Discover the 12 best editorial calendar template options for 2025. Compare free and premium tools from HubSpot, Asana, and Notion to streamline your content.
Managing content creation across multiple channels often feels like controlled chaos. Deadlines clash, assets get lost in email threads, and the overall strategy can become a disconnected series of last-minute decisions. An effective editorial calendar template is the strategic solution, transforming this reactive scramble into a proactive, streamlined workflow. It's the central nervous system for your content operations, providing alignment, visibility, and the foresight needed to publish consistently and effectively.
This guide moves beyond basic spreadsheets to explore a curated list of powerful, customizable templates from platforms like Asana, Notion, and CoSchedule. Whether you're a solo creator, a startup's marketing lead, or part of a large media publishing team, the right tool is here. We'll break down the best options for different use cases, from simple content planning to complex, multi-team production schedules. To gain a deeper understanding of practical implementation, read our guide on how to create a social media content calendar that actually works.
Our goal is simple: to help you find the perfect editorial calendar template to fit your specific needs and budget. Each entry includes screenshots, direct links, and a practical analysis of its key features, ideal use cases, and potential limitations, so you can make an informed choice and reclaim control over your publishing schedule.
For teams looking for a robust, no-cost entry point into structured content planning, HubSpot offers a comprehensive editorial calendar template package available for both Google Sheets and Excel. It stands out by providing more than just a spreadsheet; it includes a detailed, step-by-step guide that walks users through setup, customization, and even integration with Google Calendar for better visibility. This makes it an ideal choice for marketers who want the control of a spreadsheet without the steep learning curve of building one from scratch.
The downloadable bundle features a monthly calendar view, a content repository for brainstorming, and specific columns for tracking key information like author, deadline, and promotional channels. While it is a powerful manual tool, its spreadsheet nature means it lacks the native automation found in dedicated content planning tools. To access the files, users must submit a lead form with their contact information.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free (Requires lead form submission) |
| Format | Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel |
| Key Components | Monthly calendar, content repository, publishing workflow tracker |
| Unique Selling Point | Includes an extensive guide for setup and Google Calendar integration |
You can learn more about how HubSpot compares to other content planning tools to see if it fits your team's needs.
Access the template: HubSpot Editorial Calendar Templates
For teams ready to graduate from spreadsheets to a dedicated marketing suite, CoSchedule offers a powerful, all-in-one editorial calendar template within its platform. It’s more than a template; it's a dynamic workspace designed for marketing teams that need to visualize entire campaigns, from blog posts to social media promotions, in a single, unified view. The platform’s drag-and-drop functionality and color-coded projects simplify rescheduling and provide at-a-glance clarity on campaign progress.
CoSchedule centralizes content and social media scheduling, offering integrations and automation features like its "ReQueue" function to evergreen social content. While a free version exists, the more robust Content Calendar is part of its paid tiers, which require contacting sales for a custom quote. This positions it as a premium solution for teams seeking efficiency gains and advanced analytics that spreadsheets cannot provide.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free plan available; Paid Content Calendar requires contacting Sales |
| Format | Web-based platform (SaaS) |
| Key Components | Drag-and-drop calendar, social media scheduler, task management, analytics |
| Unique Selling Point | A unified marketing calendar that combines content planning with social media automation |
You can explore how CoSchedule compares to other editorial workflow software solutions to determine if its features align with your team’s scale and budget.
Access the platform: CoSchedule Pricing
For teams seeking a more dynamic and collaborative approach, Asana provides a powerful editorial calendar template that transforms content planning from a static document into an interactive project hub. It’s ideal for organizations already embedded in the Asana ecosystem or those ready to adopt a project management tool for their content workflow. The template can be instantly duplicated, providing Kanban, list, and calendar views right out of the box, allowing teams to visualize deadlines and progress in a way that suits their style.
This template allows users to assign tasks, set deadlines, track approval stages with custom fields, and connect attachments from Google Workspace or Dropbox directly to content pieces. While the free version is robust, accessing advanced features like custom workflow automation requires upgrading to a paid plan. This makes Asana a scalable solution that grows with a content team’s complexity, moving beyond simple scheduling to full-fledged content operations management.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free (Basic template); Paid plans for advanced features |
| Format | Interactive Project (Kanban, List, Calendar views) |
| Key Components | Task assignments, custom fields, approval tracking, file integrations |
| Unique Selling Point | Integrates content planning directly into a collaborative project management workflow |
Access the template: Asana Editorial Calendar Template
For teams who thrive on visual workflows, Trello offers a highly flexible and intuitive editorial calendar template through its board system. Instead of a traditional spreadsheet, Trello uses a Kanban-style approach, allowing users to move content cards through different stages of a publishing pipeline, such as "Ideas," "In Progress," and "Published." This visual representation of progress makes it incredibly easy to see the status of every piece of content at a glance.
Trello's strength lies in its customizable cards, where you can add checklists, assign members, set due dates, and attach files. The free version is quite generous, but to unlock the full potential of its calendar view and other advanced features like Timeline and Table views, a subscription to a paid plan is necessary. Its extensive library of "Power-Ups" allows for powerful integrations with tools like Google Drive, Slack, and Evernote, transforming a simple board into a central content hub.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free plan available; Paid plans start at $5/user per month |
| Format | Kanban board, Calendar view (paid), Timeline view (paid) |
| Key Components | Customizable workflow stages, detailed content cards, due date tracking, integrations via Power-Ups |
| Unique Selling Point | Highly visual Kanban-style pipeline for tracking content from ideation to publication |
Access the template: Trello Editorial Calendar Template
For teams seeking an all-in-one workspace, the Notion Template Gallery provides an extensive collection of editorial calendar template options that are both highly flexible and powerful. Unlike static spreadsheets, Notion templates are built on a database system, allowing users to switch between calendar, timeline, and Kanban board views effortlessly. This structure is perfect for centralizing the entire content lifecycle, from initial brainstorming and drafting within the platform to scheduling and tracking publication status.
The gallery features a wide variety of templates from both Notion and its community of creators, ranging from simple calendars to complex multi-channel publishing dashboards. Users can duplicate any template into their workspace with a single click and begin customizing it immediately. While many high-quality templates are free, the quality and complexity of third-party options can vary, so it's wise to review them before committing.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free (with paid third-party options available) |
| Format | Notion Database (Web & App) |
| Key Components | Customizable database views (Calendar, Kanban, Timeline), integrated writing space, relational databases |
| Unique Selling Point | A centralized, all-in-one workspace where content can be planned, written, and managed in the same place |
You can explore how Notion stacks up against other top content creation tools to see if its integrated approach is right for you.
Access the template: Notion Template Gallery for Content Calendars
For teams needing a powerful, database-driven approach to content management, Airtable provides a highly flexible editorial calendar template that functions more like a lightweight app than a simple spreadsheet. It excels at handling complex workflows where multiple assets, channels, and stakeholders are involved. Airtable’s strength lies in its ability to link different data sets, such as connecting authors to articles, campaigns to social posts, and content pieces to strategic goals, all within a single, collaborative space.
The platform offers multiple dynamic views, including traditional calendars, Kanban boards for tracking progress, and gallery views for visual assets. Its built-in automation can handle repetitive tasks like notifying team members of status changes or creating project briefs. While there is a free plan, larger teams needing advanced features and more collaborators will find the pricing scales with usage, making it a more significant investment than static templates.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free plan available; Paid plans for more records, storage, and features |
| Format | Cloud-based relational database platform |
| Key Components | Multiple views (Grid, Calendar, Kanban), automations, custom fields, commenting |
| Unique Selling Point | Functions as a customizable database, allowing for complex, relational content pipelines |
Access the template: Airtable Editorial Calendar Templates
For teams that want a free entry point with a clear upgrade path, Smartsheet provides a free, downloadable editorial calendar template that can be used independently or within its powerful project management platform. This hybrid approach makes it unique, allowing organizations to start with a familiar spreadsheet-like interface and later transition to a more dynamic system with automation, real-time collaboration, and multiple project views without losing their existing data. It bridges the gap between simple spreadsheets and complex, dedicated software.
The free templates cover editorial, blogging, and social media needs, offering a solid foundation for content planning. However, the real value emerges when used within the Smartsheet platform, where you can switch between Calendar, Gantt, and Board views to visualize workflows. While the templates are free, unlocking the platform’s full potential, including automation and advanced reporting, requires a paid subscription.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free (for basic spreadsheet templates); Paid plans for platform access |
| Format | Microsoft Excel, Smartsheet Platform |
| Key Components | Editorial, blogging, and social media calendar templates |
| Unique Selling Point | Provides a clear upgrade path from a static template to a dynamic, enterprise-grade project management platform |
Access the template: Smartsheet Content Calendar Templates
For teams that need more than a spreadsheet, ClickUp provides a powerful, all-in-one work management platform with a free editorial calendar template at its core. It goes beyond simple scheduling by integrating task management, document creation, and goal tracking into a single workspace. This makes it an excellent choice for content teams who want to connect their editorial calendar directly to the entire content creation lifecycle, from initial idea to final publication and analysis. The platform’s versatility allows users to switch between different views like List, Board, and Calendar to manage workflows in the way that suits them best.
ClickUp’s templates come pre-configured with custom fields, statuses, and automations tailored for content production. Users can assign tasks, set deadlines, attach files, and communicate within each content piece. While the free tier is incredibly generous, the platform's extensive feature set can present a steep learning curve for new users. Its true power is unlocked when a team fully commits to using it as their central hub for all work, not just content planning.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free Forever plan available; Paid plans start at $7/user per month |
| Format | All-in-one project management software |
| Key Components | Customizable views (Board, Calendar, List), integrated task management, Docs, and custom fields |
| Unique Selling Point | Unifies content planning with overall project and task management in a single platform |
Access the template: ClickUp Editorial Calendar Template
For teams where visual content is king, Canva's Content Planner merges design and scheduling into a single, intuitive workflow. This tool is less a traditional spreadsheet template and more an integrated feature within a powerful design platform. It allows users to design social media posts, presentations, and other visuals using Canva’s extensive template library and then schedule them directly to various social platforms from a single calendar view. This makes it a perfect solution for social media managers and content creators who need to streamline their design-to-publish process.
The platform’s strength lies in its seamless integration. You can create a graphic and immediately add it to your content calendar, complete with captions and a scheduled time. The planner also offers post-performance analytics, providing insights on impressions, clicks, and engagement. While the basic calendar is available on the free plan, advanced features like unlimited scheduling and analytics are reserved for paid subscribers. It's an excellent choice for a visually-driven editorial calendar template.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free plan with limited features; full access with Canva Pro or Teams subscriptions (starting at $14.99/month) |
| Format | Integrated web-based application |
| Key Components | Drag-and-drop calendar, design tool integration, social media scheduling, post analytics |
| Unique Selling Point | Unifies the content design and scheduling process into one platform |
Access the tool: Canva Content Planner
For teams whose content strategy is heavily centered on social media, Hootsuite provides a valuable free editorial calendar template in Google Sheets and Excel formats. This resource is designed specifically for social-first planning, helping users map out posts across various networks, track campaign performance, and maintain a consistent brand voice. It serves as a practical entry point for those who want to organize their social publishing before committing to a paid software solution.
Beyond the free downloadable file, Hootsuite’s core offering is its integrated platform, which includes a sophisticated digital content calendar. This in-app calendar allows for direct scheduling, team collaboration, and performance analytics. Users on paid plans can even export calendar views as CSV or PDF files, which is excellent for creating reports and sharing plans with stakeholders who don't have platform access. This dual offering of a free template and a powerful in-platform tool makes it a scalable solution.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free template download; Paid plans for platform access |
| Format | Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, In-platform digital calendar |
| Key Components | Social media post scheduler, campaign tracker, platform-specific columns |
| Unique Selling Point | Provides both a free standalone template and an advanced, integrated calendar within a leading social media management tool |
Access the template: Hootsuite Social Media Calendar Template
For teams deeply integrated into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Microsoft Create offers a range of free and highly functional editorial calendar template options for Excel. This resource is perfect for users who prefer the familiarity and robust data-handling capabilities of Excel for content planning. The templates serve as a solid foundation, supported by detailed how-to guides that explain customization for social media and other content workflows, making it a practical choice for those committed to manual, spreadsheet-based organization.
These downloadable Excel files are designed for easy editing and sharing via OneDrive or Microsoft Teams, facilitating collaboration within the M365 environment. While they offer immense flexibility, the templates are inherently manual and lack the specialized automation found in dedicated project management software. Their effectiveness for team collaboration hinges on a well-configured M365 setup, but for a no-cost, familiar solution, they are an excellent starting point.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Format | Microsoft Excel |
| Key Components | Customizable calendars, various planner layouts, content organizers |
| Unique Selling Point | Native integration with Microsoft 365 tools like OneDrive and Teams for seamless sharing |
Access the template: Microsoft Create Excel Templates
For teams needing a powerful, scalable platform that goes far beyond a simple spreadsheet, monday.com offers a highly visual and automated editorial calendar template within its Work OS. It excels at managing complex, multi-team content operations by providing customizable workflows and multiple data visualizations. Users can seamlessly switch between Calendar, Timeline, Gantt, and Kanban views to track progress from different perspectives, making it ideal for teams that manage multiple content streams concurrently.
The platform’s strength lies in its automation and integration capabilities, which connect the editorial calendar to other marketing and project management tools, streamlining the entire content lifecycle. While a free plan exists, the most impactful features for content management, such as advanced automations and integrations, are reserved for paid tiers. This makes it a more significant investment than a standalone template but provides a fully integrated operational hub in return.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free plan available; advanced features require paid plans |
| Format | Cloud-based Work OS Platform |
| Key Components | Multiple views (Calendar, Gantt, Board), automations, dashboards, forms |
| Unique Selling Point | Highly scalable and customizable with robust automation for multi-team workflows |
Access the template: monday.com Content Calendar Template
| Platform | Core Features/Characteristics | User Experience / Quality ★ | Value Proposition 💰 | Target Audience 👥 | Unique Selling Points ✨ | Price Points 💰 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | Spreadsheet templates, step-by-step guides | ★★★☆☆ Clear tutorials | 💰 Free, easy start | 👥 Beginners, solo users | ✨ Ready-to-use, no software learning | Free |
| CoSchedule | Drag-drop calendar, social scheduling, analytics | ★★★★☆ Marketing team focus | 💰 Paid, with automation | 👥 Marketing teams | ✨ ReQueue automation, campaign grouping | Paid, contact sales |
| Asana | Calendar views, task assignments, approvals | ★★★★☆ Strong collaboration | 💰 Free tier, paid advanced | 👥 Teams using Asana | ✨ Workflow management, integrations | Free + Paid tiers |
| Trello (Atlassian) | Visual boards, calendar & timeline views | ★★★☆☆ Intuitive Kanban | 💰 Free + Premium for advanced | 👥 Visual workflow fans | ✨ 200+ integrations via Power-Ups | Free + Premium |
| Notion Template Gallery | Flexible databases, calendar/timeline views | ★★★★☆ Highly customizable | 💰 Mostly free, some paid templates | 👥 Customizers, scalable workflows | ✨ Centralized workspace, multi-channel dashboards | Free + Paid templates |
| Airtable | Multiple views, attachments, automation | ★★★★☆ Powerful database | 💰 Paid plans for scale | 👥 Multi-asset content teams | ✨ Automation, permissions, rich collaboration | Paid, scalable |
| Smartsheet | Spreadsheet templates + enterprise automation | ★★★☆☆ Enterprise ready | 💰 Free templates + paid platform | 👥 Enterprise, project managers | ✨ Workload views, automation options | Free + Paid plans |
| ClickUp | Multiple views, integrated docs & tasks | ★★★★☆ Feature-rich | 💰 Robust free tier + paid | 👥 Teams seeking all-in-one solution | ✨ Goals, docs, tasks unified | Free + Paid plans |
| Canva (Content Planner) | Social scheduling + design templates | ★★★☆☆ Visual-first focus | 💰 Pro/Teams subscription | 👥 Design-focused teams | ✨ 600K+ design templates + analytics | Paid (Pro/Teams) |
| Hootsuite | Editable templates, content calendar, bulk scheduling | ★★★☆☆ Established platform | 💰 Paid plans for full features | 👥 Social media & content publishers | ✨ Export reports, bulk scheduling | Free + Paid plans |
| Microsoft Create | Excel templates, M365 integration | ★★★☆☆ Familiar, manual workflows | 💰 Free | 👥 Microsoft Office users | ✨ Integration with OneDrive & Teams | Free |
| monday.com | Multiple views, automations, integrations | ★★★★☆ Scalable enterprise use | 💰 Paid plans only | 👥 Multi-team content operations | ✨ Strong automation, customizable statuses | Paid plans only |
We've explored a comprehensive landscape of editorial calendar template options, from the robust project management power of Asana and monday.com to the visual simplicity of Trello and the data-driven flexibility of Airtable. Each tool offers a unique approach to conquering content chaos, proving that you don't need a massive budget to establish a streamlined, professional workflow. The right solution is out there, whether you're a solo creator leveraging a free Notion template or a large media company deploying an enterprise-level platform like CoSchedule.
The central takeaway is simple yet powerful: the best editorial calendar template is the one your team will consistently use. A perfectly designed, feature-rich system is useless if it gathers digital dust. The goal is not perfection on day one, but progress. Moving from a scattered, reactive content process to a structured, strategic one is a significant competitive advantage. It fosters collaboration, ensures consistency, and ultimately empowers you to create higher-quality content that resonates with your audience.
Making the right choice can feel overwhelming. To cut through the noise, focus on your team's specific pain points and operational style.
Once you’ve selected a tool, implementation is key. Start small. Don't try to migrate your entire archive or build a year's worth of content at once. Begin by planning the next month, involving your team in the setup process to ensure buy-in. Define your content stages (e.g., Ideation, Drafting, Editing, Published) and establish clear ownership for each step.
Remember that your content calendar is also the perfect place to integrate strategic goals. As you plan your topics and publication dates, ensure you are also building in time for keyword research and on-page optimization. For your content to truly perform, it's crucial to align your planning with fundamental Search Engine Optimization best practices. This ensures every piece of content you meticulously plan has the best possible chance to be discovered.
Ultimately, adopting an editorial calendar template is about more than just organization; it’s about creating a single source of truth that transforms your content strategy from an abstract idea into an actionable, measurable plan. Don't wait for the "perfect" moment. Pick a template from this list that feels like the best fit, and start building your content engine today.
Once your editorial calendar is in place and your strategy is set, the next challenge is executing it efficiently. Aeon bridges the gap between planning and creation, empowering your team to generate high-quality, on-brand content at scale. Turn your well-organized plan into published reality by visiting Aeon to see how.
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