MinimaList: To Do List &Widget

I always have a lot on my plate, so I maintain a detailed, long-running checklist in another app, which is great for the big picture, but gets a bit overwhelming to use from day to day. I usually end up jotting a shorter to-do list on a Post-it note or mini legal pad of the few things I need to focus on and get done. So as my creative work shifts more and more to coffee shops (love that iPad Pro!) I was hoping I could bring this into the digital realm as well. MinimaList seems to fit the bill nicely. It’s not a feature-heavy to-do list with nested checkboxes and tons of metadata; it reads like a simple scratchpad you can cross things off as you get them done. The paradigm of gestures and all the settings take a short time to get used to, but once they’re in place it works great as a simple daily checklist. I have it synced on both my iPhone and my iPad Pro and use both equally, and while I often launch the app itself, the widget is just as useful to check what’s next or to tick off items as they get done. I get the sense from the settings page that there are some functionalities I haven’t figured out yet; time will tell, but for now it does just what I want it to do. I haven’t used the pomodoro functionality yet, but I use the pomodoro method from time to time so I’ll have to check that out soon. Great app, looking forward to seeing it develop!

As a university student, keeping track of tasks, assignments, and events is incredibly important. I have a physical planner I use for my assignments and events, but I am constantly looking for a good app to use for writing down all my tasks and other stuff, like grocery lists. Other apps are either too busy and difficult to adjust to, functional but unappealing to the eye, or nearly perfect but requires a ridiculous monthly fee. I used this app once and fell in love. It only took a couple of days for me to break down and pay for the lifetime membership of around $8, which I found reasonable. (You can also pay in monthly or yearly payments (both very affordable), but I found the $8 an easier choice.) The interface is simple, but appealing, and acts similar to if I was just writing with a pad and pen. You can edit the theme, there's a timer for concentration, notifications, and you can sync with your other Apple devices, too. One thing I ask to the developers: can you please add the ability to move around the individual group pages? Sometimes I want different pages to be next to each other, but currently there's only the ability to delete them. A small fix, but fantastic app overall!

This is a great productivity app! I'm a grad student with ADD/ADHD, so my phone is both a godsend-of-information and a time-wasting-curse. What I love about this app is that it sends me a notification to setup my to do list everyday, and it syncs with my calendar so my calendar schedule populates as a task to accomplish. The issues I've had with other productivity apps is that I'll write things down and forget that I wrote them. This app works around that issue for me by displaying a notification bubble with the number of tasks I have left to complete. As you complete a task and check it off your to do list, the number goes down and until the list is complete. I hate seeing notifications, so this really helps me get my tasks complete. Also there is a "focus mode" that allows you to tap the task you want to focus on for a set period of time (5-50 minutes). When that feature is activated, the app sends a pop up message every time you pickup your phone telling you to put down your phone you should be working on your task. I mindlessly pickup my phone to scroll through social media apps or check my emails, and that reminder helps me refocus my mind on what I should be working on.

I have downloaded pretty much all the apps out there for checklists, productivity, paid ones mind you. This one is the best by a country mile. I never thought I would find something better than good old pen and pad because all the apps try to do too much. MinimaList is simple and intuitive but also packed with features. You decide how deep you go. The best feature for me and one that sets it apart is allowing me to create a reminder to repeat a task at the interval of my choosing, including custom, like every 4 days for example. GREAT for business and client follow up. Do yourself a favor and go pro up front. it’s worth the money, it’s actually a steal. ALSO the developers are very open and receptive to user insights and will have a dialogue with you about it. This app has already paid for itself exponentially since it’s helping me get things done which directly affect my bottom line. Pomodoro, GTD, whatever you productivity protocol this app works. I don’t typically write reviews but when something comes along that changes the way I do business and make money and costs less than a sandwich then I want to spread the word.

So when I say I’ve tried every task management system out there, I mean it. Currently I am using Asana (but now MinimaList) and although I love Asana for its many, many features, I’m not sure I am completing as many tasks as I’d like because I’m too busy trying to find what I’m looking for or resetting when it should remind me. With MinimaList - I’m already productive! It too simple not to be. I absolutely love the feature the notifications: it reminds you and you can snooze. Because guess what, life gets busy and sometimes you need to snooze for another 15 minutes. That feature blows every other task management system out of the water. I also love how minimalist (hence the name) the app looks! Personally, I believe the pro version is the best. I need multiple lists, and other devise access. This app, though so simple is so perfect! Thank you designers! As a note, one thing that could’ve helped when I first download was showing me where the tutorial screen is. I found it eventually but to all the new owners, there is a tutorial in your menu. Go find it, it makes finding all the wonderful features a lot easier.