Feeling swamped by a never-ending stream of tasks? You're not alone. Juggling work deadlines, personal tasks, and future goals can quickly lead to chaos. This is where a great to-do list app becomes indispensable. More than just a simple list maker app, the best to-do list app acts as a central hub for your entire life, helping you manage everything from simple grocery lists to complex team projects. This guide will navigate the crowded market of organization apps, comparing popular choices like Todoist and others to help you find the best task management app for your specific needs, transforming your productivity and bringing clarity back to your day.
What is a to-do list app?
A to-do list app is a digital tool, often available as a mobile or web app, designed to help you organize your tasks and responsibilities. It's a form of personal task management that allows you to create tasks, set deadlines, and track your progress, moving beyond a simple digital checklist app. These to-do apps are essential for anyone looking to improve their productivity, whether for personal chores or complex project management.
While many apps focus solely on lists, Lark elevates this concept. It integrates your to-do list with docs, chat, and calendar, allowing you to create tasks from conversations and link them to relevant files for seamless context.
What makes the best to-do list app?
The “best” app is subjective, but top contenders and the best to-do list apps share features that cater to a wide range of needs, from a student organizing homework to a team managing a complex project. Here’s how to make a to-do list work for you by looking for these features:
Ease of use: A clean and intuitive user interface is crucial. You should be able to add tasks and organize your list without a steep learning curve. The easier it is to use, the more likely you are to stick with it.
Platform availability: The best to-do list app should be available on all your devices. Whether you're on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you need access to your to-do list. This includes native clients for major operating systems, like for Apple devices and Windows, and a functional desktop app or web app counterpart.
Task management features: Core functionalities should include the ability to set a due date, create routines for habits, and organize items with priorities and labels. The ability to break down large items into smaller sub tasks is also vital for managing complex goals. A flexible task list is the foundation of any great system.
Collaboration features: For team use, look for features like the ability to share tasks, assign them to team members, and track progress collectively. Commenting on tasks and attaching files are also important for keeping everyone on the same page across different projects.
Integration capabilities: The ability to sync with tools you already use, like Google Calendar or email, is a massive advantage. Good to-do list apps can pull in tasks from other apps or even turn Slack messages into action items, centralizing your workflow.
Lark exemplifies these qualities by offering a seamless user interface across all platforms. Its power lies not just in task management, but in how it deeply integrates those tasks with your calendar events, documents, and team communication.
8 best to-do list apps to boost your productivity
Finding the right application organisation can be a quest. With so many apps on the market, each claiming to be the ultimate solution, it's easy to get overwhelmed. We've tested and compiled a list of the top rated to-do list app choices for 2025 to help you find the perfect match for your needs. Whether you need a simple best daily checklist app or a robust project management software, one of these options will work for you.
1. Lark: the all-in-one superapp for integrated task management
Overview
Lark is more than just a to-do list app; it's a comprehensive digital workspace designed to eliminate the friction of switching between different tools. Imagine a world where your tasks, chats, calendar, and documents are all interconnected in one seamless platform. That's the power of Lark. It acts as a central hub where you can turn a conversation into an actionable task with a single click, manage complex projects in a customizable database, and collaborate with your team without ever losing context. It's built for those who believe that task management shouldn't be an isolated activity but an integrated part of their daily workflow.
Standout features
Integrated task management with Lark Tasks and Lark Base. For daily needs, Lark Tasks is a lightweight and intuitive tool that lets you create and assign tasks directly from chats or shared documents. You can organize them in simple list or Kanban views. For more complex projects, Lark Base offers a powerful, no-code database where you can build a custom to-do list system with multiple views (like Gantt and Calendar), automated workflows, and detailed progress tracking dashboards.
Seamless communication and collaboration. Lark's ecosystem is built around its powerful messenger. You can share a document in a chat and instantly grant permissions, tag a colleague in a doc to send them a notification, or start a video call to discuss a task. All project updates and notifications from other Lark apps appear in your chat feed, keeping you informed in real-time.
Intelligent automation. Save time and reduce manual effort by automating repetitive workflows within Lark Base. You can set up rules to automatically assign tasks, send reminders when deadlines are approaching, or update a task's status based on specific triggers.
A true all-in-one experience. With Lark, you get access to an entire suite of productivity tools. Your to-do list is natively connected to your Lark Calendar for scheduling, Lark Docs for project briefs, and Lark Meetings for team syncs. This ensures all your work stays connected.
Starter: Free for up to 20 users, including 100 GB of storage and access to 11+ integrated apps.
Pro: Starts at $12 per user/month, offering more storage, unlimited message history, and advanced features.
Enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations with advanced security and support needs.
2. Todoist: the best app for recurring tasks and personal productivity
Image source: todoist.com
Overview
Todoist has earned its reputation as one of the best personal task management tools thanks to its clean interface and powerful features. It excels at quickly capturing and organizing tasks, whether you're at your desk or on the go. Its natural language input is a standout feature, allowing you to simply type "Schedule a meeting for next Tuesday at 10 am" and have the app automatically set the task and reminder.
Standout features
Natural language processing. Quickly add tasks with due dates and priorities using everyday language.
Flexible organization. Use projects, sub-projects, labels, and filters to create a highly customized workflow that fits your needs.
Productivity visualizations. Track your progress with karma points and graphs, which can be a great motivator for completing tasks.
Powerful recurring tasks. Easily set up tasks that repeat on complex schedules, like "every second Monday."
Pricing
Beginner: $0/user/month, up to 5 personal projects.
Pro: Starts from $4/user/month for up to 300 personal projects.
Business: Starts from $6/user/month for up to 500 team projects.
3. Asana: the best task management software for complex team projects
Image source: asana.com
Overview
Asana is a robust project management tool designed for teams juggling complex workflows and multiple initiatives. While it can function as a personal to-do list app, its true power lies in its ability to provide clarity and structure for large-scale projects. It helps teams map out every step, from high-level goals down to the smallest subtask, ensuring everyone knows who is doing what, and when.
Standout features
Multiple project views. Switch between List, Board, Timeline, and Calendar views to visualize work in the way that suits you best.
Task dependencies. Create rules that prevent a task from being started until another one is completed, ensuring work happens in the correct order.
Portfolio and workload management. Get a high-level overview of all your projects in one place and see how your team's work is distributed to prevent burnout.
Automations. Build custom rules to automate routine tasks like assigning work and updating statuses.
Pricing
Free: Up to 10 teammates
Starter: Starts from $10.99/user/month
Advanced: Starts from $24.99/user/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
4. Microsoft to-do: the best to-do list planner for Microsoft 365 users
Image source: microsoft.com
Overview
Microsoft to-do is a straightforward and clean checklist app that integrates seamlessly into the Microsoft ecosystem. It's the spiritual successor to Wunderlist and is perfect for individuals and teams who already rely on Outlook and other Microsoft 365 tools. Its "My Day" feature provides a fresh slate each morning, encouraging you to be intentional about your daily priorities.
Standout features
Deep Microsoft integration. Flagged emails from Outlook automatically appear as tasks, and the app syncs with Microsoft Planner.
My Day feature. A smart daily planner that helps you focus on your most important tasks for the day.
List sharing. You can create and share lists with colleagues, family, or friends for simple collaboration.
Customizable lists. Personalize your lists with different themes and colors to make your workspace your own.
Pricing
No free plan; offers a free trial for one month.
Microsoft 365 personal (for home): Starts from $9.99/month for one person.
Microsoft 365 family (for home): Starts from $12.99/month for six people.
Microsoft 365 business basic: Starts from $6.00/user/month.
Microsoft 365 business standard: Starts from $12.50/user/month.
Microsoft 365 business premium: Starts from $22.00/user/month.
Microsoft 365 Apps for business: Starts from $8.25/user/month.
5. Things 3: the best to-do list app with an award-winning design
Image source: culturedcode.com
Overview
Things 3 is a beautifully designed and highly polished task management app exclusively for the Apple ecosystem. It has won design awards for its clean, intuitive interface that makes organizing your life a delight. It's built for individuals who appreciate thoughtful design and want a powerful, yet simple, tool for personal task management without the complexity of subscription-based team platforms.
Standout features
Elegant and intuitive interface. A clutter-free design that helps you focus on your tasks.
Clear organization. Structure your tasks with headings, projects, and areas to keep everything tidy.
Natural language processing. Type "Tomorrow" or "in 2 weeks," and the app's smart parser understands.
Seamless Apple ecosystem integration. Works perfectly across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch with fast, reliable syncing.
Pricing
One-time purchases (no subscription):
Mac: $49.99
iPad: $19.99
iPhone & Apple Watch: $9.99
6. Trello: the best visual organization app for Kanban-style workflows
Image source: trello.com
Overview
Trello is a highly visual and flexible list creator app that popularized the Kanban board approach to task management. It uses a system of boards, lists, and cards to help you organize and prioritize your projects in a fun and intuitive way. It's an excellent choice for individuals and teams who think visually and prefer a drag-and-drop interface for managing their workflows.
Standout features
Kanban boards. The core of Trello, allowing you to see the status of every task at a glance.
Simple collaboration. Invite team members to boards, assign tasks via cards, and leave comments and attachments.
Power-Ups. Extend Trello’s functionality by integrating with other apps like Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
Built-in automation. Create rules, buttons, and commands to automate common actions within your boards.
Pricing
Free: Up to 10 collaborators/workspace.
Standard: Starts from $5/user/month.
Premium: Starts from $10/user/month.
Enterprise: Starts from $17.5/user/month.
7. ClickUp: the one app to replace them all with endless customization
Image source: clickup.com
Overview
ClickUp aims to be the single platform that can handle every type of work, from personal to-do lists to complex enterprise projects. Its biggest strength is its extreme customizability. You can tailor almost every aspect of the platform, including statuses, fields, and views, to create a task management system that is perfectly suited to your team's unique processes.
Standout features
15+ views. Switch between List, Board, Calendar, Gantt, and even a Mind Map view to visualize your work.
Custom everything. Create custom statuses, custom fields, and custom automations to build your ideal workflow.
Built-in docs and whiteboards. Create and collaborate on documents and brainstorm ideas right alongside your tasks.
Nested subtasks and checklists. Break down complex tasks into multiple layers to ensure every detail is covered.
Pricing
Free: Best for personal use.
Unlimited: Starts from $7/user/month.
Business: Starts from $12/user/month.
Enterprise: Custom pricing.
8. Monday.com: a colorful and collaborative work OS for any team
Image source: monday.com
Overview
Monday.com is a Work Operating System (Work OS) that empowers teams to manage their projects and workflows with vibrant, visual tools. It excels at cross-functional collaboration, making it a favorite for marketing, sales, and creative teams. Its colorful interface and flexible building blocks allow you to design a workflow for virtually any use case, from a simple to-do list to a full-blown CRM.
Standout features
Highly visual and customizable boards. Use a drag-and-drop interface to build boards that match your exact workflow.
Multiple data visualizations. View your data as a Kanban board, calendar, timeline, or chart to gain different perspectives.
Powerful automations and integrations. Automate repetitive work and connect with hundreds of other tools to create a unified workspace.
Dashboards for reporting. Combine data from multiple boards into a single dashboard for a high-level view of progress.
Pricing
Free: Up to 3 boards
Basic: Starts from $9/seat/month
Standard: Starts from $12/seat/month
Pro: Starts from $19/seat/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Other to-do list options at a glance
For those with more specific needs, here are a few other excellent apps worth considering:
Explore highlights of Lark for your to-do lists
Choosing the best to-do list app is only the first step; unlocking its full potential comes from how you use it. Lark is designed to be more than just a place to park your tasks. It empowers you to build a dynamic and intelligent system that adapts to your needs, whether you're managing personal goals or driving complex team projects. With a dual approach to task management, Lark provides both structured power and agile simplicity.
Streamline complex projects with Lark Base
For larger projects that require structure, visibility, and automation, Lark Base serves as your powerful command center. One of its most effective features is its library of templates. These aren't just static checklists; they are pre-built, customizable databases designed to give you a head start on organizing your work.
Task Management template
This template provides a flexible and comprehensive foundation for any project. It comes with ready-made fields for tracking status, priority, deadlines, and assignees, allowing you to get organized instantly and tailor the workflow to fit your team’s specific needs. 👉Use this template
Employee Task Tracker template
Perfect for managers and team leads, this template is designed to help you assign and monitor team responsibilities with ease. It provides a clear overview of who is working on what, ensuring transparent accountability and balanced workloads across the team. 👉Use this template
OKR Task Subdivision and Progress Control template
For teams focused on strategic goals, this template helps you connect your daily work to the bigger picture. It allows you to break down ambitious objectives and key results (OKRs) into measurable tasks, making it easy to track your progress and ensure your efforts are driving meaningful outcomes. 👉Use this template
Capture daily to-dos with Lark Tasks
For the more fluid tasks that pop up in daily conversations and quick check-ins, there's Lark Tasks. This lightweight tool is perfect for personal task management and quick assignments. You can create a task directly from a message in a chat, assign it to a team member, and set a due date without ever leaving the conversation. It ensures that spontaneous action items are captured and tracked, seamlessly bridging the gap between communication and execution.
By offering both the structured power of Lark Base for your projects and the agile simplicity of Lark Tasks for your daily to-dos, Lark provides a truly comprehensive solution for every type of checklist.
Future trends of best to-do list apps
The world of productivity software is constantly evolving, and the to-do list app is at the forefront of this transformation. What was once a simple digital checklist is rapidly becoming a sophisticated command center for our work and personal lives. As we look to the future, several key trends are shaping the next generation of these essential tools.
Deeper AI integration. Artificial intelligence is set to become the ultimate productivity partner. We're moving beyond basic features to a future where AI will help us prioritize tasks based on our goals, automatically generate to-do lists from meeting transcripts and emails, and even predict potential project bottlenecks before they happen. Imagine an app that not only tracks your tasks but also helps you decide what to work on next for maximum impact.
The rise of the all-in-one workspace. The friction of switching between multiple apps is a major productivity killer. The future lies in unified platforms where your to-do list is seamlessly integrated with your communication tools, documents, and calendar. This contextual approach means your tasks are no longer isolated items on a list but are connected to the very conversations and files they originated from.
A greater focus on well-being and focus. As the line between work and life continues to blur, the best apps will incorporate features designed to prevent burnout. This includes built-in focus tools like Pomodoro timers, habit trackers to encourage healthy routines, and workload management features that give you a clear view of your capacity, helping you maintain a sustainable pace.
Hyper-personalization. The one-size-fits-all approach is becoming a thing of the past. Future apps will offer even greater customization, allowing users to build a task management system that perfectly mirrors their unique way of thinking and working. From custom views to personalized automation, the app will adapt to you, not the other way around.
Lark's position in the future
Lark is not just keeping pace with these trends; in many ways, it's already defining them. Its foundation as an all-in-one superapp positions it perfectly for a future where integrated workflows are the standard. The platform's existing AI capabilities, such as generating summaries from meeting minutes, are just the beginning. By natively connecting tasks to a rich ecosystem of chat, documents, and calendars, Lark is already delivering on the promise of a truly contextual and frictionless work experience, making it a forward-thinking choice for any individual or team.
Conclusion
The journey to find the best to-do list app is a personal one, but it's a crucial step toward achieving clarity and control in our busy lives. From simple list makers to powerful project management platforms, the right tool can fundamentally change the way you approach your day. By focusing on what truly matters—intuitive design, flexibility, seamless collaboration, and powerful integrations—you can move beyond simply tracking tasks and start building a system that actively propels you toward your goals.
Ultimately, the most significant shift in task management is the move away from isolated apps and toward integrated ecosystems. The ability to manage your to-dos in the same place where you communicate and collaborate is a game-changer for productivity. It eliminates friction, provides context, and keeps your entire team aligned.
If you're ready to experience the power of a truly unified workspace, we encourage you to try Lark. It’s where your to-do lists and your teamwork come together.
FAQs
What is the best app for to-do lists?
The "best" app depends entirely on your needs. For simple personal lists, a tool like Google Tasks may suffice. For complex team projects, Asana is a strong choice. However, for a truly integrated solution that scales from personal to-dos to team projects, Lark offers a powerful all-in-one platform.
Which is better, Todoist or Google Tasks?
It depends on your priorities. Google Tasks is great for basic tasks inside the Google ecosystem, while Todoist offers more powerful personal organization. For a truly integrated team experience where tasks are connected to chats and documents, a unified platform like Lark is the superior choice for collaborative work.
What is better than to-do lists?
An integrated task management system is better than a simple to-do list. Rather than having a standalone list, a platform like Lark connects your tasks to your chats, calendar, and documents. This provides full context, reduces the need to switch between apps, and ensures your action items are always tied to your workflow.
Is Google Tasks a good to-do list app?
Google Tasks is a good, simple to-do list app for individuals who are heavily invested in the Google ecosystem. However, it lacks advanced features and team collaboration tools. For managing projects or working with a team, an all-in-one platform like Lark provides a more robust and comprehensive solution.
