This review was written by VeryWellMind.
From to-do lists and calendar reminders to shopping lists and meetings, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the number of places we keep reminders and tasks. Thanks to time management apps, you can easily keep track of everything in one place, helping you reach goals faster and saving you time in the long run.
Whether you are a manager hoping to assign employees tasks or a parent who manages the calendar for the entire family, there is an app out there built with you in mind. We've rounded up the best time management apps available to help you find the right fit.
Best Time Management Apps of 2024
- Best Overall: Todoist
- Best for Work Schedule: Toggl Track
- Best for Personal Life: TimeTree
- Best for Multiple People: Trello
- Best Additional Resources: Calendar
- Best Multiple Platforms: Remember the Milk
BEST OVERALL: Todoist
Key Specs
- Price: $4 to $8 per month (for pro or business versions)
- Free version available: Yes
- Available on: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web browser, Apple Watch
Why We Chose It
Todoist is used by more than 30 million people and consistently ranks among the top time management apps on the market, thanks to its comprehensive suite of tools.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available on multiple platforms
- Offers templates to help you quickly get started
- Integrates well with other tools like Gmail and Slack
Cons
- Limited free offerings
- Functionality may be more than some people need
- Customizations are doable but take time
Overview
Todoist is highly rated for a reason. It is one of the most comprehensive time management apps available. Because the app was first developed in 2007, it has a wide range of features that have been built out over time, keeping its user base in mind.
Todoist has features for both personal and professional use, so it's handy whether you are looking to set personal goals or launch a new business offering. Create and track tasks (and subtasks), easily delegate duties to others, and see everything on your plate all at a quick glance, making prioritizing and communicating even easier.
There is a free offering, but its features are fairly limited, meaning some may need to upgrade to a pro membership for about $4 per month ($8 for business use). Todoist is available on basically every device out there, from iOS to Android, macOS, Windows, and more, so you can seamlessly transition between your phone and computer.
BEST FOR WORK SCHEDULEToggl Track
Key Specs
- Price: $9 to $18 per month
- Free version available: Yes
- Available on: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web browser
Why We Chose It
Created with professionals in mind, Toggl Track works for freelancers, small businesses, and corporate teams alike thanks to its tailored features, like integrating with other tools.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free account for up to 5 users
- Track time directly in tools you already use
- Support team answers in mere hours
Cons
- Some users note lack of “quick edit” features
- Making certain entries can be tedious
Overview
At its core, Toggl Track is time-tracking software, but thanks to additional features and integrations with other Toggl products, it serves as so much more. It has the functionality to track your time on tasks and run reports to see what you spend the most time on to help you become more efficient.
Additionally, you can plan out chunks of your day using its calendar functionality—meaning you won’t overbook yourself—and you can even run reports for easy invoicing at the end of each month. Larger teams can use the service to see what everyone is working on, as well as how much time they are estimated to have left.
There are multiple pricing tiers ranging from free (for five users) to $18 per user for larger teams. And thanks to integrations with Gmail, Asana, and more, Toggl can easily be added to your current tools. Users love how seamlessly it syncs across devices, working with iOs, Android, macOS, and Windows, with plug-ins on both Google Chrome and Firefox.
BEST FOR PERSONAL LIFETimeTree
Key Specs
- Price: Free
- Free version available: Yes
- Available on: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web browser
Why We Chose It
With the ability to seamlessly share calendars and memos between users, TimeTree is perfect for families hoping to keep everyone’s schedules in one place.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free
- Works across multiple devices
- Ideal for families in multiple households
Cons
- Users must be actively using it for calendars to sync
- Reviews note support is hard to reach
- May seem redundant if using other calendars
Overview
TimeTree notes its goal in creating a time management app was to take every single calendar you use—wall, work, and social—and put all of that information in one place. You can easily share calendars with your partner, siblings, coworkers, and more, so you’ll never miss out on an important event.
More than just a calendar, the added functionality of memos replaces the pen-and-paper to-do list, so you have a dedicated place for managing your busy life. Users note this is especially great for families in multiple households, especially in managing schedules for their children with easy-to-see reminders.
This free app works on iOS and Android devices, plus desktops and web browsers, meaning no matter if you’re on the go or at your desk, you can add events and see what is coming up in your day. Because it's free, it is easy to get everyone on board with using the app, so everything can be kept in one place.
BEST FOR MULTIPLE PEOPLETrello
Key Specs
- Price: $5 to $10 per month
- Free version available: Yes
- Available on: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web browser
Why We Chose It
No matter how you prefer to track projects and time, Trello allows you to easily see who is doing what at a quick glance, so you’ll never drop the ball on an important project.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free version packed with features
- Extremely customizable
- Integrates with other tools such as Google Drive and Dropbox
Cons
- Higher fee for paid version if billed monthly
- No seamless time tracking
Overview
If you’re looking for a way to easily manage projects and tasks at a glance, Trello is it—especially if you have coworkers. Trello was made with collaboration in mind, meaning projects and tasks are meant to be viewed and assigned across teams.
Visually, Trello is appealing, with color-coding, taskbars, and avatars showing who is working on what, so everyone can be on the same page without having to do a deep dive into each stage of a project (though you can do that, too).
The free version has a huge list of features, including unlimited storage. But for roughly $10 per user per month (billed annually), or about $13 per user per month (billed monthly), you can add additional dashboards and calendar. There's also a discount per user if buying on an enterprise scale (5,000+ users).
With companies such as eBay and Fender on its user list, Trello can work for a wide range of teams and projects, syncing between web, mobile (iOS and Android), and desktop apps (macOS and Windows).
BEST ADDITIONAL RESOURCESCalendar
Key Specs
- Price: $6 to $8 per month
- Free version available: Yes
- Available on: iOS, Android, web browser
Why We Chose It
Thanks to its robust analytics resources, Calendar helps you see just how much time you spend in meetings, so you can structure (or re-structure) your time to prioritize what’s most important to you.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Analytics to show where you spend your time
- Wide user base, from freelancers to large teams
- Connects all of your calendars in one place
Cons
- Free version can only connect one calendar
- Free users only receive help center access, not phone support
Overview
If you feel like you’re always in meetings, Calendar can help you see where you’re spending most of your time. More than just a place to keep your appointments, Calendar also offers analytics, making it easy to see just how much time you spend in meetings, in the office, and more, so you can readjust your time based on your goals.
Calendar is great for people who want all of their calendars in one place, though the added analytics are really what makes this time management app shine. You can also add locations and people to tracking, meaning not only will you be able to see how much time you spend in meetings and at work, but you can see where and with whom.
Calendar is definitely geared toward professional use and allows you to see when multiple team members all have time free should you need to meet. Users note that it is easy to get started and integrate into current workflows, making the free trial period offered worth the risk (especially with the highest pro tier pricing coming in at around $24 per month, per user).
BEST MULTIPLE PLATFORMSRemember the Milk
Key Specs
- Price: $40 annually for pro
- Free version available: Yes
- Available on: iOS, Android, macOS, Blackberry, Windows, web browser, Apple Watch
Why We Chose It
Remember the Milk has been since 2005 and works across multiple devices and integrations, on wearables, and even has widgets, so you can manage every part of your busy day in one place.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One of the most trusted apps, with a long lifespan
- Choose how you receive reminders (email, text or even on Twitter)
- Attach files directly to tasks
Cons
- Reminders via mobile apps only on Pro version
- No free trial to test Pro account features
- Robust and may be overwhelming for some people
Overview
While there are other apps that are on multiple platforms, Remember the Milk sets itself apart thanks to extra features that allow you to choose how you receive reminders and tasks.
This to-do list app allows you to easily organize tasks and subtasks in the app itself, by sending a tweet or even asking Siri or Alexa. For those users with an Apple Watch, it also has the capability to add and review tasks right from your wrist.
Remember the Milk takes the simple to-do list to the next level, with built-in themes so you can make the app your own and keep things visually appealing. Functionality exists to attach files to your tasks, so everything is truly in one place. You can even save text from emails as task notes.
Most people will enjoy the free option, but all of the bells and whistles come at a cost of $40 per year for the pro version. It allows for list sharing between an unlimited number of users, great for those who want to use the app for both personal and professional tasks.
Final Verdict
Whether you need a time management app for personal or professional use or both, there is something out there for you. Though it may take some trial and error to find an app that integrates seamlessly into your life, we recommend starting with Todoist. Todoist is our top pick overall because it is the most comprehensive, versatile, and functional time management app. It has features that fit a variety of needs, is compatible with multiple platforms, and integrates well with other tools you're probably already using.
Compare the Best Time Management Apps
Price | Free Version Available | Available On | App Store Rating | |
TodoistBest Overall | $4 to $8 per month | Yes | iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web browser, Apple Watch | 4.8/5 (App Store), 4.5/5 (Google Play) |
Toggl TrackBest for Work Schedule | $9 to $18 per month | Yes | iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web browser | 4.8/5 (App Store), 4.6/5 (Google Play) |
TimeTreeBest for Personal Life | Free | Yes | iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web browser | 4.8/5 (App Store), 4.5/5 (Google Play) |
TrelloBest for Multiple People | $5 to $10 per month | Yes | iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web browser | 4.5/5 (App Store), 4.4/5 (Google Play) |
CalendarBest Additional Resources | $20 to $24 per month | Yes | iOS, Android, web browser | 4.2/5 (App Store), 3.9/5 (Google Play) |
Remember the MilkBest Multiple Platforms | $40 per year (pro version) | Yes | iOS, Android, macOS, Blackberry, Windows, web browser, Apple Watch | 4.7/5 (App Store), 4.6/5 (Google Play) |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are Time Management Apps Useful?
- Are Time Management Apps Effective?
- Can I Use a Time Management App for My Whole Family?
Methodology
We researched a dozen time management apps available on multiple devices to develop a list of the best options. In addition to considering when each app was first developed, elements such as pricing, features, and accessibility were taken into consideration. We read through user reviews, as well as customer support responses, looking at how (and if) feature requests are addressed by the team. Because the need for time management apps varies by user, we included apps that function as to-do lists, calendars, time trackers, and more, offering a wide range of options based on personal and professional needs.
Finally, we wanted these time management apps to work for both individuals and companies alike, so multiple uses and customizable functionality were factored into developing this list.