5 Best To Do List Apps of 2021

24.08.2021 – 15:23 Uhr by Gabriella Martin

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When it comes to organizing project tasks, keeping track of deadlines and boosting productivity, to do list apps are a great choice if you want to replace the traditional pen and paper checklists.

Simply put, a to do list app is there to make your life as a project manager easier while allowing you to stay on top of your tasks and prioritize what’s most important for timely project delivery.

There are tons of to do list apps available on the market these days—some apps are great for checking off items of your daily to do list, while others let you perform task management for teams or even go as far as being fully-fledged project management software.

In this article, we’ve selected 5 of the best to do list apps out there and highlighted their key features and pros and cons to help you make the right decision.

But first, let’s take a look at what you should look for in a to do list app.

What makes a great to do list app?

The best to do list apps are easy to use, above all, and offer the following features:

Have a fast process of organizing tasks and multiple ways to achieve that
Send notifications whenever deadlines are approaching or tasks become overdue
Offer an intuitive interface that seamlessly integrates into your workflow
Allow you to assign tasks to people within your team and delegate responsibility
Provide you the ability to map tasks hierarchically by adding subtasks
Enable you to natively track time for each task and monitor progress until completion
Support implementation for the Getting Things Done (GTD) method
Are available both on the web and mobile devices, so you can effortlessly switch between the two when necessary

The top 5 to do list apps for task management

Looking for a to do list app that’s going to fit your needs and enable you to get more done faster is challenging, taking time and a lot of research.

To help you out, we’ve done the hard work for you and picked out 5 top to do list apps that are worth your attention.

1. Allegra

Allegra is a comprehensive work management platform offering advanced task management features that accelerate work and improve performance. This powerful to do list software allows project managers to organize and prioritize tasks, set deadlines, assign work to team members, share crucial project information, and track progress—all in one place.

Key features:

Personal and team task management
Hierarchical task mapping through sub-tasks
Task management views (flat view, tree view, hierarchical view, and board view)
Data synchronization across multiple devices for remote teams
Task templates and reports
Base calendars and personal calendars
Email reminders for upcoming or overdue tasks
Native time recording
Collaboration tools
Granular access control
Gantt charts and Wiki for more complex projects
Support for agile methodologies (Scrum and Kanban)

Pros:

Configurable software that adapts to the user’s needs
GTD method, RACI matrix, Eisenhower principle, and Earned Value support
Workflow automation for emails, follow-ups, escalations, and approval procedures

Cons:

No free version available
Onboarding is available only for the Enterprise version (minimum 16 users)

2. Todoist

Todoist is one of the most popular to do list apps on the market that allows users to quickly create, categorize and prioritize tasks thanks to its straightforward user interface. Also, anyone can keep track of task completion, monitor progress made towards daily and weekly goals, and visualize productivity trends with the help of the Productivity view feature.

Key features:

Kanban board view for task visualization
Customizable task filters for list views
Task priority levels to highlight the most important activities
Natural language input when setting up due dates
Sections and sub-tasks for task organization
Progress tracking with the Productivity view and Todoist Karma
Task comments and file uploads
Automatic and custom (date, time, or location-based) reminders
Project sharing with customizable notifications

Pros:

Extensive project templates library
Powerful third-party app integrations
Real-time data synchronization across all devices
Free version available

Cons:

Important features missing from the free version
No built-in time tracking feature

3. TickTick

TickTick supports basic task management features like folders, lists, tasks and subtasks, priority levels, and tags. What makes this tool stand out is the Pomodoro timer that allows users to keep a sharp focus on their goals, plus the ability to turn emails into tasks with only a couple of clicks.

Key features:

Folders, lists, tasks, and check items
Smart lists and filters for categorizing tasks
Task priority levels (High, Medium, Low, and No Priority)
Customizable tags
Built-in Pomodoro timer for productive work sessions
Smart task reminders and alerts for upcoming deadlines
Voice input for adding tasks on the go
Monthly and daily calendar views
Recurring tasks
List sharing

Pros:

Native time tracking feature with achievement scores
Historical statistics for task progress overview
Supports GTD method implementation
Free version available

Cons:

Advanced features are available only with the paid version
Doesn’t support integrations with other task management apps

4. OmniFocus

Available on: iPhone | iPad | macOS | Web

OmniFocus is a to do list and task management solution that seamlessly integrates with Mac computers and iPhones, making it a great option for Apple fans. Also, this tool allows professionals following the GTD method of organization to capture tasks easily, categorize them by project, tags, or due dates and create custom perspectives for enhanced focus on high-priority tasks.

Key features:

Task organization by project, tags, and due dates
Batch editing to edit multiple items at once
Built-in perspectives for visualizing project data in multiple ways
Custom perspectives for filtering and grouping tasks (PRO feature)
Project and task review to keep track of progress over time
Notification reminders for incoming deadlines
Encrypted syncing across all devices
Light and dark modes

Pros:

Modern user interface
GTD method features
Calendar integration
Zapier integration

Cons:

Available only for macOS and iOS users
Can be difficult to use for new users
Costly compared to other to do list apps

5. Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do is a popular cloud-based productivity tool that offers deep integration with Office 365. Among its main features is the ability to sync tasks across multiple platforms, including Outlook. Microsoft To Do’s user-friendly interface can be used by project team members to organize and keep track of their daily tasks for free.

Key features:

Task prioritization and scheduling
Task reminders and due dates for deadline management
Multiple task lists for grouping to-dos
List sharing for team collaboration
Outlook integration for managing tasks in one place
Syncing across multiple devices
Customizable task list themes and colors

Pros:

Easy to use interface
Data synchronization across multiple devices and platforms
Built-in integration with Office 365 apps
Available for free to all users

Cons:

Lacks advanced task management capabilities
Limited collaboration features
Doesn’t offer reports

To sum up

The best way to keep your tasks organized and take your productivity to the next level is to use a to do list app. However, before you commit to one app, you need to make sure that what you’ve chosen fits your requirements.

That’s why it’s important first to ask yourself how you’re going to use this app—to keep track of your daily personal tasks or to organize and assign tasks for your project team.

Want to test Allegra’s task management features? Start your 30-day trial today by downloading the latest version of the app on your computer.

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5 Best To Do List Apps of 2021

What makes a great to do list app?