With all of us having to put on more than one hat any given day, it’s a miracle we get anything done at all. Tasks and reminders used to be scribbled down on notebooks and pieces of paper but since all and sundry have got their computers and mobile phones, to-do lists have also gone digital.
Especially when it comes to tasks and deliverables in the workplace also, if you’re managing a team or teams, you can’t afford to let anything slip through and get missed. Getting organized is a lot easier now with apps ever ready at your fingertips.
Here, we look at the 10 best online to-do lists and apps for 2021.
1. Asana
A favourite of productivity aficionados, Asana is an online to-do list that can be used on computers but also on either iOS or Android devices making it very handy for people on the go. You’re able to keep tasks and to-dos organized and create new ones as they come. Whether you need it for personal use or professional use, Asana is a reliable tool to help you get organized and stay productive.
With Asana, you can also collaborate on tasks with teammates, track the amount of time it takes for them to be completed and see who’s responsible for the next stage of a task up to its completion. You can also assign tasks and set their statuses whether they’re open or closed as well as leave comments to give direction or share information.
2. Trello
If you’re a fan of Kanban boards and like their visual representation, you’ll love Trello, which is a to-do list online. It’s also basically checklists that are arranged in cards and you can attach files, images and share links and the cards can be shared with colleagues and other collaborators. Once a task on a card is complete, you can mark it and remove it from the board.
Trello is an app that can be used on desktops as well as Android, iOS or Microsoft devices. You’re able to synchronize cards with third party calendars and you can have more fun at work by using custom and themed cards and boards. Best of all, Trello is free and easy to use.
3. Microsoft To-Do
Another free online to-do list that you may want to try is Microsoft To-Do. It’s cloud-based and can fully integrate with Office 365. With Microsoft To-Do, you can create tasks but you can also extract them from Outlook and other tools. You can also arrange tasks and to-dos based on priority, set reminders and also add notes to them.
With Microsoft To-Do, you will also have something called My Day that highlights your tasks and to-dos that need to be completed that day. Then you can filter the most urgent and those that can be put off for another day.
4. Google Keep
Do you ever have those moments when you have a big, life-changing “a-ha” moment but you don’t have a way of keeping it for later? Frustrating, isn’t it? With Google Keep, you have a way of storing ideas and thoughts while also keeping a to-do list of your most important assignments.
Google Keep can be used on iOS and Android devices as well as over the web. It’s quick and easy to use and has a special feature that allows you to transcribe text from uploaded images. With Google Keep, you can also create audio notes for recording ideas in case your hands are otherwise engaged typing out that important memo or email.
5. TickTick
TickTick functions pretty much the same way when it comes to allowing you to list down tasks and reminders but it also allows you to filter using priority levels. TickTick also keeps everything organized and your desktop clutter-free so you won’t feel stressed or panicked over things that need to get done throughout the day.
With TickTick, you can customize to-do lists, add voice commands and set smart reminders and alerts so nothing – whether big or small tasks – gets forgotten and left undone. You can also drag and drop tasks onto calendars and share them with collaborators.
6. Google Tasks
If you’re looking for a simple UI design that makes task management quick and easy, Google Tasks is the app to try. As you may have guessed, you can add and manage tasks that are taken directly from Gmail. You can create tasks and subtasks as well as more than one to-do list – one for personal and another for work reminders, perhaps?
Google Tasks is a great free online to-do list that allows users to set due dates and priorities as well as arranging to-dos based on what needs to get done first. All of this with a minimalist interface that helps keep the clutter and chaos out of sight.
7. Evernote
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive online to-do list maker, you need to check out Evernote. It’s packed with various task management tools and it also has a clipping tool that enables users to save any piece of online information or even a webpage directly to their Evernote account.
Evernote also allows teams to collaborate on projects and conduct meetings using shared workspaces. Third-party integrations are also possible with Bitrix24 and other apps like Slack.
8. Todoist
Todoist has risen to the list of some of the best online to-do lists in recent years. With Todoist, users can create, organize and sort tasks based on their importance and urgency. You can also create subtasks off of tasks as well as dependencies. You can also make things more fun with colored labels and codes as you add due dates to tasks.
Todoist also comes with an app called Smart Schedule that provides users with suggestions for dates that tasks can be best scheduled and rescheduled to. Todoist also gives you the chance to track your own productivity and give yourself a virtual pat on the back with Todoist Karma. With Todoist Karma, users can track their own progress through the use of graphs and reports.
9. Workflowy
Another online to-do list app to test is Workflowy. It’s a list-making tool that can be used on both Android and iOS devices along with desktop hardware so you can take it with you anywhere to use it for personal and professional needs.
Once done, you can either delete or archive tasks and export lists to a file. With Workflowy, users can also utilize keyboard shortcuts for the utmost convenience and collaborate on tasks and to-dos with teammates and other stakeholders.
10. Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is a lot of the best tools that are most needed in the workplace today but it’s also a premier task and project management software. If you’re a fan of both Kanban boards and Gantt charts, you can enjoy the best of both with Bitrix24. You can keep track of individual and group tasks to better manage both arenas and create subtasks from tasks as well as checklists and set priority levels.
Using Bitrix24, one can create templates out of recurring tasks and utilize the daily planner tool. Bitrix24 also has a time tracking tool that helps you see how much time it takes to complete one task on an individual or team assignment. You also have access to reports in aid of coaching or assigning future tasks.
In conclusion: Top Online To-Do Lists & Apps for this year
Tasks, whether personal or professional, may look like small things but even just one missed due date can throw a project into chaos. Online to-do list makers are there to make sure no assignment falls by the wayside. Whether it’s a grocery shopping list or a work-related project breakdown, it’s best to employ a to-do list app to help you keep things organized.
You’re surely never short of options. The best things are easy to use, can be used on both computers and mobile devices, chock full of features and little perks and, most importantly of all, free.