I test gadgets for a living, but my favorite gadget this year has easily been a digital calendar. I've tried everything from the popular Skylight Calendar to other brands you might not have heard of if you haven't hunted the internet like I have. These handy tools take the contents of many popular calendar apps—Google Calendar, iCal, Outlook, etc.—and put them into a physical device, so you can see what's on your digital calendars without needing to pull out a phone. You can add multiple calendars, too, so I see both my personal and work calendars, my husband's calendar, my son's school calendar, and even the calendar I made to track my pregnancy, all in one device.

Digital calendars don't stop at just showing you your Google Calendar on a bigger screen. Many also double as chore trackers for your family (and one calendar will even give your kids their allowance based on chore completion), digital photo frames, and even meal planners. It's a device that's felt more useful than the smart displays I've used for years.

I've tried five different digital calendars just this year and have a few easy favorites. While Skylight has been an enduring favorite for the overall experience, you will hit a paywall to use two of my favorite features, the photo screensaver and meal planning. If you're looking to pick a digital calendar that's subscription-free, my favorite one of these is actually on sale right now.

Everblog's HomeCal packs an incredibly similar user experience to Skylight, but unlike the latter, it doesn't require a subscription to access all its features.

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