While there are plenty of apps out there jam-packed with useful productivity tools and features, sometimes you need a simple to-do list to get the job done. Minimalist apps stand out in their design and user experience, removing excess elements and leaving only the necessities.
Here are seven free to-do list apps you can download to get your tasks done. We’ve even ordered them from least to the most minimal, so you can find the perfect level of simplicity to suit your needs.
1. Success Weekly Planner
Success Weekly Planner is a to-do list app that challenges you to keep your list to a minimum. In the daily view, you write down your most important task of the day that needs to be finished, two secondary tasks that are important but not as urgent, and two more remaining tasks if you have the time.
You then choose how many Pomodoro sessions you think it will take to complete the task. Once you complete the item, you enter the actual amount of time it took in the final box on the right and compare the difference.
You can make notes about the day, give yourself a productivity score, and plan for the future or look back at the past.
If you have more than five tasks for the day, don’t fret either. There is an additional Weekly Planning mode you can use to input up to 15 more tasks for the week that aren’t assigned for a specific day.
Download: Success Weekly Planner for Android | iOS (Free)
2. The Process: Personal Planner
While the layout of this app looks clean and simple, there is quite a bit that The Process offers. There are three different tabs, where you Do, Log, and Review.
Focusing on the to-do list aspect of the app, the Do tab provides a simple to-do list format to add your tasks and swipe left to complete them. While the original idea behind the app is to help build habits, it's also a great way to keep track of your tasks and start from a blank slate after the day is over.
Additionally, you can add logs (or notes) with up to 300 characters and complete a daily review of your progress and productivity, which you can summarize under the Review tab. A daily review in the app allows you to move tasks over to the next day, reflect on what you accomplished in the day, and plan for tomorrow.
Download: The Process: Personal Planner for iOS (Free)
3. Meraki: To-Do List
Meraki is an app that integrates scheduling with to-do tasks in a seamless manner. With fluid gestures, you swipe right to complete a task and swipe left to delete it. You can have multiple to-do lists for different categories, and navigating separate pages is also as easy and swiping up and down.
Another integration connects your calendar to the app to help align tasks with upcoming events and deadlines. You receive a daily briefing on your home page of the tasks and events scheduled for your day. Last but certainly not least, the app gives you motivational quotes about getting things done.
While the look of Meraki is minimal, it has several features that you can use. It’s a perfect balance if you prefer to view your information in a non-cluttered way but still want to enhance your to-do list with a handful of integrations.
Download: Meraki: To-Do List for iOS (Free)
4. Tweek
Tweek is a to-do list app based on a weekly calendar. You get a Monday to Sunday (or Sunday to Saturday) view to add your tasks to the list for the entire week and the future. While there are additional features such as color-coding tasks and making additional calendars, it works well in its simplest form.
You can also opt for a Tweek Premium subscription with additional features and integrations. But if you want simple functions, the free version will be more than enough.
Download: Tweek for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
5. someday
Your task list is divided into three different categories of deadlines in this app: today, tomorrow, and someday. The design is clean, organized, and comes with fun emojis. From the homepage, you can easily create new tasks and see how many tasks are listed in each category.
When you check off a completed item, it disappears, no longer taking up a part of your mind. This great app offers a little bit of future planning while remaining as simple as possible. Last but not least, the disappearing items are perfect if you prefer to have something completely out of mind once you’ve completed them.
Download: someday for iOS (Free)
6. Gone App
This is a simple to-do list with an interesting twist. Once you write a task on your list, you have 24 hours to complete that task otherwise it will expire. Once it expires, it’s moved off of the to-do list.
There is a weekly archive of your tasks that is available under the settings menu, in which you’ll be able to see how many tasks you were able to complete before the expiry date.
If you need something that can help you focus on what you need to do one day at a time, the Gone App could be the right one for you.
This unique approach to a to-do list motivates you to quickly complete your tasks after writing them down instead of putting them off for more than a day. While this isn’t a perfect system for planning out big projects, it’s a great way to productively keep track of tasks you can do within a day.
Download: Gone App for iOS (Free)
7. MinimaList
MinimaList is a well-liked app for simple tasks. When you enter the app, you’ll notice immediately just how minimal it is. The screen is completely blank except for the tasks. You use simple gestures to create new items and mark old ones as complete, and you can also set deadlines for yourself.
MinimaList also has a premium version you can upgrade to for multiple list windows, location-based tasks, and more. Though, the free version is more than enough as a straightforward to-do list solution.
Also, clicking on a task opens up Focus Mode, which offers a Pomodoro timer, regular timer, and a custom countdown timer. This is a great feature for any tasks that require a lot of focus, and it’s presented in a non-intrusive way that doesn’t disturb the minimal design of the app.
Download: MinimaList for iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
Cross “Find a To-Do App” Off Your List
Having a reliable to-do list is a simple yet powerful way to get things done. Not only does it remind you of the tasks you need to complete, but breaking down larger projects into more digestible chunks of work reduces feelings of being overwhelmed and helps you visualize what your workflow should look like.
Now that you have a list of beautiful minimal and functionally simple apps to choose from, it’s time to conquer your task list.