The Ultimate Showdown: The Best To-Do List App for 2024
Out of sheer curiosity, I have started experimenting with apps from the space of personal productivity. For a considerable period spanning a few years, one application that has consistently stood out from the rest is Todoist.
This top-tier app has been a stalwart in the productivity arena, continuously impressing with its commitment to consistent support, robust growth, and constant development. Its ability to meet the changing demands of its users and adapt to the dynamic productivity landscape has earned it a well-deserved place at the top.
However, the productivity app market is far from static. While the field has been somewhat dominated by established players like Todoist, it’s important not to overlook the new and exciting options that emerge.
One such entrant that caught my attention recently is Superlist. This to-do list app, with its well-thought-out design, intuitive interface, and swift operation, promises to be a strong contender in the productivity app race.
As we stand on the brink of 2024, I find myself faced with a critical decision — which to-do list app will I dedicate my time and effort to in the coming year? To make this decision, I realized that a simple comparison would not suffice. Instead, I needed to delve deeper, examining each app through the lens of my use case and specifically focusing on how they serve my needs on a mobile device.
Top 5 Must-Have Features in My To-Do List App
Task Input
Generally, most to-do list apps do a good job when it comes to task input.
Todoist
Todoist offers an unrivaled experience for entering tasks compared to its competitors. Once you get used to Todoist, it becomes a crucial part of your interaction with your tasks. I’m a big fan of its natural language processing (NLP) feature, which sets it apart from others.
Todoist provides various ways to enter tasks, including through beautifully designed widgets (available for both iOS and Android), iWatch, and the navigation menu.
In Todoist, task entry also supports markdown and proper formatting like headers and syntax, making it user-friendly. You can even create tasks by emailing a specific project.
Todoist wins over users with its natural language processing and support for syntax like @, # and !!, among others. It outshines all its competitors in this aspect. Scheduling tasks is easy and supports priority, label, date, notes, attachment (like files or pictures), or reminders, etc.
Superlist
Entering tasks in Superlist is a delight, offering a clean experience with basic options for label and date selection. But the fun begins once you’re inside the task.
Superlist utilizes the task space efficiently, allowing you to use a single task as a project itself, with features like note-taking with headings, paragraphs, beautiful dividers, and sub-tasks. It looks extremely clean and attractive on my mobile device.
Superlist also has better customization compare to Todoist, you can add image to your section or task and personalize the icons as well. Furthermore, the platform supports the creation of rich, detailed notes, helping you capture all the necessary information for your tasks.
Design and User Interface
Todoist
Todoist is a well-built and robust app that has improved over time thanks to user feedback. Its interface checks all the boxes for a task manager app and can be used as a standard for others in the to-do list category.
Even after many years, Todoist continues to impress with its ongoing development and user engagement. They’ve even started adding highly anticipated features like a Calendar.
If you’re looking for a solid, well-thought-out design and clean interface, Todoist is a great choice. It’s more than just a to-do list app; it can also serve as a project management tool to a certain extent.
Superlist
As a newcomer, Superlist brings a fresh, intuitive, and highly customizable design to the table. It’s a breath of fresh air in the to-do list app design world. You’ll definitely appreciate the smart use of space within tasks.
I’ve found Superlist to be more intuitive and user-friendly, not only for everyday tasks but also for detailed project entries. It offers much more than just simple notes.
Integration
Todoist
Todoist, being a standalone task manager, provides lots of options for integration with various platforms and apps. Some examples include Google, Outlook (Email), Sunsama, Akiflow, Notion, and Chrome.
Superlist
Superlist is still developing its integration capabilities. However, it currently offers some key integrations with platforms like Gmail, Google Calendar, Microsoft To Do, and Email forwarding. It also integrates with Slack, GitHub, Linear, and Figma.
Task and Project Management
Todoist
Todoist is not only a task manager, but it can also serve as a project management tool to some extent.
It starts with task entry and goes all the way to labeling, prioritizing, scheduling, and even calendar entries. Todoist is setting the standard in the to-do list space. It offers a board view of your task or project, helping you plan and review your progress, a feature that Superlist currently lacks.
You can add sections, sub-tasks, rearrange them, move them to other projects, duplicate or archive the project. With its color pop-ups, projects look beautiful and well-organized inside Todoist. I try to use the same color for similar projects, making them easier to identify.
With its support for sub-tasks, files, attachments, sharing, setting priorities, and reminders, Todoist serves as an excellent project management tool.
An additional feature that makes Todoist stand out in project management is its ability to add tasks via email specific to projects. This is a feature that every Task Manager should have, and I appreciate the thoughtfulness behind it.
Superlist
Superlist takes a more straightforward approach to project management. Instead of projects, you create sections or lists, which serve the same purpose. I found this more appealing than the traditional project structure, though it took some time to get used to.
Superlist lets you create tasks directly from your emails (Gmail), ensuring you never overlook important tasks. It also supports the creation of detailed notes, helping you capture all the necessary information for your tasks and projects.
While Superlist doesn’t offer board views or task priorities like Todoist, it does support labels, reminders, images, attachments, and collaboration for individuals working with teams.
Pricing and Availability
Todoist
Todoist provides a free plan for beginners. They also have a Pro plan that costs $4 per month if you pay for a year in advance, and a Business plan that costs $6 per member per month if paid yearly.
You can access Todoist on MacOS, Web, Windows, Android, iOS, and iWatch.
Superlist
Superlist is currently in its Beta version, and they plan to introduce their pricing in early 2024. According to their website, there will be a Free and a Pro plan (costing $8 per month) for individuals, and for teams, there will be a Free and a Pro plan (costing $10 per member per month).
Superlist can be accessed on MacOS, Web, iOS, and Android.
Final Thoughts
Speaking from my personal experience and considering that I mostly use these apps on mobile devices, Todoist has some advantages. It supports natural language processing, has a solid and well-thought-out design, offers task priorities, a board view, and a recently added calendar view.
On the other hand, Superlist shines with its elegant design, intuitive and clean interface, quick operation, support for rich text editing, and powerful integrations.
As of now, I am sticking with Todoist. But who knows what the future holds?
Explore Todoist here;
Thanks for reading.
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Originally published on: https://the-app-advocate.ghost.io/the-ultimate-showdown-the-best-to-do-list-app-for-2024/
Astu.
