In today’s fast-paced world, managing your day effectively is key to staying productive. As someone who juggles work, personal projects, and downtime, I needed a planner app for Mac that didn’t require constant manual input. That’s when I discovered Dayflow – a productivity app that turns your screen activity into an automatic daily planner app for Mac.
Unlike traditional day planner apps or agenda planner apps where you have to log every task, Dayflow records your screen at 1 FPS, analyzes it with AI every 15 minutes, and builds a clean timeline of your actual day. No more guessing how time slipped away – it shows exactly what you did, with summaries and distraction highlights.
I’ve been using Dayflow for two weeks on my MacBook Pro (macOS Ventura), and it’s transformed how I review my daily schedule. Here’s my honest, real-life experience with this best planner app for Mac, including setup, features, and why it’s my go-to AI planner app.
Download Dayflow from GitHub (MIT Licensed, Free, 25MB App Size)
Why I Switched to Dayflow: A Real User’s Story
My old routine involved a mix of Apple apps like Calendar and Notes, plus a weekly planner app for Mac from the App Store. But calendars lie – they show planned time, not actual time. I’d schedule 8 hours of focused work, only to realize 3 hours went to Slack pings and YouTube tabs.
Dayflow fixed this. On my first day:
- Installed via Homebrew:
brew install --cask dayflow(2 minutes total). - Granted screen recording permission in System Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Started capturing – used just 0.8% CPU and 95MB RAM while I coded a React app.
By evening, I had a timeline: “9-10 AM: Coding in VS Code (focused)”, “10:15 AM: 12-min distraction on Twitter”, “2-3 PM: Email batching in Gmail”. It was eye-opening. Now, I use it daily to spot patterns, like how afternoons derail after lunch.
If you’re looking for the best day planner app that works passively, Dayflow is it. It’s not hype – it’s a productivity daily planner app built for real Mac users.
Key Features: How Dayflow Builds Your Day Flow
Dayflow is a Mac app (SwiftUI, macOS 13+) designed for minimal intrusion. Here’s what it does in practice:
1. Automatic Timeline Generation
- How it works: Captures screen every second (1 FPS), processes 15-min chunks with AI.
- Real-life win: See your day to day planner app view without typing. My timeline showed “Client call via Zoom (45 mins)” – no manual entry needed.
- Storage: Auto-cleans recordings after 3 days. Files in
~/Library/Application Support/Dayflow/.
2. AI-Powered Summaries
- Choose Gemini (free API key) or local models (Ollama/LM Studio).
- My setup: Used Gemini – 2 quick API calls per batch. Timeline cards like: “Focused writing in Bear app”.
- Privacy tip: Enable billing on one Google project for “Paid Services” – Google won’t train on your data.
3. Distraction Highlights
- Flags off-task moments, e.g., “15-min Reddit scroll during deep work”.
- Impact: Cut my distractions by 25% in week 1 by reviewing these.
4. Timelapse Playback
- Watch your day sped up. Great for daily agenda app reflection.
5. Automation & Shortcuts
- URL scheme:
dayflow://start-recordingvia Shortcuts app. - My hack: Hotkey to start/stop from Raycast – seamless flow app integration.
Coming Soon (From Roadmap)
- Customizable dashboard for best weekly planner app trends.
- Journal with prompts – like a diary planner app.
| Feature | Dayflow | Typical Planner App | Why Dayflow Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Tracking | Screen AI analysis | Manual input | Saves 30+ mins/day |
| Privacy | Local or BYO key | Cloud-only | Your data stays yours |
| Resource Use | <1% CPU, 100MB RAM | 5-10% CPU | Runs in background |
| Cost | Free (MIT) | $5-10/month | Best free day planner app |
| Mac Native | SwiftUI | Web/Electron | Feels like Apple apps |
Step-by-Step Setup: Get Your Daily Planner App Mac Running in 5 Minutes
- Install:
brew install --cask dayflow- Permissions:
- System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording > Enable Dayflow.
- AI Setup (Optional for Gemini):
- Get free key from Google AI Studio.
- Add
GEMINI_API_KEYin app settings.
- Start Capturing:
- Click menu bar icon > Start Recording.
- View timeline in app window.
- Purge Data (If Needed):
- Quit app, delete
~/Library/Application Support/Dayflow/.
Pro Tip: For local AI for Mac, install Ollama: brew install ollama, run ollama serve, download llama3.2.
Real-Life Use Cases: Dayflow in Action
Case 1: Freelance Developer (Me)
- Before: Guessed billable hours.
- After: Timeline proves 6.2 focused hours/day – accurate invoicing.
Case 2: Remote Worker
- Use itinerary builder app style: See meeting blocks + distractions.
- Integrate with clock app for time-blocking.
Case 3: Student
- Daily planner application for classes/study. Highlights “2-hour Netflix break”.
Case 4: Parent/Entrepreneur
- Organizer planner app for family + business. Auto-stops for kid interruptions.
Dayflow shines as a personal planner app because it’s passive – like having an AI app that watches your day.
Privacy & Data: Why Dayflow is Trustworthy
- Everything Local: Recordings never leave unless you choose Gemini.
- No Tracking: Open-source, MIT license – audit the code.
- Easy Reset: Delete one folder to wipe everything.
- Compared to Others: No ads, no subscriptions – unlike many paying app planners.
For EEA users: Paid billing auto-applies privacy protections.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Blank Capture: Re-grant permissions.
- API Errors: Check key/network.
- High Battery: Switch to local mode when unplugged.
Full debug tools in menu bar.
Why Dayflow is the Best Mac App for Productivity
After testing 10+ best Mac apps (Notion, Todoist, RescueTime), Dayflow stands out:
- Best routine planner app: Automatic, not nagging.
- Best life planner app: Reflects real life.
- Flow productivity app: Keeps you in day flow.
It’s the best app for AI integration on Mac – lightweight, private, powerful.
Final Thoughts: Try This Planner App for Mac Today
Dayflow isn’t just an app planner – it’s my my day planner that runs silently and delivers insights at day’s end. In two weeks, I reclaimed 2 hours/day by fixing distractions. If you want the best daily planner app without the hassle, this is it.
Ready to try? Download Dayflow Now
- GitHub Repo: JerryZLiu/Dayflow
- Latest Release: Dayflow.dmg
- Install via Homebrew:
brew install --cask dayflow
