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5 Best To-Do Apps for Mac

by Parth Shah

Whether you are a student, professional, or a normal user of Mac, you need to invest in a capable to-do app to keep things in check. You can either go ahead and create a task management system in full-fledged apps but we have better solutions for you. We have compiled a list of the top five lightweight to-do apps for Mac that allows you to add and mark things done in a couple of minutes. 

To-Do Apps for Mac

The list below is ideal for those looking to create a checklist at the start of the day and want to complete them from the Mac menu bar as the day passes. 

1. TickTick

TickTick tops our recommendation list for several reasons. The software isn’t limited to task management only. You can track your habits, use it as a Pomodoro, and even manage projects using the desktop app. 

ticktick for mac

As for adding tasks, you can simply add new tasks from the menu bar at the top. It’s much better than opening and adding a to-do. We really liked the theming engine on offer here. 

TickTick’s theme isn’t limited to a boring dark/light theme. The app offers several city-based themes customizations and it looks fabulous. 

Pros

  • Excellent UI 
  • Tons of features 
  • Capable Habit tracking 
  • Cross-platform availability
  • The theming options are class-apart 

Cons

  • Kanban project management isn’t available for mobile apps 

Price

The basic features are free. However, we would highly advise going with a premium subscription that unlocks all the features at $29.99 per year. 

Get TickTick for Mac

2. 2Do

2Do’s main selling point is the ability to add new tasks even when the app isn’t actively running. How does it work then? From the 2Do settings page, if you enable the toggle to open the app during startup, you can add new tasks from the menu bar without opening it. 

2Do for mac

Don’t dismiss 2Do as a basic to-do app for Mac though. You can create lists, use calendar integration, add tags, and much more with a premium version. 

Pros

  • A good number of features on offer
  • Organization is spot-on
  • Swiftly add new tasks

Cons

  • Looks outdated compared to the competition
  • Pricey 

Price

To get the maximum out of 2Do, you need to opt for $59.99 subscription per year. 

Get 2Do for Mac

3. Notions To-Do Apps for Mac

Notion Task Manager is as simple as it can get for a to-do app on Mac. There are no active windows for the app. All you get is a menu bar shortcut to add and take care of new tasks. 

notions for mac

Open the app and you will see the app shortcut in the Mac menu bar. Click on it and start adding tasks.

Pros

  • A simple to-do app
  • Keep track of all tasks from the menu bar
  • No app active window

Cons

  • Power users may find it limiting 

Price

$2.99 per month that allows you to add as many tasks as possible

Get Notions 2 for Mac

4. GoodTask

GoodTask is one of the best to-do apps for Mac on the design front. The biggest selling point of the app is the integration with other apps. Upon sign-up, it quickly pulled up all the tasks from the Apple Reminders and Apple Calendar. 

goodtask for mac

Smart Lists is an interesting add-on. You can organize tasks by high priorities, later, schedules tasks, and more. They are basically tags for tasks in the app. 

Pros

  • Smooth and native UI
  • Smart Lists 
  • Integration with Apple Reminders and Apple Calendar 
  • Lots of customization options
  • Quick actions 

Cons

  • Expensive compared to rivals 

Price

$19.99 as a one-time purchase with 14-days free trial. 

Get GoodTask for Mac

5. Focus Matrix

Focus Matrix is one of those few to-do apps for Mac with M1 support. It is a smart personal organizer based on a principle called Eisenhower box. 

focus matrix for mac

Created by Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, the concept revolves around a special priority matrix that helps break your tasks into several groups depending upon their urgency and importance. 

This to-do app for Mac helps you focus on what really matters and get rid of the things that can be painlessly delegated to others or postpone indefinitely until you have time for them. 

Pros

  • A smart concept 
  • Helps your priortize tasks that really matter 
  • The ability to create smart tasks 

Cons

  • MIght be a learning curve for some 
  • Cross-platform sync is behind paid subscription

Price

$9.99 for the Mac version. 

Get Focus Matrix for Mac

Wrapping Up: To-Do Apps for Mac

The TechWiser team is currently divided between TickTick and GoodTask. Go ahead and pick any one of the apps from the list above and start managing tasks like a pro on Mac.

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