Task Managers | There’s one of everyone!
Over the last few months, I have been testing a lot of task managers and definitely not all of them — I still have a lot more to continue to review, understand and build knowledge about however I wanted to highlight a few apps that I think deserve your attention, your audience and your thoughts when looking for a productivity app,
Let’s start with what makes a strong task manager:
- Reliability — Consistency with a productivity tool is vital.
- Speed — Being speedy and usable is key.
- Functionality — a suite of features available to the user in freemium and premium.
- Cloud system — having a cloud back-up and retrieval system is really important when it comes to accidental issues of phone’s dying.
- Cross-platform access — being able to access the app on different and a range of devices from Web to Android and onwards.
- Offline access — access to your task manager without 4/3G or WiFi
So, here are the tools I’ve reviewed so far and how they rank in relevance to your everyday usage and why I think they’ll be good for a certain situations and good for you.
Swipes
Swipes is a task manager that is very open, clear and simple.
Behind its simple mask it has a strong level of functionality with lots of 3rd party apps like Evernote, Mailbox and Dropbox. I really respect what the Team are doing, they are executing on a really great product but keeping the Productivity community really engaged with everyone.
My favourite feature!
These guys know how Evernote should work with a Task Manager application. The functionality between Evernote + Swipes App is a golden one and that looks really impressive, and works very very well!
When do I use Swipes?
Simple answer, I don’t, for the reason that I currently use a Combo between Todoist + Omnifocus, there was a period of time over a month that I decided to use it — It wasn’t for me in terms of my productivity system but I really do recommend it. I always drop in every 1–2 weeks with what they are doing and as a open productivity reviewer I’m keeping ears open.
Someone to follow in the Swipes Team — Mitco Ivanov
Lots of credit to Mitco for continuing to bring real insight and value to the productivity community with his blog posts and engagement. It’s fantastic!
Here’s the scores for Swipes!
Reliability = 8 , Speed = 7 , Functionality = 9 , Cloud system = 8, Cross Platform = 7, Offline = 8
Round-up Score: 7.83
Who’s this perfect for: Creative Designers, Entrepreneurial minds and entry level productivity
Todoist
Todoist is a tool that I use on a daily basis. I have been a long time user now. This has been the most consistent experience with the easiest and most functional UI and small features that make the experience really great!
My favourite feature!
If I had a favourite feature of Todoist it would be the new intelligent input, basically allowing you to enter tasks with context to time, date and labels without struggling to do so with “add task”. There are so many great features of the service that I wanted to pick out a very product facing feature versus their amazing Sync which operates as part of the service.
When do I use Todoist?
I tend to use Todoist on the go for most things within my lifestyle, in the next few weeks, I am transitioning it from being a tool for everything to a tool solely for work engagements to keep the two separate. Todoist has been the most basic, functional and fun experience for me so far…
Someone to follow in the Todoist Team — Brenna Loury, Head of Marketing
She’s also a very enthusiastic in the start-up scene in Chile — Read about Brenna a little more in her Ways To Work Interview.
Here’s the score for Todoist!
Reliability = 10, Speed = 9, Functionality = 8, Cloud system = 9, Cross Platform = 9, Offline = 8
Round-up Score: 8.83
Who’s this perfect for: A strong audience, I would recommend this to everyone looking to start and build their targets and also start their GTD systems going.
OmniFocus
This is a tool for the heavy GTD community, something that is £29.99 on the App store and a £29.99 on the Mac. You are probably wondering why so much, this tool packs great functionality and a true GTD experience for those sort of focused individuals or teams. Omni Group, the overview company, also produce many more tools for the same type of people with the same calibre of technology involved.
My favourite feature!
This has to be their section for “Forecast”, allowing you to overview the entire calendar of activities and tasks over the next few days. With the UI looking very fixed but open to strong productivity.
When do I use Omnifocus?
With Omnifocus, I’ve started to use it across my day for my Personal Brand and activities to keep things separate to my Todoist activity, It’s going well so far, but I’m sure if you follow me on Twitter you’ll see my thoughts so far on this one.
Someone to follow in the OmniFocus Team
Ken is the chap who sent over a test kit to me and also is a very responsive person for CEO over on Twitter, say hey to him!
Reliability = 8, Speed = 10, Functionality = 10, Cloud system = 8, Cross Platform = 6, Offline = 8
Round-up Score: 8.33
Who’s this perfect for: A very niche audience of hardcore GTD | Getting Things Done users who are strict and vigorous about their system and process, and have the investment money to spend.
Google Keep
Following on from such a strong tool like OmniFocus, Google Keep is in a different kind of ball park, they seem to just have a very simple task manager for those looking for colour, simplicity and no over “tasky” approaches to things.
My favourite feature!
The colours for Google Keep are amazing, really simple, easy on the eye and an opportunity to break away from other apps. Google Keep with features like these seems much more playful and fun!
When do I use Google Keep?
I’ve used Google Keep as a shopping list on my Android phone but never passed this level of engagement.
Someone to follow in the Google Keep Community — Avra Robinson
Avra commonly writes about Google Keep in her educational posts.
Reliability = 8, Speed = 8, Functionality = 6, Cloud system = 7, Cross Platform = 6, Offline = 7
Round-up Score: 7.00
Who’s this perfect for: They’ve done a very good job with Google Keep! It’s really easy but has very small reach in terms of organising your entire life. Anyone who’s only doing shopping, small tasks and just wants some openness around their day’s work.
ANY.DO
Any.DO is an interesting one, a very simple experience with lots of hidden functionality but overall a tasty opportunity to get some word done!
My favourite feature!
There is a feature that allows you to process all of your tasks. You hit the button and it focuses in on each individual tasks. It allows you to go over all the tasks of the day to understand what you completed, I can imagine it would be a great tool for when you are on the way home and discover what tasks you completed for the day. I would like to shout-out its UI is fantastic! Very simple and what a lot of Productivity apps should take into account.
When do I use Any.DO?
I don’t tend to use this, I reviewed Any.DO recently. Have a look at my thoughts further here.
Someone to follow in the ANY.DO — Omer Perchik, CEO
Always pushing out great tweets about Productivity and opportunities within the company.
Reliability = 8, Speed = 8, Functionality = 6, Cloud system = 7, Cross Platform = 6, Offline = 7
Round-up Score: 7.00
Who’s this perfect for: Any.DO has been a very simplistic service that offers a fantastic experience for beginners to the Productivity game. I would recommend this to anyone looking to open up the potential of their thoughts and monitoring their tasks.
I hope you enjoyed this post.
- Let me know what Productivity App you are using on Twitter
- Let me know what your experience of Swipes is so far…!
- Have a great day and keep productive!
Thank you,
Francesco, @francescod_ales
