Laurel Denise Scout vs Anne: Which Layout Is Right for You?
If you've been going back and forth on the Laurel Denise Scout vs Anne, I get it. They're both vertical layouts, they both show your month and week at the same time, and it can be difficult to spot the differences. Once you actually start planning in them, though, they feel really different.
The Anne has been my main planner since July 2025, and I've also spent real time in the Scout, mostly for work planning plus a month of budgeting. Here's how they compared for me in everyday use.
The Scout and Anne at a Glance
| Anne | Scout | |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | Landscape | Portrait |
| Weekly pages | Middle of the spread | Bottom of the spread |
| Daily columns | Taller and narrower | Wider and shorter |
| Best for | Time blocking, compact weekly view | Lists, monthly budgeting, bigger handwriting |
Scout vs Anne: Orientation
This is the biggest difference. The Anne is landscape and the Scout is portrait. In practice, the Anne fits in front of my keyboard much better, which matters when my planner lives on my desk all workday. The Scout doesn't sit there as easily, but it does feel more spacious overall when it's open.
Scout vs Anne: Where the Weekly Pages Sit
Both are vertical layouts, but the Anne has its short weekly pages in the middle and the Scout has them along the bottom. Writing at the very bottom of the planner most of the time felt a bit awkward for me. The upside of the Scout's setup is that the days of the month line up with the weekday columns below them, which a lot of people love.
Time Blocking vs. Tracking
Both planners are great for lists. For time blocking, the Anne wins. The Scout's shorter columns didn't give me enough room to block out a full day.
Where the Scout surprised me was budgeting. It was much easier to budget plan in the Scout than the Anne. The monthly view worked really well for adding in bill due dates or upcoming charges and the weekly pages are perfect for adding in daily expenses.
Who Should Choose the Scout?
You have larger handwriting
You don't need to time block
You love lists
You like the idea of the month's days lining up with your weekly columns
You want a planner for budgeting or daily expense tracking
Who Should Choose the Anne?
You have smaller handwriting
You're a list maker who also time blocks
You want a more compact weekly view
You want extra notes space, thanks to the dashboard
My Verdict
The Anne stays my primary planner. Time blocking matters to me at work, and I'd miss having everything visible in one view more than I'd gain from the Scout's wider weeks. The Scout is still one I'd happily recommend, especially if budgeting or list-heavy planning is your main use.
Laurel Denise Scout vs Anne FAQ
Is the Laurel Denise Scout good for time blocking?
It can work for light time blocking, but the daily columns are shorter than the Anne's. When I tried to block out a full workday, I ran out of room. You can always do condensed time blocking or split it into two columns, but that reduces the amount of space you have for general tasks and reminders. If detailed time blocking is your priority, the Anne is the better fit.
Which Laurel Denise planner is best for budgeting?
Of these two, the Scout. Budgeting was much easier in the Scout than the Anne, especially at the monthly level. If you want to track daily expenses, the Scout's weekly pages give you great room for that too.
Is the Scout or Anne better for small handwriting?
The Anne. Its narrower columns suit smaller handwriting, while the Scout's wider, shorter columns are more comfortable if you write bigger.
Keep Reading
If you want the full story on either one, read my Laurel Denise Anne review and my Laurel Denise Scout review. Thinking about the Luna too? Here's why I switched my work planner to the Luna.
Ready to pick yours? Shop Laurel Denise and use code IMPERFECT10 for 10% off.
And whichever layout you choose, grab my free planning printables at imperfectplans.com/shop/freebies to help you set it up.
