Best iPad Task Management Apps

Get Tasks Done With Your iPad

Overview

Task Management is such an essential part of everyday life that Apple included its own version-- Reminders-- in iOS 5. Although Reminders has its strengths, there are many other apps available in the appstore to help you manage your tasks more effectively and completely. However, finding the app with the right price, feature set, and syncing options can be a challenge. For this AppGuide, we’ve investigated apps designed specifically as task or to-do list managers to find the most feature-rich yet straight-forward apps available for the iPad, so that you can get an app you will actually use-- because that’s the whole point of a task manager, after all!

Essential Apps

Free
Wunderlist HD

by 6 Wunderkinder

Wunderlist HD is the best (and possibly the only) free option for multi-platform task management, with a free cloud syncing service and free easy-to-use apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Even aside from the price, Wunderlist is an excellent task manager that’s designed for quick and simple task management. Although it has fewer options than some of the other apps in this Guide, Wunderlist’s list-based task management is very attractive, and the app supports reminders, notes, stars for important tasks, and emailing tasks. While the app could be improved by the addition of export options and voice control, it is a great option for most.
$14.99
Pocket Informant Pro - Events, Tasks, Notes, Contacts

by Web Information Solutions, Inc.

Including Pocket Informant HD in this Guide is a bit unfair, because it is more of a planner than a traditional task manager. The app, however, earns its spot by being the best option for people who want an app to integrate with their existing systems, specifically Google, iCal, Outlook, or Toodledo. Leaving aside the notes, calendars, and contacts, Pocket Informant HD is a fully-featured task manager with a touch-based (and thus more iOS-friendly) interface. Additionally, the app allows users to choose the organizational style they want to use; i.e., tasks can be displayed in the popular “Getting Things Done” (or GTD) organizational system, Toodledo, or Franklin Covey.
$39.99
OmniFocus for iPad

by The Omni Group

OmniFocus requires commitment. Users unfamiliar with GTD need to watch a tutorial video and probably read more than one guide to fully understand how to best use the app. For some, this amount of complexity and potential organization is exciting and worthy of essential status, while others would never need or want that much complexity from their task manager. Essentially, OmniFocus tries to teach users how to manage their tasks, rather than just help them transfer their to-do lists to their iPad. OmniFocus offers multiple methods for breaking down and organizing tasks, supports emailing tasks to the app, and adding notes, tags, voice recording, documents, and/or urls to tasks. Although the price seems steep, it includes a free sync service via Omni.com, also syncs directly to the Mac or iPhone app, has calendar integration, and has no hidden or associated fees like some other apps.

Notable Apps

$9.99
Firetask for iPad

by Gerald Aquila

Firetask for iPad is comparable to OmniFocus in that it also uses the GTD paradigm as a starting point, but it’s a little simpler and less stable. Firetask has an attractive interface that’s understandable without much explanation and includes some nice touches such as a “scratchpad” for quick notes or tasks, and icons to represent categories for easy differentiation. The app also includes free access to its own cloud sync service, syncs with a companion Mac or iPhone app, and integrates with Notification Center for reminders.
$4.99
TaskPaper — Simple to-do lists

by Hog Bay Software

Task Paper has a unique and simple method of managing lists of tasks within text files that are accessible via iTunes file sharing. The app won’t appeal to those who need or want calendar integration, alarms, or reminders, but its clean interface and simple mechanism is noteworthy. Despite its simplicity, Task Paper allows for organization via subtasks, tags, and projects. Task Paper’s main flaw is that it doesn’t integrate with a syncing service other than Dropbox, which may not be enough for many users.
$19.99
Things for iPad

by Cultured Code GmbH & Co. KG

Things for iPad has an attractive interface that manages to be both clean and robust and the same time. Things offers a similar amount of organization and customization options as OmniFocus, but the app is far more intuitive to use. The app would likely be essential if it had a true syncing option; as it stands, Things syncs to a companion Mac app, Dropbox (which many have found buggy), and a custom cloud service that was recently released as an open Beta.
$9.99
2Do: Tasks Done in Style

by Guided Ways Technologies Ltd

2Do's focus is on integrating tasks with your calendar; as such, its interface is divided into “calendars” instead of the more traditional projects or folders. Although this attractive and clear interface helps 2Do shine as a short-term project/task manager, it does not make it the best option for long term project or goal management. 2Do syncs with Toodledo, Dropbox, Caldav, Mac/PC, can even sync to Outlook with a helper app, and supports email backup and export to CSV.
$4.99
Awesome Note HD (+To-do/Calendar/Reminder)

by BRID

Like Pocket Informant, Awesome Note HD is technically more of a Planner than a task manager, but it does such a good job with tasks that it’s worth including. The app stores and organizes notes, tasks, lists, and even a diary! Awesome Note HD’s task manager has a clean interface, multiple viewing options, and virtually no learning curve. More, it syncs with GoogleDocs, Evernote, can backup via iTunes, Wi-Fi, or transfer via bluetooth or to Evernote.
$4.99
Todo for iPad

by Appigo

ToDo for iPad’s main flaw is that it tries too hard. From the attractive yet busy interface to the options, it’s clear that the developers tried to think of everything they could give users, from multiple theme options to default settings for tasks, but much of it ends up seeming unnecessary. Still, ToDo is a robust app with an emphasis on the GTD style, and it supports syncing via Dropbox, iCloud, Todo online, Toodledo, or to Outlook using a helper program over Wi-Fi.
$2.99
Toodledo - To Do List

by Toodledo

Toodledo could be classified as notable simply for its inclusion of an integrated, easy to read user guide! Aside from the instructions, Toodledo sets itself apart by being almost too customizable-- the number of options can be overwhelming-- and by incorporating many features (it can even be linked to your Twitter!). Toodledo implements the GTD philosophy and links to a free toodledo.com account, but its interface does not use the iPad’s screen well and forces users to go back and forth between different screens.

Decent Apps

$1.99
Task PRO (To-do & Projects)

by AlifSoft

Task Pro tries to simplify organization by foregoing folders or projects and relying only on tags, which makes using the app more confusing, not less. Although the app is attractive and may appeal to those who prefer tag-based organization to lists or GTD, it does not have many of the features of the higher-ranked apps, specifically sync support. It has “limited support” for toodledo syncing and “will implement” Google Calendar and iCloud syncing.
$4.99
Voodo - Task Book

by Ling Wang

Voodo - Task Book is a well-designed app with a straight-forward interface that will please both new and advanced users of task managers. The app uses tags as its primary method of organization, forgoing the complication of folders or separate lists. All tasks are displayed at all times unless users choose to filter them by tag, priority, or location. Voodo would be higher rated except that its only syncing method is via Google Calendar, which may not be sufficient for most users.
$14.99
To Do List for Nozbe HD

by Macoscope sp. z o.o.

Nozbe To Do for iPad is another app in the GTD style, with an inbox, next, labels, projects, calendars, etc. Although the app is attractive, it doesn’t have anything special or unique, aside from the ability to sync to its own server in a limited capacity or fully by paying a fee.
$4.99
TaskTask HD (Outlook & Exchange Tasks)

by Ryan Gregg LLC

TaskTask HD’s only stand-out feature is an integrated sync with Microsoft Exchange. Aside from that option, the app is a fairly generic list-based task manager, with a few options to set categories, importance, reminders, and viewing options. It also syncs with Google Tasks.
$2.99
Priorities

by Hand Carved Code, LLC

Priorities is a well-crafted list-based Universal app that includes many user-customizable options. The app will probably appeal to anyone who wants-- and is willing to pay for-- a slightly more customizable version of Wunderlist. It also includes access to its own sync server.
$0.99
List n Do

by "n" apps

ListnDo has a simple interface that makes adding tasks easy, but the app seems more focused on immediate tasks than long term projects. ListnDo is a list-based task manager with extra customization options and views, i.e., categories, priorities, near me. The app, however, isn’t designed for long term organization or projects, and therefore may not be useful for many. ListnDo syncs to Google and Toodledo, and backups to Dropbox. ListnDo could not be ranked higher, because it did not turn location services off when the app was closed.