at 5,000 pages which won’t be enough for power users.To get more, you’ll have to bump up to a significantly pricier plan. There’s also no clear indication that you can export the content as a whole website and the UX does have some kinks.
DYNO Mapper will get the job done but if you’re price-sensitive, there are other options that will do virtually the same for less.
6. Narrato (Content planning in a pinch)
Narrato is a pretty cool app all around, but a few things set this option apart from the others. A few things you don’t see every day in the industry.
Pros:
Two items that stick out immediately are content writing aided by artificial intelligence and their content marketplace. Their AI can write the content itself, or, if you prefer to pass that task along to a human, it can also draw up outlines to get you started. As for the content marketplace, it’s real people doing real work and you only pay for what you like. Small honorable mention — there’s a plagiarism checker baked into the app which is great for peace of mind.
Cons:
The gag is that it might get a bit inconvenient waiting around for AI bots to write you content and may lack a distinctly human touch. On the other hand, the tools are available at relatively inexpensive tiers of service. Something we didn’t expect. The content marketplace, however, is an a la carte thing and they don’t give a false impression that it would be free or included in current pricing. If you don’t need these tools, then the product may not be your go-to option.
Narrato could be an option for those who need the extra help writing content or maybe have a small team that would benefit from the added AI writer or the ability to hire someone to produce content in the marketplace.
7. Contentful (Agile twist on content planning)
For those who prefer an Agile-based ecosystem of tools to work from, Contentful has you covered. Their system is built with a collaboration between everyone in the process at the forefront of their thinking and has tools dedicated to making that happen. Specifically, "Compose" and "Launch." But it is an SDK/API-heavy solution. If you’re past the basics of how to become a content strategist, have a deep understanding of these workflow systems and how they operate and connect, this could be an option for you.
Pros:
Compose allows for building content spaces in a page-style layout familiar to anyone who’s ever visited any standard website in their life. In other words, you’re seeing what the live page will look like as you go. SEO project management tools built into the pages make adding information and passing it along to others in the process an effortless transaction.
Cons:
The obvious big drawback is that Contentful relies heavily on SDKs and APIs to get the job done. If you don’t know what those are or don’t know enough, you can 100% skip to the next option. This is not for you. Additionally, the pricing is very unclear. If you fall into the category of not being fluent In this type of thing, the pricing when clarified may be shocking.
Contentful overall does have a lot of great tools for building content out and including everyone in the process. The custom nature of this choice makes it appealing to those with more extensive needs, but smaller teams and sites may not find this helpful.
8. Qurate (Excellent choice for large teams)
Qurate takes some of the simple ideas in well known apps (Google Docs and others) and turns them into more powerful solutions, and it manages to keep everybody on the same theoretical page. As a result, your content doesn’t just get put into a system and sent down the line; it gets a chance to grow and utilize tools to improve it before moving forward.
Pros:
Content all in one place while allowing you to maintain access to apps you already love. People tend to branch out and use tools they’re comfortable with, Qurate lets your team continue to use what they want by centralizing everything through integrations. Systems and apps you’ve been using get upgraded to fresher and more powerful versions.
Cons:
No free demo which they explain by mentioning the customized nature of accounts with them. Their "Help Desk" is very minimal, but again, they note the highly customized nature of their service and intensive onboarding process. Offering a full-sized Help Desk would be unrealistic so they’ll teach you everything when they set you up.
Qurate does have a lot of great tools to offer, but it may be a bit scary to go into it without a free trial or up-front pricing. The demo uses the chance to take what customizations you need for your team to also teach you how to get the most out of it. Those companies with time and money to spare will love that; those with no time, little money or short attention spans may find this a horrible route. Both are understandable.
9. Apple/Freeform (For teams using Apple products)
Over the past few years, Apple has been leaning heavily into creator collaboration tools. Something that’s creating real buzz and garnering attention to a product beyond iPhone. Now available on devices that support iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2 or macOS Ventura 13.1, they’ve added tons of collaboration tools between Mac, iPad and iPhone for real-time action using a few simple clicks. They’ve also opened that toolkit up for developers to bake into other apps, which is big, especially for content planning.
Pros:
Freeform can be considered a whiteboard-style tool. We’ve included it because of the collaboration options and how easily it works between all Apple devices. As developers in the seed program begin using the toolkit in other apps, we’ll see options open up for existing apps as well as native ones.
Cons:
Because we have to be fair and say this, if someone isn’t using an Apple product and needs to be included in collaboration efforts, that’s clearly an issue. But for teams where equipment is provided, usually, it’s all Windows or all Mac — so it’s a perfect option for those who use Apple.
Apple’s collaboration tools and Freeform, although not available at this very moment, will come out later in the year, likely in September. From there, it may still take a bit of time for the collaboration tools to trickle into outside apps, but it definitely will be happening.
10. Google Docs (Best free content planning tools)
Google, the almighty. Known for all products internet-related, SEO game-changing, and for a while, even a little social media. Included in their genius, you’ll find collaboration tools that are very handy for content planning. It landed as number 10 on the list mainly to contrast the others in that this once was the premium choice, but as time passed, more options became available.
Pros:
The benefit here is that it remains free. This tool, in some way or another, has ties to every product we currently use for collaboration, and we can thank the fine folks at Google for this gift. If you’re on a budget or prefer these tools over newer ones, it’s still a valid and worthwhile set.
Cons:
Other apps just have more functionality as they’re built specifically for content planning. Despite the fact that Docs can still produce powerful results, we’ve come to expect more from our tools and other options now give you a laundry list of strong features to use for producing content.
Once again, Docs has made the list as it still produces great results, but as software gets more innovative, especially for things like content planning, Docs starts to take a backseat to tools with greater power and versatility.
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Which content planner app is best for me? Our conclusion
Deciding which content planner to use really should come after some trial and error. Looping in your team when making this decision will be helpful so you can determine what people’s needs are and how the options available can fulfill them.
As we mentioned, this isn’t a complete list of everything out there but it will point you in the direction of making a solid and educated decision. That choice should take into consideration multiple factors, everything from if you use Mac or PC to pricing. To that end, be open minded and flexible with your budget. Of course you don’t want to break the bank but something that may be a hair more than you want to spend could be the solution to many issues and alleviate the need for a giant list of other apps that also cost money.
The best content planner is going to be the one that fits your needs and helps you get your best content out there.
Ready to start planning? Try out Slickplan’s Content Planner now for free!
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