The 5 Best To-Do List Apps Worth Downloading Today

Key Points

• Todoist is the best to do list app for highly productive people that need to stay in the loop across multiple platforms.
• Microsoft To Do is the best free to do list app and extremely popular, with over 10 million downloads.
• Remember the Milk is one of the best free to do list apps for mobile devices, with features like task assignment and list sharing.
• MinimaList is a top option for iPhone and iPad users, with a streamlined interface and easy-to-use features.
• ColorNote Notepad Notes is a classic and efficient to do list app for Android users, with a 4.9 rating and 100 million downloads.

A to-do list comes in handy when you have trouble getting things done. For mobile users, the best To Do list apps will make whiteboards and notepads a thing of the past. Whether you sport a device running Android or macOS, our picks provide a variety of ways to stay informed of important tasks.

The Best To-Do List Apps

If you’ve searched the app stores for notepads and to-do list apps, you may have been surprised by the sheer number of options. There are hundreds of apps that can remind users of tasks through notifications, and many are cross-compatible to a degree. On our list, you’ll find a mix of premium apps for power users looking for extreme focus, along with simple, free to-do list apps.

Todoist

The Best To-Do list app is the aptly named Todoist, a program available for mobile devices and PCs running Windows, macOS, or Linux. That means you can sync your lists across multiple devices, but that’s just the start of what this handy app can do.

Todoist is designed for personal use, but it is also perfect for teachers and workers looking to collaborate. The app has settings for beginners and novices with numerous sections. You can set up reminders for healthy habit notifications and projects or add filters and labels. The interface is intuitive whether you’re setting up new routines or adding a doctor’s appointment to your schedule.

While you can try out Todoist for free, the app really shines for productive people in the workplace. You can share large files in comments, get unlimited reminders, and create up to 300 projects. Cloud saves are a nice touch, and so is the ability to add dozens of guests to projects. The premium version brings a lot to the table, but the free version allows users to experience key features, including natural language processing.

Todoist is the best to-do list app for highly productive people that need to stay in the loop across multiple platforms. That’s one of the reasons it’s so highly rated across both app stores. It’s not the best choice for people who want something simple, but it is ideal if you have projects and tasks you need to track on smartphones or PCs. The premium version of Todoist is priced at $4.99 a month or around $47 annually. Todoist can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Microsoft To Do

Microsoft produces hundreds of popular programs, including numerous well-received mobile apps. Their popular To Do app is one of the company’s top options and it is an excellent way to remember tasks, whether you’re on a smartphone, tablet, or PC.

Ease of use is the first thing to come to mind when firing up Microsoft To Do. After logging into your Microsoft account or signing up with email, you’re presented with a menu that shows tasks, lists, and planned events. You can quickly “star” anything important and set up groups for different things. This allows users to separate personal to-do lists from things like work tasks.

Microsoft’s app can also use the cloud to track your tasks and sync data from phones and tablets to PCs. It works with the Apple Watch, and while it doesn’t have as many features as comparable apps, it’s incredibly easy to use. We also like the ability to add backgrounds to groups, including photos from your own devices.

Like Todoist, Microsoft To Do is available on multiple platforms from smartphones to computers. Microsoft To Do is the best free to-do list app and is extremely popular, with over 10 million downloads. There’s no downside with this to-do list app unless you’re looking for a program with more collaborative features for the workplace. You can download To Do from the App Store and the Google Play store.

Remember the Milk

Remember the Milk is one of the older apps on our list and one of the best free to-do list apps for mobile devices. It certainly won’t let you forget the milk, but it can remind users of far more than that through an intuitive interface.

Remember the Milk has you covered whether you need to remember something today, tomorrow, or next week. You can set lists and reminders with a few clicks and assign them to any day you’d like. Want to assign a task to someone else? That’s possible for anyone using Remember the Milk, and the app can send an invite if they haven’t signed up yet. 

The app has an email vibe, especially when it comes to organization. There are collapsible sections for contacts and lists, along with deep integration. Twitter and Gmail are options, and the Pro version of Milk unlocks more features. That includes subtasks, Outlook sync, advanced filtering, and unlimited storage.

People using Remember the Milk can get reminders anywhere and can share lists with others, including partners and pals. The app provides plenty of features for free, and the Pro version is $39.99 a year if you like what the app offers. You can download Remember the Milk from the App Store or the Google Play store.

MinimaList: To-Do List and Widget

While many popular to-do list apps are available on multiple platforms, some of the best to-do list apps are exclusive to specific platforms. One of the top options for consumers rocking an iPhone or iPad is MinimaList, an app that lives up to its moniker.

If you aim to streamline things in your life, you’ll love MinimaList. The app is designed with speed in mind, so you can swipe right to mark something as done or swipe left to delete a task. Want to add another task? Just pull the screen down. A tap enters Focus Mode, and everything is easy to drag about or reorder when you have multiple lists.

Widgets are another significant part of this app and are simple to set up through the interface. The app gives users free access to all the key features, although you’re limited to just one list. The Premium version of MinamList provides additional features, including sub-tasks, memos, location-based reminders, custom alert ringtones, and new colors.

This app from Davetech has been well-received by users, and we love the fact it’s available on the Apple Watch along with the iPhone and iPad. While we wish it worked in landscape mode, it’s effortless to use, and the premium version is packed with features. It’s also a great deal at only $1.99 monthly or $5.99 for a lifetime license. If this sounds like it’s up your alley, you can download MinimaList from the App Store.

ColorNote Notepad Notes

Reminder and to-do list apps are one of the more popular options on Google Play with hundreds of options to choose from. One of the best options for users looking for a classic approach in this digital age is ColorNote Notepad Notes.

ColorNote has three ways to set up a to-do list. You can make a text note, set something on the calendar, or make a checklist. There are a handful of themes, but you can set colors to any task or note in the app. Color coding is free with ColorNote, unlike similar to-do list apps, and there are several widgets to choose from.

The widgets look like a classic sticky note. A quick tap allows access to any task, and they are just as quick to delete. It’s the fastest to-do list app we used, even if it’s a bit light on features. There aren’t as many bells and whistles with ColorNote, but there are some cool perks like autosave, and it’s entirely free to use.

ColorNote is one of the best to-do list apps for Android users in need of an efficient, free task-managing app. There are dozens of notepad apps on Google Play, but this one has a 4.9 rating and 100 million downloads for a reason. It is a fantastic app and a great way to quickly set up a to-do list on your smartphone or tablet. You can download ColorNote here.

The Wrap-Up

The best to-do list app can help you stay on track and ensure you never forget important things again, provided you remember to check your mobile device or PC. While no app can completely remove human error from the equation, these apps perform as advertised and will make your life much easier.

Summary Table

The image featured at the top of this post is ©worapot noicharoen/Shutterstock.com.