Best 12 To-Do List Apps in 2024

Keep Productive
10 Jan 202415:07

TLDRThe video script offers a comprehensive review of various to-do list applications, highlighting their features and suitability for different users. It emphasizes the impact of these apps on stress management and productivity, recommending Todoist for its versatility, Akif Flow for advanced task management, and TickTick for an all-in-one calendar and task experience. The script also introduces unique options like Things for Apple users, Microsoft To-Do for simplicity, TimeStripe for long-term goal setting, and Surma for a mindful approach. The review aims to help viewers find the perfect app to enhance their daily planning and organization.

Takeaways

  • 📝 The speaker has reviewed over 250 to-do list applications, highlighting the variety and vast number of options available on the market.
  • 🎯 Todoist is praised as a versatile and well-rounded to-do list app suitable for beginners to professionals, with a free version and a more advanced paid version.
  • 📆 Akif Flow is recommended for busy professionals who want a more advanced to-do list experience, combining tasks, calendar, and task consolidation from other apps.
  • 🌟 TickTick offers a comprehensive experience with additional features like habit tracking and a calendar view, making it an all-in-one solution for task and habit management.
  • 🍏 Things 3 is an Apple-centric app with a focus on simplicity and a personal to-do experience, inspired by the GTD methodology.
  • 🤖 Microsoft To-Do is a basic app designed for capturing and organizing tasks, with the advantage of integration for those within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
  • 🚀 TimeStripe is a unique task management and goal planning app that encourages setting long-term goals and habits, with a focus on a holistic planning approach.
  • 🎩 OmniFocus 4 is a GTD dream with a reliable and solid build, offering more structure and systems for task management beyond what Todoist provides.
  • 🤖 Motion is an AI-based task management app that uses machine learning to automatically organize tasks and calendar based on user-defined importance.
  • 🧘‍♀️ Sunma (Suna) is a mindful to-do list app that combines task and calendar planning with a focus on a mindful approach, helping users avoid overwhelm and plan effectively.

Q & A

  • How many to-do list applications has the speaker reviewed over the last 10 years?

    -The speaker has reviewed over 250 to-do list applications over the last 10 years.

  • What percentage of participants in a study found that using a to-do list app helped them feel calmer?

    -75% of the participants in the study found that using a to-do list app helped them feel calmer by writing tasks down.

  • What are the three core experiences that AkiFlow combines, and what is its main advantage?

    -AkiFlow combines tasks, calendar, and task consolidation. Its main advantage is that it allows users to bring in tasks from other applications like Todoist, Slack, and Gmail into a single view to organize into a task list, essentially creating a task dashboard.

  • What is unique about the TickTick application compared to Todoist?

    -TickTick has a calendar feature and a board experience for managing tasks on the calendar, which it introduced earlier than Todoist, and it also includes the ability to organize and track habits within the app.

  • Why is Things 3 considered an Apple Centric application, and what does this mean for users who do not have iOS or Mac devices?

    -Things 3 is considered an Apple Centric application because it is designed with a focus on providing an excellent user experience on Apple platforms. Users who do not have iOS or Mac devices will not be able to use this application.

  • How does Microsoft To-Do integrate with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, and what is its main advantage for those users?

    -Microsoft To-Do integrates with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem by allowing users to capture tasks, organize their day, and share tasks with others who have a Microsoft account. Its main advantage for those users is the seamless integration and potential future enhancements with Microsoft's co-pilot feature.

  • What is the unique feature of TimeScape that differentiates it from other task management applications?

    -TimeScape's unique feature is its goal planning application that allows users to plan not only for the short term but also set decade goals and everything in between, working backwards from long-term goals to daily tasks.

  • How does OmniFocus 4 cater to users who want more structure in their task management compared to Todoist?

    -OmniFocus 4 provides a more structured approach to task management with its reliable, solid build, and focus on the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. It offers systems and focuses for planning tasks ahead, making it suitable for users who need more than what Todoist provides but without the intensity of applications like AkiFlow.

  • What is the main selling point of Routine, and how does it differ from other to-do list applications mentioned in the script?

    -Routine's main selling point is its combination of tasks, calendar, and light notes in a timeline-like view, which allows for a unique approach to organizing and planning tasks. It also features a console on Mac that seamlessly integrates with meetings and note-taking, setting it apart from other to-do list applications.

  • What are the key features of Structured that make it suitable for users looking for a lighter to-do list application?

    -Structured is a mobile-centric application that allows users to see a timeline of their day and set routine tasks, providing a progressive progress view throughout the day. It is recommended for those who want something lighter than more intense applications but still desire a portable and on-the-go task management solution.

  • How does Actions by Mskin differ from other to-do list applications in terms of user experience and design?

    -Actions by Mskin stands out for its beautiful and well-crafted user experience, with gestures, animations, and colors that come to life on mobile devices. Although it is quite basic in functionality, it offers a fantastic mobile experience and can connect with Mskin's Time Page for added task management features.

  • What is the key benefit of using Surma as a daily planner and task management application?

    -Surma provides a mindful approach to task management by offering a daily planner experience that includes guided planning, focus modes, and task consolidation, all while limiting the number of tasks added per day to prevent overwhelm. It is designed to promote a more focused and structured planning process without excessive administration.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Exploring Top To-Do List Applications

The paragraph discusses the author's extensive experience reviewing over 250 to-do list applications. It highlights the impact these apps can have on stress management and productivity. The author introduces a selection of the best to-do list apps available in 2024, promising a detailed breakdown of their features and suitability for different users. The first app mentioned is Todoist, praised for its versatility and structured planning, along with its free and pro versions. The paragraph also touches on the importance of choosing the right app to enhance personal and professional organization.

05:06

🚀 Advanced Task Management Tools

This paragraph delves into more advanced to-do list applications, starting with Akif Flow, which combines tasks, calendar, and task consolidation. It's recommended for busy professionals who value time blocking and are willing to invest more. The author then discusses Tick Tick, which offers a comprehensive experience with additional features like habit tracking. Things 3 is introduced as a beautiful, minimalistic, and Apple-centric app, suitable for personal task management with advanced project planning capabilities. Microsoft To-Do is described as a basic app great for those within the Microsoft ecosystem, while Time Stripe focuses on long-term goal planning and habit formation.

10:08

🤖 AI-Driven and Mindful Task Management

The paragraph covers innovative AI-driven task management applications like Motion, which uses artificial intelligence to organize tasks based on their importance. It's noted for its potential to save time and effort in planning. OmniFocus 4 is highlighted as a GTD dream with a solid build and web and Apple-centric experience. The author also mentions Routine, a young app that combines tasks, calendar, and light notes for a unique productivity management experience. Structured is recommended for those seeking a lighter to-do list application with a focus on weekly organization and progress tracking.

🌟 Unique and Mindful To-Do List Experiences

The final paragraph introduces Actions by mskin, a beautifully crafted application with a focus on mobile users, and Sarma, a mindful to-do list app that emphasizes a calm and focused approach to task management. Sarma is noted for its guided planning and focus modes, aiming to prevent user overwhelm. The author concludes the video script by encouraging viewers to subscribe for more content and to share their favorite to-do list applications with others.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡to-do list applications

The term refers to software tools designed to help users organize and manage their tasks and responsibilities. In the context of the video, the speaker reviews and compares various to-do list applications, highlighting their features and suitability for different users. These applications are essential for productivity and stress management, as they allow users to capture, prioritize, and plan tasks effectively.

💡stress management

Stress management refers to the strategies and techniques used to deal with the physical and emotional effects of stress. In the video, the speaker mentions that using to-do list applications can serve as a stress management tool, as writing tasks down can help individuals feel calmer and more in control of their responsibilities.

💡Todoist

Todoist is a specific to-do list application mentioned in the video that provides a comprehensive and versatile solution for task management. It caters to both beginners and advanced users, offering features like task capturing, organizing, planning, and reminders. The speaker praises Todoist for its structured approach and recommends it for a wide range of users, from individuals to small teams.

💡Aki Flow

Aki Flow is another task management tool discussed in the video, which is noted for its ability to combine tasks, calendar, and task consolidation into a single platform. It is recommended for busy professionals who require a more advanced to-do list application with time-blocking capabilities and are willing to invest in a premium experience.

💡Tick Tick

Tick Tick is a to-do list application that offers an all-around experience, with additional features for habit tracking and comprehensive calendar integration. It is suggested for users seeking a unified calendar and task management experience, with the ability to manage weekly, monthly, and daily views efficiently.

💡Things 3

Things 3 is described as a beautiful and minimalistic Apple-centric to-do list application inspired by the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. It is recommended for users who prefer a personal task management experience with advanced project planning features and are willing to invest in a one-time payment for long-term use.

💡Microsoft To-Do

Microsoft To-Do is a basic task management application that is part of the Microsoft ecosystem. It is designed for capturing and organizing tasks, with features like 'My Day' suggestions and task sharing among Microsoft account holders. It is particularly beneficial for those in education or工作环境中, where task collaboration and management are essential.

💡TimeScape

TimeScape is a unique task management and goal planning application that encourages users to set long-term goals, including decade and month goals. It incorporates a concept called 'climbs' for habit formation and has project planning features. The application is recommended for those seeking a holistic planning experience that extends beyond traditional to-do list applications.

💡OmniFocus 4

OmniFocus 4 is a task management application designed for users who follow the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. It is known for its reliable and solid build, offering advanced features and customization options for planning and organizing tasks. It is recommended for users who need more structure and focus in their task management beyond basic to-do list applications.

💡Motion

Motion is an AI-based task management application that integrates tasks and calendar, using artificial intelligence to automatically reschedule tasks based on their importance. It is recommended for busy professionals who want to optimize their task management and reduce administrative overhead, with features like project management and team collaboration.

💡Routine

Routine is a young and developing task management application that combines tasks, calendar, and light notes in a timeline view. It is designed to help users organize their day and manage productivity, with features like a console for capturing tasks and joining meetings seamlessly. It is recommended for those looking for a slightly different experience that is task-centric and has a focus on design and build quality.

Highlights

The review covers over 250 to-do list applications over a decade.

The impact of to-do list applications on stress management is highlighted, with 75% of participants finding it calming to write tasks down.

Todoist is recommended for its versatility, catering to beginners and professionals alike.

Todoist offers a free experience and a Pro version with additional features like reminders.

A new calendar mode in Todoist aims to improve task planning.

Akif Flow is praised for combining tasks, calendar, and task consolidation, making it suitable for busy professionals.

TickTick is noted for its habit tracking feature and comprehensive calendar experience.

Things 3 is an Apple Centric application inspired by the GTD methodology, offering a clean and simple experience.

Microsoft To-Do is recognized for its simplicity and integration with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

TimeScape is unique for its goal planning that extends up to 15 years, focusing on holistic planning.

OmniFocus 4 is a GTD dream with a reliable and solid build, offering more than Todoist with its systems and focus.

Motion is an AI-based task management application that uses AI to auto-organize tasks and calendar based on importance.

Routine is a young application that combines tasks, calendar, and light notes for a timeline-like view and meeting integration.

Structure is a mobile-centric application for organizing the week ahead with a timeline view and routine task setup.

Actions by Mskin offers a beautiful and well-crafted mobile experience with connection to Molin Time Page.

Suna is a mindful to-do list application that combines task and calendar planning with a focus on not overwhelming the user.