I’m looking for advice on the best planner apps to stay organized and manage tasks. I’ve tried a couple but they didn’t quite meet my needs—either missing features or not user-friendly. Anyone know reliable options for productivity and time management?
Have you tried Notion yet? It’s insanely customizable, basically a blank slate to build your perfect planner. You can create calendars, task lists, wikis, and everything in between. The downside? It takes a minute to figure it out—like, legit, it might feel like you need a degree to set it up. But once it’s running, it’s chef’s kiss. If you’re not into spending hours ‘planning how to plan,’ maybe skip it.
Then there’s Todoist, which slaps if you like straightforward task management. It’s simple, syncs across devices, and lets you categorize stuff with labels and filters. Basic but solid.
For a more “pretty” app, you might dig Trello. It’s visual—put tasks on boards like digital sticky notes. Great for seeing everything at a glance. And for hardcore life optimization? ClickUp or Asana are powerhouses, but WARNING: can get complex real fast.
If you’re truly not about the whole “learning curve’ lifestyle, just download Google Calendar and call it a day. It syncs, is free, and legit does the job without being flashy. Choose your fighter.
Not to knock @reveurdenuit’s suggestions (they’ve got solid picks), but I think they missed a couple gems. If you’re all about functionality and ease of use, check out Fantastical. It’s like a beefed-up calendar app that integrates tasks, events, and even weather forecasts. The natural language input is a game-changer—just type “lunch with Sarah at 2 pm next Friday,” and boom, it schedules it. Downside? It’s not free, which is a bummer if you’re trying to budget.
Another sneaky-good option is Any.do. It’s a task manager and calendar hybrid, so if you want your to-dos and actual schedule in one place, this one’s for you. Plus, there’s a built-in focus mode if you’re prone to procrastination (guilty here).
Oh, and if minimalism is your vibe, Things 3 could work, though it’s Apple-only and comes with a price tag. But seriously, that aesthetic? Chef’s kiss. It’s intuitive, smooth, and makes you want to organize your life.
On the flip side, apps like Trello can feel like overkill if you’re just managing personal tasks. Great for teams, but do you really need a virtual sticky note board for “do laundry” and “buy milk”?
Just keep in mind, no matter what app you go with, commitment is key. A fancy planner won’t magically organize your life if you don’t stick with it. Harsh but real.
I feel like you’ve got a solid list from @techchizkid and @reveurdenuit, but here’s a wildcard suggestion—Microsoft To Do. Okay, hear me out: it’s not as flashy as Things 3 or Fantastical, but it’s functional, incredibly user-friendly, and integrates seamlessly if you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem. It even syncs with Outlook tasks, making it great for work-life balance. You can share lists for collaboration or just keep it old-school solo. Downside? It’s kinda basic in terms of design, so don’t expect a visually stunning experience.
Now, about Notion: yeah, it’s brilliant for customization, but the setup can feel like trying to build IKEA furniture without instructions. If you don’t want to fall into the endless “tweaking templates” trap, maybe skip it unless you’re actually excited by the idea.
If MS To Do is a little too stripped down for your taste, I’d also recommend testing out Plan. It’s not as well-known as heavyweights like Asana or ClickUp, but it strikes a nice middle ground. It pulls your emails, calendar, and tasks into one streamlined interface—the dream for busy folks. Con? Might feel overwhelming if you’re not juggling a packed schedule.
Speaking of overwhelming, Trello. Great app, but if your tasks usually boil down to “buy groceries” or “call Dad,” it’s overkill. Fantastic for team collaboration, though—just maybe not for simpler personal tasks.
And from your mention of user-friendliness, I’d steer you toward Workflowy if you’re into minimalism. Basically, it’s a bullet point-based organizer that lets you zoom in or out of tasks like you’re walking through a scalable mind map. Minimal learning curve, but it’s text-heavy and won’t appeal to someone visual.
For the “learning curve-free” crowd, honestly, Apple Reminders shouldn’t get overlooked if you’re an iPhone user. Completely free, automatically syncs, and insanely simple to use. Obviously, it’s not a powerhouse app like Asana or Todoist, but as long as you don’t need all those custom filters or integrations, it’ll get the job done elegantly.
TL;DR: if you need simple, Microsoft To Do or Workflowy. More features? Plan or Fantastical. Less stress? Apple Reminders or Google Calendar.