8 of the Best Simple To-Do Apps to Get Things Done

Any.do
(4.5 out of 5 stars)
(4.5 out of 5 stars)
ToDoist
(4.7 out of 5 stars)
(4.7 out of 5 stars)
Wunderlist (now Microsoft To-Do)
(4.8 out of 5 stars)
(4.8 out of 5 stars)
Google Keep
(4.6 out of 5 stars)
(4.6 out of 5 stars)
Remember the Milk
(4.1 out of 5 stars)
(4.1 out of 5 stars)
Things 3
(4.5 out of 5 stars)
(4.5 out of 5 stars)
Habitica
( out of 5 stars)
( out of 5 stars)
TickTick
( out of 5 stars)
( out of 5 stars)

Let's face it: it's not every day we remember exactly what we're supposed to do — this is just how it is. In fact, most of us wake up with the drive and motivation to get things done but unfortunately, life happens — we get distracted and of course, lose track of our to-dos. Time management as well as personal project management are crucial now.

So what's the way out? Well, there are quite a number of ways to help yourself remember what you really need to do. But of course, there's one way that works — To-do lists apps! Yes, this time around, all you need to do is download the right app on your smartphone and start scheduling your tasks in manageable ways. Of course, the best iOS and Android apps can help you keep track of your daily to-dos and increase your chances of getting more done in less time!

Ready to find the perfect to-do app that's sure to match your lifestyle? If yes, you'll be happy to hear that we've done all the hard work and of course, rounded up some of the best simple to-do apps you can download today. All our picks are available on either Google Play or Apple Store — so yes, it's now up to you to stick with the one (or maybe two) that tickles your fancy.

Let's jump right in!

Any.do

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

Feeling frazzled? Don't worry — Any.do got you! Any.do is one of the best simple to-do apps that's available on Android and iOS. It's designed to help you see exactly what needs to be done and of course, motivate you to craft the perfect plan for a productive day. Perhaps one of the biggest draws of Any.do is its eye-catching design — it's the perfect pick for the aesthete looking to get things done. Of course, this to-do app comes with all the right features and even more. For the most part, you'll find features like drag-and-drop and swipe-to-complete, but its key differentiator is the "Moment" feature; a gentle yet firm push notification you get each morning telling you to review your day's task and plan ahead. Its voice entry feature is also a big plus!

it's good to point out that Any.do comes with both a free and paid Pro version; of course, the free version comes with a few handy features but you won't be wrong to go Pro if you want more! All in all, Any.do is a very reliable and elegant to-do app that's great for personal use. Don't hesitate to hit the download button if you're ready to take full charge of your to-dos and daily tasks lists.

Pros
  • Well-designed

  • Easy to use and intuitive

  • Excellent daily review feature

  • Location-based reminders

Cons
  • Some of the coolest features are restricted to the paid Pro version.

ToDoist

(4.7 out of 5 stars)

Next up is ToDoist — a powerful choice for those looking to get organized and get stuff done. The good thing about this to-do app is that it's been around for a while and works seamlessly on a wide variety of devices. It's also good to know that ToDoist is well-designed and user-friendly — you can download yours now and of course, start keeping track of your tasks all day every day. As expected, ToDoist comes with quite a number of features — it allows you to create projects, sub-projects, sub-tasks, and dependencies. What's more, you can choose to attach due dates to these important tasks and even prioritize them with the app's color coding system. There's also an option to categorize your task list and more!

Finally, you can choose to either use ToDoist for free or opt for the paid version; of course, the premium comes with extra features that are sure to work great for you. And lest we forget, this exceptional to-do app integrates with services like Sunrise Calendar and Google Drive. Overall, a great mobile to-do app that's guaranteed to keep you happy and productive.

Pros
  • Simple user interface

  • Works on a wide range of platforms

  • Excellent collaboration features

  • Easy to use

Cons
  • No significant cons

Wunderlist (now Microsoft To-Do)

(4.8 out of 5 stars)

Recognized by both Apple and the Verge as the best to-do list app of the year (2013 and 2014 respectively), Wunderlist is one powerful productivity tool that's sure to get the job done. As with other mobile apps on the list, Wunderlist is available in Basic and Pro versions. And unlike other apps out there, the free version comes with just about everything you'll need to keep track of your to-dos and stay organized.

For the most part, this sleekly designed to-do app allows you to create to-do lists, add and check off subtasks, add due dates as well as any reminder you may want. It's also good to know that users can share their to-do lists with friends and colleagues; who also happen to have editing capabilities of their own. In essence, Wunderlist is an excellent tool for day-to-day collaboration. Finally, Wunderlist is available on both Android, iOS and Windows — just hit their respective stores now and get things going!

Unfortunately, purchased Microsoft and shut down in 2020. Some features from Wunderlist were added to Microsoft To Do App.

Pros
  • Easy to use

  • Clean and simple design

  • Great for task management

  • Ability to share lists

Cons
  •  No significant cons

Google Keep

(4.6 out of 5 stars)

Still looking for one of the best mobile to-do list apps to create checklists, set time and place reminders? Just check out Google Keep. For starters, this task management app is not as fancy as other options on the list, but the good thing is that it comes with all the right features. The app is for people looking to create both lists and notes, which they can then access across multiple devices. It's simple yet effective enough to help you get things done.

Essentially, Google Keep connects to Google Drive and allows you to store everything from checklists, notes, voice notes, and photos. Essentially, this is simple and intuitive task organizer. It's also good to know that Google Keep allows you to add a collaborator to your lists/notes and of course, work in tandem to achieve your goals. As mentioned earlier, Google Keep doesn't come with a lot of features (or bells and whistles), but we think it's worth checking out — don't hesitate to hit the download button now!

Pros
  • Intuitive design

  • Easy to use

  • Impressive color coordination

Cons
  • No option to customize fonts

Remember the Milk

(4.1 out of 5 stars)

Remember the Milk — an excellent task management app that's perfect for the entire household. This option right here is considered to be one of the best to-do list apps and it actually lives up to its reputation.

Essentially, Remember the Milk takes over the job of reminding you of just about every task of the day — you could get it via email, mobile notification, text, and IM. It's also good to point out that this highly functional app helps you organize priorities, lists, tags, due dates and the likes. We also love that the app integrates with Google Calendar, Gmail, Twitter, Evernote and more! It's a truly functional productivity app that's totally worth checking out. Of course, Remember the Milk is free to use but you can still become a pro if you got the bill.

Pros
  • Clean user interface

  • Feature-rich

  • Easy to use

  • Excellent collaboration option

Cons
  • It doesn't have the most cutting-edge design

Things 3

(4.5 out of 5 stars)

Things 3 combines useful personalized digital task manager and calendar tools. Thanks to this application, you can organize all your thoughts, correctly prioritize and set goals. Aimed at an audience of iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. Allows you to quickly create tasks, efficiently monitor progress and automatically exchange data with the Apple and Google calendar.

You can plan anything from shopping or grocery lists to complex business plans. In addition, you can add notes, tags to tasks, split them into micro lists, and assign them a specific execution time. Automatic repetition of tasks according to a given schedule is available.

Pros
  • Add tasks using Siri;
  • Customizable interface;
  • Drag and drop support;
  • A quick search of data by filters;
  • Quality workflow, a lot of workspace;
  • Implemented convenient notification system;
  • View detailed information about cases offline.
Cons
  • Unable to collapse section;
  • Doesn't integrate with Microsoft Outlook.

Habitica

( out of 5 stars)

Awesome Habitica will simplify your daily affairs with a fun, gamified approach. Stay well-motivated and organized, have fun with what you do, and earn rewards for successfully completing assignments.

Initially, the user will be prompted to enter their habits, assign daily goals, and create a to-do list with deadlines. It is possible to create an avatar. Level up your character after completing each task. Unlock new features, including equipment, skills, quests, and pets. It is worth noting the possibility of online team collaboration, which involves battles with friends against various monsters and bosses.

Pros
  • Automated updates;
  • Separate notepad for notes;
  • Instant messaging to friends via chat;
  • Integration with popular social networks;
  • Beautifully visualize your achievements.
Cons
  • It is not always possible to cancel the created habit.

TickTick

( out of 5 stars)

TickTick can completely change the idea of standard task management software. Since, in addition to its main purpose, it contains a timer, a habit tracker, and a calendar. Created a convenient hint system for beginners, so there will be no problems with mastering the interface. You can easily make a plan of action for the day or week ahead. Interaction with the calendar by date and time events is available, and also, here you can set recurring tasks.

When you check the lists of tasks, you can switch the normal display mode to the kanban boards and cards, as in Trello. There is a mood explorer, a success bar, a daily goal graph, and a habit completion tab. For each task, you can set the priority from low to high. There is an Inbox folder for storing tasks (status of which has not yet been determined by the user).

Pros
  • Flexible functionality;
  • Smart reminder system;
  • Mini calendar and timer widgets;
  • Creating subtasks and checklists;
  • Using the focus timer (Pomodoro technique);
  • Quick data sync between multiple devices and OS;
  • Available as an extension for Chrome and Firefox browsers.
Cons
  • The statistics section is available only in the web version.

Conclusion

Despite the great variety of the to-do lists, planners, task organizers, and calendar apps, they all share the same mission. They all are designed to help you get done what you set out to do. Meanwhile, it’s your job to find the one that fits you best and helps you organize tasks, manage tasks, and finally get those tasks completed in the most convenient and easy way.

So there you have it! At this point, we're going to round up with the popular phrase, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" In essence, it's now up to you to stick with the mobile to-do app that tickles your fancy. But rest assured, all our picks are totally worth checking out — right from the first to the eighth. Here's to a super productive life!