Task Apps, Which do you prefer?

[ScottNWDW]

There are a lot of task apps out there these days and it seems every time you turn around there is a new one. I have used several overt years and have a few favorites. Which apps do you like and why?

Here are the ones I like the best.....

ToDo Cloud, (Appigo) This app was the first task manager I got when the iPhone 3G was released. Been using it for years and the program has grown quite a bit. It is one of the few that has apps available for the iPad, iPhone and Mac as well as Android. It allows Projects, checklists and can set up tasks for visiting websites or just making a call. This app is truly a phenomenal app to manage your task load. Syncing through ToDo Cloud keeps all devices up to date and the sync is immediate and flawless.

OmniFocus (Omni Group) This app is also phenomenal, but extremely expensive and worth it. It might be a bit of an overkill for the average person and it has a large learning curve, but it is well written and very stable. It also has a Mac app and iPhone app which all sync together, although sometimes slow.

Pocket Informant (Web Information Solutions) If you are used to working with a day planner like the Franklin Planner this app will feel very comfortable to you. It is basically a digital version of a day planner. Having been a heavy Franklin Planner user this app is definitely one of my favorites and it is the ONLY app that can use the Franklin Covey task prioritization method. All the others are GTD based and this app can also be GTD based as well. Personally I prefer the Franklin Covey Methods so that is a big reason I love this app. This app will also keep your Calendar, Notes and uses your Contact list. This app will sync to the iCloud Contact and Calendar apps across iOS and Mac, however there is no dedicated Mac app.

I personally love all three of these apps as each has unique features I like. For most people having all three is a bit of a "task management overkill" but I find it hard to choose just one because of the unique feature sets that each one has. If I absolutely had to eliminate one, I think I would choose OmniFocus, but again that would be a hard choice.

 

[lexvo]

I am using Notesuite because I like the integration of notes and tasks. In Notesuite, you can add a task from a note which is very handy when taking meeting notes for example. From a task, you can always go back to the original note and you can also add additional notes to a task.

As a matter of fact, I am looking for a more advanced task app, but I can't find any which includes integration with note taking. Or am I overlooking something?

 

[GerritV]

+1 for Notesuite, the all-in-one. Bit of a learning curve, but worth it.
Notesuite should have an iPhone version though...
Before that, i used Things.

@ lexvo: in Things you can link a file, email or url to a task. AFAIK this is the closest you get to combine a task and a note.

 

[Taustin Powers]

I use Wunderlist.

It's simple enough to not get in the way, and it syncs flawlessly across all platforms.

 

[GerritV]

Notesuite for iOS just went on a 80% discount for one week only

Meanwhile, I've been checking Notebooks 7 - looking good, but less powerfull IMHO.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I have a few myself too. My opinion is that don't get yourself too caught up with just picking one to live with. We all do different things that require a different thought process of how to complete them. Hence, why a lot of these apps even get thought up by the developers to begin with.

Right now I've been using Listacular. It's kinda weird, but it works for small checklists and one day projects. I use Firetask for the big ones.

Reminders is otherwise fine for my basic stuff.

 

[lexvo]

@ lexvo: in Things you can link a file, email or url to a task. AFAIK this is the closest you get to combine a task and a note.

Thanks, Things is looking good. However, it's a bit pricy for just trying out.

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Meanwhile, I've been checking Notebooks 7 - looking good, but less powerfull IMHO.

I also tried out Notebooks. It has a lot of functionality. But I didn't like it using html-styles for text presets.

 

[rhett7660]

I use a couple different items:

I use http://www.circusponies.com/ for my note taking that also has a built in todo list that I use for when I am in a meeting and taking notes.

I also use wunderlist for items that need to be cross platform. However I have actually stopped using that here lately.

I have really wanted to try omnifocus, but I just haven't purchased it all yet.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

I use Omnifocus and the Reminders app in tandem.

 

[GerritV]

I also tried out Notebooks. It has a lot of functionality. But I didn't like it using html-styles for text presets.

Given the present price drop and it's gorgeous iOS7 look, I've just purchased Notebooks for both iOS and macOS

 

[lexvo]

Given the present price drop and it's gorgeous iOS7 look, I've just purchased Notebooks for both iOS and macOS

Let us know how you think it compares to Notesuite

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Given the present price drop and it's gorgeous iOS7 look, I've just purchased Notebooks for both iOS and macOS

That looks like a good app. In beta for a long time, I must try the Mac version. Good reviews in the store.

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Let us know how you think it compares to Notesuite

IOS version is on sale.

 

[GerritV]

Let us know how you think it compares to Notesuite

Will do - give me a few days of production work with it.

 

[lexvo]

Before that, i used Things.

What made you decide to switch from Things?
Just curious, I'm still looking for the best todo and notes app for me (which probably doesn't exist ).

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Given the present price drop and it's gorgeous iOS7 look, I've just purchased Notebooks for both iOS and macOS

I vid on notebooks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RbRzGTUua4

 

[GerritV]

What made you decide to switch from Things?
Just curious, I'm still looking for the best todo and notes app for me (which probably doesn't exist ).

Here's a few personal idea's:

Most of my tasks are more than a one-liner (p.e. "Get Milk").
When using Things, I always needed to link files, emails... to every task.
But more than once, I later moved these files for some reason or cleaned out my mailbox.
So I started to paste contents in the task comment field whenever possible.

Things being good in managing scheduled and due dates, one should fully use it that way.
But the Scheduled and Next categories always got me confused. Even more so, when I started using Projects and Area's.
Things on Mac looks quite stylish, on iPad it's a totally different and slightly outdated skeuomorphic GUI, and on the iPhone it's a pure iOS6 look. Cultured Code seems to be working on Things 3, but they work slow (took them years to deliver a cloud sync).
Things is rather expensive, compared to others.

I needed a place to throw in all my ideas without too much juggling. "Ideas" indeed, because in my job I hardly see the difference between a note and a task - or should I say: I don't want to stop and think about that.

So I stumbled onto Notesuite. This app lets you manage both tasks and notes, and it can store files.
My problem: if I want to add a note to a task, it becomes a different file in another tab. Sure, it's all in one app - but I find that confusing and too far away.
Furthermore, once a task is done (checked and out of sight), it's note is still out there. In many cases you don't need it anymore, so you'd have to find and delete each and every one manually.

Notesuite on Mac doesn't look like an OSX app: the window widgets are custom made, the toolbar is huge, the fonts are huge, the icons and glyphs are huge and dull.
Notesuite on iPad looks slightly better, but personally I'm not a fan of dark interfaces (sidebar and toolbar).
I've sent four or five e-mails to the developer, both questions and wishes. Never got a reply to any of them.

Only days ago, in this thread, I learned about Notebooks. To be correct, I saw it on a video review before but was distracted by the markup, formatted text... stuff - I wasn't on the lookout for a word processor.

This time around, I skipped the text part and focused more on the task / note management part.
Notebooks fits my workflow perfectly: anything can be either a note or a task. All you need to do is move it to either a regular book or a task book. And, "anything" means a one-liner or a full page of text or a pdf and more. Maybe it's because I've been using similar apps, but Notebooks took me about an hour to get the hang of it. Straightforward, clean, no clutter.
A few things weren't clear to me so I sent two e-mails to the developer. I received clear and full answers right away.

Notebooks on Mac is new. I've heard it had a rather long beta period, but even still the present version isn't as complete as the iOS version. And I trust the developer knows that much, so there's probably no point in telling him.
But overall, I find it gorgeous and fully macOS. Widescreen concept, 3 column view, hierarchical folders...
From the Finder, you can drag-and-drop files into any notebook.
The iOS version, obviously, has a longer history. Therefor it's packed with functionalities, it's customizable and yet quite self-explanatory.
Notebooks 7 for iOS is as flat and bright as the iOS7 itself. It fits the iPad and the iPhone perfectly, and I love the look of it. The content seems to be all that matters.
But what I like most, is the fact that I now can drop anything in this app without making too many choices like "is it a task or perhaps a note, do I tag it, do I schedule it" etc. Mind you, Notebooks has all of these - but somehow I don't feel the need nor pressure to complete all these details at first. If I were to use Things this way, everything would simply sit in my Inbox.

Sorry for the long comment, but these apps are so large...
Don't hesitate to ask more if needed.

 

[rhett7660]

Here's a few personal idea's:

snip

Awesome write. I just purchased both versions (Mac & iPhone/iPad) based on this alone. I have been using Notebook by circus ponies but I wanted a wee bit more and this seems to be the trick!

Thanks again.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Great reviews for Notebooks via the Mac App Store.

 

[vibameco]

I know a very simple task management app called CheckPoints. The price is only $0.99.

Link to download: https://itunes.apple.com/app/checkpoints-calendar/id782943639?mt=8

 

[lexvo]

Here's a few personal idea's:
<snip>

Thank you very much for this extensive writeup!

I am looking more for an app that supports GTD, but I will also take a look at Notebooks again.

I also contacted the developer of Notesuite a few times. But in my case, most of my e-mails were answered.

 

[GerritV]

Awesome write. I just purchased both versions (Mac & iPhone/iPad) based on this alone. I have been using Notebook by circus ponies but I wanted a wee bit more and this seems to be the trick!

Thanks again.

You're welcome Rhett, I hope you'll ejoy Notebooks as much as I do.

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Thank you very much for this extensive writeup!

I am looking more for an app that supports GTD, but I will also take a look at Notebooks again.

I also contacted the developer of Notesuite a few times. But in my case, most of my e-mails were answered.

My pleasure Lexvo. I'm thinking about doing an app review of Notebooks.

 

[lexvo]

I just purchased Appigo's ToDo app for iOS and OS-X. Deciding factors for me were:
- GTD is supported
- iPad, iPhone and iMac versions available (iOS universal)
- sync using iCloud (also other services supported such as DropBox and Toodledo)
- very reasonable prices

Thus far, these apps look quite good, though the iMac version seems a bit older than the iOS version. This weekend I worked out a setup to manage all my tasks in a GTD way. I can also distinguish between work and private.

For me, this app strikes a nice balance between functionality and complexity. But like I said I only have it for a few days so time will tell how things work out.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I just purchased Appigo's ToDo app for iOS and OS-X. Deciding factors for me were:
- GTD is supported
- iPad, iPhone and iMac versions available (iOS universal)
- sync using iCloud (also other services supported such as DropBox and Toodledo)
- very reasonable prices

Thus far, these apps look quite good, though the iMac version seems a bit older than the iOS version. This weekend I worked out a setup to manage all my tasks in a GTD way. I can also distinguish between work and private.

For me, this app strikes a nice balance between functionality and complexity. But like I said I only have it for a few days so time will tell how things work out.

I would contact the dev on the status of the Mac app. The last time the Mac app was updated was july 2013.

 

[GerritV]

I just purchased Appigo's ToDo app for iOS and OS-X. Deciding factors for me were:
- GTD is supported
- iPad, iPhone and iMac versions available (iOS universal)
- sync using iCloud (also other services supported such as DropBox and Toodledo)
- very reasonable prices

Thus far, these apps look quite good, though the iMac version seems a bit older than the iOS version. This weekend I worked out a setup to manage all my tasks in a GTD way. I can also distinguish between work and private.

For me, this app strikes a nice balance between functionality and complexity. But like I said I only have it for a few days so time will tell how things work out.

Interesting!
I just downloaded the iOS app for free (?). Do they charge a monthly subscription?
Do you advise reading David Allen's GTD book or other?
Just wondering how much time you spend on keeping the GDT flow up-to-date. Is it something you do on a daily base?

 

[lexvo]

Interesting!
I just downloaded the iOS app for free (?). Do they charge a monthly subscription?
Do you advise reading David Allen's GTD book or other?
Just wondering how much time you spend on keeping the GDT flow up-to-date. Is it something you do on a daily base?

There is a free app with a monthly subscription and a paid app without subscription. I bought the paid app.

I myself am a beginner regarding GTD. I read some articles and summaries and I'm now halfway the book of David Allen. I find the GTD method interesting because it helps you getting your mind clear (not worrying about things to do) and focus on the most important tasks. And it helps managing the daily flood of stuff that comes towards you. Like I said I just started, but I already feel improvement in my workflow.

By the way, I believe Things also supports GTD.