There is a discussion to be had on the best to-do list app out there but first, we need to consider why we need one.
We all have thousands of things on our minds every day and it is nearly impossible to keep track, categorize and prioritize everything. We are bound to miss or skip one thing or another and this is where the best to-do list apps come into play.
In the digital age, we have our smartphones on us all the time so why not use these to be more productive and less stressed out all the time. Once you decide that you need a to-do list app, the next obvious question is, which one.
We have gathered the 10 best to-do list apps for 2022.
Table of Contents
Why Use a To-Do List App and Not Pen and Paper?
For centuries people have been getting by just fine with pen and paper. But in the digital world of today where practically everything you do requires a computer in some shape or form, a to-do list app is the way to go.
To-do list apps build on the same idea and take it to a whole new level with features like cloud-based storage, multiple user access, saving links, images, and videos along with the basics like jotting down notes, adding and prioritizing tasks, and creating checklists. To-do list apps generally help you be more productive.
What to Look for in a To-Do List App
This is completely circumstantial. A to-do list app could be the best at certain things but does not fit the bill for you based on what you need out of it. You need to consider what you need the app to do and how you will use it?
For us, it is imperative that a to-do list app works on multiple platforms and has multiple user access so our team can stay on top of which tasks take priority and which ones have been completed with multiple people working on them. You on the other hand maybe a one-man-army who only uses a smartphone which makes the features we deem absolutely necessary, completely useless to you.
10 of the best to-do list apps in 2022
Wrike
Wrike has become a popular name in the project management world. It is more than just a to-do list app as it offers a whole host of features like:
- Kanban board to have a quick view of all your tasks
- Create lists of tasks and set priorities for each task
- Assign tasks to team members
- Create and track timelines
- Set up calendar and view tasks based on it
- Create lists, cards and move them around to reorganize
There is a free version of Wrike but it only offers very basic features like the Kanban board. The pricing beyond that ranges from $13.80/month (or 117.60/year) for Professional plans to $24.80 for Business and can go even higher for Enterprise.
One downside is that Wrike is on the pricier side and there are a lot of alternatives on the market now which offer quite a similar experience for half the cost.
Asana
Asana is a great app for managing ongoing tasks. It helps track task completion times, enables you to collaborate with team members, and gives the option to give notes and provide comments on tasks. Along with this, you also get all of your standard features like creating tasks, assigning priorities, setting reminders and deadlines on the tasks.
Asana is geared towards small and large businesses too with pricing plans to match. There is a basic plan for your average joe, the Premium plan is $10.99/year, the Business plan is $24.99 and there is also custom pricing for the Enterprise plan.
The features Asana offers are:
- Assigning tasks to more than one person
- Add comments and uploading files to tasks
- Option to mark important tasks
- Task updates are real-time
- Option to create set and create task dependencies
The free version of Asana is decently equipped for most people looking for just a basic to-do list application. It is available on all platforms including Windows and macOS as well as iOS and Android. Asana has a very clean and well laid out design with various task views which help with managing tasks quickly. Asana is not recommended to people who work in the creative or graphic design industry.
Todoist
If you are looking for a minimalistic design with enough features for a small team or just yourself, Todoist is a very compelling option. It gives you nostalgia with a yellow notepad-esque look and feel. Todoist is supported on every operating system but varies a little with each one. With a free version available and premium pricing at $4/month, it is also very easy on the pocket.
Todoist works and syncs flawlessly across multiple devices and have features like:
- Task creation directly from emails
- Prioritizing tasks
- Todoist offer an open API
- Filters with built-in customization
- A selection of pre-added templates for projects
Todoist is very convenient as it can be connected with various other productivity tools like Slack and Gmail.
If future updates can fix a few small issues like the absence of a task tracking functionality, Todoist can become an even more powerful productivity tool than it already is.
Evernote
Priced at $ 7.99/month, Evernote is one of the more expensive to-do list apps out there but with good reason. The most useful feature about Evernote is its ability to work seamlessly across all major platforms. It is a cloud-based app that syncs all your tasks and notes to the cloud so they can be accessed from any device you log into.
Key features of Evernote are:
- Supported on MacOS, iOS/iPad OS, Windows, and Android
- Ability to sync with emails
- Built-in OCR for saving handwritten notes
- Ability to share links through the app
- Easy task and project management
Evernote is simple and intuitive with all the necessary to-do lists and task management features, but it lacks in the storage department. It also does not have management features for more complex tasks.
Any.do
Any.do is quite possibly one of the easiest and simplest to-do list applications. You have the feature to tick mark completed tasks and create folders and subfolders for additional categorization of tasks.
The best feature of Any.do is its ability to listen. You can create tasks, notes, and reminders with your voice which makes this app perfect for people who are on the go a lot. All you have to do is talk to your smartphone’s assistant (google assistant or Siri) and the app will type it in itself. Other features include:
- Management of recurring tasks
- Tasks can be easily shared with other users
- Task prioritization and color grading
- Ability to attach notes and files for better context and understanding
- Theme is customizable to one’s liking
- Calendar is built in the app
There is a free version of the app available but it is only restricted to basic features. For all premium features, the price is $2.99 per month per user.
Things 3
Things 3 is only available to Apple users as it has no web-based version nor does it have apps for Android or Windows. But for iOS or macOS users it is a very well thought out and nicely designed app with all the necessary features. On top of everything else, it has an Apple Watch app too.
It focused on individuals who need help balancing their professional and personal lives. Things 3 has seamless integration with Apple software like notes, calendars, and reminders where it can sync all your data from these apps with the press of a button. Additional features include:
- Alerts and reminders
- Notifications on Apple Watch
- Project completion creates an achievement circle
- All calendar event and tasks are listed together to help you plan out your day
- Slim-mode for more precise and focused viewing.
Things 3 is priced at $49.99 for Mac, $19.99 for iPad, and $9.99 for iPhone and Apple Watch. As a personal to-do list app, Things 3 is very good for what it is but it is costly and hard to recommend when there are equally capable much cheaper alternatives.
TickTick
TickTick is quite frankly the only application on the list for which we can openly recommend the free version. All necessary features like reminders, tags, tasks, subtasks, notes, notifications, and deadlines can be used in the free version. The premium version brings additional features like calendar views, historical stats, and personalized themes which are all nice to have but not necessary.
As a to-do list app, TickTick offers:
- Drag and drop feature
- Time tracking on tasks
- Option to set priorities
- Voice commands using voice assistants
- Alerts and reminders on approaching deadlines and overdue tasks
Omnifocus also brings a feature called Pomodoro timer which helps you focus. The app has a user-friendly interface that is fairly simple to use. One major downside is the app’s inability to integrate with other productivity tools.
Basecamp
Basecamp is not a standard to-do list app and is more of a project management tool. If you own a small business or a startup, Basecamp is worth a shot. It is very useful as a collaboration tool with cloud-based project management functionality.
Basecamp is very simple to use. You can create projects, assign project administrations and team members and create a full to-do list of the project from top to bottom. Additionally, the app offers the option to hold discussions, manage project calendars and track all the relevant milestones along the way. On top of all this:
- Create and prioritize tasks
- Upload files and images
- Assign and review tasks
- Set reminders and deadlines
- Calendar views for managing tasks
There is a free version available but it will probably not suit any business, though it can be used on a trial basis. It offers support for 3 users and 20 projects coupled with 1GB of cloud storage. The higher tier, more suitable option costs $99/month or $999/year with unlimited projects and users.
OmniFocus 3
If you are a mac or iOS user and can afford to pay up to $99.99 (which is a lot for a to-do list app) Omnifocus 3 is, at the very least, worth a look. Yes, this is by far the most costly application on the list but it is also arguably the most powerful of the bunch.
Omnifocus 3 is great for people who follow the GTD approach. It comes with its own toolset helping you do things more efficiently. This app comes with features like color-coded labels for tasks. Omnifocus 3 is geared towards people who create workflows and need help tracking them. Additional features include:
- Integration of system calendar application
- Light and dark mode support
- Option to edit tasks in batches
- Task forecasting based on past actions
- Reminders and notifications
- Customizable and editable tags and labels for better organization
- Seamless syncing process across all devices
Omnifocus can make newcomers feel a bit lost when they first start to get acquainted with this well-designed application. It also offers different pricing options for iOS and Mac users with starting prices at $49.99 for standard packages on both but for $79.99 for premium on iPhones and $99.99 on Mac.
Bear
At $1.49/month or $14.99/year, Bear is a steal once you understand how powerful this to-do list app really is. It also offers a free trial, one week on the monthly subscription or one month on the yearly one. The unique selling point of Bear is its ability to create complete documents with perfect formatting. Once you are done creating the document you can convert it into a word document or a PDF with just a few clicks.
If this does not compel you to try it out maybe the additional feature will:
- Photos and images can be added to documents
- Many different themes to personalize the app
- Word count feature
- Option to create links within the lists
- A special focus mode
The biggest drawback of Bear is that it is only available to Mac and iPhone users. There is no app for Windows and Android. But if you do live in the confines of the Apple ecosystem, Bear is definitely worth a try.
Our Final Thoughts
In our opinion, Todoist is the best to-do list app for 2022 based on the huge number of positive reviews on networks like Capterra & G2.com. In addition, another fantastic aspect of Todoist is its cross-platform capabilities. It works perfectly on IOS and Android – a 4.8 rating on iOS App Store just gives credibility to our claim!
FAQ’s on Best to-do list apps for 2022
Best To-Do List Apps – Frequently Asked Questions
To-do List Apps vs. Project Management Software
To-do list apps pale in comparison to project management apps when it comes to features they commit and the functionality they offer. The basic function of a to-do list app is to create, list, categorize and prioritize tasks, set reminders, and create checklists so the users can manage their days better and be more productive.
Alternatively, Project management software can do a lot more like assign tasks, track time, set deadlines, give reminders, set meetings, hold discussions, upload files, provide cloud storage and have integrations with other productivity tools like slack for a more efficient and seamless workflow.
Project management software costs much more and is geared towards professionals and small businesses while to-do list apps are for personal use.
What Makes a Great To-Do List App?
There are a few things that make a to-do list app great:
- Seamless synchronization, preferable cloud-based storage
- Support on all mainstream platforms like Android, iOS, MacOS and Windows
- Intuitive and simple design.
- Easy to use
- Multiple user support
- Ability to manage, track, tag, categorize and prioritize tasks
- Integration with other productivity applications
