Since its creation in 2011, millions of users have taken advantage of the handy, cloud-based task management app Wunderlist to create and manage tasks for both personal and professional purposes. The app is a favorite of many due to its high level of customization and the fact that users can access Wunderlist from any device through a browser, no download necessary.
Unfortunately, it’s the end of an era as Wunderlist is being shut down for good on May 6, 2020. While this is by no means a surprise (Microsoft, who bought the Berlin-based company that created Wunderlist in 2015, announced in 2017 that they would be closing the app down in the near future), losing one’s principal organization tool is difficult, regardless of the time frame.
However, in the near-decade since Wunderlist’s launch, dozens of similar apps have thrown their hat in the ring, meaning it shouldn’t be that hard to find a replacement. In this article, we’ve put the spotlight on 11 of the best Wunderlist alternatives, each with their own pros, cons, and unique features. Hopefully, Wunderlist users will find a new productivity app that’s just as solid as the one they’re losing.
Check out our roundup of the Best Project Management Software
1. Todoist
Launching back in 2007, Todoist has been around longer than Wunderlist and matches its rival in its wide range of features and dedicated user base. Creating and managing tasks with Todoist is simple, but it’s the depth of additional features like automatic data backups and the wealth of templates for specific types of projects as well as its support for all the major platforms that really set it apart.
Todoist comes in three versions: free, Premium ($36 annually), and Business ($60 annually per person).
Pros
- Cross-platform support
- Integrates with Gmail and Outlook
- Automated features
Cons
- Lacks a traditional calendar view
- Free version lacks many important features
How it’s different
Todoist has a fun Karma point system that gives users karma for every task they finish.
2. Asana
Asana is a great cloud-based project management tool that offers a high level of customization within tasks, such as how users can choose different layouts for different types of projects and have the ability to create subtasks within a project.
Like Wunderlist, Asana is available for a slew of platforms and integrates with major platforms like Slack and Google Sheets. Asana has a 3-tiered pricing plan: a free version, Premium ($9.99 per person per month), and Enterprise ($24.99 per person per month).
Pros
- A wealth of project templates
- Intuitive UI
- Offers file storage
Cons
- Expensive for large teams
- Too many email notifications
How it’s different
Unlike Wunderlist, Asana gives users the ability to sync their Asana calendar with their Google Calendar.
See the full review of Asana here.
3. Remember the Milk
Despite its quirky name, Remember the Milk is a serious task management app that allows users to create complex tasks without getting bogged down in dropdown menus. Remember the Milk syncs your lists with all your different platforms immediately and sharing lists with others to collaborate on couldn’t be easier. Remember the Milk offers a free version as well as a Pro version for $39.99 a year.
Pros
- Free version comes with most features
- Support for all platforms
- Great customer support
Cons
- Goofy name and UI theme
- No support for file attachments
How it’s different
Both the Remember the Milk Android and iOS apps take up less storage space than their Wunderlist counterparts.
4. Microsoft To Do
To Do is Microsoft’s official replacement for Wunderlist, and while many dedicated supporters of the latter app will be sad to see it go, To Do is a worthy successor in many ways. The app’s interface is very basic compared to competing apps, which makes it a good option for novices.
Additionally, To Do’s cross-platform support and quick syncing rival those of any task management app on the market. Best of all, it’s free.
Pros
- Simple, streamlined interface
- Automated reminders and due dates
- Free to use
Cons
- Lacks many features that Wunderlist had
- Released by Microsoft
How it’s different
Unlike other task managers (including Wunderlist) that offer a multi-tiered pricing model, Microsoft To Do only comes in a free version.
5. Things 3
Things 3 is a task management app that shines in its clean and simple interface. However, Things 3 is for Apple users only, as there’s no Windows or Android version to speak of. Additionally, Things 3 is not great for teams as its collaboration features are lacking. Things 3 costs $9.99 on an iPhone, $19.99 on the iPad, and $49.99 on the Mac.
Pros
- Elegant and simple user interface
- Support for Apple Watch
- No monthly subscription fee
Cons
- No Android or Windows support
- No free version
- Lacks collaboration features
How it’s different
Things allows users to set specific task priorities and includes a time-tracking feature.
6. Monday.com
Monday.com is less a to-do list app and more like a cloud-based online tool that helps companies organize and collaborate projects remotely. The app is well-organized and allows team members to jump in and out of projects depending on their availability, without things getting bogged down. Monday.com has a 4-tiered pricing plan, with the lowest-priced Basic plan costing $39.99 a month per user.
Pros
- Large selection of templates
- High range of customizability
- Great for large teams
- 14-day free trial
Cons
- Expensive and no free version
- Integrations are lacking
How it’s different
Monday.com is much more ideal for large companies than Wunderlist, as it allows users to keep track of what every team member is working on at all times.
See the full review of Monday.com here.
7. Notion
Notion is advertised as an “all-in-one workspace”, and that characterization is justified: in addition to its task management features, the app allows users to take notes, manage files, and more.
However, Notion’s kitchen-sink approach occasionally works against it, as the interface can be confusing and you get the idea that it’s trying to do too many things at once. Notion has a four-tiered pricing model: Free, Personal ($5 a month), Team ($10 a person per month), and Enterprise ($25 a person per month).
Pros
- Great collaborative note-taking function
- Wealth of features
- Slack integration
Cons
- Confusing, disorganized interface
- Too many options
How it’s different
Notion is more than just a task management app thanks to its collaborative note-taking function.
8. Any.do
Any.do is an organization app with a streamlined interface and all the task scheduling and collaboration tools necessary for personal or professional use. This makes it a solid choice for team collaboration or for simple tasks like creating grocery lists.
The app is available for all the major platforms and offers a 3-tiered subscription model: a free version, Premium ($59.99 a year), and Teams ($4.99 a person per month).
Pros
- Unique features such as Focus mode
- Clean interface
- Mobile versions look great
- Slack integration
Cons
- Free version lacks key features
- Expensive compared to competitors
How it’s different
Any.do has a much simpler design than Wunderlist, making it ideal for casual users.
9. Tick Tick
Tick Tick is a collaborative task management app with a lot of customizability: users can set due dates, priority ratings and assignees for each task, and even duplicate tasks. The ability to add tags is an efficient way to categorize tasks and help team members prioritize their assignments.
Tick Tick is available for all the major platforms and comes in a free version or a Premium plan for $2.79 a month/$27.99 a year.
Pros
- Cross-platform support
- Highly customizable task list features
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Occasional bugs
- Reminders can get lost in the UI
How it’s different
TickTick has features that Wunderlist lacks, like a daily habit check-in system and the ability to set and track personal goals.
10. Ike
Ike is a quirky to-do app named in honor of Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, and his priority matrix philosophy. The app allows you to create tasks and give each one an important value, so you can remember which tasks to take care of first. Ike is also unique for its pricing: it comes in a free version and a pro version that is available for a one-time fee of $1.99.
Pros
- Attractive and colorful user interface
- Ability to prioritize tasks
- Extremely affordable
- Great widgets
Cons
- Rarely updated
- Not well suited for collaboration
How it’s different
Ike sets itself apart with its playful theme and unique approach to prioritizing tasks.
11. Google Tasks
Google Tasks is a great task management app for those with Gmail accounts (i.e. most people) as well as those who use other Google products and are reluctant to add another pricey app to their rotation. The app has a clean and minimal interface and integrates seamlessly with Gmail and Google Calendar. Also, it’s totally free.
Pros
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Excellent integration with other Google apps
- Free to use
Cons
- Not ideal for those who are suspicious of Google products
- Lacks the features of many premium task management apps
How it’s different
Google Tasks is a no-fuss task management app that’s great for those already using Google products or that need to keep organized without paying a hefty sum for premium software.
Wrapping Up
Though for many Wunderlist being discontinued is tragic, this list of solid alternatives proves that, for most, replacing the beloved task management app won’t be too much of a hassle.
Ultimately, choosing the best alternative to Wunderlist depends on the specific needs of the user: if you are a member of a large team, you’re better off with Asana or Monday.com, which are great for collaboration, whereas casual users should be content with free-to-use apps like Google Tasks or Microsoft To Do.
Whichever Wunderlist alternative you go with, we wish you good luck in keeping your projects organized and on-track.