TOP 15 task planners, choose the best application for planning tasks

Keeping a to-do list on paper or in an organizer is not very convenient and has long lost its relevance. To keep track of tasks these days, there is a digital and optimal solution - to-do apps or task planners. They are special services for project management.

These products help a modern person, loaded with many tasks, to easily organize the work process, correctly distribute the focus of attention, monitor the fulfillment of set goals, and manage several projects at once. In addition, planners allow you to avoid wasting both work and personal time in vain.

In this article, we have prepared a selection of the 15 best services for managing tasks and plans. Some of them are more suitable for large companies, others for individual professionals and personal use. Almost all top products work in free mode in Russian and run perfectly not only on PCs, but also from mobile devices.

LeaderTask

A very convenient task manager, suitable for team planning and work. Ideal for small businesses, businesses with a team of employees. Perfectly integrates into the life of specialists, managers, businessmen, and executives.

However, LeaderTask will also fit perfectly into the everyday life of schoolchildren, students, self-employed people and housewives, increasing their productivity and eliminating self-constraint. Successfully organizes chaos in business by compiling to-do lists for each day with the formation of subtasks.

Advantages:

has a built-in calendar planner for freely switching between tasks for a specific day, week and month;
reminds you of upcoming meetings and tasks;
delegates projects to employees, sets up collaboration with them;
helps to establish team interaction through corporate chat;
maintains statistics of ineffective employees;
has additional features for work: visualization of goals, generation of leads by collecting applications in a special form, flexible functionality, convenient and simple interface, work in online and offline access.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - for beginners. Ability to create reminders, 100 tasks, 10 projects, 3 labels and 3 colors.
Premium - for professionals. From 217 rubles for 1 user per month. Unlimited use of reminders, projects, tags, colors, checklists. It is possible to store information in the cloud and create repetitive tasks.
Business is for teams. From 331 rubles per 1 user monthly. Premium features include the ability to complete common projects and assign tasks to a team.

Recommendations for setting goals for the year

Check each goal using the algorithm for setting an individual goal. Read: How to correctly create a SMART goal.
Create goals that are independent of each other.
Last year, I set as many as 3 dependent goals. 1. Promote the site. ↳2. Earn money from it. ↳3. Hire 4 people for the team. The first goal was not achieved, and automatically dependent goals were not completed.
Distribute the load.
Last year, I wrote sports goals that were difficult for me - all with a load on my arms.
Do 200 push-ups.
Iron cross on rings.
Learn to play tennis.
Get used to walking on your hands

I just learned to play tennis. The rest were not completed.

It’s better to set and achieve a goal beyond your current capabilities than to set a mega-cool goal and fail.
Goal: do 200 push-ups. My old record is 108, but I reached 101 times. If I bet 120 times, I would have achieved it. I was afraid of complexity and put it off. And if it worked, I would finish it up to 150-200 times.

Do not add new things to your plans for the future on emotions, without checking if they are identical to your intentions and capabilities for the year.
Three years ago I returned from training. In a wave of delight, without thinking, I entered as many as 7 goals - all difficult. He didn’t even take a step towards them.

Any.do

A popular and simple task scheduler that synchronizes with several devices at once. Supports voice typing, predictive input, and allows you to attach images and photos to text. Ideal for personal use.

Advantages:

automatically sorts grocery lists, plans the day, helps prioritize tasks;
creating and sending notifications to the What's App messenger, attaching tags, reminders, subtasks and file attachments to each task;
synchronizes with the calendar;
has an ascetic design and color palette.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - basic version.
Premium - for 1, 6 or 12 months from $2.99 per month. Features of What's App reminders, location reminders, custom themes, color tags, unlimited daily planner are added.

Google Tasks

Google's minimalistic and well-designed scheduler has the ability to synchronize across multiple devices using the cloud. Integrates with all company products and operates through a Google account. At the same time, it works well in offline mode if the data is saved directly on the device.

Advantages:

It is free to use, has a simple interface, and is easy to display data;
all lists can be easily added, hidden and just as easily deleted;
provision is made for backup, change of external design and block of entered information thanks to keys.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - basic version.

Which service to choose

The answer to this question depends on what your budget is and what you want to use the service for. For personal purposes (day planning, personal schedule, note-taking, diary, etc.), Todoist and Notion are great options.

If you're a freelancer, a small company employee, or looking for a solution for a small team, consider Asana or Trello.

Large organizations with a large number of projects and departments should use more complex, advanced services: Planfix, Jira, Bitrix24. It will be a little more difficult to understand the interface and implement them, but these services will cope better with the tasks of large enterprises.

Todoist

A reliable and convenient product with somewhat complex controls, but diverse capabilities and a large number of options. It is considered the best planning service according to The Verge, a famous American website about computers and gadgets. Integrates with Dropbox, Google.Disk, Apple Maps and other services.

Advantages:

divides tasks into projects, inserts tags and comments, changes topics;
It is possible to attach attachments of different formats and conduct joint projects;
has a built-in productivity tracker for additional motivation;
includes a number of templates that help you quickly create task lists and others;
has visual statistics of completed tasks to track personal productivity.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - for beginners. Allows you to manage up to 5 projects over the course of a week, connect up to 5 users, upload files up to 5 MB, and apply 3 filters.
Pro - for active users. From 229 rubles per month. Makes it possible to manage up to 300 projects, connect up to 25 users, upload files up to 100 MB in size, and use 150 filters. There is a system of reminders, topics, and a backup function.
Business is for teamwork. From 329 rubles per month for 1 user. Leads up to 500 ongoing projects, includes up to 50 employees. Pro adds incoming and personnel invoices, priority support, and role differentiation to the features.

EverNote

One of the most popular services for creating notes and storing data, suitable for personal purposes. Recognizes and searches handwritten text: it understands eleven languages, including Russian. Capable of scanning documents, integrates with Gmail, Slack, Google Drive and other useful services.

Advantages:

has a system of ready-made templates that simplify the process of creating notes;
stores records in a variety of formats: pictures, texts, links, PDF, website web pages, letters;
suitable for planning, because records tasks and sorts them by priority.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free. Allows you to synchronize the application between 2 devices, store 60 MB of new content per month, save notes up to 25 MB in size. There are 3 widgets, tasks, search, copying web pages, the ability to attach files.
Personal - from 219 rubles per month. The Free tariff features the ability to synchronize any number of devices, store up to 10 GB of new content per month, and notes up to 200 MB in size. There is access to additional widgets, connection to Google Calendar, deadlines, reminders, notifications for tasks, access without the Internet.
Professional - from 299 rubles per month. Personal functions are complemented by the ability to save up to 20 GB of information per month, track task completion, find content using geotags, use Boolean search, export notebooks, and integrate with services.

Notion

Interface language: English, Korean
Display of tasks: kanban board, calendar, list by performer, by deadline, and also by custom parameters
Mobile version: yes
Communication with colleagues within the service: no
Suitable for: specialists and freelancers, small teams, SMBs, for personal purposes

The Notion service combines the functions of several tools at once: task manager, notepad, planner. In it you can not only manage tasks and projects, but also keep notes, tables, work with documents, collect knowledge bases and store files and useful links. There are versions for desktops and smartphones on iOS and Android.

When registering (you will need to enter your email address), you will be offered two options for setting up the service - for personal and for team use.

For personal purposes, it can be used for taking notes, notes and a diary, personal schedule, to-do list, shopping, plans, setting goals, etc. In companies, it is useful as a service for managing tasks. Tasks are collected on a kanban board, they can be assigned the statuses Idea, In Progress, On Review, Published, and also filtered by various parameters: by status, by performer, by deadline, etc.

The service interface is in English. The workspace menu for the Marketing category consists of five main tabs:

Brand Assets - corporate elements are stored here: fonts, logos, icons, patterns, etc.
Meeting notes - notes based on the results of meetings and discussions.
Media list - links to articles, press releases, news about the company that were published in the media.
Content Calendar - content plan.
Mood board - a board with references.

These tabs can be edited, deleted, or new tabs and sections can be added for them. For example, you can create a tab where links to useful resources for team members will be stored, a tab with regulations, etc.

In addition to “Marketing”, there are free templates for the categories “Design”, “Education”, “HR”, “Sales”, “Help Desk”, Product management, “Engineering” and “Personal needs”. The Notion gallery has other templates (including paid ones), for example, for planning holiday activities. You can upload and store files of any type into the service: video, audio, codes, tables.

Notion tariffs:

Personal . Free, allows you to create an unlimited number of pages and blocks and invite up to five people.
Personal Pro $4 per month. You can upload an unlimited number of files and invite an unlimited number of guests. You can also view version history.
Team $8 per month per user. Allows you to create shared workspaces and use administrator functions.
Enterprise . Tariff with advanced administrative functions and increased data protection.

Remember The Milk

A free task manager that allows you to create and use lists of key to-dos throughout the day. Integrates with mail, instant messengers, and other applications on smartphones. He also successfully operates on social media feeds. Recognizes voice commands thanks to the Alexa virtual assistant.

Advantages:

generates reminders with dates, characteristics, names and texts directly;
has the ability to send them by e-mail or on social networks;
creates lists, configures notifications, adds intermediate subtasks, tags and files to organized tasks;
allows you to create planning in the style of “smart sheets”.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - basic tariff.

Microsoft To-Do

An application with flexible interface settings, but little functionality from the Microsoft family. Positioned as an extremely simple list for accounting, automation and to-do list. However, it has rather unstable performance in the notification area. Integrates with Outlook and Office 365 services. Perfectly suited for personal use and organizational activities.

Advantages:

includes an individual task planner with main and intermediate lists, suggestions that allow you to plan your time efficiently;
there is the ability to designate tasks in color, the ability to share your goals with other people;
the intelligent hint tool works;
Recommends the main things to do depending on the date and list.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - basic version.

To Do Reminder

Task scheduler and personal reminder manager. It does not have a Russian-language version, but has a clear interface that does not require in-depth knowledge of the English language. If synchronization is not required, it can work without authorization or creating an account. Integrates with Google Calendar, FaceBook and other services.

Advantages:

allows you to add and view new tasks, control the order and history of tasks, supplement information with audio files and text;
performs an instant search for a task by its name.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - basic version.
No ads - $2.99.

How to make a rough plan

It is convenient to draw up draft plans for the future in electronic format. It’s a hassle on paper; you’ll need to constantly edit the list of goals. I made over 50 edits to the last plan.

For clarity, we break down our goals into areas of life, like in the wheel of life. We write down all the goals that come to mind for each source.

Use the templates:

Template with goals: open, , Google.docs, Evernote.

Life planning template: open, Google.docs, Evernote.

We take each source of goals, come up with and write goals based on it, without much analysis. First, let's just put everything together. There is a personal meaning to life - we wrote down goals to realize it. There is a purpose - they wrote it out. Old dreams are written out. We did the 100 desires exercise and wrote down the 10–15 most burning ones. We imagine ourselves in 10 years, where and with whom – we write it out.

We make a plan for the year - write down all the goals.

I draft it in a week. I spend three more weeks editing, agreeing on goals, and adjusting it to reality. I have all my goals and long-term plans written down in a notebook, more than 30 pages of different wants and dreams. I leaf through it and write down what I would like to implement now, repeat 4-5 times.

Within each sphere, create 3-4 goals. We leave only the most want-to-can-do, mentally imagine how you will fulfill the goal, if you don’t imagine it, cross it out.

I recommend creating a backup plan: moving there all the goals that do not fit into the annual plan. When you manage and have nothing to do, the goals are already ready.

If you are making a plan for the first time, it is better to plan simpler goals and 2-3 goals at a time. If you dream of running a marathon, set a goal of running 5 km to start. You will have time to complicate the goal. Initially, everyone overestimates their abilities. If after six months you close the plan, make a plan for the remaining year, with the joyful feeling that everything you planned has worked out.

Future plans should take into account your experience.

If you look at the draft and anxiety appears, “How will I manage to do all this?” – lighten it up so it’s rich but not overwhelming. The more experienced you are, the more you will plan your own way.

Bear

An ideal mobile application that allows you to store text notes and to-do lists in one place. However, the product works exclusively in the cloud and is synchronized only for a fee. A significant disadvantage is that there is no separate application for the Android operating system.

Advantages:

creates lists by groups and notes by hashtags;
performs a quick search for tasks;
easily creates lists using text, voice typing;
supports drawing capabilities, allows you to attach images, text, files and web pages;
encrypts individual notes with a password, provides export of notes to PDF, HTML, DOCX and JPG;
has several design options and themes.

Platforms:

iOS, MacOS, WatchOS.

Rates:

Free trial subscription 30 days - 0 rubles.
Monthly Pro subscription - 99 rubles.
Annual Pro subscription - 949 rubles.

TickTick

An indispensable application for planning and reminders with advanced functionality, a visually pleasing interface and a distinctive feature - a pomodoro timer. This principle allows you to instantly focus on work. Distributed as an extension in Chrome and FireFox browsers. Integrates with the calendar.

The mobile version provides not only task management, but also the marking of regular actions that require tracking. It is possible to view statistics of personal achievements. Reminders are sent about uncompleted tasks.

Advantages:

provides for adding tags and subtasks to tasks, which can be grouped, assigned a degree of importance, left comments and checklists;
New reminders are added by typing, voice input or email.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - basic version. Allows you to create up to 9 lists, 99 tasks, 19 subtasks and 2 reminders per task, upload up to 1 attachment per day, include up to 2 participants in the general list.
Premium - from $2.4 per month. Allows you to create up to 299 lists, 999 tasks, 199 subtasks and 5 reminders per task, upload up to 99 attachments per day, include up to 30 participants in the general list. Allows you to use premium features (monthly calendar, widgets, smart list, subtask reminder, etc.).

Jira

Interface language: English, Russian
Displaying tasks: kanban boards and scrum boards
Mobile version: yes
Communication with colleagues within the service: no
Suitable for: medium and large businesses

The Jira project management system was released in 2002. Allows you to organize work using the Scrum methodology if one universal team is working on a project, and Kanban if several narrow-profile teams are working. It is positioned as a service for companies involved in development, but is also used for other projects. There are mobile and desktop versions, integration with external services, for example, InVision, Adobe, Slack, Gmail, etc. In addition, you can set up integration with any Atlassian services. The interface has been translated into Russian, but sometimes there are errors and untranslated fragments.

Tasks can be maintained on scrum boards and kanban boards with customizable columns. Task cards provide a description of the task, you can write out the specifications in detail, add a checklist, attach files, assign performers and observers, assign tags, receive notifications about the progress of work on the task by email, add subtasks and comments. Task card parameters are flexibly configured. There is a Backlog where tasks that have not yet been processed are sent.

Projects in Jira are divided into two types - software development and business. You can also combine projects into categories - standard and custom. Each project participant can be assigned a role and assigned specific functions.

The Jira interface is not simple, and to implement this service in a company, you will most likely need the help of a specialist. At the same time, Jira has many opportunities for customizing the interface and workspace, automation, integration with useful services, tracking the workflow, time spent on a task, creating agile reports and ensuring the security of data stored in the service.

Pricing available in Jira:

Free , for teams of up to 10 people with access to all basic functions of the service, file storage holds up to 2 GB.
Standard , $7 per user per month. Gives access to extended rights, 250 GB of file storage, and you can also give people outside the organization anonymous access to projects and tasks.
Premium , $14 per user per month. Automation is available at the general and cross-project level, analytics for administrators, Sandbox, file storage capacity is unlimited.
Enterprise . Personal tariff.

Omnifocus

A multifunctional day planner to manage your daily tasks and increase productivity. Suitable for personal use. Does not have a Russian version. Syncs with end-to-end encryption to protect certain data.

Groups tasks by project and allows you to use a tagging system. Each task has several options to choose from. It has a number of tabs on which the level of progress of various projects is checked and contextual tasks are studied. Forecasts affairs and calendar events. Has built-in templates and settings.

Advantages:

allows you to attach attachments, such as images, photos and audio;
has the function of voice dialing, control of current projects;
integrates with email and letters, IFTTT, Zapier and other services.

Platforms:

iOS.

Rates:

Free trial.
Monthly and annual subscription - from 749 rubles per month.

Examples of correct task setting

Let's see how to set tasks correctly using the rules.

Goal: increase sales. Tasks:

hire two employees by April 31;
increase the number of manager transactions by 15% using personal sales technology;
increase cold calling sales from 15 to 25% using a new script.

Goal: increase profit per single sale. Tasks:

increase the average check by 25% using upselling;
increase prices by 5% and change price tags in all stores until September 21.

Trello

A multi-platform planning application recommended for working on projects in small teams. In addition, the planner is well suited for personal use and planning tasks using the kanban system. Integrates with additional tools such as Dropbox, Slack, Evernote, Twitter and many more.

Advantages:

provides the ability to create a virtual board with cards, as well as various checklists and deadlines;
planner allows you to change the cover, have personal backgrounds and stickers, as well as give tasks individual names, deadlines, characteristics, select performers, set subtasks, and attach files of various formats.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - standard version.

How to make a final life plan for the year

In the list, we place the spheres themselves so that the more in demand is higher. Ideally, one aspect of life is to prioritize the year in which we want to achieve a breakthrough. Usually, this is the area that worries us most and ruins our lives. It is desirable that the remaining goals work for the main sphere or at least do not interfere.

For me this year, the main thing is to move forward in the “Career” direction - I’m moving it up. I read books for knowledge on the project. Into the rocking chair for energy. Experiments for articles. Everything in general is for happiness.

Sausage is the main thing

For a beginner, the main goal of drawing up a plan is to gain planning experience, complete it 100%, deservedly be happy for yourself and feel growth above the circumstances.

The plan for the year should be flexible: there was no such thing that I did not complete 15–20 goals. We leave room for something new by 25%, this is every fourth goal. Usually, I keep some of my goals in a separate list, outside the plan. When I redo everything, I add them.

Open my final plan.

I write down a list of plans for my life in a notebook.

On sheet A4 I draw a map of goals.

Habitica: Gamify Your Tasks

An unusual application that allows you to create to-do lists and a habit tracker. The glider is designed based on an RPG game style, which motivates you to perform more and more routine tasks every day. When registering, the program asks you to create your own character, who will subsequently receive medals, experience and items used in the game.

There are team competitions, guilds, and the ability to communicate with people who share the interests and goals of the user. The application becomes a real incentive and motivation thanks to its operating principles. It also synchronizes between different devices and has many useful functions.

Advantages:

automatically repeats task entries scheduled for daily, weekly or monthly tasks;
contains a flexible habit tracker, a traditional list of activities;
has a wide palette, types of designs, themes.

Platforms:

Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free is the main option.
Subscription for a month, 3 months, six months, a year - from 349 rubles per month.

Types of tasks

There are global tasks, and there are ordinary ones. They can be placed in different ways - it depends on the significance and timing of the work. The tasks are:

Daily. This is the routine that makes up a business. For example, a confectionery shop produces sweets. Every day, employees prepare dough and filling, bake and package waffles, and take them to stores. The overall result of a company’s work directly depends on how routine processes are organized.

Current. They appear at a certain moment: you need to modernize the equipment, find a new supplier, conclude an agreement with the courier service.

Long-term. They concern business development in the long term and are set for a certain period. For example, increase revenue by 15% per year or open an office in every district of Moscow within five years. Such tasks are not discussed at daily planning meetings; they are part of the strategic planning that management does.

Some managers mix all types of tasks: they plunge into routine, forgetting about the prospects. While the company concentrates on solving small problems, competitors plan for years in advance, taking away customers.

MyLifeOrganized

A flexible task scheduler with a basic interface, but support for all the options and functions necessary for work. Not very suitable for office work and implementation in business, because does not allow you to create a number of ToDo lists and discuss tasks. But it fits perfectly into life for planning personal affairs. Used to work using the kanban, ganttpro, worksection, GTD or other system.

Advantages:

has a key feature - the multi-level nature of created tasks, which are then easy to organize in life;
has a location reminder function, support for gesture task management;
creates lists, adds subtasks, notes, tags, etc.;
contains a huge number of templates for various task properties, which you can open and edit at your discretion.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free - standard version.
Pro - from $26.99 (one-time purchase, no monthly fees).

Target Sources

The main source of goals for the year is our personal meaning in life . If we have compiled it, it will be much easier for us in the future: to determine what is valuable to us in the year and what to discard. Or we will start from the idea of what we want to achieve in 5 years. I give abbreviated examples.

My draft version of the personal meaning of life: to figure out “Who am I?” and where I am. Goals for the year: read books on psychology, philosophy, religion. Expand the “I” – unusual behavior, roles, habits, self-image, travel.

If we have determined our purpose, global goals, personal mission or values, we take them into account and plan goals that bring them closer or realize them. If the plan doesn’t work for them, then either the plan is bullshit or global goals.

My purpose: to help others achieve their goals. Goals for the year: creating a vision and implementing the project.

Global goal: to realize oneself as an entrepreneur in business. Diversified development. Goals for the year: work on website development, gathering a team, learning to write and edit articles.

Values: family, development, novelty, peace of mind, health. Goals for the year: try the unknown, step to the next level, improve yourself in relationships.

Sources of goals for planning your life.

The third source for life planning is our Wishlist :

Dreams: learn to draw, sing.
I have long wanted to: repeat a one-arm pull-up, weigh 63 kg, bend a spoon, visit Chile.
Vision of an ideal day 12/20/2025: successful company, Spanish language, sports, vocals, family and children.
List of 100 wishes: a bunch of goals for, family and future role in it.
Life balance wheel: I fill all sectors to 9-10. I've been using it for a long time, I've already cleaned out the main stuff.

The fourth geyser is “I don’t want” reformulated into “I want”:

I'm angry that I have little energy ⟶ Explore your energy. Close old mini-goals ⟶ Make cheesecake. Crafts from napkins.

Cal Calendar

A multifunctional and aesthetically designed task service for planning tasks, which recently appeared on the mobile application market. Integrates with Google Calendar, Outlook, What's App, Gmail, Google Tasks and other services.

Advantages:

includes a diary, all kinds of widgets, simple voice dialing and much more. etc.;
The system is easy to use and has a powerful design for easy viewing of completed task statuses;
helps you quickly create a variety of life events;
automatically adds contact information and geolocation information to records.

Platforms:

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Rates:

Free is the main option.

Bonus: program for monitoring working time OfficeMETRika

A program designed to track working hours is perfect for managers of large corporations and companies with many branches. It will allow you to establish control over the employment of staff: statistics related to the activity of employees will quickly arrive on your PC automatically.

OfficeMETRICS features:

Clear recording of the start/end of the working day, taking into account all breaks, smoke breaks, delays and other downtime
Tracking all web resources that an employee visits, which gives an idea of how much time is spent on entertainment and how much time is spent on work duties
Information is provided in the form of tables and graphs that clearly demonstrate the activity of each person plus the entire team as a whole.

Monitoring the schedule will help establish discipline, identify unscrupulous performers, redistribute the workload between employees, calculate what losses the company incurs due to unauthorized downtime, and, based on the information received, carry out personnel reorganization. The program is easy to learn, has a menu in Russian and is fully implemented into the system in about a day.

Download time tracking software now

Works great on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP

How to choose a task scheduler

All of the products in this article are excellent tools for project management and time management. However, they have significant differences in the setting of tasks and goals, methods of work, and user needs. Most of the options presented offer trial or free versions, but there are also some applications that only work after payment. A number of programs are suitable for both computers and mobile phones and tablets. Some are needed to use them for personal interests, others are needed for team work, as well as for small and medium-sized businesses.

To choose the right application, we recommend that you decide on your goals, and then compare each of the schedulers according to their criteria and capabilities:

Cross-platform . The number of platforms on which this product runs.
Functionality . The presence and number of basic functions that would increase personal productivity.
Ease of use . Ease and convenience of the interface.
Value for money . The need or lack thereof for a paid version of the product; the number of bonuses received after paying for the application.

We believe that after our review, you have a clear idea of what task schedulers are available to users and which ones are best for you. After this, it’s easy to find the scheduler you need, download, install, launch and start creating a schedule or plan.

This makes it easy and quick to discover a task planning application that would become your daily assistant and turn a routine workflow into a productive one. In addition, it would be an opportunity to add some additional tools to the usual arsenal to increase productivity and personal effectiveness.

Basic principles of life planning

At the first stage, we make a draft list of goals.
It’s convenient to start collecting goals and taking a closer look at them in December. You can test them to see if they suit you; if it’s vocals, go for a trial lesson. But even before starting to draw up a plan, it is useful to accept the principles so that moving according to the plan will be a joy:

The rocking principle: “No pain, no growth.” Controlled stress makes us stronger. It pays to work hard this year, knowing that next year we will get additional opportunities.
Life is long. A goal achieved with pleasure in a month is better than grinding your teeth in 2 weeks. You should take it at a calm pace, not a sprint. It is more effective to set “pace” goals rather than overachievement goals.
Constant growth. Most of my life is filled with people, ideas, work that were not even in my dreams 5 years ago. I dreamed at the beginning of the year, got excited, and by the end I was surprised.
No extra effort. I am against hellish achievements, I am for habit and system. Running 5 km every day is easier than running a half marathon every 4 days.

Application Comparison Chart:

LeaderTask

Any.do

Google Tasks

Todoist

EverNote

Remember The Milk

Microsoft To-Do

To Do Reminder

Bear

TickTick

Omnifocus

Trello

Habitica: Gamify Your Tasks

MyLifeOrganized

Cal Calendar

Teamwork support

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

—

Ability to create tasks and work with them

Eat

Visualization, visual statistics

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

—

Possibility of customization

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

Notifications and Reminders

Eat

Yes, in paid version

Eat

Yes, in paid version

Eat

Integrations with other services

Eat

—

Eat

—

Eat

Attaching files

Eat

—

Eat

—

Multiplatform

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

iOS, MacOS, WatchOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Windows;
MacOS;
Android;
iOS.

Possibility of free testing

Eat

Top 9 rating according to KP

Any.do

Any.do.
Photo: any.do Any.do is a great app with a clean, simple interface that makes task management quick and easy and even integrates with the iOS Reminders app. This way, you can tell Siri a reminder and it will appear in Any.do. However, syncing only works one way: deleting tasks from Any.do won't remove it from the iPhone Reminders app, but if you use Any.do as your main app, that won't be a problem. There are also additional handy features like automatic sorting of grocery lists and a “day planner” to help you prioritize tasks.

Synchronization between PC, tablet and phone is another nice addition to iOS and Android support. Upgrading to the premium version requires a monthly fee of $3.50 for Android and $5 for iOS, but it expands the app's capabilities with unlimited recurring tasks, colored pins and flags, location reminders, and 100GB of file storage.

Advantages and disadvantages

Good integration with smartphone, cross-platform

Color palette only in paid version

Google Play App Store

Google Tasks

Google Tasks.
Photo: Google Google Tasks is as simple as a to-do list on paper. It's a stunningly minimalist and well-designed app that does exactly what it's supposed to do and nothing more. You can create tasks, write their description, and then add subtasks. They appear in a bulleted list, and you can mark each subtask completed when the time comes. Each task is below the list, and there is no limit to the number of lists you can create.

You can have a shopping list, a to-do list, and more. In exchange for the simplicity of Google Tasks, it loses some of the deeper tagging and organizational features you might find in other apps. Google Tasks is available on iOS and Android. If you use Gmail on the web, you can see an overview of your tasks on the right edge of the interface, next to the Calendar and Google Keep apps.

Advantages and disadvantages

Free, simple interface

Limited detailing and planning capabilities

Google Play App Store

Todoist

Todoist.
Photo: todoist.com/ru/ If you need a special application with a to-do list, then Todoist is worth a closer look. This is one of the largest applications with a huge number of users and proven effectiveness over the years. You can sign up with your Facebook profile or Google account, and getting started is as easy as entering your first task and clicking submit.

You can set a deadline, assign a priority to a task, or put it in a group of similar tasks. Completion involves checking a box next to a task, and there is a certain satisfaction in this action and its animation. Setting task reminders, additional active projects, task comments, and automatic backups are all additional features, and a Todoist Premium subscription will set you back about $29 per year. However, if you've tried it out and think it's worth it, then $29 is reasonable for the annual price.

Advantages and disadvantages

Popularity, a large number of settings

Limited functionality in the free version

Google Play App Store

Evernote

Evernote.
Photo: evernote.com Evernote is another to-do list that has many other options, but it's also a note-taking app. It supports multiple ways to take notes and reminders, including voice notes, complete lists, and photos. However, Evernote takes it one step further with the ability to add videos and attach Word documents or PDFs to your lists. As with Google Keep, every time you add something to Evernote it will sync across all your devices, but unlike Keep, there's an option for offline access to your files - but only if you pay for the Premium version .

Evernote is free with Evernote Basic, and costs $8 per month or $70 per year for Evernote Premium. But it has a whole host of additional options, such as offline access, additional storage, and the ability to add password support to lock your laptops. However, only you can decide whether it's worth your money or not, and we always recommend using the free version for a while to evaluate whether you should upgrade it.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ability to attach media files, synchronization on all devices

Limited functionality in the free version

Google Play App Store

Microsoft To-Do

Microsoft To-Do.
Photo: todo.microsoft.com Organizational tools rarely exist in a vacuum. If you're connected to the Microsoft ecosystem through Outlook email and Office, you might be interested to know that Microsoft has its own business management app.

Microsoft To-Do , created by the Wunderlist team after Microsoft acquired the application in 2015. The product from the "fine softies" is strikingly similar to Wunderlist - and that's not a bad thing; setting up new tasks is easy and it offers almost the same in terms of tools and features. What sets Microsoft To-Do apart is its emphasis on My Day, the idea that you start each day with a clean slate and take time at the beginning of each day to write down what you want to achieve that day. This is a philosophy of fuss-free living, and it aims to get users to focus on what is happening here and now. This isn't for everyone, and if you like to plan ahead, Microsoft To-Do allows for that too. It even has a built-in smart hint tool that will suggest tasks for you based on your previous entry.

It seems that in the future Microsoft To-Do will sync with Wunderlist, and you will be able to import Wunderlist tasks if you navigate from that app. In the future, integration with other Microsoft services is planned, which is also very convenient.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ease of use, synchronization with Microsoft services

Not all functionality is available yet

Google Play App Store

Bear

Bear.
Photo: bear.app If you prefer to keep your notes and to-do list together, Bear might be the perfect app.

There's a traditional menu bar that lets you format text, and there's also the option to use the stylus to make small, quick changes. You can also group lists and notes by hashtags, making all your tasks easier to find. Bear is available for iOS, MacOS and WatchOS. You can use Bear for free, but if you want to sync your devices, you'll have to pay $15 per year. Unfortunately, there is no Android app in development.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ease of use

Paid synchronization, iOS only

App Store

Ike

Ike.
Photo: play.google.com Presumably, the application is based on the organizational method of the 34th US President Dwight Ike Eisenhower. The core of the application is priority based; Label your most pressing tasks as such and structure your day around working through the most important ones, forming a “priority matrix.”

This makes more sense when you delve deeper into the application. You can attach images to tasks, which means repetitive tasks become much easier to understand. You can also attach voice notes to tasks, set location-based reminders, and customizable audio celebrations that play when a task is completed.

Upgrading to Ike Pro is a one-time $2 payment that gives you access to location reminders, audio recording and all customizable tags, plus a few extra features.

Advantages and disadvantages

Inexpensive Pro version, interesting approach to task priority

Limited long-term planning capabilities

Google Play

Habitica: Gamify Your Tasks

Habitica: Gamify Your Tasks.
Photo: habitica.com You might think that a to-do list app couldn't be much more diverse - that's not true.

Habitica is a completely different approach to the to-do list, which becomes apparent from the moment you download the app. Instead of asking you to complete the first task, you will be asked to create a character. Habitica uses an RPG style gameplay to motivate you to complete your daily tasks. Complete tasks and your character will receive experience and gold, which can be spent on making him more powerful. Don't try to game the system—based on a few questions asked during your character creation, Habitica will assign you a few tasks to get you started. Fail to complete your daily tasks and your avatar will take damage!

Habitica is a little more complex to set up, with a system of different task types and rewards that you need to figure out before you can actually get started, but if you're passionate about the idea, it's worth your time.

Advantages and disadvantages

An exciting motivational game with a non-standard approach to tasks

Difficulty in setting up

Google Play App Store

Cal Calendar

Cal Calendar.
Photo: play.google.com Cal Calendar recently appeared on the mobile application market (Android, iOS). It is the brainchild of the Any.do development team and has impressive functionality and a thoughtful design. The app comes with a host of features including support for Exchange and Google Calendar, widgets, voice recording, and more.

Cal Calendar has direct integration with Any.Do To-Do List, which gives you a unique tandem of two apps. In addition to its advanced functionality, Cal Calendar is easy to use. Creating events is very simple and fast. Moreover, depending on the event name, the application automatically adds contacts and geolocation data to the post description. You can even import your lists and posts from Any.do.

Another nice thing is that this tool is available for free, so you can use it without spending a penny on the software.

Advantages and disadvantages

Syncs with Any.do, easy to use, free

- More calendar features than task scheduler

Google Play