What Makes a Great Daily Checklist App?
Checklist apps serve a specific purpose that's often overlooked in the rush toward complex project management tools: they help you remember the simple, everyday things. Not quarterly objectives or team dependencies, just groceries, packing lists, weekend errands, and the thirty small tasks you need to knock out before you can relax.
The best checklist apps stay out of your way. They open fast, let you add items without ceremony, and provide the satisfying dopamine hit of checking boxes. They don't force you to assign due dates, priority levels, or project categories when you just need to remember milk, batteries, and to call your mom.
We evaluated checklist apps specifically for daily use, not work project management. Our criteria included speed of task capture, mobile-first design (because you're usually making grocery lists while standing in your kitchen, not sitting at a desk), simplicity that doesn't overwhelm, and the ability to share lists with family or roommates when needed.
This guide focuses on apps that understand the difference between task management and checklist creation. They're lightweight, accessible, and designed for the unglamorous but essential work of remembering what you need to do today.
Our Selection Criteria
Choosing a checklist app differs from selecting productivity software. You're not optimizing workflows or tracking project timelines. You're capturing tasks quickly and checking them off.
We assessed each app against these criteria:
Speed of capture
The time between thinking "I need to remember this" and having it written down should be under 5 seconds. Apps requiring you to choose projects, set dates, or navigate menus before adding items don't work for spontaneous checklist creation.
Mobile excellence
Most checklists happen on phones. You're at the grocery store realizing you forgot something, packing for a trip, or doing weekend errands. Apps needed fast mobile performance, offline access, and interfaces optimized for thumbs, not mouse cursors.
No mandatory complexity
Due dates and priorities are useful for project management but overkill for checklists. We favored apps where these features are optional or absent entirely. Adding "buy paper towels" shouldn't require filling out metadata.
List organization without overwhelm
You might maintain separate lists for groceries, errands, and packing. Apps needed simple list management without enterprise-level folder hierarchies.
Sharing capability
Many checklists are collaborative. Grocery lists shared with partners, moving checklists coordinated with roommates, vacation packing lists for families. Apps needed easy, lightweight sharing.
Free or cheap
For simple task lists, expensive subscriptions don't make sense. We prioritized free apps or very low-cost options.
Many task management apps failed because they're built for work. Asana, ClickUp, and Monday are powerful but absurd for grocery lists. The apps below understand that sometimes you just need to remember things, not manage them.
Clear
Best for iOS: Clear
Clear reimagines checklist apps with gesture-based interaction and playful design. Instead of tapping buttons, you pull to create tasks, pinch to switch lists, and swipe to complete items. It feels less like using software and more like manipulating physical lists.
The interface is deliberately minimal. No due dates, no priority systems, no attachments. Just lists and items. For daily checklists, this limitation is actually perfect. When you're standing in the grocery store, you don't need to see metadata. You need to see "milk, bread, eggs" and check them off as you grab them.
Clear's themes and sounds provide surprising motivation. Completing an item triggers a satisfying sound and animation. Different themes change the entire vibe of the app. This matters more than it sounds like it should. The tiny dopamine hit from checking off "buy lightbulbs" actually helps you do the boring errands.
Best for
iOS users who value design and gestural interfaces. People who want fast, beautiful checklist creation without complexity. Anyone who finds traditional task apps too cluttered. Solo use cases where sharing isn't needed.
Not ideal if
You need cross-platform access (iOS and Mac only, no Android or Windows). Sharing lists with others is essential. You want integration with other productivity tools. Cloud sync beyond iCloud is required.
Real-world example
Someone preparing for a weekend trip creates a packing list in Clear. Pull down to add "passport," "chargers," "medications." Swipe each item as it goes in the suitcase. The satisfying animation and sound make packing less tedious. Completed lists archive automatically.
Team fit
Strictly individual use. No collaboration or sharing features. Perfect for personal organization, not household or team coordination.
Onboarding reality
Immediate for basic use. The gestures are intuitive and discoverable. Learning advanced features (list management, themes) takes maybe 5-10 minutes of exploration. Most people are productive within seconds of opening the app.
Pricing friction
One-time purchase around $5-7 depending on region. No subscription. This is refreshingly simple pricing for an app this polished.
Integrations that matter
iCloud sync across iOS and Mac devices. No other integrations intentionally, the simplicity is the point. Reminders integration would be nice but isn't offered.
Todoist
Best for Tasks and Checklists: Todoist
Todoist scales from simple checklists to full project management, which makes it versatile but potentially overwhelming. For checklist use specifically, it works well if you stick to its simpler features and ignore the rest.
The quick add function is fast. Type or speak your item, hit enter, and it's captured. Natural language processing handles dates if you need them, but you can skip dates entirely for pure checklist mode. Create a "Groceries" project, add items, check them off at the store.
Board view transforms lists into Kanban-style columns, which some people prefer for visual checklist management. You can drag items between columns or use the traditional list view. The flexibility helps different thinking styles.
Best for
People who want a checklist app that can grow into task management if needed. Users already on Todoist for work who want to consolidate personal lists. Anyone who needs robust sharing and collaboration on lists. Cross-platform users (works everywhere).
Not ideal if
You want dead simple without any feature bloat. The interface feels overwhelming for basic checklists. You're looking for completely free (Todoist's best features require Premium). You prefer gestural, playful apps over utilitarian ones.
Real-world example
A couple shares a Todoist "Groceries" project. Either person can add items throughout the week. At the store, one person checks off items as they're grabbed. The other sees updates in real-time. Recurring items (weekly staples) auto-appear each week.
Team fit
Works solo or with small groups. Collaboration features are solid for household coordination. Scales to larger teams but that's overkill for basic checklists.
Onboarding reality
Moderate. The basics (add task, check off) are instant. Understanding projects, labels, filters, and other features takes time. For pure checklist use, ignore 80% of the features and it's simple.
Pricing friction
Free tier includes 5 projects and basic features. Most checklist users can work within this limit. Pro plan $4/month unlocks reminders, labels, and unlimited projects. The free tier is genuinely usable for basic checklist needs.
Integrations that matter
Google Calendar, Alexa and Google Assistant for voice capture, IFTTT and Zapier for automation, email integration to forward items to lists, calendar feed for items with due dates.
Due
Best for Persistent Reminders: Due
Due specializes in reminders with persistent nagging, which makes it excellent for checklists where forgetting items has consequences. Need to remember to pick up your prescription? Due will remind you, then remind you again, then keep reminding you until you actually do it or mark it complete.
The app's killer feature is reminder management. Unlike apps that send one notification you can dismiss and forget, Due keeps bothering you at intervals you set. This works perfectly for checklist items that must get done today: pharmacy pickup, returning library books, calling the bank before 5pm.
Creating quick lists is straightforward. Add items, set reminders if needed, check them off when complete. The interface is clean and focused. Due doesn't try to be a full task manager, which keeps it from getting cluttered with features you don't need for simple lists.
Best for
Apple ecosystem users (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch). People who constantly dismiss reminders and forget tasks. Time-sensitive checklist items that must happen today. Setapp subscribers who get it free as part of their subscription.
Not ideal if
You don't need aggressive reminding for most checklist items. Cross-platform access is required (Apple-only). Collaboration and sharing are important (Due is solo-use). You want natural language input and advanced features.
Real-world example
Someone with ADHD uses Due for daily medication reminders and essential errands. "Take evening meds" nags every 5 minutes until marked complete. "Drop off dry cleaning" persists until done. The persistent reminders compensate for working memory challenges.
Team fit
Strictly individual use. No sharing or collaboration. Best for personal accountability, not household coordination.
Onboarding reality
Immediate. The app is intentionally simple. Add items, set reminders, mark complete. Most people understand it within 30 seconds. Customizing reminder intervals takes another minute.
Pricing friction
One-time purchase around $8-10, or included with Setapp subscription. No ongoing subscription costs. For Setapp subscribers, it's essentially free.
Integrations that matter
iCloud sync across Apple devices, Apple Watch for quick check-ins, Siri for voice capture, URL schemes for automation. Minimal integrations otherwise, intentionally focused.
Sorted 3
Best for Time-Based Checklists: Sorted 3
Sorted 3 combines checklists with time-based scheduling, letting you see your list items plotted across your day. This hybrid approach works well for people who need more structure than a simple list but don't want full calendar complexity.
The timeline view shows your tasks as blocks of time. Morning errands stack together, afternoon tasks appear later. You can drag items to rearrange your day visually. For daily checklists, this helps you see what's actually feasible rather than maintaining an impossibly long list.
Auto-scheduling is the premium feature that sets Sorted apart. Tell the app when you're free and what needs doing, and it arranges your tasks into your available time. This addresses a common checklist problem: you have twenty items but only three hours. Sorted helps you see what fits today versus what should move to tomorrow.
Best for
People who want to see checklist items in the context of time. Anyone who struggles with realistic task estimation. Users who need something between simple lists and full calendar management. iPhone and iPad users who like time-blocking.
Not ideal if
You want dead simple lists without time structure. Cross-platform is required (iOS-only). Sharing and collaboration are essential. You prefer minimalist apps without learning curves.
Real-world example
A freelancer uses Sorted for daily errands alongside work tasks. Morning: gym (30 min), groceries (45 min). Afternoon: client work (3 hours), bank deposit (15 min). Sorted's timeline shows everything fits. When a client call runs long, panic mode auto-reschedules the remaining tasks.
Team fit
Individual use only. No collaboration features. Works for solo professionals juggling personal and work tasks in one timeline.
Onboarding reality
Moderate. The timeline concept takes a day or two to internalize if you're coming from simple list apps. Auto-scheduling requires understanding how to set task durations and constraints. Expect a week to feel fluent.
Pricing friction
Free version with limitations. Premium subscription around $15/year unlocks auto-scheduling, unlimited tasks, and full features. The free tier is usable but constrained.
Integrations that matter
Apple Calendar integration for seeing events alongside tasks, Siri for voice capture, widgets for home screen access, iCloud sync. Minimal other integrations, focused on iOS ecosystem.
Any.do
Best for Calendar Integration: Any.do
Any.do blends minimalist design with practical features, finding a sweet spot between too simple and too complex. The app looks clean enough to feel uncluttered but includes enough functionality to handle diverse checklist needs.
The interface combines lists, calendar, and reminders in one view. You see your checklist items alongside calendar events, which helps plan your day holistically. Errands appear next to appointments, so you remember to grab groceries on the way home from your dentist appointment.
Quick add supports voice input, which matters when your hands are full or you're driving. Speaking your checklist items is faster than typing them one-handed while carrying bags.
Best for
People who want checklist and calendar in one app. Users who prefer voice input for quick capture. Anyone seeking a middle ground between minimalist apps and feature-heavy project managers. Cross-platform users (works on iOS, Android, web).
Not ideal if
You want completely free without limitations (Any.do's best features are premium). You prefer separate apps for checklists and calendar. Extremely simple, minimal design is your priority. You're avoiding subscription costs.
Real-world example
A busy parent uses Any.do for household management. Morning checklist: pack lunches, drop kids at school. Calendar shows dentist at 2pm, soccer at 5pm. Afternoon checklist: pharmacy stop (on the way home from dentist), dinner prep. Everything lives in one unified timeline.
Team fit
Works solo or with light household sharing. Collaboration features exist but aren't as robust as dedicated team tools. Best for individuals or couples coordinating personal tasks.
Onboarding reality
Easy. The interface is clean and intuitive. Most people are adding items and checking them off within minutes. Learning advanced features (recurring tasks, location reminders) takes a few days of exploration.
Pricing friction
Free version with core features. Premium around $3/month or $27/year adds location reminders, recurring tasks, and customization. The jump from free to premium is necessary for many useful features.
Integrations that matter
Google Calendar and Apple Calendar sync, Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands, WhatsApp sharing, email integration, Zapier for automation. Solid integration ecosystem for a checklist app.
Google Tasks
Best Free Option: Google Tasks
Google Tasks is the checklist app most people don't realize they have. Built into Gmail and Google Calendar, it provides dead-simple list management without installing anything new.
The integration with Gmail is surprisingly useful for checklists. Drag an email into Tasks to create a checklist item from it. That confirmation email about your dentist appointment becomes a task. The shipping notification for your package becomes a reminder to check the porch. Email-to-task conversion turns your inbox into checklist source material.
Google Tasks lives in the sidebar of Gmail and Google Calendar, making it accessible wherever you work. You don't switch apps to check your list. It's just there, persistent and available.
Best for
People already using Gmail and Google Calendar daily. Users who want zero learning curve and no new apps to install. Anyone seeking a completely free option without ads or premium upsells. Google Workspace users who stay in the ecosystem.
Not ideal if
You need collaboration and sharing features. Offline access on mobile is critical. Rich features like location reminders or voice input matter. You want something more sophisticated than basic lists.
Real-world example
A knowledge worker lives in Gmail all day. They drag emails requiring follow-up into Google Tasks ("review contract," "schedule dentist," "order supplies"). The sidebar shows the list alongside email. At day's end, they've cleared both inbox and task list.
Team fit
Primarily individual use. Limited sharing compared to dedicated checklist apps. Works for solo productivity within Google's ecosystem.
Onboarding reality
Immediate. If you use Gmail, you already have it. Click the Tasks icon in the sidebar, start adding items. Zero setup, zero learning curve. Subtasks and multiple lists are discoverable within minutes.
Pricing friction
Completely free with a Google account. No premium tier, no ads, no upsells. This is unbeatable for value.
Integrations that matter
Deep Gmail integration (email to task), Google Calendar sync (tasks with due dates appear), Google Assistant for voice capture, mobile apps for iOS and Android, seamless sync across all Google devices.
Apple Reminders
Best for Apple Users: Apple Reminders
Apple Reminders has evolved from basic to genuinely capable, especially if you're embedded in Apple's ecosystem. It now handles collaborative lists, smart lists, tags, and enough features to compete with paid apps.
The natural language input works well. Type "buy milk tomorrow at Whole Foods" and Reminders creates a task due tomorrow with a location trigger. When you arrive at Whole Foods, your phone reminds you. This location awareness is perfect for errand checklists that happen at specific places.
Sharing lists with family or roommates is seamless if everyone uses Apple devices. Create a "Groceries" list, share it, and everyone can add items or mark things complete. The integration with Messages means you can share lists directly in conversations.
Best for
Apple ecosystem users (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch). Families coordinating shared lists across Apple devices. People who want sophisticated features without installing additional apps. Anyone who values Siri integration for hands-free capture.
Not ideal if
You need cross-platform access (no Android, Windows, or web). You want the most polished, designed experience (Reminders feels utilitarian). Real-time collaboration beyond Apple's ecosystem is required. You prefer apps with more advanced customization.
Real-world example
A household with 3 iPhones shares lists in Reminders: Groceries, Home Repairs, Weekend Plans. Anyone can add items. Location-based reminders notify whoever arrives at the store first. Siri handles voice capture: "Hey Siri, add bread to the grocery list."
Team fit
Works great for households and small groups all using Apple devices. Not suitable for mixed-platform teams or large organizations.
Onboarding reality
Immediate. It's pre-installed on all Apple devices. The basic interface is obvious. Learning smart lists, tags, and location reminders takes maybe 15-30 minutes of exploration.
Pricing friction
Completely free, pre-installed on Apple devices. No subscriptions, no premium tiers, no ads. For Apple users, this is maximum value with zero cost.
Integrations that matter
iCloud sync across Apple devices, Siri for voice commands, Messages integration for sharing, Apple Watch for quick checking/adding, Shortcuts app for automation, Calendar integration for time-based tasks.
Which Checklist App Should You Choose?
Your ideal checklist app depends on your ecosystem, collaboration needs, and complexity tolerance.
If you're iOS-only and value design: Clear offers the most polished, gestural experience. It's beautiful and fast but doesn't share lists or work on Android.
If you need sharing and might want more features later: Todoist scales from simple lists to full task management. The free tier works well for most personal checklist needs.
If you need aggressive reminders: Due's persistent nagging ensures you actually complete time-sensitive items. Apple-only and costs money, but worth it if you constantly forget critical tasks.
If you want time-based structure: Sorted 3 shows your checklist items in timeline view, helping you see what actually fits in your day. More complex than pure list apps but useful for temporal planning.
If you live in Google's ecosystem: Google Tasks integrates seamlessly with Gmail and Calendar at zero cost. Basic features but completely free and always accessible.
If you're all-Apple, all the time: Apple Reminders has evolved into a capable, free option with location reminders, sharing, and Siri integration. No additional app needed.
For household collaboration: Todoist, Any.do, or Apple Reminders all handle shared lists well. Choose based on what platforms your household uses.
Many people use multiple apps: Google Tasks for work-related lists, Clear for personal groceries, Sorted 3 for weekend planning. Pick based on your specific use case rather than trying to force one app to do everything.
Final Thoughts on Checklist Apps
The best checklist app is the one you'll actually open and use. Start with whatever's already on your device: Google Tasks if you use Gmail, Apple Reminders if you're on iPhone. Use it for a week before downloading alternatives.
If the built-in options feel limited or clunky, then explore dedicated apps. Clear if you're iOS-focused and value design. Todoist if you want room to grow into more complex task management. Due if persistent reminding matters more than features.
Don't overthink it. Checklists are meant to simplify your life, not become another complicated system to manage. Pick something simple, capture your items, check them off. That's it.