6 of the Best To-Do List Apps to Help You Get Organized Now
September 8, 2017
Remember you’ve got that big work deadline on Thursday? That also happens to be the day you’re volunteering in your neighborhood community garden and doing LSAT prep. And don’t forget, you need to ship that package before 5 o’clock. Then there’s your book club meeting on Monday…
Quick: Before your super-busy schedule totally overwhelms your life, get your phone out. We’ve picked six of the best to-do list apps to help you organize your plans, conquer your piles of work, and kick procrastination definitively to the curb. From critical assignment deadlines to your busy social life, keep your schedule all in one place—and give each item a satisfying check once you’re through.
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1. THINGS: After a revamp this year,
Things isn't just one of the best to-do list apps out there—it's also one of the most visually agreeable. Its clean, hyper-organized design pleases neat freaks while ensuring that your tasks (even if they number in the thousands) are presented seamlessly. Connect your calendar to see how to-dos slot into your sched, create headers and sub-points for every item, keyword search, set reminders, and otherwise take charge of your entire life.
Image courtesy of Cultured Code.
2. TRELLO: If you're a Pinterest user, you know that the social network's grid layout and visuals-led design is easy on the eyes. Which is why you're almost certain to fall in love with
Trello, the wildly popular to-do list app that gives your tasks a bulletin-board feel, plus flexible functionality. Each task "card" is capable of hosting comments, checklists, due dates, and file attachments, and you can invite collaborators to join forces on individual projects. Notifications, comments, and synced email access mean you're always plugged in to what's coming up.
Image courtesy of Trello.
3. TODOIST: It's right there in the name:
Todoist will help you master the art of the to-do list. For starters, it lets you break down those intimidatingly large projects by scheduling in bite-sized sub-tasks. Push notifications will keep you up-to-date on the go, while recurring date functionality lets you plan around weekly (or daily) events. And no matter what platform you're using—Android or iOS, Gmail or Outlook—it's all synced and ready to go.
Image courtesy of Todoist.
4. HABITICA: One way to make work feel fun instead of menial? Gamify it. That's where
Habitica excels. In encouraging users to see their lives as a "role-playing game," it takes the pressure off of meeting deadlines by rewarding you with virtual gold coins that translate into real-life bonuses (an hour of TV in the evening, say, or a fun dinner out). The more you accomplish, the more cool content you'll unlock; conversely, if you miss a task, you'll be docked "health points." That's one way to stay on the straight and narrow.
Image courtesy of Habitica.
5. MICROSOFT TO-DO: A new app on the block,
Microsoft To-Do was born after Microsoft acquired the popular, award-winning Wunderlist back in 2015. The new iteration shares some traits with the original: pretty design, importable lists, and the ability to share your to-dos with colleagues, family members, and anyone else who needs to keep tabs on your schedule. And with its "My Day" function, you'll begin every morning with the perfect, digestible snapshot of what's in store.
Image courtesy of Microsoft.
6. REMEMBER THE MILK: One of the best to-do list apps out there,
Remember the Milk doesn't just remind you to grab that gallon on your way home. The app's Smart Add function means you can quickly upload assignments and to-dos as soon as they come to mind, while reminders sent via email, text, Twitter, and other mobile apps will help cover for any memory lapses. But what makes this app a real productivity powerhouse? It's also friendly with Gmail, Twitter, Evernote, and other essential apps. All-in-one task-tackling right here.
Image courtesy of Remember the Milk.
1. THINGS: After a revamp this year,
Things isn't just one of the best to-do list apps out there—it's also one of the most visually agreeable. Its clean, hyper-organized design pleases neat freaks while ensuring that your tasks (even if they number in the thousands) are presented seamlessly. Connect your calendar to see how to-dos slot into your sched, create headers and sub-points for every item, keyword search, set reminders, and otherwise take charge of your entire life.
Image courtesy of Cultured Code.
2. TRELLO: If you're a Pinterest user, you know that the social network's grid layout and visuals-led design is easy on the eyes. Which is why you're almost certain to fall in love with
Trello, the wildly popular to-do list app that gives your tasks a bulletin-board feel, plus flexible functionality. Each task "card" is capable of hosting comments, checklists, due dates, and file attachments, and you can invite collaborators to join forces on individual projects. Notifications, comments, and synced email access mean you're always plugged in to what's coming up.
Image courtesy of Trello.
3. TODOIST: It's right there in the name:
Todoist will help you master the art of the to-do list. For starters, it lets you break down those intimidatingly large projects by scheduling in bite-sized sub-tasks. Push notifications will keep you up-to-date on the go, while recurring date functionality lets you plan around weekly (or daily) events. And no matter what platform you're using—Android or iOS, Gmail or Outlook—it's all synced and ready to go.
Image courtesy of Todoist.
4. HABITICA: One way to make work feel fun instead of menial? Gamify it. That's where
Habitica excels. In encouraging users to see their lives as a "role-playing game," it takes the pressure off of meeting deadlines by rewarding you with virtual gold coins that translate into real-life bonuses (an hour of TV in the evening, say, or a fun dinner out). The more you accomplish, the more cool content you'll unlock; conversely, if you miss a task, you'll be docked "health points." That's one way to stay on the straight and narrow.
Image courtesy of Habitica.
5. MICROSOFT TO-DO: A new app on the block,
Microsoft To-Do was born after Microsoft acquired the popular, award-winning Wunderlist back in 2015. The new iteration shares some traits with the original: pretty design, importable lists, and the ability to share your to-dos with colleagues, family members, and anyone else who needs to keep tabs on your schedule. And with its "My Day" function, you'll begin every morning with the perfect, digestible snapshot of what's in store.
Image courtesy of Microsoft.
6. REMEMBER THE MILK: One of the best to-do list apps out there,
Remember the Milk doesn't just remind you to grab that gallon on your way home. The app's Smart Add function means you can quickly upload assignments and to-dos as soon as they come to mind, while reminders sent via email, text, Twitter, and other mobile apps will help cover for any memory lapses. But what makes this app a real productivity powerhouse? It's also friendly with Gmail, Twitter, Evernote, and other essential apps. All-in-one task-tackling right here.
Image courtesy of Remember the Milk.
