Best Reminder Apps in 2026

Do I need a reminder app?

Forgetful? Or at least people think you are. Look, we've all been there. You forget to pick up the dry cleaning, miss your partner's reminder to grab milk, or completely space on replying to that important work email. These little moments add up fast, and honestly, they can cost you time, money, relationships, and your sanity.

That's where reminder apps come in. A quick ping on your iPhone or Android might be the difference between your partner being annoyed and you being in the doghouse for forgetting the laundry again. Or missing a client deadline versus looking professional and on top of things.

If any of these sound familiar, you probably need a dedicated reminder app:

- You struggle with time-sensitive tasks and deadlines - You forget birthdays, anniversaries, or important dates regularly - Recycling day catches you off guard every single week - You miss medication times or daily habits - Grocery lists? You leave them at home every time - Work tasks slip through the cracks

Here's the thing: your brain isn't designed to remember everything. According to research on the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, we remember only 50% of the information we receive, which gets forgotten within an hour. So if someone tells you something important and you don't capture it immediately, odds are it's gone.

This is why quick, frictionless reminder capture is critical. You need an app that makes it stupidly easy to add a reminder the second you think of it, whether you're on your phone, computer, or smartwatch. The best reminder apps don't just store your tasks—they actually help you remember them with persistent notifications, location triggers, and smart scheduling.

There are dozens of to-do list apps out there, but the apps on this list specialize in reminders specifically. They're built around making sure you never forget the important stuff, with features like auto-snooze that won't let you dismiss a reminder until you actually do the thing, location-based alerts that ping you when you arrive somewhere, and recurring reminders for routine tasks.

If you're tired of being the person who always forgets, or you just want to free up mental space by offloading reminders to an app that won't let you down, this guide will help you find the right tool.

What can reminder apps do?

At their core, reminder apps are simple task management tools designed to ping you at specific times or locations. But the best ones do way more than just send you a notification.

Here's what modern reminder apps can do:

**Time-Based Reminders** - The basics. Set a reminder for 2pm on Thursday, or 30 minutes from now. Most apps use natural language so you can type "remind me tomorrow at 9am" and it just works.

**Recurring Reminders** - For routine stuff like taking medication, watering plants, or weekly check-ins. Set it once, get reminded forever (or until you turn it off).

**Location-Based Reminders** - Get pinged when you arrive or leave a place. Perfect for "remind me to buy milk when I'm at the grocery store" or "call mom when I leave work."

**Pre-Reminders** - Get notified before the actual deadline. Great for things like "remind me 1 day before mom's birthday" so you're not scrambling at the last minute.

**Persistent Notifications** - Some apps (like Due) won't let you ignore reminders. They keep nagging you until you actually acknowledge them, which is perfect for people who habitually dismiss notifications.

**Snooze Options** - Quick snooze times (10 minutes, 1 hour, tomorrow) so you can push reminders without opening the app.

**Cross-Device Sync** - Your reminder on your iPhone shows up on your Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch. No more forgetting something because you set the reminder on a different device.

**Shared Reminders** - Some apps let you share reminder lists with family or roommates, great for coordinated tasks like grocery shopping or household chores.

**Voice Integration** - "Hey Siri, remind me to call the dentist tomorrow at 10am." Most apps integrate with voice assistants for hands-free capture.

The key difference between a basic reminder app (like Apple's built-in Reminders) and the specialized apps on this list is how aggressive and flexible they are about actually making sure you remember. Let's explore the best options:

Due

Best for iPhone: Due

Due is simple but ruthlessly effective. If you're the kind of person who dismisses notifications and then immediately forgets what they were about, Due will not let you off the hook. It's designed with one job: make absolutely sure you remember.

The app works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. You can also grab it through SetApp if you're already subscribed there. Setup is dead simple—add a reminder, set a time, and you're done.

Best for

iPhone and Mac users who need aggressive, persistent reminders. People with ADHD who dismiss notifications and immediately forget. Anyone managing medication schedules where missing a dose isn't an option. Time-critical tasks like "take cookies out of oven" or "leave for airport."

Not ideal if

You care about modern app design since Due looks dated. You want complex project management features beyond basic reminders. You need cross-platform support (Windows or Android users are out of luck). The Auto-Snooze feature would drive you nuts rather than help you.

Real-world example

A freelancer with ADHD uses Due for client deadlines. Sets a reminder 1 hour before every meeting. Due starts nagging 10 minutes before if they haven't acknowledged it. They've never missed a client call in 2 years because the app literally won't shut up until they deal with it.

Team fit

Best for individuals managing personal tasks and medication. Not designed for team collaboration. Works solo or for couples sharing the same Apple ecosystem. Parents use it to remind kids about homework on shared iPads.

Onboarding reality

Literally 30 seconds. Add reminder, set time, done. The interface is so simple it's almost impossible to mess up. No tutorials needed. Grandparents can figure it out.

Pricing friction

One-time purchase around $7.99 on iOS and $9.99 on Mac. No subscriptions, which is refreshing. SetApp includes it, saving money if you already subscribe. The price is worth it purely for the Auto-Snooze feature if you need it.

Integrations that matter

iCloud or Dropbox sync across Apple devices. Siri for voice commands. Apple Watch for wrist notifications. That's basically it since Due is focused on doing one thing well rather than connecting to everything.

Any DO

Best for Cross Platform: Any DO

Any DO is attractive, easy to use and will extend to helping you manage your tasks too. It is primarily a to-do list application and is popular and already used by millions of people, but it does have a good simple reminders system within it as well as reminder checklists too for making sure you never forget things like packing lists or grocery lists.

Best for

Cross-platform users needing reminders on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and web. Couples or families who want to share reminder lists. People who want location-based reminders without paying Todoist's premium prices. Anyone consolidating tasks and reminders in one app.

Not ideal if

You need persistent reminders like Due offers. Complex project management is your priority. You prefer specialized tools over all-in-one solutions. The free tier's limitations on list sharing frustrate you.

Real-world example

A couple uses Any.DO to coordinate household chores and grocery shopping. They share a "Groceries" list that both can add to throughout the week. Location reminder pings whoever arrives at the store first. Weekly cleaning checklist assigns tasks to each person. Never had the "I thought you were getting milk" argument since they started using it.

Team fit

Great for small families (2-5 people) sharing household tasks. Works for roommates splitting chores. Couples love it for coordinating errands and shopping. Not built for professional team collaboration or large groups.

Onboarding reality

Very easy. Clean interface that most people understand within minutes. Creating lists and adding reminders is intuitive. Sharing takes one tap. Most users are productive on day one without tutorials.

Pricing friction

Free tier covers basic reminders and sharing. Premium at $5.99/month adds location reminders and unlimited sharing. The jump from free to premium feels reasonable compared to competitors. Annual plan at $26.99 is cheaper than many alternatives.

Integrations that matter

Google Calendar sync for seeing tasks alongside events. Alexa and Google Assistant for voice adding. WhatsApp integration for sharing lists. Zapier for automating reminder creation from other apps.

Things 3

Best for Mac Users: Things 3

Things 3 is one of the best looking reminder & to-do list apps ever. Adored by millions, Things 3 is a minimal and beautiful to-do list app with the reminder features for making sure you never forget anything. A lot of people love Things for the simple nature and the same applies to the reminders too.

Best for

Apple ecosystem users who care deeply about design aesthetics. People using GTD methodology who want elegant simplicity. Anyone willing to pay premium prices for a beautiful task management experience. Mac and iOS users who value polish over feature bloat.

Not ideal if

You're on a budget since the full setup costs $50+ across devices. You need persistent reminders that keep nagging you. Cross-platform support matters (Windows and Android don't exist here). You want advanced automation or integrations.

Real-world example

A designer uses Things 3 for managing client projects and personal tasks. Sets reminders on recurring weekly to-dos like "Send invoice" every Friday. The beautiful interface makes checking the app feel less like work. Tags projects by client and uses areas to separate work from personal life. Hasn't missed a deadline in a year.

Team fit

Built for individuals, not teams. Some couples use it together via shared lists on family devices. Freelancers and solo entrepreneurs love it. Not designed for professional team collaboration beyond very basic list sharing.

Onboarding reality

Smooth and intuitive. The design guides you naturally through task creation. Adding reminders takes seconds. Most people are comfortable within an hour. The learning curve is gentle compared to complex productivity systems.

Pricing friction

$9.99 on iPhone, $19.99 on iPad, $49.99 on Mac. That's $80 total for the full Apple experience. No subscription, which is good, but upfront cost is steep. Many users balk at paying this much when Apple Reminders is free.

Integrations that matter

Calendar integration for viewing tasks alongside events. Apple Watch for quick reminders on your wrist. Siri for voice task entry. Email to Things for capturing tasks via email. That's about it since Things focuses on being self-contained.

Microsoft To-Do

Best for Microsoft Users: Microsoft To-Do

Microsoft To-Do, formerly Wunderlist, is a to-do app with reminder abilities. It is basic, easy to use and good for those already baked into apps like Microsoft Outlook that can flag emails already as tasks in Microsoft To-Do. You can add reminders to each task in To-Do and it allows you to add a recurring reminder, or adjust it one time too.

Best for

Microsoft 365 users already paying for Office. People who manage tasks via Outlook email flags. Windows users who want deep OS integration. Anyone wanting a free, reliable reminder app with no premium upsells.

Not ideal if

You care about app aesthetics (it's functional but boring). You need advanced features like location reminders. You're avoiding Microsoft's ecosystem. Beautiful design is a priority over functionality.

Real-world example

An office worker flags important emails in Outlook as tasks. Those flagged emails automatically appear in Microsoft To-Do with reminders. Sets recurring reminders for monthly reports every 25th. Shares grocery list with spouse. Everything syncs across work PC, personal laptop, and phone without extra setup since Microsoft account handles it.

Team fit

Individuals and small families. Works well for couples sharing household lists. Office teams already using Microsoft 365 can share task lists. Not built for complex team project management.

Onboarding reality

Extremely simple. If you use Outlook or Windows, you probably already have it installed. Creating lists and reminders is straightforward. Most people figure it out without tutorials. The simplicity is both a strength and limitation.

Pricing friction

Completely free with no premium tier. Zero cost is unbeatable. No artificial limitations trying to push you to upgrade. For budget-conscious users or students, this is perfect. You get everything Microsoft To-Do offers without paying a cent.

Integrations that matter

Outlook email flags turning into tasks. Microsoft 365 ecosystem sync. Cortana voice commands on Windows. Microsoft Teams for sharing lists with coworkers. The integrations are all Microsoft-focused, which works great if you're in that world.

Todoist

Best for Cross Platform: Todoist

Todoist is one of the most used to-do list apps in the world, and it has reminders. You can add reminders really easily, you go into a task and you can either add a recurring reminder, or a reminder before the task happens - allowing you to get the task ready in time. A lot of people like that you can do this with the level of customization.

Best for

Cross-platform power users managing complex projects. People who love natural language input for quick capture. GTD methodology practitioners. Anyone juggling work and personal tasks in one system.

Not ideal if

You want aggressive persistent reminders (they just notify once). Simplicity is your priority since Todoist has many features. Free tier limitations on reminders frustrate you (location reminders are Pro only). You prefer visual boards over list-based systems.

Real-world example

A product manager uses Todoist for work projects and personal errands. Types "!30m call dentist" and gets reminded in 30 minutes. Sets recurring reminder "!every sat at 9am" for weekend grocery shopping. Shares projects with spouse for household tasks. Pro plan unlocked location reminders that ping when arriving at hardware store.

Team fit

Individuals and small teams up to 5 people on free tier. Professional teams use Business plan for collaboration. Freelancers manage client work across multiple projects. Couples coordinate household tasks on shared projects.

Onboarding reality

Easy to start, takes time to master. Basic reminders work day one. Learning natural language shortcuts and filters takes a week. Power users spend time customizing labels and projects. Reddit has tons of setup guides.

Pricing friction

Free tier includes basic reminders now (they used to charge for this). Pro at $4/month adds location reminders and more projects. The annual discount makes it $48/year. Reminders being free now removed a major pain point.

Integrations that matter

80+ integrations including Google Calendar, Slack, Alexa, Zapier, and IFTTT. Email to Todoist for capturing tasks from emails. API for custom automation. The integration ecosystem is one of the largest among task apps.

TickTick

Best for Reminders & Habits: TickTick

TickTick is another great app for following the GTD method, it has many features and abilities to help organise your life and your time through task management. You can integrate your calendar with TickTick to combine tasks and events already existing elsewhere. You can even receive location-based reminders when using TickTick on iOS or Android.

Best for

People wanting an all-in-one productivity app. Users who need reminders plus habit tracking and pomodoro timers. Budget-conscious users since the free tier is generous. Anyone tired of paying for multiple productivity subscriptions.

Not ideal if

You want the absolute simplest reminder app (TickTick has lots of features). Apple-only ecosystem users might prefer Things 3. You find having too many features overwhelming. The interface feels cluttered to minimalists.

Real-world example

A student uses TickTick for class reminders, study habits, and pomodoro focus sessions. Sets location reminder to "Return library books" when passing the campus library. Tracks daily meditation habit alongside homework deadlines. Built-in calendar view shows all upcoming exams and assignments. Saves $15/month by not needing separate habit tracker and timer apps.

Team fit

Individuals and small families. The free tier allows basic list sharing. Premium enables better collaboration for couples and roommates. Not designed for large professional teams or complex project management.

Onboarding reality

Moderate learning curve. Basic reminders are simple. Discovering all the features (calendar, habits, pomodoro) takes exploration. The app guides you through features, but it's a lot to absorb initially. Budget a few days to feel comfortable.

Pricing friction

Free tier is surprisingly good with 9 lists and basic features. Premium at $27.99/year (or $2.33/month) unlocks calendar view and more lists. The pricing increased recently which annoyed long-time users. Still cheaper than many competitors.

Integrations that matter

Google Calendar sync (two-way). Apple Calendar integration. Siri and Google Assistant for voice. IFTTT and Zapier for automation. Email to TickTick for capturing tasks. Decent integrations but fewer than Todoist.

Google Keep

Best for Notes & Reminders: Google Keep

Google Keep is a good option for managing tasks and to-dos in a simple setting. The app is fun and quirky, with sticky notes for tasks, audio notes, images, and more. You can see all your notes in one place and set reminders for each.

Best for

People who want dead simple reminders without complexity. Google ecosystem users already living in Gmail and Calendar. Anyone who thinks in Post-it notes. Budget-conscious users since it's completely free. Quick capture of grocery lists and random thoughts.

Not ideal if

You need advanced features like projects or dependencies. Task management beyond simple lists is required. You want offline access reliability. Advanced filtering or search capabilities matter.

Real-world example

A parent uses Google Keep for family coordination. Creates shared grocery list with spouse that both add to throughout the week. Sets location reminder "Buy diapers" at Target. Captures voice notes while driving that transcribe automatically. Color codes notes: yellow for groceries, blue for errands, green for weekend plans.

Team fit

Individuals and families sharing simple lists. Roommates coordinating household chores. Small friend groups planning events. Not built for professional teams or complex collaboration beyond basic shared notes.

Onboarding reality

Literally seconds. If you've used sticky notes, you understand Google Keep. Create note, add reminder, done. Zero learning curve. Perfect for people who are tech-resistant or just want something that works immediately.

Pricing friction

Completely free with Google account. No premium tier, no upsells, no feature limits. This is unbeatable value. Storage counts against Google Drive quota, but most people never hit limits.

Integrations that matter

Google Calendar sidebar shows Keep notes. Google Docs integration for adding notes to documents. Google Assistant for voice capture. Android home screen widgets. The integrations are Google-focused, which works well if you're in that ecosystem.

Which is the Best Reminders App Out There?

What is the best reminder app with note-taking?

Let's narrow down your choices and what to go with: Well, the one with the best note-taking abilities alongside the reminders is probably Google Keep. It is a well-known one and comes as part of any free Google account. It resembles Post-it Notes in a digital format and comes with some good mobile applications too.

Many people like it thanks to the reminders that you can pin to notes, and also location-based reminders, great for if you want a nudge based on your location.

We'd recommend looking at Todoist and TickTick, as well as Any DO. As these are really good reminder-based task management applications But they will help you to organise your week, but also make sure you don't miss reminders. It's well worth considering if you're looking for a more collective system.

If you're looking for something much more simple and basic, then look at Due, as it seems to be one of the leaders in reminding you with a simple application.

Another alternative to look at is Clear, it's more basic, but has reminders and simple lists for fun-grocery shop like tracking.

Notable Reminder Apps

Here's the best reminder apps:

Which Reminder App Should You Choose?

Picking the right reminder app depends on what kind of forgetter you are (we all have our specialties).

If you need an app that absolutely will not let you forget, Due is the answer. The Auto-Snooze feature is relentless in the best way possible. It's perfect for medication reminders, time-critical tasks, or anyone with ADHD who dismisses notifications and then immediately forgets. The design is dated, but functionally it's unbeatable for persistence.

For cross-platform users who want reminders plus a full task management system, Any.DO or Todoist make the most sense. Both are free, work everywhere (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, web), and handle location-based reminders. Any.DO is simpler and better for families or couples sharing lists. Todoist is more powerful for people managing complex projects alongside their reminders.

If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and care about aesthetics, Things 3 is gorgeous. The reminders integrate beautifully with recurring tasks and projects, though it lacks the aggressive persistence of Due. It's best for people who want a beautiful app and won't habitually ignore notifications.

TickTick is the all-in-one choice. You get reminders, habit tracking, a pomodoro timer, and calendar integration in one app. If you'd otherwise be using 3-4 separate apps for productivity, TickTick bundles it all together. The free tier is generous, and location-based reminders work on both iOS and Android.

For simple note-based reminders, Google Keep is underrated. It's free, works everywhere, and the sticky note interface makes it easy to capture quick thoughts with time or location reminders attached. Perfect for people who want something lightweight.

Microsoft users already paying for Office 365 should just use Microsoft To-Do. It's free, integrates with Outlook for flagging emails as reminders, and works across all Microsoft services. The design isn't exciting, but it's reliable and you're already paying for it.

Bottom line: Don't rely on your brain alone. Pick an app that matches your forgetting patterns, set it up properly, and let technology remember for you. Your future self (and your partner) will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

**What's the best free reminder app?**

Google Keep or Any.DO take this one. Both are completely free with no feature limits on reminders. Keep is simpler and great for quick notes with reminders. Any.DO is better if you want a full task system with location-based alerts.

**Which reminder app is best for ADHD?**

Due, hands down. The Auto-Snooze feature keeps nagging you until you actually acknowledge the reminder, which is critical for people who dismiss notifications and immediately forget. It's specifically designed for people who need persistence.

**Can I share reminders with family or my partner?**

Yes. Any.DO, Todoist, TickTick, and Microsoft To-Do all support shared lists. You can assign reminders to specific people and both get notified. Great for couples managing household tasks or families coordinating schedules.

**Do any of these apps work with location-based reminders?**

Most do. Any.DO, Todoist (Pro/Business plans only), TickTick, and Google Keep all support location-based reminders on iOS and Android. Due does not have location features, it's purely time-based.

**What's better, Todoist or TickTick for reminders?**

TickTick has more built-in features (habits, pomodoro, calendar) for free. Todoist has better natural language input and faster task capture with shortcuts like "!30m" for a reminder in 30 minutes. Todoist used to charge for reminders but made them free in 2026, which was a big improvement. If you want an all-in-one app, TickTick. If you want focused task management, Todoist.

**Is Things 3 worth it just for reminders?**

Probably not. Things 3 costs $50+ across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It's beautiful and the reminders work great, but unless you also want the full GTD-style task management system, it's expensive compared to free options like Any.DO or Google Keep. Buy Things if you love the design and want a complete productivity system, not just for reminders.

**Can I use Siri with these apps?**

Most integrate with Siri on iOS and Mac. Due, Things 3, Todoist, TickTick, and Microsoft To-Do all support voice commands like "Hey Siri, remind me to call mom at 2pm." Google Keep works with Google Assistant. Any.DO has limited Siri support.

**What's the most aggressive reminder app that won't let me forget?**

Due. No contest. The Auto-Snooze feature will literally keep pinging you every minute (adjustable) until you mark the reminder as done. It's designed for people who need the app to be annoying on purpose.