The digital alternative to creating a physical to-do list has found its way in the form of apps, and it often brings powerful customization features, timers, categories, and even the ability to attach files.
However, sometimes it’s best to just have an app that accomplishes the one goal of a to-do list: to display your upcoming tasks, in a manner that's both distraction-free and a treat to look at. We have tested a slew of to-do list apps and rounded up the most beautiful ones that help you stay on top of your life.
1. tomorrow
Nothing screams minimalism more than tomorrow, an app that has its entire philosophy set behind the principle of completing short-term tasks. There are only two screens you need to worry about: today and tomorrow.
The only options you get while creating a new task are adding a reminder, selecting a category, and choosing which of the two days you want the task assigned to. From there, you’re only a tap away from ticking off your completed tasks.
What we really found unique with tomorrow is the sense of urgency in completing the listed tasks. Since there are only two days worth of tasks the app can display at a time, once you miss them, they’re pretty much gone. The app also has a dark mode and a simple widget you can pin to your home screen.
While the bare-bones functionality isn't for everyone, tomorrow serves as a good to-the-point day planner. The biggest downside to the app is that there's no cloud backup option to sync between different devices.
Download: tomorrow for Android (Free)
2. Memorigi
Feature-rich apps are often associated with designs that are too complex, but not this one. Memorigi is quite possibly the best-looking to-do list app that also doesn’t compromise in terms of features and customization.
The dashboard consists of big, bold, colorful icons that you can edit or rearrange to your liking. You can jump between different views including inbox, today, upcoming, and a logbook section where you can keep completed tasks. To add a new task, select the appropriate category and tap on the plus icon. With the free version of Memorigi, you can schedule tasks, add notes to it, and change its icon and color.
While these parameters are plenty to plan your day ahead with, you might want to pay for one of the two premium-tier subscription plans if you wish to enjoy the flabbergasting amount of other features. Memorigi has a dark mode that's a bit easier on the eyes under the Theme & UI options, where you can also change the default view to any of the aforementioned sections.
Features like productivity stats, deadlines, Google Calendar integration, and attachments are nice to have, but not essential to enjoy a pleasant experience while using Memorigi.
Download: Memorigi for Android (Free, subscription available)
3. Tweek
Tweek is a to-do list app designed for people who are tired of complicated menus and an overwhelming set of options. Sometimes all you need is a simple pen and paper style workflow to get things done. This is precisely what Tweek delivers with its incredibly captivating UI.
Tweek uses a calendar view to display all of your tasks. There are no categories, tags, or priorities to distract you from designing a productive week. All you need to do is tap the empty space below a date and start typing. You can add color to your tasks to bring some life to the rather monochromatic timeline.
The free version of the app also allows you to create shared calendars in collaboration with friends or your loved ones. The way the app displays your tasks is not only beautiful but simple enough that you can print it out on a piece of paper to plan your week the traditional way, which rivals the best online calendars.
Tweek has support for adding notes and subtasks under a to-do item, but this is locked behind a subscription plan. Other benefits of the premium version include rich text formatting, additional colors, a dark mode, and Google Calendar integration.
Download: Tweek for Android (Free, subscription available)
4. To-Do List
With a very self-explanatory name, To-Do List is yet another beautiful app to add and organize any upcoming chores. Adding a task is as simple as tapping the plus icon and selecting a category. You can add a calendar date, subtasks, and even choose from a list of templates for recurring tasks.
The app allows you to sort your tasks either by their category, or a calendar view. To-Do List also has a couple of themes with the free version that you can apply to give the app a personal touch while adding and managing tasks. The widgets available in different layouts are a neat addition too.
In the Mine tab to the far right, you can sign in to your Google account to enable cloud backups. This is also where you can view statistics of your completed and pending tasks. The paid version of the app unlocks more themes and widgets, gets rid of advertisements, and has enhanced task reminders.
Download: To-Do List for Android (Free, subscription available)
5. Microsoft To Do
It's quite rare to see a mainstream development team the size of Microsoft catering to the aesthetic lovers in the crowd. Microsoft's take on a to-do list app has resulted in a striking balance between functionality and design.
Like most other to-do list apps, you can create categories, assign them a color and even an icon to go along with it. You can add tasks in specific categories, attach files, add reminders, and set them to recur periodically.
Everything is stored on your Microsoft account, and you're free to think of that as either a boon or a curse. The My Day section is where you can add tasks you're willing to accomplish during the day and have the rest marked as Planned or Important. Among the relatively new and experimental apps in this genre, Microsoft To Do stands out as a confident yet gorgeous planner.
Download: Microsoft To Do for Android (Free)
Bonus: Stuff To-Do List Widget
For all the widget lovers out there, we have one final pick. Stuff is a clean and minimal to-do list widget for your home screen. While a few of the apps on this list have their widget counterparts, Stuff is only a widget with no complicated options or fancy icons.
The widget segregates your tasks into Today, Tomorrow, Upcoming, and Someday (for tasks that do not have a definite date set for them). Tapping in the middle of the widget will create a new task entry, and tapping to the right edge will bring up a few options. You can add or edit categories from here, or customize the widget with a one-time purchase of the pro version.
Download: Stuff for Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
Try Creative Ways to Manage Tasks
Every app on this list has something unique to offer in the design department. Some are bare-bones and minimal, while others are drop-dead gorgeous. In case beauty doesn't cut it for you, the Play Store is home to several unique and unusual apps that help you complete tasks in creative ways.