15 Productivity Apps Your Future Self Will Be Glad You Used
Meta description: Overwhelmed by too many to-do list apps? Here are 15 free productivity apps that will help you actually get stuff done.
How many to-do list apps have you downloaded, tried for three days, and then forgotten about on your phone? If having dozens of half-used productivity apps taking up space on your device sounds familiar, then this list is for you.
The key to being more productive is not to use a ton of different apps. Instead, you need a handful of apps that you consistently use. Here are 15 free productivity apps that I’ve handpicked for you. They fall under five categories: tasks, notes, focus, time tracking, and collaboration.
As a general disclaimer, the apps listed here are all typically free to use, although some might have a premium plan and features that change. In order to determine if an app is right for you, read more about it! Task
To do list apps
1. Todoist
Todoist is a simple and clean task tracker app that gets the job done. It’s perfect for a daily to-do list with reminders, priorities, and reoccurring tasks.
2. Google Tasks
Google Tasks is another simple task tracker, which is great if you already use Gmail and Google Calendar.
3. TickTick
TickTick combines a to-do list and Pomodoro timer with a calendar. Notes
4. Notion
Notion is a powerful, multipurpose productivity application. It may seem daunting at first, but it’s super useful once you figure out how to use it.
5. Google Keep
Google Keep is for sticky note-style note-taking. It’s very simple and great for people who want something straightforward.
6. Obsidian
Obsidian is a note-taking app for people who want to make connections between their notes. It’s perfect for writers, students, and thinkers. Focus
7. Forest
Forest is a fun app that helps you stay focused by making you grow a tree while being on the app. It’s surprisingly easy to use and helpful for people who want something a little gamified.
8. Freedom
Freedom is a website and application blocker that helps you get more done by limiting the distractions around you. It’s a must-use for people who tried everything else without any success.
9. Focus To-Do
Focus To-Do is a simple app that combines a to-do list and Pomodoro timer. It’s for people who tend to focus better in timed intervals. Time tracking
10. Toggl Track
Toggl Track is a simple time tracker that’s great for freelancers and people who want to see how they spend their time.
11. RescueTime
RescueTime is similar to Toggl Track, but it also analyzes your time on different websites and tells you how much time you waste on apps. Calendar
12. Google Calendar
Using Google Calendar might not seem like the most exciting way to boost your productivity, but it’s one of the most powerful tools once you get used to it. Time-blocking your calendar is one of the best ways to get more done.
13. Calendly
Calendly makes meeting scheduling super easy. It’s a great tool because you don’t have to waste time asking people for their availability. Collaboration
14. Trello
Trello is for organizing projects. It’s visual and super easy to work with.
15. Slack (free tier)
Slack keeps your team communication in one place. It’s less cluttered than other communication apps and separates work-related conversations in channels. How to choose the right apps
Choosing the right app can be overwhelming, which is why I suggest picking one task that you want to improve the most and using that app as the cornerstone of your productivity. Once that’s settled, choose one app for each category until you have a toolkit of about 5 apps.
Make sure the apps you choose to use are intuitive and easy to use. It’s surprising how fast people get annoyed by an overcomplicated app, especially if it’s not worth it. Give it around two weeks before deciding if it’s right for you.
Aim for something simple and boring. The best productivity apps are the ones that you’ll actually use consistently. A toolkit of five apps is much better than ten apps that you barely use. To give you an example, here is what my productivity stack looks like:
• To-do list: Todoist
• Note-taking: Google Keep
• Focus: Forest
• Calendar: Google Calendar How not to use these apps
Productivity apps are a tool, and like any tool, they’re only as good as the person is that uses them. These apps won’t fix a hectic lifestyle, a poor sleeping pattern, or a stressed-out mind, just to name a few. Make sure to use these productivity apps to complement a healthy lifestyle, not the other way around.
Also, make sure not to type any important information in these apps if you’re not sure about their security policies. Overall, these are just some of my favorite free productivity apps that I think you’ll enjoy using as well. The bottom line is, to maximize your productivity, you need to find a system that’s enjoyable for you. Start with one or two apps and go from there.
