The whole concept of GTD (Getting Things Done) revolves around productivity tools like Calendar and To-Do apps. Especially in the current home quarantine and lockdown situation where the majority of people and teams are working from home, it’s critical to keep track of tasks and clear them before the end of the day.
Task management apps in 2020 are not limited to just creating and completing tasks. They offer more functionality to increase overall user interaction. Some of the features include habit tracking, basic project management, location-based reminders, calendar integration, and more.
When choosing one app over another, it is essential to invest in a platform that is easily available on competing platforms. This way, all your tasks are synced across multiple platforms and you won’t lose data when switching devices.
We handpicked the five best task management apps for iOS and Mac. In this article, we will talk about its features, price, theme engine and more. Lets start.
1. Microsoft To-Do
To accelerate its ‘Mobile First, Cloud First’ vision, Microsoft acquired the popular task management tool Wunderlist and discontinued further development in favor of the Microsoft To-Do app.
After four years of purchasing, I can confidently say that Microsoft’s version of task management is right next to its competitors. The company recently redesigned the entire app to make it more familiar to Wunderlist users.
Microsoft To-Do offers My Day functionality that lets you add tasks for the day. You can quickly add terms like ‘conference call 8:00 PM’ and the app will suggest time for the task. You can also add subtasks for the main to-do task.
As a Microsoft product, it integrates nicely with other services as well. For example, you can flag an email in Outlook and it will be saved in Flagged mail in Microsoft To-Do. Tasks can also be viewed in the Outlook desktop app.
Other functions include the ability to create lists, Siri Shortcuts support, dark theme, Wunderlist import tool, and more.
The company’s macOS app is right up there with its iOS counterpart. It also supports keyboard shortcuts. The app syncs the theme and wallpapers in the mobile app that looks beautiful on the big screen.
Microsoft To-Do is completely free to use and is available on Android, iOS, Windows and Mac.
2. Tick Tick
This is my favourite. TickTick is a multi-featured productivity app. It has full features, but more importantly, the overall application is better than others.
Theme support is the best I’ve ever seen. Not limited to light/dark theme. You can apply colored ones according to the seasons and world-famous cities.
In addition to creating a list and adding a task, the app also has integrated habit tracking and Pomodoro functionality. You can add and complete habits to see a wonderful habit building chain in the calendar widget. Pomodoro helps you keep track of productive hours throughout the app.
Mac version is more powerful. The task list can be switched to Kanban style to view and manage tasks. The desktop app also supports the notes function.
TickTick is free to use. But the $2 per month premium subscription lets you unlock functions like theme support, habit tracking, app icon customization, and more. Accessible on iOS, Android, Windows and macOS.
3. Apple Reminders
After neglecting the default Reminders app for years, Apple has finally given it a much-needed makeover with the iOS 13 update. Now head to head with the third-party apps out there.
For starters, the new design looks much better than ever. It lets you add tasks as well as location-based reminders. I always use it. I set relevant tasks to remind myself wherever I reach my workplace.
You can ask Siri to set tasks or even add a reminder when sending a message to a specific contact. Check out the best tips and tricks for the Apple Reminders app.
The Mac app has also been redesigned to resemble the iOS version. Not as fluid or intuitive as others. I hope to see tight integration with other Apple services including Notes and Email app in the future.
Apple Reminders is only available on iOS and macOS. It is completely free to use.
4. Todoist
Used by millions of users worldwide, Todoist has nailed task management in the app. The app uses a fairly standard user interface with a hamburger menu.
It defines lists as projects and even lets you add tags to find tasks later. Todoist recently announced its Foundation function, which lets you turn large projects into small tasks and manage them more efficiently.
Siri Shortcuts can also be used to set up tasks. The app supports icon customization to replace app icons. Todoist has integrated a great statistics tab to see the data of completed tasks.
The Mac app is right up there with the iOS variant. If you are looking for the best Mac app for managing tasks, Todoist will easily top the list. Also available on Android and Windows. The app is free to download, but it does not include icon customization, stats, etc. Premium functions like this come with a $50 annual subscription.
5. Anyone
Any.do brings a new user interface to the table. It shows the tabbed list from the main screen. The app has properly integrated the calendar function to use it as a calendar app as well.
The most important feature of the application is how it plans your day. It will suggest all the tasks one by one and ask you to take action.
A few things to mention here. I had a few crashes while using the app, and adding a new task screen was pretty cumbersome. It is not minimal like the others and demands a lot of detail up front.
The Mac app is much better. Tasks can be added quickly from the floating menu and it also supports keyboard shortcuts.
Any.do is available on iOS, Android, Windows and macOS.
Complete Missions in Style
Use any of the aforementioned apps and you’ll be totally fine flying through the day without missing any missions. Microsoft To-Do is free, TickTick is versatile, millions of people prefer Todoist, Apple Reminders lets you get the most out of the Apple ecosystem. At the same time, Any.do is great for a combination of tasks and calendars.
Next: Want to ditch Apple Reminders in favor of richer third-party apps? Read the post to find the five best alternatives to the Apple Reminders app.
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