The 9 best to do list apps for Mac in 2022

Protecting monitor of your duties is extremely private. That's why there are such a lot of to-do record apps—as a result of none of them really feel "excellent" to everybody. That is notably true for Mac customers.

When you're utilizing a Mac, that's in all probability, at the least partly, since you're specific concerning the software program you employ. You're pickier than the typical laptop consumer, and also you count on issues to look and work a sure approach.

Purposes that don't like they had been designed for macOS are distracting as a result of issues like keyboard shortcuts, notifications, and menus don't work the way in which they do in different functions. That disrupts your workflow, which defeats the complete level of productiveness software program.

I considered all of these items whereas I examined each Mac to-do record app I might get my fingers on, so listed below are the most effective to-do record apps yow will discover for macOS.

The perfect to-do record apps for Mac

• Issues for a mix of highly effective options with elegant design

• Todoist for Mac customers who have to sync with different platforms

• OmniFocus for energy customers and GTD followers

• Reminders for a easy possibility for Apple-only customers

• GoodTask for making Reminders extra highly effective

• 2Do for a completely customizable to-do record with a number of syncing choices

• TaskPaper for a text-based record for managing duties with solely your keyboard

• TickTick for a cross-platform possibility that feels native to the Mac

• Microsoft To Do for the most effective free to-do record app for Mac

• A couple of extra choices

What makes a fantastic to-do record app for Mac?

How we consider and take a look at apps

All of our greatest apps roundups are written by people who've spent a lot of their careers utilizing, testing, and writing about software program. We spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, utilizing every app because it's supposed for use and evaluating it in opposition to the factors we set for the class. We're by no means paid for placement in our articles from any app or for hyperlinks to any web site—we worth the belief readers put in us to supply genuine evaluations of the classes and apps we evaluate. For extra particulars on our course of, learn the total rundown of how we choose apps to function on the Zapier weblog.

There's an unbelievable vary of Mac to-do record apps on the market, all trying to serve totally different sorts of customers. Which one you like might effectively boil down to private style. In my view, the easiest Mac to-do record apps have to do 5 key issues:

• Supply a number of methods to prepare duties, akin to tags, lists, due dates, or initiatives

• Make it quick so as to add new duties with out opening the app, ideally utilizing a keyboard shortcut

• Remind you about self-imposed deadlines

• Supply a clear interface, with native macOS options like notifications, widgets, and integration with the menu bar

• Sync duties to your cellphone

All of our selections supply free trials of some type, so check out something that appears helpful to you.

Finest Mac to-do record app with a mix of highly effective options and chic design

Issues (macOS, iPhone, iPad)

To-do record apps are inclined to fall into two classes: the advanced and the minimalist. Issues is one way or the other each.

Open Issues for Mac, and it appears easy: you've bought an Inbox to your duties and the choice so as to add extra lists. Dig a bit, although, and there are all types of superior instruments right here. There are nesting methods to prepare your duties: areas can comprise duties or initiatives; initiatives can comprise duties or headers that may additionally comprise duties; even duties can comprise sub-tasks in order for you. It sounds complicated, however it isn't, which actually speaks to how effectively Issues is designed. There's no proper approach to make use of this method. Use as many or as few of the organizational choices given to you, nonetheless you want, to make sense of your chaotic record of duties; select which belongings you wish to do at the moment; after which do these issues.

Different functions supply options like this, certain, however Issues manages to take action with out feeling cluttered. And as a local software with no Home windows or net equal, Issues feels very a lot at house on the macOS desktop. Mix this mix of performance and wonder with options like a system-wide device for rapidly including duties, integration along with your calendar so you'll be able to see your appointments whereas planning your day, intuitive keyboard shortcuts, reminders with native notifications, and syncing to an iPhone and iPad app. It's a strong solution to set up your duties—after which accomplish them.

Zapier's Issues integrations allow you to rapidly create Issues duties from Slack messages, emails, and even Trello playing cards. 

Issues value: The macOS model prices $49.99 however gives a 15-day free trial. The iPad model prices $19.99, and the iPhone model prices $9.99.

Finest Mac to-do record app for syncing with different platforms

Todoist (macOS, iPhone, iPad, Watch, Android, Home windows, Net)

Most Mac customers stick with the Apple ecosystem...however not all of them. If you might want to sync your duties from macOS to Home windows, Android, or principally every other non-Apple possibility, Todoist is without doubt one of the first apps you must try. Like Issues, it's deceptively easy however has all types of superior process administration options hidden slightly below the floor, although Todoist does really feel rather less at house on the Mac desktop.

That's as a result of the Mac app for Todoist is principally the online model in a devoted window. There are just a few native Mac options: notifications and a common keyboard shortcut for rapidly including duties. It's sufficient to make the Mac app value putting in for Todoist customers. 

And Todoist is a stable software. You possibly can organize your duties in all kinds of significant methods, together with a Kanban board. Keyboard shortcuts work nice contained in the app. And you may sync your duties to principally any gadget on earth.

Todoist integrates with Zapier, which implies you'll be able to routinely create duties in Todoist at any time when one thing occurs in certainly one of your favourite apps. Listed here are some examples.

Todoist value: Free; some options, together with labels and attachments, require a subscription that begins at $3/month.

Finest Mac to-do record app for energy customers and GTD followers

OmniFocus (macOS, iPhone, iPad)

When you're specific about how your duties are organized, and I imply actually specific, OmniFocus is best for you. This app is an influence consumer's dream, permitting you to prepare your process in seemingly infinite variations. There are three totally different sorts of initiatives you'll be able to arrange, for instance. There are six principal views by default, starting from the Inbox for unsorted duties, Forecast for seeing scheduled duties in context with any of your macOS Calendar appointments, and Evaluate for going over accomplished duties on the finish of the day or week. It's also possible to create your individual views if this isn't sufficient for you.

OmniFocus isn't fast to be taught, and issues can really feel cluttered at occasions. As soon as you work every part out, nonetheless, you'll have an elaborate, GTD-style process record that works precisely the way in which you need. Mix this with a system-wide keyboard shortcut for fast process entry, and also you've bought no excuse in terms of preserving issues organized. OmniFocus for Mac syncs with iPhone and iPad, and there's even an online model, so you'll be able to entry your duties whereas utilizing Home windows units (sadly, that is often crucial).

You possibly can join OmniFocus to your different favourite apps with OmniFocus's Zapier integrations. At any time when one thing occurs in one other app that you simply wish to preserve monitor of in OmniFocus, Zapier will routinely ship it there.

OmniFocus value: OmniFocus for Mac begins at $49.99 after a 14-day trial. The Professional model, which lets you customise the sidebar with your individual views amongst different options, prices $79.00. The iPhone and iPad model begins at $49.99 and in addition gives a 14-day free trial. Alternatively, you'll be able to subscribe to all variations beginning at $9.99/month.

Finest easy Mac to-do record app for Apple-only customers

Reminders (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Net)

The perfect to-do record is the one you've with you, proper? When you personal a Mac, you have already got Reminders, which comes free with each Apple gadget.

Apple's default app for managing duties is an easy one, permitting you to create lists of duties and schedule if you'll do them. There are just a few views: As we speak, Scheduled, All, and Flagged. Past that, although, you'll be able to see particular person lists. It's easy, certain, however this simplicity is perhaps a giant plus: you get in, add duties, after which get to work.

There's no common keyboard shortcut for including duties, however there's integration with Siri for Mac, which is one thing no different app on this record can declare. And iCloud integration means you'll be able to sync duties along with your iPhone and iPad very simply. You've already bought this software, so why not give it a shot?

Reminders value: Included with all Macs, iPhones, and iPads.

Finest Mac to-do record app to make Apple Reminders extra highly effective

GoodTask (macOS, iPhone, iPad, Watch)

Reminders is nice however not precisely feature-rich. GoodTask is exclusive in that it makes use of Reminders as a backend: add something to GoodTask, and it'll present up in Reminders and vice versa. So what's the purpose? GoodTask gives options that Apple doesn't in Reminders.

First, there's Calendar integration, that means you'll be able to see your calendar appointments and your duties in a single place. It's also possible to create sensible lists, permitting you to filter your duties utilizing issues like tags, due dates, and places. You'll must spend a while setting this up earlier than it's any higher than Reminders, however should you've bought a selected overview of duties in thoughts, you'll be able to in all probability design it right here.

Integration with Reminders means all of your duties sync to the iPhone and iPad with out the necessity for every other software program, although there are variations of GoodTask obtainable for these units in order for you the identical energy on them. And there's a common keyboard shortcut for including occasions—that alone may make this app value utilizing over Reminders. Pop-up panels for planning your day, or seeing solely which process you might want to work on now, are additionally good touches. General, this can be a good improve over Apple's default app, so test it out.

GoodTask for Mac value: $39.99 with a 14-day free trial. GoodTask can be obtainable on Setapp, which is a $10/month subscription service with entry to dozens of Mac apps. There's additionally an iPhone and iPad model obtainable totally free, with an in-app buy of $9.99 to unlock all options.

Finest fully-customizable Mac to-do record app with a number of syncing choices

2Do (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android)

2Do suits proper in on the Mac desktop. It appears a bit cluttered at first look, however it's additionally actually highly effective. You possibly can create lists, then put initiatives or checklists inside these lists. You possibly can add tags and due dates. You possibly can create sensible lists, permitting you to view your duties nonetheless you want. And there are far more choices than that should you're keen to place the time in. This can be a energy consumer's to-do record, which you'll bend to only about any workflow. It's going to take you some time, however it's going to be value it.

There's no calendar integration, which is unlucky, however there are many different integrations with the remainder of your system. A common keyboard shortcut makes it fast so as to add new duties, notifications let you understand about upcoming deadlines, and there's even a helpful As we speak widget for rapidly checking off duties.

Syncing is exclusive right here as a result of there are a number of choices. You possibly can sync to the iPhone or Android model of 2Do utilizing iCloud, Dropbox, Yahoo Calendar, Fruux, Toodledo, or any CalDAV server. It's also possible to entry synced duties on any of these providers, albeit with out the 2Do-specific options. It's a variety of syncing choices, past what every other app right here gives, so give it a spin and see the way it all works for you.

2Do for Mac value: $49.99, and there's a 21-day free trial. 2Do can be obtainable on Setapp, which is a $10/month subscription service with entry to dozens of Mac apps.

Finest text-based Mac to-do record app for managing with solely your keyboard

TaskPaper (macOS)

Questioning why to-do lists must be so difficult? TaskPaper isn't. This text-based possibility means you'll be able to simply begin typing to create your to-do record. Tasks finish with colons; duties start with a hyphen; tags begin with the @ image. It sounds easy, however it's surprisingly highly effective when you get used to it, particularly with the filtering and search choices.

There isn't an iPhone model, however the third-party app Taskmator ($4.99) is suitable and syncs utilizing Dropbox. Alternatively, you'll be able to arrange TaskPaper to sync over objects from Reminders.

TaskPaper value: $24.99 with a free trial. TaskPaper can be obtainable on Setapp, which is a $10/month subscription service with entry to dozens of Mac apps.

Finest cross-platform to-do record app that feels native to the Mac

TickTick (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Watch, Android, Home windows)

TickTick is a simple to-do record app you'll be able to run on principally each platform on earth. Not like different cross-platform apps, nonetheless, TickTick really looks like a local Mac app. A few of that is good design selections, however there are additionally options that make TickTick stand out: a menu bar icon with a miniature model of your record, integration with appointments from Calendar, and native notifications. There's additionally a keyboard shortcut for including duties from anyplace.

Organizing your duties isn't difficult: you've lists, tags, due dates, and some superior views, together with a calendar view and an Eisenhower Matrix. And there are just a few options right here that different apps don't supply, together with a built-in Pomodoro timer. Check out TickTick should you're searching for one thing simple but highly effective, notably if you might want to sync over to non-Apple units.

With TickTick's Zapier integrations, you'll be able to routinely create duties in TickTick everytime you do issues like save a message in Slack or star a brand new electronic mail.

TickTick value: Free, however premium options like a month-to-month calendar view and customized sensible lists require a $2.99/month subscription.

The perfect free to-do record app for Mac

Microsoft To Do (Android, Home windows, macOS, iPhone and iPad, Net)

Is it bizarre for a Microsoft app to indicate up on a listing of Mac apps? Certain. However for a very long time, no record of Mac apps would exclude Wunderlist, and Microsoft To Do is that app's religious successor. It's additionally utterly free and the prettiest to-do record app for Mac. 

Customers can add as many customized lists as they need, and even type these lists into teams. Each record has a customized background, which is a pleasant contact—it appears good, certain, however you additionally all the time know which record you're taking a look at. There's additionally help for due dates and the power to share lists with different To Do customers. Mac customers are much less prone to care about this, however To Do is extraordinarily built-in with the Microsoft ecosystem—duties can sync with Outlook, for instance. 

There are downsides. One massive one: there's no common keyboard shortcut for including duties. Nevertheless it's by far the nicest to-do record for Mac yow will discover totally free.

Microsoft To Do integrates with Zapier, which implies you are able to do issues like create a process in To Do at any time when essential duties pop up in your different apps. Listed here are some examples to get began.

Microsoft To Do value: Free. 

Different choices

I attempted a bunch of various kinds of apps for this text, so listed below are just a few extra choices so that you can contemplate should you're not involved about preserving your duties on a devoted to-do record app:

• Trello isn't a to-do record per se however you need to use it to prepare your life, and there's a Mac app with native notifications and system-wide keyboard shortcuts.

• Evernote, OneNote, or every other note-taking app can work very effectively as a to-do record, and most supply a Mac app.

• Taskheat permits you to set up your to-do record as a flowchart, which is neat, however it may possibly't sync with every other platform.

• Todo.txt is an open-source customary for storing your to-do record in a plain textual content doc. The command line app runs within the macOS Terminal, permitting you so as to add and handle duties with instructions. If that's not your fashion, TodoTxtMac is a pleasant GUI for a similar customary.

This text was initially printed in January 2019.