Best reminder apps

Reminders that actually work.

The best reminder app puts a clear alert where you will see it, on a device you use every day. Todoist and TickTick suit people managing many kinds of tasks; Due is built around persistent alerts on Apple devices; Apple Reminders, Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do fit their ecosystems. Choose by how you capture tasks, where you need alerts and how much structure you want.

Quick picks

• Best for flexible work and personal lists: Todoist gives tasks projects and organization tools across devices.
• Best all-in-one planner: TickTick combines tasks, calendar views, habits and countdowns.
• Best for persistent iPhone alerts: Due repeatedly alerts for overdue items and lets you snooze from the notification.
• Best for shared plans: Any.do offers personal, family and team plans.
• Best for iPhone owners: Apple Reminders is the built-in choice; its features and availability depend on your Apple devices and software.
• Best for Google users: Google Tasks keeps tasks close to Gmail and Google Calendar.
• Best for Microsoft users: Microsoft To Do is a straightforward list and daily planning option in Microsoft 365.
• Best for follow-through after conversations: Teriara is in early access. Its live tools help prepare follow-up drafts and briefings; automatic reminders from conversations are coming.

How we compared reminder apps

A reminder app has one basic job: bring the right task back to your attention at a useful time. For this comparison, we looked at where each tool runs, how reminders are scheduled and surfaced, how it handles recurring or overdue tasks, and whether it adds helpful planning or sharing features. We also considered whether it fits a particular ecosystem and what its publisher currently says about pricing.

Notifications depend on your device settings, connectivity, focus modes and operating system. No app can promise every alert will appear in every situation. Before relying on an app for an important event, test a reminder on your own phone or computer and check its notification permissions.

Reminder apps at a glance

The apps, one by one

Todoist: flexible lists for work and life

Todoist suits you if you want one system for errands, projects and work tasks. Its product materials focus on organizing tasks into projects and lists, with reminders and recurring tasks available within its task workflow. It is a good fit when you want more structure than a basic checklist but do not need a calendar-first planner.

Strengths: flexible task organization and availability across a broad range of devices make it useful for a reminder app Android users or desktop users can keep using elsewhere. Trade-offs: more options and project structure can feel like overhead if you only need a few alerts. Check the current Todoist pricing page for plan details; we could not verify a current price from the page fetch.

TickTick: a planner with reminders

TickTick is for people who want a task manager alongside planning tools. The official site lists calendar views, a habit tracker and countdowns for dates such as birthdays and anniversaries, alongside task reminders. That breadth may suit you if you want tasks and schedules together.

Strengths: it can cover recurring tasks and special dates as well as daily planning. Trade-offs: its range of tools is more than you need if you only want a simple alert. TickTick currently lists a free plan and Premium at US$49.99 per year on its upgrade page; check that page for current limits and regional pricing.

Due: persistent reminders for Apple devices

Due is designed for quick, time-based reminders. Its official site describes customizable quick-access times, auto-snooze that repeatedly notifies you about overdue items, and the option to postpone a reminder from its notification. It also supports reusable countdown timers.

Strengths: persistent alerts are useful when a missed notification tends to become a forgotten task. Trade-offs: Due is centered on Apple devices rather than a general Android or Windows solution. Its site says the iOS app includes iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch support, and that the Mac app is sold separately. See Due for current pricing and purchase options.

Any.do: personal tasks and shared plans

Any.do is a task and calendar app for personal use, families and teams. Its official product pages describe reminders, grocery lists and calendar features; its pricing page separates Free, Premium, Family and Teams options. The product listing also names Android, iOS, Mac and web availability.

Strengths: the range of plans makes it worth considering when you need to coordinate tasks with family or colleagues, and its feature set includes location alerts on paid plans. Trade-offs: some reminder options are plan-dependent, so compare the exact features before moving an important routine. Any.do lists a free plan and Premium at US$4.99 per month; confirm billing terms and current plan details on its pricing page.

Apple Reminders: the built-in iPhone choice

If you use an iPhone, start by checking Apple Reminders before adding another app. It provides a built-in place for lists and alerts in Apple’s ecosystem. Apple’s current support guide explains how to create reminders on iPhone; available options can vary with device and software version.

Strengths: no separate app selection is needed, and it is a natural first stop for an iPhone reminder app or for recurring household tasks. Trade-offs: it is most compelling if you already use Apple devices, and people on Windows or Android may prefer a cross-platform tool. Reminders is included with Apple devices; see Apple’s iOS page and its iPhone reminder guide for current details. Apple does not publish a separate Reminders app price.

Google Tasks: a simple option inside Google tools

Google Tasks fits people who already organize their day in Gmail and Google Calendar. Google describes Tasks as a way to create tasks, set due dates and manage to-dos alongside Workspace apps. It can be a good choice if you want a light list rather than a full-featured personal organizer.

Strengths: tasks sit near the Google tools many people already check, which can reduce the friction of maintaining another app. Trade-offs: it is less suited to people looking for persistent repeated alerts, richer task metadata or an elaborate birthday reminder system. See Google Tasks for product details. Google does not list a separate Tasks price on that page; see Workspace plans for broader account options.

Microsoft To Do: daily lists for Microsoft users

Microsoft To Do is a straightforward task list and daily planning app for people already using Microsoft services. Its product page positions it as a task management app within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It can cover everyday reminders without asking you to adopt a larger planning system.

Strengths: a familiar fit if your work and personal tasks already live in Microsoft tools. Trade-offs: it may feel limited if you want advanced planning views or repeated, hard-to-ignore alerts. The Microsoft product page was not accessible to our fetch, so we are not making a detailed feature or price claim here. Check the Microsoft To Do page for availability and see its current details there.

Where Teriara fits today

Teriara is in early access and is built around what happens after calls and meetings: the follow-up you owe, the reply you need to send and the next conversation to prepare for. Live features include follow-up drafts for you to review, edit and send, reply drafts in your own voice, people pages, a morning briefing and a brief before calls. Nothing is sent without you.

Teriara is not a general-purpose reminder app today. Automatic capture of promises and to-dos, reminders set from conversations and call-back nudges are coming in early access. If your need is a birthday reminder app free or a timer that rings at a set time, one of the established task apps above is a better direct fit. For conversation-driven follow-through, see Reminders from your conversations, birthday reminders and turning voice notes into tasks.

Last checked: September 28, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How does the reminder app remind you?

Most reminder apps show a notification on your phone or computer at a date or time you choose. Some also repeat alerts, show a badge or let you snooze from the notification. Check notification permissions and test the app on your own device.

How do I set birthday reminders in Apple?

Create a reminder in Apple Reminders, give it a clear name, then add a date and time or choose a repeating schedule if you want an annual alert. The exact steps can vary by iOS version; follow Apple’s iPhone guide. You can also use a calendar event if you want the birthday visible with other appointments.

Is the Reminders app free?

Apple Reminders is included with Apple devices, and several other apps in this comparison offer a free plan or built-in task features. Paid tiers may add features or higher limits. Check each linked pricing page for current terms.

Is there a voice reminder app?

Many phones let you create reminders with their built-in voice assistant, and some task apps support voice input through the operating system. If you mean turning a spoken note into an organized task, compare the approaches in our voice notes to tasks guide. Test the reminder afterward to confirm its time and alert settings.

What are the best reminder apps for iPhone?

Apple Reminders is the simplest first choice if you want a built-in option. Due is worth a look if repeated alerts for overdue items matter, while Todoist, TickTick and Any.do offer broader task planning. The best reminder app for iPhone depends on how much structure you want and whether you need the same lists on other devices.

Why doesn’t my reminder app remind me?

Check that notifications are allowed for the app and that the reminder has the correct date, time and repeat setting. Focus or Do Not Disturb modes, battery settings, muted notification channels or a device that is offline can also affect alerts. Make a test reminder a few minutes ahead and verify the result before relying on it.

Teriara is in early access. See what is available today and what is coming for follow-through after conversations.