- Mail and Calendar by Microsoft is a Windows desktop app that keeps email simple. Formerly called Outlook Express, this app covers the basics of email without adding excessive features. It offers threaded email conversations, notifications, and flags to mark your most important messages, along with Outlook-style calendar integration.
- Automate your calendar and connect your favorite apps with Zapier, an app integration tool that works with Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook on Office 365, Trello, Google Sheets, Todoist, Evernote, and more.
- The Good ? – Calendar apps, especially ones with a dedicated desktop app, are not cheap! It seems like a no brainer. But if you’re interested on spending exactly zero dollars on getting your life together, Google Calendar will suffice.
- The app pulls the data from your calendar and reminders app and displays it on a translucent window which is permanently placed on your Mac’s desktop screen. I really love this approach as now you are able to view your calendar all the time without having to click anywhere.
The Best To-Do List Apps of 2018 Get organized and complete tasks more quickly and more reliably by using the right to-do app. These are the top performers in our tests.
![Integration Integration](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126028887/890608517.png)
Manage Your Tasks With an App
If you haven't gone paperless with your to-do list yet, you're missing out. These apps let you edit and rearrange your to-dos based on changing priorities, share lists with family members or other collaborators, and get reminders for your upcoming deadlines, no matter which device you have on you at the moment. Managing tasks in an app is more efficient, more powerful, and simply a better way to be more productive than doing it on paper.
Recently, Microsoft acquired one of the best to-do apps on the market, Wunderlist, and announced it would stop supporting it as of April 2017. The app is still available, but it will no longer receive updates or bug fixes. That's why it's not in the table above. Anyone still using Wunderlist should start thinking about migrating to another app sooner rather than later. The company's own offering, the free Microsoft To-Do, has basic to-do functionality, but it lacks so much that the best apps offer that it's not really a competitor yet. It's still in beta, so there's hope for yet; in the meanwhile, however, Wunderlist users and those new to to-do list apps should thoroughly explore all their options and find the task-management app that best meets their needs. Fortunately, there are some excellent choices for a variety of work styles.
For example, if your idea of digital task management ideally starts in your email, you should check out ActiveInbox, which turns your Gmail inbox into a fully functioning to-do list. I think that your inbox should not be your to-do list, but everyone has different ideas. If you need an app that you can use with a number of people for shared responsibilities, you'll want an app like Asana or Todoist that has strong collaboration features.
To-Do List Apps vs. Project Management Apps
A great to-do app for personal use, households, and even small teams doesn't need to be super complicated, the way project management software is, even though they both essentially serve the same function. They both keep track of what needs to get done, when, and by whom. They help us manage time more efficiently and regulate how many tasks are on our plate at once. But personal to-do apps are simpler and cheaper than project management software. They're a better choice for many use cases.
The difference between to-do list apps, sometimes also called task-management apps, and project management apps is that to-do apps track any kind of tasks whereas project management apps track tasks that are related to projects. Project management apps typically track a lot of metadata related to the project, too.
To-do apps keep track of tasks, assignees, deadlines, and even discussion points related to the tasks. Project management apps do all of that, but they also add a lot more functionality, such as tracking how many tasks various people have on their plate, how much time it takes them to complete tasks, billable hours that are associated with certain tasks or projects, and so forth. Project management apps help guide projects, which generally have a final due date and deliverable. With to-do apps, people are generally just keeping track of tasks that need to get done but that aren't necessarily part of something that will one day end, the way a project ends.
You don't need to keep track of billable hours when picking up milk on the way home from work, and you don't need Gantt charts to get your kids to do their chores. At least, I hope you don't.
What To Look for in a To-Do App
There are a few qualities I look for in a good to-do list. For starters, you have to like the way it looks. You cannot install skype for business web app plug-in in this location mac. I'm serious. How are you going to get stuff done if you can't even stand to look at the list itself because it's ugly? A looked-at list is a useful list.
Second, I like to-do apps that give me a range of tools for organizing my tasks. For example, I want to be able to quickly sort my work tasks from my personal tasks, or view them all according to deadline, or which ones are overdue. I also want to be able to rearrange the order of my tasks quickly and easily. I should be able to schedule reminders so that I get a notification about what I need to do when it's time, or when I'm in the location where the task should get done.
Third, it's always nice to have the option to make lists collaborative. If you run a household, a collaborative to-do list gives you the ability to assign tasks to other people. You can open your app and assign your kid the task of walking the dog. You can assign your partner the task of calling back the accountant. Whether you want those same people to have the power to assign tasks to you is another question that I will now sidestep and refuse to answer by changing the subject.
The Best Collaborative To-Do App
PCMag has two Editors' Choice picks for best collaborative to-do app. One goes to Todoist Premium, which is ideal for a small group of people. The other is Asana, which is better for managing more in-depth teamwork.
Todoist is a powerful to-do app for shared responsibilities, and a bonus feature is that it has a tool that monitors your productivity. Todoist has apps for all major platforms so you can use it anywhere. It's reliable. It's efficient. New features are being added all the time. Todoist Premium costs $28.99 per year. A free limited version is also available. I recommend starting with the free account to try it out, but make sure to consider the Premium features, as they really do add a lot of functionality and efficiency.
Asana is excellent for teamwork. Some people classify Asana as a workflow management app, and it is, but it can also function as a team to-do list. Asana has a free version, good for up to 15 people. At $99 per person per year, Asana Premium costs more than Todoist Premium, but as I said, it has additional functionality for managing more the elaborate teamwork typical of businesses.
The Best Free To-Do App
Among free apps, stick with Asana if you need to collaborate, but choose a simpler app, such as Remember the Milk, if you plan to use your to-do app solo. The problem some people encounter with Asana is that it can be too flexible. You might have a hard time figuring out just what to do with an app that comes with so many possibilities but not a lot of rules. In fact, PCMag has written entire features on how to get the most out of Asana.
Remember the Milk is extremely easy to learn to use, and the free version has all the functionality a single user needs. You won't have any questions about what to do with it or why. Write down things you need to do. Assign deadlines. Check them off when done. It's that's simple.
Many of the other to-do apps on this list are excellent, but their free versions are a little limiting compared with the power of their paid versions.
What's Not Here
![App App](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126028887/259219463.gif)
There are tons of to-do list apps out there of varying quality, far more than we could ever review. And, in fact, we've reviewed more such apps than we have room to include here, too. ActiveInbox is one example of a decent to-do list app we've reviewed that didn't quite make the cut here.
It's also worth noting that we've also looked recently at Microsoft To-Do. Microsoft's offering is both worth following and a bit of a disappointment. Several years ago, Microsoft bought then-leading app Wunderlist, announcing it would discontinue the app and fold its best features into an all-new app. Fast-forward four years, and the Microsoft can only muster three stars with its own app and Wunderlist is still around, albeit no longer a dominant player after years in its semi-discontinued state.
While we'll never be able to cover all the to-do list apps, we're always experimenting with them behind the scenes, looking for that one app that will supercharge our productivity. If you have a favorite we haven't covered, please be sure to let us know in the comments.
Get Organized With a Great To-Do List App
Having a great to-do list app can help you get organized and get more done, whether you're managing only your own tasks or those for a family or small team. Below are the best ones worth exploring.
A to-do app is only as useful as the information you put into it, so in addition to picking the right app, you might also want to peruse these tips for creating better to-do lists.
Best To-Do List Apps in This Roundup:
Asana Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Flexible, fast, and modern design. Capable free version. Feature-rich. New Timeline view makes it easier to manage dependencies.Cons: Not ideal for graphics-intensive work. Can't switch between Task and Kanban project views after creation.Bottom Line: Asana is a top-notch collaboration tool that helps teams manage all kinds of tasks. Although it may be confusing at first, its flexibility and vast capabilities are well worth the initial effort it takes to get started.Read ReviewTodoist Review
MSRP: $36.00
Pros: Cross-platform support. Excellent features, such as natural language input and productivity reports. Efficient interface. Collaboration features. Offline functionality.Cons: A few important features not available to free users.Bottom Line: With a superb UI, support for plenty of platforms, and collaboration features, Todoist is a killer to-do list app, and a clear Editors' Choice.Read ReviewAny.do (for iPhone) Review
MSRP: $26.88
Pros: Unique daily review feature. Location-based reminders and collaboration features. Decent sharing capabilities for free members. Elegant.Cons: Location-based reminders and a few other key features restricted to paid Pro version.Bottom Line: Any.do is a useful and well designed to-do app, though the free version is a bit limited. Its standout feature is the Any.do Moment, which encourages you to review your daily task list before committing to it. Read ReviewOmniFocus 3 Review
MSRP: $49.99
Pros: Designed for GTD. Great features. Can add a lot of detail to tasks.Cons: No collaboration. High price. Not available for Windows or Android.Bottom Line: Now in version 3, OmniFocus is a powerful, albeit pricey, to-do app for Mac and iOS, and a good option as long as you're working solo. It's well suited for people who follow GTD, too.Read ReviewRemember the Milk Review
MSRP: $39.99
Pros: Includes some collaboration options in free version. Good array of features, some unique. Works offline. Supported on many platforms.Cons: Requires more manual input than other to-do-list apps. Pro version comparatively expensive. No location-based reminders.Bottom Line: Remember the Milk is a capable to-do-list app with some sharing options included at no cost, making it good for household use. The Pro version unlocks extra features but is on the expensive side.Read ReviewTickTick Review
MSRP: $27.99
Pros: Collaborative. Rich with features. Supports wide range of platforms. Includes features useful for GTD.Cons: Unusual restrictions on both free and paid accounts. No free trial. Some features don't work as expected.Bottom Line: The feature-rich TickTick is a good to-do app with some neat features that will appeal to GTD adherents. The free version has tight restrictions, so be prepared to pay for the premium upgrade.Read ReviewThings 3 Review
MSRP: $9.99
Pros: Well-designed app. Clean interface. One-time purchase rather than subscription.Cons: No collaboration features, location-based reminders, or web app. Only compatible with Apple products. No free version.Bottom Line: Can a superbly designed interface for task management make up for the lack of key features? With to-do list app Things 3, it's a legitimate possibility.Read ReviewToodledo Review
MSRP: $29.99
Pros: Strong feature set. Includes some features for GTD followers. Treats notes, habits, lists, and outlines as separate from tasks.Cons: Paid tiers of service have many limitations. Collaboration only possible among paying members. Ugly interface.Bottom Line: There's no denying Toodledo's power, or its long list of features. But it takes a lot of customization and learning to get the app to work the way you want.Read ReviewWorkflowy Review
MSRP: $4.99
Pros: Simple and elegant list-making app. Excellent implementation of nested lists. Easy to rearrange items.Cons: Internet explorer app for mac. No due dates, reminders, recurring settings, or calendar integration. Requires Pro account for Dropbox backup and password protection.Bottom Line: List makers will love WorkFlowy for its simple elegance, and while it has some capabilities to serve as a collaborative to-do app, it comes up short.Read ReviewWunderlist Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Great features in free version. Lovely interface. Good selection of desktop and mobile apps. Supports collaboration.Cons: No longer actively supported, except for security updates. No location-based reminders. Some features behind the times.Bottom Line: After Microsoft acquired Wunderlist, the company said it would kill off the app. eventually. If you're already on board, there's no rush to quit. If you're looking for a new to-do app, however, you're better off picking up something that will last.Read Review
Best To-Do List Apps in This Roundup:
Asana Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Flexible, fast, and modern design. Capable free version. Feature-rich. New Timeline view makes it easier to manage dependencies.Cons: Not ideal for graphics-intensive work. Can't switch between Task and Kanban project views after creation.Bottom Line: Asana is a top-notch collaboration tool that helps teams manage all kinds of tasks. Although it may be confusing at first, its flexibility and vast capabilities are well worth the initial effort it takes to get started.Read ReviewTodoist Review
MSRP: $36.00Pros: Cross-platform support. Excellent features, such as natural language input and productivity reports. Efficient interface. Collaboration features. Offline functionality.Cons: A few important features not available to free users.Bottom Line: With a superb UI, support for plenty of platforms, and collaboration features, Todoist is a killer to-do list app, and a clear Editors' Choice.Read ReviewAny.do (for iPhone) Review
MSRP: $26.88Pros: Unique daily review feature. Location-based reminders and collaboration features. Decent sharing capabilities for free members. Elegant.Cons: Location-based reminders and a few other key features restricted to paid Pro version.Bottom Line: Any.do is a useful and well designed to-do app, though the free version is a bit limited. Its standout feature is the Any.do Moment, which encourages you to review your daily task list before committing to it.Read ReviewOmniFocus 3 Review
MSRP: $49.99Pros: Designed for GTD. Great features. Can add a lot of detail to tasks.Cons: No collaboration. High price. Not available for Windows or Android.Bottom Line: Now in version 3, OmniFocus is a powerful, albeit pricey, to-do app for Mac and iOS, and a good option as long as you're working solo. It's well suited for people who follow GTD, too.Read ReviewRemember the Milk Review
MSRP: $39.99Pros: Includes some collaboration options in free version. Good array of features, some unique. Works offline. Supported on many platforms.Cons: Requires more manual input than other to-do-list apps. Pro version comparatively expensive. No location-based reminders.Bottom Line: Remember the Milk is a capable to-do-list app with some sharing options included at no cost, making it good for household use. The Pro version unlocks extra features but is on the expensive side.Read ReviewTickTick Review
MSRP: $27.99Pros: Collaborative. Rich with features. Supports wide range of platforms. Includes features useful for GTD.Cons: Unusual restrictions on both free and paid accounts. No free trial. Some features don't work as expected.Bottom Line: The feature-rich TickTick is a good to-do app with some neat features that will appeal to GTD adherents. The free version has tight restrictions, so be prepared to pay for the premium upgrade.Read ReviewThings 3 Review
MSRP: $9.99Pros: Well-designed app. Clean interface. One-time purchase rather than subscription.Cons: No collaboration features, location-based reminders, or web app. Only compatible with Apple products. No free version.Bottom Line: Can a superbly designed interface for task management make up for the lack of key features? With to-do list app Things 3, it's a legitimate possibility.Read ReviewToodledo Review
MSRP: $29.99Pros: Strong feature set. Includes some features for GTD followers. Treats notes, habits, lists, and outlines as separate from tasks.Cons: Paid tiers of service have many limitations. Collaboration only possible among paying members. Ugly interface.Bottom Line: There's no denying Toodledo's power, or its long list of features. But it takes a lot of customization and learning to get the app to work the way you want.Read ReviewWorkflowy Review
MSRP: $4.99Pros: Simple and elegant list-making app. Excellent implementation of nested lists. Easy to rearrange items.Cons: Internet explorer app for mac. No due dates, reminders, recurring settings, or calendar integration. Requires Pro account for Dropbox backup and password protection.Bottom Line: List makers will love WorkFlowy for its simple elegance, and while it has some capabilities to serve as a collaborative to-do app, it comes up short.Read ReviewWunderlist Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Great features in free version. Lovely interface. Good selection of desktop and mobile apps. Supports collaboration.Cons: No longer actively supported, except for security updates. No location-based reminders. Some features behind the times.Bottom Line: After Microsoft acquired Wunderlist, the company said it would kill off the app. eventually. If you're already on board, there's no rush to quit. If you're looking for a new to-do app, however, you're better off picking up something that will last.Read Review
Windows has a few good desktop calendars, but we think Google Calendar is without a doubt the best calendar around, so though it may not be a desktop app in the truest sense, it still wins our pick for best calendar on Windows.
We understand that some of you might be upset that our pick isn't a 'true' desktop app. However, we still think it's the best option on Windows by a good margin. That is, if you asked us what the best way to manage your calendar was on a Windows machine, we'd say Google Calendar, hands down—and that's what the App Directory is about. It's about finding the best tool for the job, not getting caught up in technicalities. If you want a desktop app, check out the Competition section below.
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Google Calendar
Platform: Web
Price: Free
Price: Free
Features
- Manage multiple calendars, and share them with your friends, family, and co-workers so they can keep up on when you're busy.
- Quickly add events with just a few clicks and a phrase like 'Dinner on Sunday with Grandma at 5PM.'
- Set reminders that email you, text you, or display a pop-up window when an event is near, either for individual events or for all events on a specific calendar.
- Send invitations for events on your calendar, and let other Google Calendar users RSVP via email or GCal itself.
- Sync your calendars down to nearly any desktop or mobile app, so you have it with you wherever you go.
- View calendars in a day, week, month, custom number of days, or event-by-event 'agenda' view.
- Attach files stored in Google Docs to calendar events.
- Search for events throughout your calendars using Google's algorithm.
- Google Calendar Labs, which enhance the experience by letting you add additional features like less intrusive pop-ups and displaying other attendees on the event's block in your calendar.
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Where It Excels
Google Calendar's biggest advantage is that it's extremely easy to use without skimping on features. Everything is plainly laid out: you can add quick calendar events with a few keystrokes or more advanced events, full of reminders and other attributes when you need them. Being able to send yourself emails and text messages is also great, as is setting specific events to 'free' or 'busy'. Flashcard app for mac. No doubt the coolest feature of GCal, though, is being able to share your calendars with others, and have them share their calendars with you. Never again will you have to call your spouse and ask them if they're busy, or email your friends asking them what dates they've planned for that road trip. It's all in your calendar, all the time. Plus, it's completely free, and can sync to just about any other app out there, meaning you'll always have it on your phone and can access it from any computer.
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Where It Falls Short
Now that Google Calendar has offline access, it has most of the perks of a true desktop app, and thus doesn't have a ton of downsides. It's Gmail integration is surprisingly disappointing, though—you can add events right from Gmail, but they don't take on any dates or times from the email, making it a mere link to Google Calendar. It'd be nice if it could try to extrapolate event details from the message and create it that way.
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The Competition
One of the most popular calendar apps on Windows is Microsoft Outlook. It's also very powerful, but not quite as user-friendly, nor as cheap (since it requires you buy the $150 Microsoft Office suite). It has great email integration and works fantastically in an enterprise environment, but for personal calendars, it isn't quite as easy. If you use Outlook for email, though, it's the clear calendar choice.
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If you're using our favorite email client for Windows, Thunderbird, you might like the Lightning extension. Like Outlook, its biggest strength is email integration, but it can be a little buggy sometimes. If you use Thunderbird, it's worth a shot for the email integration alone, but don't expect it to be as good as the others. It can, however, sync with Google Calendar, which is nice.
Rainlendar is a popular calendar that, instead of having its own big window, puts a small calendar widget on your desktop and alerts you to upcoming events. You can apply all sorts of different skins and even sync with Google Calendar, Outlook, or Remember the Milk if you so choose. If you want your calendar to stay out of the way, it's worth checking out.
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Windows Live Mail includes a simple calendar tool that integrates with other Windows Live apps, but sadly can only sync with Windows Live's web interface out of the box (and isn't nearly as powerful as the other competition). VueMinder Calendar is one of the most feature-filled calendars around, but costs $40 to use. If you spend a ton of time with your calendars, though, and need really advanced features like running programs with an event, publishing calendars to HTML, or uploading saved web pages to an FTP server, it's worth checking out.
Lifehacker's App Directory is a new and growing directory of recommendations for the best applications and tools in a number of given categories.
Best Calendar Integration Desktop App For Mac Computer
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