The 5 best iPhone and iPad task and to-do list apps

For lists of our to-dos, notifications, recurring tasks, and even a tap on the wrist to remind us, we need those task management apps. We rely on them to keep us on track with all that we have to do in our busy lives. The amount of these types of tools on the App Store can seem endless. So, if you are looking for a new or different to-do list app, here are five of our top picks.

Create your to-do lists, share them to collaborate with others, and set up your reminders easily with Wunderlist. As a universal app with Apple Watch support, this to-do list app syncs seamlessly, even with the Web and desktop apps. If you need recurring tasks for a certain amount of days or reminders that can be set to the minute, then Wunderlist is your app.

You can attach files and photos, start conversations, create recurring tasks, and share lists easily. The Wunderlist interface is intuitive and attractive with different themes to choose from and a quick add button for tasks and lists. Settings are flexible with Smart Lists, sorting options, sounds, and visible or hidden lists for the Apple Watch. Wunderlist is available for free with in-app purchase options for monthly or yearly subscriptions. The Pro subscriptions provide features such as unlimited files, assigning, and subtasks.

Todoist: To-do List and Task Manager is another terrific choice. There are task priorities with subtasks and even sub-projects. Reminders, recurring tasks, Apple Watch dictation, and integration with services such as Google Drive, Sunrise Calendar, and IFTTT make Todoist a real winner.

Also a universal app with Apple Watch and Web support, Todoist syncs cleanly no matter where you use it. It even works offline. The interface is also very nicely organized and easy to use. You can share and assign items to others, add comments and files to tasks, and measure your productivity with Todoist Karma. The app is available for free on the App Store with an in-app purchase option for Todoist Premium which provides push notifications, enhanced labels, tasks by email, and more.

With a really sleek interface, Any.do is more than just a beautiful app. It offers drag-and-drop, swipe to complete, voice entry, and you can just shake your device to clear finished tasks. You can set up recurring items, attach files and photos, collaborate with others, and use Any.do Moment for your daily planner.

Any.do is designed for the iPhone, but can be used on the iPad. There are Web and desktop versions available and all syncing is seamless. Available on the App Store for free, there are also paid subscriptions available which provide features such as color themes, unlimited collaboration, and location-based reminders.

For a clean interface that is super easy to use, Clear is a good to-do list option. This app uses a gesture-based design so you can swipe to delete, complete, add, or access the menu. You can create multiple lists and set reminders easily.

There are eight color themes available to customize your display. You can also change the sounds and vibration effects, use iCloud syncing, and enable a handy app icon badge for overdue and active items. There is also a widget for your notification center. Clear is available for $4.99 on the App Store with in-app purchases for different sound packs. This app is universal with Apple Watch Support.

Yet another good choice for simple tasks and lists is Things. To-dos can include notes, tags, and a due date. You can customize your notifications as well as your app icon badge. Manage and create new tags and set up new areas for your list menu easily.

You can enable the Things Cloud which stores your items and keeps everything up to date across devices. You can also activate Reminders & Siri which allows you to use Siri to add new tasks in Things. This to-do app is also universal with Apple Watch Support. It is available for $9.99 on the App Store.

Some of these apps offer extensive flexibility while others provide simplicity. Depending on the specific features you want in a to-do list app and how many tasks you need to manage, these are all great choices.

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