5 Useful To-Do List Apps For The iPhone
A quick search in the iPhone App store can return you more than a dozen to-do list apps. If you can’t make up your mind over which to-do list app to choose, here are five of the best free to-do list apps that I have reviewed.
1. Dobot Todos
If you like simplicity and just want the bare minimum, then Dobot is the one for you. Dobot provides a plain text interface, but with some really useful features. Usage is easy. Simply press the ‘+’ button to add a task. For each task, you can edit the Task name, due date, priority and note. On the front end, you can easily change the task priority by tapping on the blue horizontal bar.
When viewing a list, you can sort by priority, due date, or creation date, and you can opt to view all tasks, just unfinished tasks, or just those tasks due today.
For those who are looking for a simple, decent and free to-do list app, this is the one to go for.
2. Zenbe List
Some users may find Zenbe too simple with only a few functions. However it has two things that other apps don’t have: a backend sync with Zenbe and the ability to share your list with others. You can easily create a list for a collaboration project with your co-workers, sync it with your Zenbe account and email the share link to your partners. When any one of them updates the list, everyone can see the update.
Another use that I can think of is to share your shopping list with your family members so that no one buys any extra items.
For those who wanted to share their lists with others, this is the only app that allows you to do so.
3. iProcrastinate Mobile
Although iProcrastinate Mobile is free, it does have plenty of useful features that are only found in paid apps. You can allocate your tasks under different subjects and assign different colors for each subject. You can also create smart groups to manage tasks that are due today, or to select different subjects altogether. When creating a task, other than the standard priority, due dates and notes fields, you can also add steps required for each task, and if necessary, add team members to the tasks. If you are looking for a to-do list app that has a nice UI and focuses on task organization, then iProcrastinate Mobile is the one for you.
4. Easy Task Manager
As its name implies, Easy Task Manager is easy to use and there are few complicated options around. Simply enter your task and see it display on the screen. Tasks are automatically sorted according to their due dates. Tasks due today will be showed on the top of the screen so you can easily refer to it without much tapping around.
There is also an option for you to perform an online sync with their server. If you are using the EasyTask desktop client on your Mac or Windows, you can also sync your iPhone to-do list with your desktop.
5. reQall
reQall is unique in the way that you can use your voice to add tasks (the voice recording is for the iPhone only, iPod touch users can add tasks by typing). It is similar to Jott, but with more functionality.
Other than task management, Reqall also acts as a shopping list, idea recorder, reminder service, memory aid and also a contact list. In the reQall home screen, there are three sections that you can view: Time, Things and People. Time helps you to group tasks according to their due dates while Things allows you to see the categories where the tasks are located. People allows you to share reminders with your friends and family.
If you are online, reQall will automatically sync your tasks with their online server.
Do you have any other favourite to-do list apps for the iPhone? Share them in the comments!
(By) Damien Oh is an all-out technology geek who loves to tweak and hack various operating systems to make life easier. Check out his blog at Make Tech Easier where he shares all the tips, tricks and tutorials.
Dont forget about Things for the iPhone. And best of all, it will soon sync with Things on your Mac.
Link ? Please …
http://www.culturedcode.com/things/iphone/
(Comments wont nest below this level)YES THINGS IS AWESOME! I don’t know what I’d do without it!
I’m using do.Oh (pronounced do point oh). Also a very simple one, with today, tomorrow and next week lists. It’s a web app, so all your stuff is stored online, not on the phone.
http://dopointoh.com
I prefer the one that runs on mobile though
Another task management web-tool that works on the iPhone is Gtdagenda
http://www.gtdagenda.mobi
You may find this article (Top 25 Free iPhone Web Apps for Your Daily Life) useful as well.
http://iphonetoolbox.com/news/top-25-free-iphone-web-apps-for-your-daily-life/
I personally prefer Todo. Sure, it costs $10, but syncs with Remember the Milk too, and is, IMO, better than the others y’all mentioned.
Totally agree. With Appigo’s “To Do” synced with Remember The Milk and integrated into Gmail (Firefox plug-in) and Google Calendar I’ve finally got the easy-to-use task manager/calendar set up I was dying to have on my iPhone.
It’s a shame it took software from three companies to do it, but the sync was actually pretty easy.
“To Do” was well worth the $10.
Zenbe works great!
Wow, this article missed LOTS:
1) OmniFocus. The best one out there, period. It’s rather complex and expensive, but amazing.
Link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284885288&mt=8
2) Zenbe is not “the only app to allow sharing with others”, so does ToDo through it’s interface with either Remember the Milk or Toodledo
Link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=282778557&mt=8
You forgot Jott which is very similar to Reqall and Nozbe which isn’t in the APP store, but was released as a web app. Reqall and Jott are great because they will transcribe what you speak and both have an 800 number to enter data as well.
You are missing the best of the best
http://www.rememberthemilk.com
I’d like to give a shout out to OmniFocus for iPhone which has a most awesome “big brother” app for Mac. http://omnigroup.com/omnifocus/iphone and http://omnigroup.com/omnifocus
You also missed the aptly named “ToDo” app which syncs with Remember the Milk (if you have a pro account). It’s an incredibly handy application.
Do any of these support reminders???
Would like to be reminded hourly for some tasks
I just tried out the latest Things release that “syncs with the desktop”. What a huge disappointment! I will stick with Appigo’s Todo. There’s nothing like online sync from wherever I have network connectivity. Plus, it’s one of the only apps I’ve downloaded that doesn’t constantly crash, not to mention the fact that I can’t live without it now. Best $10 I’ve spent on any app.
http://www.appigo.com/todo/
I sometimes find iPhone too complicated. Anyway, great article, thanks for sharing
Any todo list without reminder functionality is useless imo.
Sending an email or sms reminder is a cop out. The app should just be able to pop up an alert… the same way it works on every other phone in existance.
If the app developers hands are tied by working in a sandbox then apple should get the finger out and make a special case app themselves.
i’m sick of remembering that i forgot things.
Gootodo.com has a nice iPhone version. No need to deal with the App Store – just go to the URL in the iPhone Web browser.
Don’t forget about skwink.com, a simple todo and note manager. (http://www.skwink.com).
Evernote, OmniFocus, Jott
Hi guys, I’m actually looking for a todo app that has these features:
1. Allows you to link a task to a contact in your iphone.
2. Your tasks has due times as well as dates
3. Allows your tasks to remind you when it’s due 1hr/30mins/15mins before it’s due.
4. Shows on the main screen of the iphone how many tasks you have for today without having to first go into the app.
5. Allows you to append a note to the task.
Any recommendations? I need ALL these features not just one or two. I’ve been search forever and haven’t found anything yet. If there is one like that, OMG that would be awesome. Thanks in advance.
did you find it?
Late to the party, I know, but I just thought I’d chime in on this one! From what I’ve read, the things you’re asking for here aren’t possible on a normal iPhone because Apple don’t let app developers get their claws that deep into the phone’s operating system, so they can’t screw it up for you. If you want these features, you might be able to find something that’ll do it if you jailbreak your phone. I’ve not attempted this myself (I only got my phone a week ago!) but I’ve seen online that there are unofficial apps that can display messages on the locked-screen, so perhaps this might help?
I like Skratch List! It’s simple and easy to use. Best of all, you can shake and flick it to delete and add stuff
Can’t get EasyTask Manager desktop to sync with iPod touch version. The desktop app just doesn’t recognize my iPod touch. Can’t find much documentation on it either. Did you actually try this functionality out? Did it work for you?
Is iphone too complicated? I just use a simple app named “TaskCard”, it is cool! The idea is great so I bought the paid version… Check it out! http://bit.ly/TaskCard
I am just wondering if anyone tried “Informant”? I thought it’s pretty good, and am surprised that it is not mentioned in the threads.
Do any of the apps sync with the to do list in Outlook?
I tried “Jobshare” by Joubee.com. I didn’t have high hopes as I’ve tried other similar apps before but it surprised me
For $2 its well worth the money.
just so you know the link off my comment goes to a good review of Jobshare app in case you were interested. I didn’t write it but I found it useful
I’m a slacker. I love Put Things Off!
After using a few out there, I uninstalled all of them and found a way to sync my iphone calendar to google calendar (even to outlook) and it works great (2 way sync).
I guess the interface is not as easy as others but it gets the job done. I only wish there was something like a project/time management app to sync with google. Does anyone know of a free one?
Merlin – Project Management & Behance are good but don’t sync with google. Toodledo is the best I found but it’s not exactly that.
I thought this article was about free apps. The first line says: “here are five of the best free to-do list apps”. Thanks for all the comments on how great the $2 and $10 (and $19.99! WTH?) apps are but this article was talking about free apps. Things is not free. Todo and Remember the Milk are not free. OmniFocus at 19.99 is certainly not free. If you’re looking for a paid app, I’m sure those are great. Anyway, thanks Damien for the review of the free ones – I’m going to go try them out now.
I am a big fan of Skratch List. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done – exactly what I need. I also really like the flickAdd feature.
They recently added a free version called Free List. Check it out:
http://www.skratchboard.com/iphone-tips-tricks/skratch-list-best-to-do-list-app-for-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/
I personally prefer an app called Nubi Do. If you really need to be productive and manage your day better, try this app. I believe they recently released a lite version to try out.
http://www.2doapp.com
Lucid Lists is a fantastic to-do app for managing recurring tasks… call you mother, wash the dog, go for a run… etc. Very handy!
http://itunes.com/apps/LucidLists
Listable is a new ToDo list app which is changing the game by being 100% free, for both the iPhone and Web app. Get it on iTunes or check out the web site.
The easiest software to unlock your iPhone is http://softunlock.com
It works and it is free.
*thumbs up*
Great list, In the end i decided to get iProcrastinate Mobile its a awesome app! Thanks for the list.
Great list! I was looking for so long for such apps. Thanks
Interesting links but I’m having real difficulty finding an App that does what I want.
I have a daily routine (check email, exercise etc) and I’m looking for a Todo app that will present me with this list of todos for me to check off each day.
As well there are some todoos that need to come up once a week or once a month.
As far as I can see none of the Apps listed manage this. They don’t start each day afresh with a daily list; they either carry over incomplete earlier todos or do not add recurrent todos to today until the previous day’s entry for that todo have been completed (I hope you can follow that).
I guess what I’m asking is if anyone knows of an App that will allow recurrent todos, starting fresh each day with a new list for that day.
Check out SimplyDo for the iPhone. Looks awesome and has a great feature set for the price. Easy to use as the name implies. http://www.knickapps.com/simplydo
Great list, but I think that TODO wins hands down for ease of use.
There’s nothing like online sync from wherever I have network connectivity. Plus, it’s one of the only apps I’ve downloaded that doesn’t constantly crash, not to mention the fact that I can’t live without it now. Best $10 I’ve spent on any app.
http://www.superchinawholesale.com
A wicked amount of to-do apps have emerged since this article, which remains a top source for those searching. Take a look at YouDo http://slidetorock.com/apps/YouDo-todo-task-list-iphone.html and let me know what you think. I’m subscribed.
You may find some of the todo apps introduced here either too simple to be useful or too long-winded where it takes years to add tasks and appointments. You don’t want your to-do app to actually take away your time that could have been spent actually getting things done.
Why don’t you try Todew – a task management app that won’t waste your time?
You can see the screencast here: http://somaticcontact.com/todew
iTunes App Store link: http://bit.ly/dn2DBo