The Best of Both Worlds: Why Rocketbook's Affordable, Flexible Notebooks Earned Calm Tech Certification

Why we awarded Calm Tech Certification to Rocketbook's Core Notebook and Flex Planner

In recent years, we've watched note-taking fracture into a thousand different apps, each promising to be the one place for all our thoughts. We gained the ability to search, sync, and share instantly, but we lost the focus that comes from single-tasking, and the way our mind processes information when we take notes by hand. 

The Calm Tech Institute has been evaluating technologies that honor both our need for digital convenience and our human preference for analog experiences. We are particularly interested in solutions that could capture the benefits of digital organization without sacrificing the cognitive and emotional advantages of handwriting.

Today, we're pleased to announce that Rocketbook's Core Notebook and Flex Planner have earned a Calm Tech Certified® Platinum rating. They're the first and only reusable notebooks to receive this recognition.

The Difference Between Handwritten and Digital Notes 

Millions of people have shifted their note-taking, planning, and creative thinking to screens. While digital tools offer undeniable benefits—searchability, backup, sharing—they come with hidden costs. 

Research consistently shows that handwriting activates different neural pathways than typing, leading to better comprehension, memory retention, and creative thinking. The physical act of forming letters and words activates neural pathways that support memory consolidation, conceptual understanding, and creative thinking.

When we write by hand, we're forced to synthesize information rather than transcribe it verbatim, leading to deeper processing and better retention.

The reusable notebooks work elegantly: the notebooks work with a special (and affordable!) pen on special reusable . Pages can be scanned through the Rocketbook app to local storage or a preferred cloud service , and then the pages can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Run out of ink? The replacement pen is around $3 USD. 

Calm Tech Principles in Rocketbook Products 

Technology should amplify the best of technology and the best of humanity: As a notebook, the writing feels natural and easy to start with. The notebook’s paper menu is cleverly produced and straightforward to learn. The notebook can be used without the digital app. 

Technology should respect social norms: The digital notebook app works with whatever digital system people already use, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack or email. You aren’t forced to use a new platform to work with your notes. 

Technology should work even when it fails: Both products can be erased and reused hundreds of times. CTI saw multiple reports of multiple-year use from a single notebook of taking daily notes in college classes. 

The right amount of technology is the minimum needed to solve the problem: A physical notebook with a cleverly-designed pen is all it takes to make reusable notes. The app is optional, but very useful.  

Price and Accessibility: At under ~$35 for the Core Notebook and ~$42 for the Flex Planner, Rocketbook offers an accessible entry point into more mindful technology use. This matters tremendously for students and budget-conscious users who want to reduce their digital footprint without expensive alternatives.

Where to Buy 

• Rocketbook Core ~$38 (multiple colors) 

• Rocketbook Flex Planner ~$45 (multiple colors and options) 

• Frixion Pen pen $3.25 

About Rocketbook Rocketbook started with a simple idea: to allow people who love low-tech pen and paper to keep up with the high-tech organizational technology of today. Rocketbook’s mission is to help take handwritten note-taking into the future and transition the world to reusable paper by offering products—like their Core, Fusion, Sticky Notes, Pro, and more—which were all created to transport traditional ways of writing and sharing information into the digital world. Now, the brand is #1 best-selling reusable notebook on Amazon, with nearly 90,000 five-star reviews. For more information, visit www.GetRocketbook.com. 

About Calm Tech Institute Launched in May 2024, Calm Tech Institute is dedicated to redefining technologies that enhance human life without causing stress or distraction. The Institute advocates for technology that respects human attention and enhances life without overwhelming it. Founded on principles of ambient computing and human-centered design, the Institute provides certification for products that embody these values of thoughtful, calm technology. Learn more at http://calmtech.institute