Apple Reminders is a free to-do list app that comes baked into every Apple device. It's simple, it syncs across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and for a lot of people, it's all they need. The experience is clean and minimal, which is exactly what Apple does well.
But here's the thing: simple doesn't always mean sufficient. As your task list grows or your workflow gets more complex, you start hitting Apple Reminders' limitations pretty quickly. Maybe you need better organization, more views, collaboration features, or integrations with other tools you use.
That's why we pulled together the best Apple Reminders alternatives. Some are just slightly more powerful versions of the same basic concept. Others go way beyond simple task lists into full productivity systems. We'll help you figure out which one makes sense for what you're actually trying to accomplish.
Why Look Beyond Apple Reminders?
Apple Reminders is perfectly fine for basic task management, but it has some real gaps once you start using it seriously.
The biggest limitation is views. Apple Reminders gives you lists. That's basically it. Sure, iOS 17 added a Kanban board view, which helped, but it's still pretty basic compared to what dedicated task managers offer. If you want calendar views, timeline views, or ways to visualize your tasks beyond simple lists, you're out of luck.
Collaboration is another weak point. You can share lists with other people, which is nice for grocery lists or shared household tasks. But there's no real project management features, no task assignments, no comments or discussions. If you're trying to coordinate work with a team, Apple Reminders feels limiting fast.
Integrations barely exist. Apple Reminders lives in the Apple ecosystem and nowhere else. Want to connect it to your project management tool, your note-taking app, or your calendar? You'll need workarounds or automation tools like Shortcuts. Other task managers integrate natively with dozens of services.
Recurring tasks work but they're not sophisticated. You can set something to repeat daily or weekly, but try creating a task that repeats "every other Tuesday" or "the last Friday of each month" and you'll be fighting with the interface. More advanced task managers handle complex recurring patterns easily.
The lack of customization also frustrates power users. Apple Reminders looks one way and works one way. You can't customize views, change themes (beyond dark mode), or adjust the interface to match your workflow. What you see is what you get.
Finally, there's the cross-platform problem. If you use Windows for work or have an Android phone, Apple Reminders becomes way less useful. Yeah, there's a web version, but it's clearly an afterthought. Most alternatives work seamlessly across all platforms.
What Makes a Good Apple Reminders Alternative?
When we evaluated task apps to replace Apple Reminders, we focused on a few key things that matter for people making the switch.
Ease of migration is huge. Can you easily move your existing tasks and lists from Apple Reminders, or do you have to manually recreate everything? The best alternatives make importing simple, even if it's not perfect.
Simplicity vs. power is the big trade-off. Apple Reminders is dead simple, which is its strength. Good alternatives add features without making the core task capture experience complicated. You should still be able to quickly add a task without navigating through menus.
Views and organization matter more as your task list grows. Calendar views, Kanban boards, and different ways to slice your tasks become essential when you're managing dozens of active items. The best apps give you options without forcing you to use them all.
Platform availability depends on your ecosystem. If you're all-in on Apple, you might not care about Android or Windows apps. But if you work across devices, you need something that works everywhere without friction.
Pricing is obviously important. Apple Reminders is free, which sets a baseline. Some alternatives have generous free tiers that work fine for individuals. Others charge monthly subscriptions that add up. You need to decide if the extra features justify the cost.
Collaboration features only matter if you're sharing tasks with others. For solo users, team features are just clutter. For families or work teams, they're essential. Pick the right tool for your situation.
The learning curve varies wildly. Some alternatives feel familiar immediately. Others require watching tutorials and changing how you think about tasks. Neither is wrong, but you should know what you're signing up for before committing.
Any.do
Best Simple Upgrade from Apple Reminders
Any.do is probably the closest thing to "Apple Reminders but slightly better" on this list. If you like the simplicity of Apple Reminders but want a few more features, this is where you should start.
The core experience feels similar: clean design, easy task capture, straightforward lists. But Any.do goes a step further by adding a calendar view that shows your tasks alongside your events. This is huge if you're trying to plan your day visually. You can see when you have meetings and block out time for your tasks all in one place.
The desktop version is noticeably better than Apple Reminders' Mac app. You get more robust views, better keyboard shortcuts, and it just feels more thought-out for serious task management. The mobile apps are equally polished, which matters when you're capturing tasks on the go.
One thing Any.do does really well is the daily planning feature. Every morning, it prompts you to review your tasks for the day and reschedule anything you're not going to do. This sounds simple, but it forces a planning ritual that keeps you honest about what's actually achievable.
The downside is that collaboration features are locked behind the premium tier. With Apple Reminders, you can share lists for free. With Any.do, you have to pay. If you're using this solo, not a big deal. If you're trying to coordinate with family or a team, the free tier feels limited.
Pricing starts around $5/month for premium, which gets you calendar integration, unlimited sharing, color tags, and better recurring tasks. It's reasonable if you're actually going to use the features.
Best for: people who like Apple Reminders' simplicity but want calendar views and better desktop apps without jumping to a complex project management system.
Todoist
Best for Power Users
Todoist is the big step up from Apple Reminders for people who are serious about task management. It keeps things relatively simple but adds enough power features to handle complex workflows.
The natural language input is stupidly good. Type "call John every Tuesday at 2pm starting next week" and Todoist parses it instantly, creating the correct recurring task with the right due date. Apple Reminders makes you click through multiple menus for the same thing. This speed of capture matters when you're trying to get tasks out of your head quickly.
Todoist's organization system is more sophisticated than Apple Reminders. You get projects (like Apple's lists), but also sub-projects, labels, filters, and priorities. This means you can slice your tasks in multiple ways. Show me all high-priority tasks due this week across all projects. Show me everything tagged "waiting on others." You can't do this kind of filtering in Apple Reminders.
The iOS 17 update added Kanban views to Apple Reminders, which was nice. But Todoist has had board views, calendar views, and list views for years, and they're more polished. You can switch between views depending on your mood or workflow.
Collaboration actually works well in Todoist. You can share projects, assign tasks to people, comment on tasks, and track what your team is doing. The free tier supports up to 5 active collaborators, which covers most personal and small team use cases.
The main limitation is that Todoist can feel overwhelming at first. There are so many features and options that new users sometimes bounce off it. The learning curve is steeper than Apple Reminders, even though Todoist tries to be beginner-friendly.
Free tier is genuinely useful. You get 5 projects, basic collaboration, and all the core features. Premium at $4/month adds reminders, labels, filters, and unlimited projects. It's one of the best values in task management.
Best for: individuals and small teams who want more power than Apple Reminders without the complexity of full project management tools like Asana or ClickUp.
Google Tasks
Best for Google Ecosystem Users
Google Tasks is the alternative if you want something even simpler than Apple Reminders, which sounds weird but makes sense for certain people.
If you're deep in the Google ecosystem (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs), Google Tasks integrates beautifully with all of it. You can turn emails into tasks directly from Gmail. Your tasks show up in Google Calendar automatically. You can add tasks from Google Chat. This tight integration means less context switching, which is valuable.
The app itself is extremely basic. Like, Apple Reminders looks feature-rich compared to Google Tasks. You get lists, you get tasks, you get subtasks, and that's about it. No labels, no priorities, no fancy views. Just tasks and lists.
This simplicity is actually appealing for people who find themselves getting distracted by features. If you've tried complex task managers and ended up spending more time organizing tasks than doing them, Google Tasks might be the reset you need.
The cross-platform story is better than Apple Reminders if you use Android or Windows. Google Tasks works everywhere Google works, which is basically everywhere. The web app is simple but functional. The mobile apps are fast and reliable.
One clever feature: integration with Google Docs. You can create tasks directly from documents, and the task links back to the doc. This is surprisingly useful for research projects or writing tasks where you need to reference source material.
The big limitation is no collaboration. You can't share lists with anyone. If you need to coordinate tasks with family, roommates, or coworkers, Google Tasks won't help. You're back to Apple Reminders or one of the other alternatives on this list.
Completely free, which is nice. No premium tier, no upsells, just a basic task manager that works.
Best for: people deep in the Google ecosystem who want stupidly simple task management with email and calendar integration, or anyone switching from iOS to Android.
Google Tasks is a simple to-do list application working in Google & Google Workspace.
TickTick
Best All-in-One Productivity App
TickTick is what happens when you take Apple Reminders and add basically every productivity feature you can imagine. Calendar views, habit tracking, pomodoro timer, built-in white noise, multiple themes, and way more.
For people leaving Apple Reminders because they want more features, TickTick is probably the most comprehensive upgrade. You get calendar integration that's actually useful, showing tasks and events together in a clean interface. The multiple views (list, calendar, Kanban, timeline, matrix) give you different ways to look at your work.
Habit tracking is built in, which Apple Reminders doesn't touch. You can track daily habits, see your streaks, and get reminded to keep up with regular activities. If you're trying to build routines, having habits and tasks in the same app makes sense.
The pomodoro timer integration is clever. You can start a timer directly from a task, focus for 25 minutes, take a break, and the app tracks how long you spent on different projects. Combined with the built-in white noise sounds, it's a complete focus system.
Natural language input works well, though not quite as sophisticated as Todoist. Type "meeting tomorrow at 3pm" and it parses correctly. More complex patterns sometimes need manual adjustment.
Collaboration features exist but they're more focused on sharing lists with family or small teams. It's not built for serious project management like Asana, but it handles shared grocery lists and household tasks better than Apple Reminders.
The free tier is really generous. You get up to 2 calendar integrations, 2 reminders per task, 9 lists, and all the habit tracking features. Premium at around $28/year adds unlimited calendars, more lists, location-based reminders, and custom smart lists.
Best for: individuals who want an all-in-one productivity system instead of using separate apps for tasks, habits, timers, and focus music.
Microsoft To Do
Best for Windows and Microsoft 365 Users
Microsoft To Do is the Windows and Microsoft 365 equivalent of Apple Reminders. If you're switching from Mac to Windows or you work in a Microsoft-heavy environment, this is the natural alternative.
The app is clean and simple, very much in the same spirit as Apple Reminders. You get lists, tasks, subtasks, due dates, and reminders. The interface is intuitive and doesn't overwhelm you with options. If you liked Apple Reminders' simplicity, you'll feel at home here.
Integration with Microsoft 365 is where it shines. Tasks sync with Outlook, so you can see your to-dos alongside your calendar and email. If you use Teams, tasks can be created from conversations. For people already living in the Microsoft ecosystem, these integrations remove friction.
The "My Day" feature is genuinely useful. Every morning, you pick which tasks from your full list you'll actually work on today. This daily planning ritual helps you focus instead of getting overwhelmed by your entire backlog. Apple Reminders doesn't have anything quite like this.
Smart lists automatically group tasks by various criteria: important, planned, assigned to you, tasks with attachments. These aren't as powerful as Todoist's custom filters, but they're helpful for basic organization.
Limitations are similar to Apple Reminders. No calendar view, no Kanban boards (though you can sort of fake it with lists), limited customization. It's designed to be simple, which means it hits a ceiling for power users.
Collaboration works but it's basic. You can share lists with other Microsoft account holders and assign tasks. No commenting, no rich discussions, just shared task lists.
Completely free for all features, which is a huge plus. No premium tier to worry about.
Best for: Windows users or people working in Microsoft 365 environments who want a simple, reliable task manager with good integration into their existing tools.
Things
Best Premium Apple-Exclusive Alternative
Things 3 is the premium Apple-exclusive task manager that makes Apple Reminders look like a prototype. If you love the Apple ecosystem and want to stay in it, but need way more power, Things is probably your answer.
The design is gorgeous. It feels like what Apple would build if they actually cared about making a serious task manager. Everything is polished, the animations are smooth, the keyboard shortcuts are thoughtful. It's genuinely pleasant to use, which matters when you're interacting with your task list multiple times a day.
Organization is more sophisticated than Apple Reminders without being overwhelming. You have areas (life categories), projects within those areas, headings within projects, and tasks within headings. This hierarchy helps you organize complex projects while keeping simple stuff simple.
The Today view is excellent for daily planning. It shows calendar events alongside tasks, so you can see your whole day at a glance. You can also add an "Evening" section for tasks you want to tackle after work hours.
Quick entry is stupid fast. System-wide keyboard shortcut, type your task, hit enter, done. You can also use natural language to set dates, though it's not as advanced as Todoist.
The catch is Things is Apple-only. No Windows, no Android, no web app. If you ever leave the Apple ecosystem, you're stuck. Also, it's not a subscription, it's a one-time purchase per platform. So you buy it for Mac, then buy it again for iPhone, then buy it again for iPad. It adds up to around $50-80 total.
No collaboration features at all. Things is explicitly built for individuals, not teams. You can't share projects or assign tasks to other people.
Best for: Apple ecosystem users who want a beautiful, powerful task manager, are willing to pay upfront instead of subscription, and don't need collaboration features.
Notion
Best for Customizable All-in-One Workspace
Notion is less of a direct Apple Reminders alternative and more of a complete productivity system that can replace your task manager plus a dozen other apps.
The task management in Notion is built using databases, which sounds complicated but gives you incredible flexibility. You can create task views that look like Apple Reminders lists, or Kanban boards, or calendars, or tables, or galleries. All looking at the same underlying tasks, just displayed differently.
For people who like customizing their tools, Notion is heaven. Want to add custom fields for energy level, time estimates, or client tags? Easy. Want to create views that filter tasks by multiple criteria? Done. Want to link tasks to projects, notes, and documents all in one workspace? That's literally what Notion is built for.
The downside is setup time. Apple Reminders works immediately. Notion requires you to build your system. There are templates to get started, but you'll still spend hours customizing it to match your workflow. Some people love this. Others find it exhausting.
Collaboration is excellent if you need it. Multiple people can work in the same workspace, comment on tasks, mention each other, and see real-time updates. For teams or shared projects, Notion handles complexity that Apple Reminders can't touch.
Mobile apps exist but they're not as fast as native task managers. Quick capture is slower than Apple Reminders. If you primarily work on your phone, Notion might frustrate you.
Free tier is generous for individuals. Unlimited pages, unlimited blocks, just limited to yourself. Paid plans start around $8/month and add collaboration features, version history, and more storage.
Best for: people who want to customize everything, need tasks integrated with notes and documents, and don't mind investing time to build their perfect system.
Trello
Best for Visual Task Management
Trello is worth considering if you're specifically looking for visual task management. Apple Reminders added a basic Kanban view in iOS 17, but Trello has been doing Kanban for over a decade and it shows.
The board-based approach works well for people who think visually. Each list is a column (To Do, In Progress, Done), and you drag cards (tasks) between columns as you work on them. This makes progress visible in a way that simple lists don't.
Recent updates added inbox and calendar features, which honestly makes Trello way more useful as an Apple Reminders replacement than it used to be. The inbox helps you capture tasks quickly without having to think about which board they belong on. The calendar view shows due dates across all your boards.
Customization is where Trello shines. Add custom fields, labels, checklists, attachments, and comments to cards. Use stickers and covers to make boards visually distinct. Create automation rules that move cards or send notifications based on triggers. You can build pretty sophisticated workflows.
Collaboration is baked in from the start. Invite people to boards, assign tasks, mention team members in comments, and see who's working on what. For teams, Trello is way more capable than Apple Reminders.
The free tier is solid for individuals and small teams. Unlimited cards, up to 10 boards, basic automation, and all the core features. Premium plans add unlimited boards, advanced automation, and admin controls.
The learning curve is gentle. If you've used sticky notes on a wall, you understand Trello. It's more visual and playful than Apple Reminders, which some people love and others find distracting.
Best for: visual thinkers who want to see tasks as cards moving across boards, teams needing simple project management, and anyone who finds traditional task lists boring.
How to Switch from Apple Reminders
Moving from Apple Reminders to a new task manager isn't as painful as it sounds, but there are some things to know before you jump.
First, export your data. Apple doesn't make this super easy, but most alternatives have import tools that can connect to your iCloud account and pull in your reminders. Todoist, TickTick, and Any.do all support Apple Reminders imports. The process usually takes 5-10 minutes and preserves your lists, tasks, and due dates.
If direct import doesn't work, you can manually export. Create a new list in Apple Reminders with all your tasks, then share it with yourself via email. Copy the tasks into your new app. Tedious for large task lists, but doable for smaller ones.
Decide if you're going all-in or running parallel. Some people switch completely on day one. Others keep Apple Reminders for simple stuff and use the new tool for complex projects. There's no wrong answer, but running two task managers long-term usually creates more confusion than it's worth.
Learn the quick capture workflow in your new app. One of Apple Reminders' strengths is how fast you can add tasks. Make sure you know the equivalent in your new tool: keyboard shortcut, Siri integration, widget, whatever. If capturing tasks feels slow, you'll stop using the app.
Give yourself a week before judging. The first few days with any new task manager feel awkward because you're learning where everything is. Don't give up on day two. By day seven, the muscle memory starts forming and it feels more natural.
Watch out for Siri integration. Apple Reminders works perfectly with Siri because it's an Apple app. Third-party task managers have varying levels of Siri support. Some work great ("Hey Siri, add milk to my Todoist grocery list"), others are clunky. Test this if you rely on voice capture.
Collaboration requires coordination. If you've been sharing Apple Reminders lists with family or roommates, you need to migrate them too or keep Apple Reminders running for shared stuff. Talk to the people you share lists with before switching.
Don't overcomplicate your new setup. Just because your new task manager can do fancy filtering and custom views doesn't mean you need to use all that immediately. Start simple, matching your Apple Reminders workflow, then gradually add features as you discover what's useful.
Apple Reminders Alternatives FAQ
What's the closest free alternative to Apple Reminders?
Microsoft To Do if you're on Windows, Google Tasks if you use Google services. Both are completely free, simple, and work similarly to Apple Reminders. Todoist's free tier is also generous if you want a bit more power without paying.
Can I import my Apple Reminders into other apps?
Yeah, most major task managers support Apple Reminders import. Todoist, TickTick, and Any.do can all connect to your iCloud account and pull in your existing lists and tasks. The migration usually takes under 10 minutes.
Which Apple Reminders alternative works best on iPhone?
Things if you're willing to pay for a premium experience that feels native to iOS. Todoist and TickTick also have excellent iPhone apps. Any.do is solid if you want something simple. Most alternatives have good iOS apps because they know that's where Apple Reminders users are coming from.
Do any alternatives work with Siri like Apple Reminders does?
Todoist, TickTick, Any.do, and Things all support Siri shortcuts to varying degrees. The experience isn't quite as smooth as Apple Reminders because they're third-party apps, but you can still use voice to add tasks. Test it before committing if Siri is critical to your workflow.
What if I want something simpler than Apple Reminders?
Google Tasks is about as simple as task management gets. Just lists and tasks, nothing fancy. Some people also like pen and paper, which sounds silly but actually works if you don't need syncing or collaboration.
Which alternative is best for families sharing task lists?
Todoist handles shared lists really well and supports up to 5 collaborators on the free tier. Any.do also works for families but requires premium for unlimited sharing. Trello is good if your family likes the visual board approach.
Which Apple Reminders Alternative Should You Choose?
So what's the right Apple Reminders alternative for you? It depends on why you're looking to switch.
If you want something just slightly better than Apple Reminders without a steep learning curve, start with Any.do. It keeps the simplicity while adding calendar views and better desktop apps.
If you're serious about task management and want power features without overwhelming complexity, Todoist is the move. It's been around forever, the free tier is generous, and it grows with you as your needs get more sophisticated.
For people deep in the Google ecosystem, Google Tasks makes sense even though it's simpler than Apple Reminders. The Gmail and Calendar integration removes enough friction to justify the trade-off.
Windows users should try Microsoft To Do. It's free, it's simple, and it integrates with all the Microsoft tools you're probably already using for work.
If you want every productivity feature imaginable in one app, TickTick bundles tasks, habits, pomodoro, and calendar together. You'll either love having everything in one place or find it overwhelming.
Apple ecosystem loyalists who want premium quality should look at Things. It's expensive upfront, but it's gorgeous and powerful. Just know you're locked into Apple devices forever.
For people who want to customize everything and integrate tasks with notes and documents, Notion offers incredible flexibility at the cost of setup time.
And if you think visually and want to see tasks as cards on boards, Trello makes task management more tactile and fun than traditional list apps.
Honestly, most of these have free tiers or trials. Try 2-3 before committing. What works for your friend might not work for you, and that's fine. The best task manager is the one you'll actually use consistently.