2025 Planner showdown: $38 Hobonichi Techo Weeks vs. $10 Kinbor Weekly

Looking for the perfect planner for 2025 without breaking the bank? 💥 In this video, I compare the popular Hobonichi Techo Weeks with the budget-friendly Kinbor Weekly planner, which costs less than $10! 😲
Discover the pros and cons of each, see side-by-side comparisons, and find out which planner is the best fit for your needs. Whether you’re a seasoned planner enthusiast or just starting out, this video will help you make an informed decision.
Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more planner reviews and tips.
Prices 2:25
Covers and sizing 4:50
Inside cover papers 8:19
Yearly pages 8:55
Monthly pages 12:20
Surprise page in Kinbor 18:00
Weeklies 19:57
Bookmarks 24:44
More weekly pages and pricing comments 25:18
Notes sections 27:15
Hobonichi back pages 29:38
Kinbor back pages 31:33
Second Kinbor! Bamboo pattern 36:53
Discovered the chronological day feature in Kinbor 38:25
Pen test and comparison 41:25
Conclusion 46:00
Kinbor Weekly planner:
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#2025planner #comparison #hobonichivskinbor #sidebyside #hobonichiweeks #plannercommunity #2025hobonichi

[@sherbidabbles]

Let me know what you think! Will you get a Kinbor? Would you give up your Hobonichi? I want to know! Also, I say "duck" a lot -- apparently they are geese. I didn't pay a lot of attention in duck school. Probably why I got hit in the face a lot when playing softball (haha).

[@NancysFanciesDesign]

The nookie tracker cracked me up! So funny! Gen X here too!

[@sherbidabbles]

@NancysFanciesDesign 😂🤣

[@MiteredCorners]

I got a kinbor just for the price savings.

[@sherbidabbles]

Good reason to get it!

[@mellodi]

Great video! I'm using Kinbor since 2023 as I couldn't afford Hobonichi. I got HON A6 last year to journal in and I can see the appeal of Hobonichi but I'm going back to Kinbor next year. It's just simpler and cleaner without the quotes and the paper is comparable. Hobonichi is a great quality but I don't destroy my books, use stickers very sporadically, don't stretch the spine so Kinbor is more than sufficient for me. I think it's a great alternative on the budget and definitely no one should feel less for getting Kinbor. BTW. I got the same bamboo one Weeks and Chinese zodiac A6. Super cute.

[@sherbidabbles]

I’m going to get the zodiac A6 for a friend and think I’ll get another for myself. I already got another weeks size with cats on the cover (I think it’s a plain notebook but honestly I can’t remember) and a plain weeks size notebook with a lovely lovely cover. I can’t wait to see what they’re like in person! For all the reasons you listed, Kinbor is a great alternative. The higher quality Hobonichi only matters if you use it in a way that takes advantage of those higher quality parts. Otherwise, it may not make sense for some people.

[@sherbidabbles]

And thank you!!

[@sleep_deprivedchicken]

35:37 Those are "uppercase" numbers in Chinese! We usually use simplified characters (lowercase) in everyday use, but when writing checks, we use these so it's harder to change the amounts.

[@sherbidabbles]

Thank you so much! I love learning tidbits like this. I really appreciate it.

[@anamoarry3750]

You surely went to every single detail… I’ve been debating which ones planner should I get and you def helped me. Thank you.

[@sherbidabbles]

I’m so glad! It turns out being persnickety or an over-explainer has its advantages 😂 I hope you love the planner you choose!

[@CJoyArt]

Thank you so much for your comparison. I love the back pages for the kinbor. I think I will be buying one for 2026!

[@sherbidabbles]

Nice! I want to know what covers they’ll have. Makes me already impatient and 2025 hasn’t even started yet. 🤭

[@laurasosweet]

i got a kinbor for 2025 and im so excited!!!!!!

[@sherbidabbles]

Yesssss!!!! I’m excited for you too! Come back and tell me how it’s going. ❤️❤️❤️

[@WillWorkForBooks]

I purchased Hobonichi Cousin, but did purchase 2 Kinbor Weeks; one as my daily carry and another as my embroidery projects tracker. They are wonderful choices for staying on a budget and still filling that "Planner Craving" 😁

[@sherbidabbles]

I agree! Just today, I got the A5 (8-grid) and A6 ones I ordered. I’ll do a flip through soon. The only problem with planning ahead to 2025 is I wish I had something to use now for all the things I intend for these other planners in 2025! 🤣

[@JoelleFromParis]

Thank you so much for this very helpful video. I will buy a Kinbor: the geese one is so cute!

[@sherbidabbles]

Yay! I’m so glad I could help!

[@gericheng3156]

thanks for the comparison! good to have a budget friendly alternative.

[@sherbidabbles]

It really is. Thank you for being here!

[@vanessasullivan8065]

Haha “do it all for the nookie!” New to your channel and fellow Gen X here. I’ve wondered the same thing, why no body talks about tracking sexy time. Immediate like and subscribe btw, I love your sense of humour. Thanks for the comparison video!

[@sherbidabbles]

Right?!? You know people are doing it - so they’re gonna track it!🤣 Thanks so much for being here!

[@christopheradalla5631]

Kinbor definitely.

[@sherbidabbles]

Nice! Have you used them before?

[@christopheradalla5631]

@ yes! And for next year I got the A5 for work and A6 for my on the go.

[@sherbidabbles]

Ih good! It’s good to hear from people who have experience with them. I have an A5 8-grid Kinbor I may try for work. I’ll be doing a video of it soon.

[@The_Planner_Diva]

I not only bought 1 kinbor I bought 2 different a5s a daily and a weekly then I got the weeks and also just ordered an a6 im waiting on now.

[@Bloomkyaaa]

Not having those space-wasting quotes at the bottom is the biggest bonus. 😅

[@sherbidabbles]

It is true they take up a lot of space and I RARELY even read them. I'll slap washi over them a lot of the time. Though I appreciate the "normal-ness" of them. :)

[@noornamu6677]

I love kinbor, I got the geese one too, they’re a very good alternative for the hobonichi especially if you have never tried the layout or such a thin paper, for 2025 I’m using both hobonichi and kinbor(was planning on using hobo only but the geese cover was too cute to pass)

[@sherbidabbles]

You’re exactly right. They’re perfect if you know you want to try Hobonichi but aren’t sure HOW you’ll use it. So much easier to “practice” and try out something this inexpensive. Thanks for being here!

[@pinkpatx]

Thank you so much for acquainting me with the Kinbor brand! Gotta check their pretty planners out. The price points are so affordable. 🎉

[@sherbidabbles]

It’s pretty hard to pass by them - I can’t find a good enough reason, to be honest. I hope you love it!!

[@kitsala1]

Thank you so much, wish I would have known this before ordered my weeks. But I'll order this also.

[@sherbidabbles]

If you feel you need your money back and bought a weeks that is currently sold out, I’m SURE you could get your money back by selling it. People know what they like and buy what they want when they really really want it. I’m glad it was helpful, though a little late. Eep!

[@syddlinden8966]

Thank you for this comparison! I'm definitely going to go order one of these to try before investing in a hopenichi in the future. Re the address thing: the really crazy part is why we have to keep our addresses so private now. It's because there are crazy people on the internet who will just send a SWAT team to your house. Just cause I think it's funny. I agree that it's sad that we have to be so careful now.

[@syddlinden8966]

Oh wow, my voice to text doesn't know how to spell hobonichi. 😑

[@sherbidabbles]

😂😅

[@sherbidabbles]

Man, I forgot about that SWAT thing!! Insanity. You’re absolutely right. The biggest bummer about Kinbor is the shipping but! I ordered two A6s and an A5 to try out and they were here within a week (6 days, but still). Much faster than my last order!

[@kerrym1979]

Great in-depth review! I'm considering getting one of these for 2025.

[@sherbidabbles]

Thank you! I don’t know how you could go wrong, especially if you get a new-buyer price (like the less-than-$2 price I got for the geese one).

[@kerrym1979]

@@sherbidabbles That's a bargain. I've not used AliExpress before so guess I'd get a new buyer price too.

[@NerfHerder909]

I'm really late to this party- I only stumbled upon Kinbor a few days ago, and I've been watching a bunch of videos to see how Kinbor's stuff stacks up against Hobonichi. I already have a Hobonichi Hon for 2025, but I've been toying with the idea of a Weeks and just couldn't justify that price point. One of the Kinbors, on the other hand.... This was a really great, thorough, and well-considered review. The prices are a little higher now, from what I'm seeing (they must have realized they're trending), but still around half what you'd pay for a Hobonichi, and that's without factoring in the shipping costs. I can understand wanting the OG Hobonichi, but it's tough to argue with that price difference, especially when the covers and other markers of quality remain quite high. It's a bonus that my Mandarin reading skills are significantly better than my Japanese, so I can actually understand more of what's written in there with the Hobonichi. Really my only big drawback would be that on their A5 and A6 daily planners, they don't do the color-coded months, which I like a lot. But is that worth almost twice the price? Probably not.

[@sherbidabbles]

I’m so glad this helped! I’m bummed to hear about the change in prices though - I wonder if maybe they also just increase the closer you get to the new year, expecting many people will be more pressed to buy it? Gah. I still have my Hobonichi Cousin Avecs for 2025, in addition to my Kinbor weeklies and Kinbor A6. I have a lot going this year. Hahaha. 😂 Have fun!

[@NancysFanciesDesign]

I love my Kinbors! I made a video showing mine from 2022-2025. I hope you enjoy yours, too!

[@sherbidabbles]

Ooh! I’ll go to your channel and check them out! Thanks for letting know!

[@angelamarchant3886]

I gave up hobo weeks years ago and went to kinbor. Miss the paper BUT the price point was not something I could justify yearly.

[@sherbidabbles]

I feel that. This is my first year with a Cousin and I love it. I got the cousin avec for next year (2 volumes) and haven’t tested the paper yet but many people aren’t happy with it. I’d be curious to see if when compared, the Hobonichi would now be LESS favorable. Wouldn’t that be something.

[@angelamarchant3886]

@@sherbidabbles I also purchased the a5 and I do love it as well. I have seen the complaints on the paper quality of hobo this year on the groups I’m in on FB. I think those complaints have solidified I made a great decision.

[@angelamarchant3886]

@@sherbidabbles what I am understanding is that this is across the board with others that used TRP in their planner launches. Seems to be unfortunate bad batches.

[@sherbidabbles]

@@angelamarchant3886 That’s too bad. Many are suggesting a switch to Sterling Ink but I believe that is also TRP. I have also seen that Kinbor is a TRP but they say “Bachuan.” I haven’t done a deep dive and researched that yet but it is 52gsm. Perhaps different manufacturers and Hobonichi got a bad one. 🤨

[@angelamarchant3886]

@@sherbidabbles sterling ink is TRP and I have 3 of their options for 2025 and tested with. Non issues. I have a N1, b6s booklet and a b5 booklet. Not sure who she uses to manufacture. The greatest complaints are from the manufacturer Sanzen.

[@DrBanner23]

I’m so excited for mine to arrive, too. I plan to use it for tracking my health and fitness goals. Honestly, I was a bit nervous about spending so much and then not sticking with it, but this feels like the perfect opportunity to see if this system works for me. It’ll help me decide whether I want to keep going or switch back to putting everything in my Cousin. It’s just weird when I’m showing my Cousin and a comment about how I pooped today shows haha

[@sherbidabbles]

😂 Always my struggle sharing my stuff on KZbin too - but I figure I can’t be the only one and maybe it will make other people feel okay about doing it too. We do it FOR THEM! 😝 I hope you love it!

[@vworden98]

Home Skillet!!!! I love it when I find my people. 💚

[@sherbidabbles]

YAAAAASSSSS! I’m glad you found me!

[@SudoPi]

Awesome video going over the differences! Just ordered one - very excited :) Would love to see the A6 video as well if that's happening too

[@sherbidabbles]

I’ll absolutely make one. I’ll have to use my 2024 Hobonichi as a comparison. I think I’m going to use a Kinbor if I can find space enough in my 2025 lineup. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I have so many to use now! 🤣

[@myview6852]

The ONLY improvement I would do to Kinbor would be to line up the graph page with the lines separating the days. Otherwise it is perfection for me.

[@sherbidabbles]

Ooh. Good eye!

[@AuntieAlexandra]

Thank you for the thorough comparison! I think next year I might dip my toe in the Kinbor (I already have 2 weeks for 2025). Cracking up about a “nookie tracker”. I’ve seen a fair number of youtubers casually mention that they track “intimacy” on the same tracker they use for menstrual cycles. Being menopausal, I have no more need to track menstruation and depressingly fewer and fewer occasions of nookie! 😂

[@sherbidabbles]

I don’t need to track cycles either and to be fair, don’t keep a nookie tracker of my own. I think I only had a nookie tracker once, when there was some contention or dubiousness about my libido. (Spoiler alert: They were wrong❤️). Could also be a “I’m a 📯🐶” tracker if there ain’t any gettin’ being done. 😂🤣

[@AuntieAlexandra]

@@sherbidabbles 😆😆😆

[@taranickoledesigns3340]

I got the Kinbor weeks with the pink bows!

[@sherbidabbles]

Nice!! Have you used Kinbor before?

[@taranickoledesigns3340]

@@sherbidabbles I have. I have the A5 cut to standard using for work notes. And for the past 2 years I’ve used the weeks for my budget and cut them out and punch them in personal rings. And next year I am using one for work. It’s such a great brand.

[@sherbidabbles]

@taranickoledesigns3340 I need a new A5 for work. I currently use a dot grid A5 and draw my own layout but want to avoid that. I’ve considered getting the Kinbor. It’s inexpensive enough that it’s not a terrible risk to try it.

[@taranickoledesigns3340]

@@sherbidabbles I think you would love it. Just monthly’s and daily’s and the trackers in the front.

[@sherbidabbles]

I’ll get one 🤭

[@endlessly4everafter]

There are things I like and dislike about both the hobonichi and the kinbor, mainly I hate the red and grey they both use for weekends. So for next year I actually ordered an undated kinbor, which doesn't use red or grey! Excited to try that out and see how it works for me!

[@sherbidabbles]

That’s awesome! It makes sense they’d have to leave the boxes the same color in an undated and yet did not occur to me. Excellent find!

[@oceanangel4]

What does the paper quality feel like in Kinbor?

[@sherbidabbles]

It is very similar to Hobonichi paper. Thin and smooth but white, like in my Cousin. It is 52gsm and called “Bachuan.” I have seen some people suggest it IS Tamoe River paper but called Bachuan in Chinese. Either way - it felt the same. I have a pen test in this video toward the end.

[@oceanangel4]

@@sherbidabbles thank you!!!

[@sherbidabbles]

My pleasure!

[@valisha.1111]

thank you!

[@sherbidabbles]

My pleasure!

[@Positioned2win]

So helpful thank you

[@sherbidabbles]

My pleasure! Thanks for being here. I’ll be posting my A6 comparison this week (Hobonichi Original vs Kinbor A6).

[@MamaGraciePlans]

Kinbor planners are great too. I found them in 2019 and have purchased many of their products. I heard about the hobo fiasco after it happened. I’m looking into using a proxy shipping company for Japan. I heard that the prices for international went up not reflecting the proper exchange rate from usd to yen so if I have to get a hobo i will be doing it that way. I’d love for the kinbor to come in b6 slim size (they copied the jibun techo) format. Too bad they didn’t replicate the size.

[@sherbidabbles]

I’d love a B6! I just ordered one from Papertess for writing. I did an Ali express search for B6 and found only plain notebooks.

[@sherbidabbles]

Oh! Also, I swear someone said they bought their Kinbor on Amazon? I’m about to go check. UPDATE: Nope. I’ll have to find the comment to see where they ordered from so it’s a shorter shipping time.

[@sherbidabbles]

Found this - undated, and one review comparing it to Hobonichi says it’s a good alternative. No notes pages and different paper but still good. amzn.to/3XTgGfy

[@knitteddy]

Is there a difference in paper quality especially for fountain pen users?

[@sherbidabbles]

I haven’t used fountain pens regularly in several years so I can’t say 🥺 It FEELS like it would work well, but different pens, different inks …. The good thing with Kinbor is they’re inexpensive enough to try - less than $10 and shipping wasn’t more than $5.

[@knitteddy]

@sherbidabbles I read up and apparently Kinbor uses 52gsm Tomoe River Paper!

[@sherbidabbles]

@knitteddy YAY! I had seen it referenced as something like “Bachuan” paper and a comment in that video said that is just the Chinese word for Tamoe River? I hadn’t seen it anywhere else so did not want to presume that one find was correct. That’s amazing! 🤩 Thanks for letting me know!!

[@peachyk]

great comparison video! personally with my kinbor, i'm not sure if it's cause i have a thicker cover (i got the stray birds cover), but it's struggling to lay flat. it's a lil irritating honestly lol. since you are getting the kinbor a6 will you do a comparison to hobonichi a6?

[@sherbidabbles]

Yes! I am editing it this week and will hopefully upload it soon. I compare a 2025 Kinbor with my current 2024 Hobonichi. I’m glad you liked this comparison!! I haven’t had a hard cover Hobo OR Kinbor but I suspect you’re right.

[@tortagialla]

For archive memory keeping, going with weeks for the quality. Kinbor is practical and economical for other uses but there can be quality issues and sometimes they have spelling mistakes. The different designs might have slightly different texture covers, there are variations. I think you get what you pay for. If anything is wrong with your hobonichi they have customer service and would replace it!

[@sherbidabbles]

The bamboo Kinbor had a fabric quality to the cover while the geese cover was glossy. I wasn’t expecting that difference when I got it.

[@sherbidabbles]

Fortunately so far I haven’t had an issue with any Hobonichis but I have heard good things, especially after the launch this year with some shipping and getting soaked in the rain.

[@janete3143]

I like the Hobonichi covers better. I have used Kindor and bought one for 2025 for work because the weeks has become too expensive.

[@sherbidabbles]

That’s part of the issue. I’d love to have several Hobonichi planners but the cost hurts. If I prepare properly, it’s no problem. Then if I don’t use it? Oh, the guilt….. 😳

[@tortagialla]

@@sherbidabbles Yes, it can all be a big investment! But if you learn about yourself and your habits, each year it will probably be easier to decide on a lineup!

[@katismith]

For the 365 tracker in the weeks, each line is two weeks.

[@sherbidabbles]

That helps a lot. Thank you!!

[@bsmithremmick]

Weird! I just noticed that my 2025 Hobo weeks doesn't have a favorites section - I wonder if it's because mine is Japanese version?!

[@sherbidabbles]

Oooh! Mysterious!! I wonder if that means some Weeks have the 365 grid at back like my 2024 sneaker weeks. I love that thing.

[@theresadavis7604]

Gen X here 🙋🏾‍♀️ We definitely used to track our sex lives back in the day. 😅😅😅

[@sherbidabbles]

Awwwwwwww yeah…..

[@neerlypurls]

I feel like the ribbons on the Kinbor are just a smidge too short.

[@sherbidabbles]

Good to know. I will likely notice those sorts of things when I put it to good use. Could adding a charm or bobble or sewing additional strings/floss help? I saw one person had wrapped her ribbons in another planner, like you would a hair wrap or a friendship bracelet. Could be fun.

[@neerlypurls]

Perhaps using another ribbon or friendship bracelet would work, but mine don’t stay down long enough to flip to a certain page

[@kimberlyl9205]

I am interested in the Kimbor for the price, however, there are so many more things I prefer in the Hobo Weeks. Less grids in weekly lo, I like the contrast in the dates, the spacing, and the paper! Also, thank you for the very detailed comparison! Very helpful and the one of few I’ve found on KZbin!

[@sherbidabbles]

My pleasure!!

[@cerealnana]

I got the Geese. Someone tried to correct me and tell me it was a chicken! Everyone is interpreting the bird differently.

[@sherbidabbles]

Thank you for making me feel better. 🤦🏻‍♀️🥰🪿🦆🐓😂

[@sherbidabbles]

And it is definitely not a chicken…. At least I’m not that bad. 😅

[@mlcoffey2]

I got my faux hobinichi from Amazon for $9.99. It's the same size and exactly like the Hobo weeks. I've used the Hobo for years but I love my faux Hobonichi from Anazon. And I don't have to wait for shipping from Asia.

[@sherbidabbles]

Does your faux hobo have a brand name? I’d love to see. The shipping wait is problematic.

[@sherbidabbles]

This one? amzn.to/3XTgGfy

[@jhermadlbuj]

i got the same for 2024! I swear it's worthit! ​@@sherbidabbles

[@Th3L0st0ne]

first time I heard sex tracker in a planner video 😂.... paused and subscribed immediately.. sorry :P

[@sherbidabbles]

🤣🙌❤️ Never apologize for being wise! Thank you and welcome!

[@shythi]

I have used Kinbor a6 for a year in 2023 but I’m not back to my hobonichi from 2024.. the kindle binding did not hold up for me… and the writing experience is surely different. I will say for me i do not might spending extra for something i only get once a year

[@sherbidabbles]

2025 will be when I test it but I am sticking to my Hobonichi Cousin in 2025 as well - and that would be the biggest test as far as the binding goes. It’s good to know the binding didn’t hold up for you. How much did you put in your Kinbor? Is it mostly just pen, or do you add washi and stickers too? I want to gauge the usage limits. Thank you for saying something!

[@shythi]

@ my kinbor wasn’t even chucking.. I’m very light handed when it comes to stickers and washi. Even then the binding didn’t hold up..but than again I didn’t baby.. since I use it for both work and home as my all in one planner it was really ‘loved’. I used the a6 years ago the quality might have changed. This year I’m testing out their a6 notebook. Let’s see how that holds up.

[@sherbidabbles]

Excellent. Thanks for the details. This will be interesting. I am hoping they’ve improved since you last tried it (perhaps with the increases in popularity they have upped their standards?). Only one way to find out! Check in again later. I’ll be curious to know how it’s going. I’ll certainly post about my experience too. 🤗

[@mrsmontanacheeks]

Nope genx here as well....sexy time tracker is a must😂.

[@sherbidabbles]

YESSSSSSS….. 🤭😜❤️

[@The_Planner_Diva]

I not only bought 1 kinbor I bought 2 different a5s a daily and a weekly then I got the weeks and also just ordered an a6 im waiting on now.

[@sherbidabbles]

Planner BOSS! That’s how you do it. Leave no stone unturned! 💪