Need a smarter way to keep track of everything on your iPhone? Yeah, we all know about the built-in Reminders app – it’s fine for the basics. But if you want something cleaner, more powerful, or better suited to your routine, there’s a whole world of list apps out there. Whether you’re managing daily tasks, planning big projects, or building new habits, we’ve rounded up the best options worth checking out in 2025.
Let’s not waste words, here’s our ranking.
1. Trello: Organize anything!
Price: Free, with optional paid upgrades
App Store Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4 out of 5, based on 6.2K reviews)
We want to start with Trello, because it’s not a simple to-do list app for iPhone – it’s a full-on project board for people who think visually. If you’ve ever planned your week using sticky notes or mapped out a goal on a whiteboard, Trello’s card-and-board system will feel instantly familiar.
Each board lets you create lists (think columns) and cards (your tasks), which you can drag and drop as things move forward. Add checklists, due dates, labels, attachments, even Power-Ups like calendar views or location tracking. Trello can scale from a simple daily to-do list to a fully collaborative workspace for planning events, managing group projects, or tracking long-term goals.
The iPhone app works offline and sends push notifications to keep you updated on task changes – even when you’re away from your desk. That said, we found that some power features (like sorting by due date or customizing boards) are still limited on mobile, and there are occasional sync issues that get brought up often in forums. It can be a real hurdle if you’re using Trello exclusively on your iPhone.
Now, about those offline boards. They come through when you’re on a plane or stuck in spotty Wi-Fi zones, but here’s the catch: they never auto-purge. If you’re a heavy user (like we are), that local storage can build up fast. We recommend offloading old boards manually or pairing Trello with one of the smarter iPhone cleaners. We’ve been using the free Clever Cleaner alongside Trello for a while now, and it’s been great, especially helpful if you store a lot of media. It finds large photos/videos, groups similar images, and clears out other junk to keep things smooth and light.
🟢 What makes it stand out:
- Great for visual thinkers and list-makers
- Works offline, syncs across iPhone, iPad, and web
- Easy collaboration with teams or roommates
- Infinitely customizable (if you’re willing to tinker)
🔴 Limitations:
- Some features are desktop-only (like leaving a guest board)
- Sorting and reminders could be more flexible on mobile
- Can get cluttered if you don’t prune old cards
If you’re the type who wants a bit more than basic checkboxes (maybe a lightweight planner, habit tracker, or creative space), Trello’s flexibility makes it one of the best to-do list apps for iPhone right now.
2. Things 3
Price: $9.99 (one-time)
App Store Rating: ★★★★★ (4.8 out of 5, based on 26.3K reviews)
Next on our list of the best list apps for iPhone (no points for wordplay) is Things 3. A beautifully designed, Apple-award-winning app that does a lot more than it lets on. It’s a full-on personal planning system wrapped in one of the cleanest interfaces we’ve ever used.
Things 3 is built entirely around structure and flow. You’ve got to-dos, projects, and areas – perfect for separating work, personal life, side hustles, or anything in between. The Today and Upcoming views help you focus only on what matters now, while tags and repeaters keep your system running without micromanagement.
The app doesn’t try to wow you with flash. It focuses on doing a few things really well. And honestly, it nails it. Whether you’re a GTD fanatic or just need a smarter way to structure your week, this one’s hard to beat.
That said, it’s not free, $9.99 one-time on iPhone (and separate purchases for iPad or Mac). But if you’re tired of messy, bloated apps or juggling five different tools, this one’s worth every penny.
🟢 What makes it stand out:
- Ultra-polished UI
- To-dos, projects, areas (perfect for organizing complex goals)
- Smart scheduling with Today, This Evening, and Upcoming views
- Built-in calendar integration and natural reminders
- Works great with Siri, Apple Watch, and Shortcuts
🔴 Limitations:
- No collaboration or shared lists
- No free trial on iPhone
- Power features like markdown, repeaters, and integrations may go underused if you’re just looking for a simple checklist
If you’re looking for an iPhone list app that’s easy on the eyes, hardwired for productivity, and not trying to upsell you every 5 minutes, Things 3 is about as good as it gets. Don’t be surprised if you end up organizing your entire life in it.
3. Microsoft To Do
Price: Free
App Store Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.7 out of 5, based on 241.3K reviews)
Microsoft products don’t always scream “elegant” or “minimal,” but Microsoft To Do actually pulls it off. It’s free, surprisingly user-friendly, and tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 – so if you use Outlook or Teams, this is an easy pick.
The app revolves around simple lists/reminders, and a personalized My Day view that helps you focus on what’s important now. You can group lists by project, share them with others, add subtasks, and even attach files up to 25 MB.
One standout feature? Smart suggestions that nudge you to reschedule or prioritize tasks that fell through the cracks.
It syncs instantly across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Windows – so whether you’re a student with multiple class lists or a busy professional juggling Outlook emails and personal errands, it all stays in one place.
That said, it’s not perfect. The Planned tab can feel cluttered, and My Day doesn’t auto-populate unless you manually add tasks each morning, which some might find tedious. Still, as a free app with no paywall and solid cross-platform support, Microsoft To Do punches above its weight.
🟢 What makes it stand out:
- 100% free, with no subscriptions
- Great integration with Outlook, Cortana, and Microsoft 365
- “My Day” view + smart suggestions to stay focused
- Supports shared lists, reminders, repeating tasks, and file attachments
- Customizable themes, emoji, and dark mode
🔴 Limitations:
- No widgets (as of iOS 18), which users frequently request
- Clunky task sorting in the Planned view
- My Day doesn’t auto-fill
- Occasional UI quirks and sync issues when using across many devices
If you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem, Microsoft To Do is easily one of the best free to-do list apps for iPhone. But even if you don’t use Microsoft products much, it still stands out as a well-designed app that covers all the basics, so we’d recommend it to just about anyone.
4. Todoist: To Do List & Calendar
Price: Free with in-app upgrades (Pro plan: $4.99/month or $47.99/year)
App Store Rating: ★★★★★ (4.8 out of 5, based on 116.7K reviews)
This one often gets compared to our previous entry (Microsoft To Do), and for good reason. Todoist is another cross-platform task manager with a clean design, recurring reminders, and smart scheduling. But where Microsoft To Do keeps it simple, Todoist leans into flexibility and power features.
It supports project boards, calendar views, filters, labels, and collaboration tools for shared projects. But our favorite thing? The natural-language entry. You can just type “send invoice every first Monday at 9am,” and Todoist handles the rest, turning that into a scheduled, repeating task instantly. It makes adding tasks feel way more human.
You also get subtasks, priority levels, templates, and productivity streaks via the “Karma” system. It works great for both personal planning and team collaboration.
The free version is enough for basic lists, but if you want recurring tasks, filters, calendar sync, or location-based reminders, you’ll need to upgrade. That’s where some users hit a wall – the Pro plan runs $47.99/year, and while it’s packed with value, not everyone will need all of it.
🟢 What makes it stand out:
- Natural-language input makes task entry fast and intuitive
- Priority levels, labels, filters, and templates for serious organization
- View tasks as lists, boards, or a calendar
- Great collaboration features (assign tasks, add comments and files)
- Gamified productivity streaks via the “Karma” system
🔴 Limitations:
- Premium features like reminders, filters, and calendar sync are paywalled
- No true goal-setting tools or high-level planning structure
- Some users say it’s overkill for basic task lists
- Pricing may be too steep for casual users
Todoist gives you more control than most list apps out there. If you like the idea of customizing your workflow, syncing with your calendar, and tracking your progress over time, it’s probably the best reminder app for iPhone we’ve tested. Give it a go and see for yourself.
5. Habitica
Price: Free with optional subscription ($4.99/month or $47.99/year)
App Store Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.0 out of 5, based on 2.1K reviews)
We want to end our list with Habitica, and this one’s just fun. If you’re a fan of retro RPGs, this is a must-have. It turns your daily tasks, habits, and to-dos into a pixelated adventure where checking things off earns you experience points, gold, loot, and even pets.
You start by creating an avatar, then fill out your list with real-world tasks. Finish a habit? That’s XP. Complete a to-do? Boom – gold and gear. You can team up with friends to take on quests or join guilds for challenges and support. It’s a quirky (but surprisingly motivating) system that makes even boring chores feel like a game.
Under the hood, Habitica gives you tools for recurring tasks, streaks, notes, reminders, and full customization. You can color-code everything, use it as a lightweight planner, or even rename your habits to things like “Unlock Power-Up” or “Train Skill” to stay in character.
That said, Habitica isn’t without its drama. Over the years, the developers have removed or changed several features (some of which were community favorites, like equipment resets during rebirths, quest join-ins, social guild battles), and not everyone’s over it. The Habitica subreddit, for example, often flips between enthusiasm, bug reports, and long threads full of frustration about updates that changed the social experience or stripped out beloved mechanics.
🟢 What makes it stand out:
- Turns everyday tasks into an RPG game
- Parties, guilds, and quests for team-based motivation
- Streak counters, color coding, and flexible task types
- Completely free to start, with optional upgrades
- Great for building habits in a way that actually sticks
🔴 Limitations:
- Interface can feel a little cluttered
- Some mechanics (like gems and special items) are paywalled
- More novelty than deep productivity for some users
- Sync issues and UI bugs occasionally pop up
Price: Free with optional subscription ($4.99/month or $47.99/year)
App Store Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.0 out of 5, based on 2.1K reviews)
Habitica probably won’t replace your main calendar or work planner, but if you’ve struggled to stay motivated or just want to gamify your life, it’s one of the most creative checklist apps for iPhone out there. Give it a shot, you might actually look forward to doing laundry.
Quick Recap
Of course, there are tons more options on the App Store, but we decided to round this to five apps that actually stood out in day-to-day use. We didn’t want to make a list of “best apps” just for the sake of it, these are the ones we’d actually use (and in most cases, did use) while juggling real tasks.
If you’re stuck trying to figure out where to start, here’s the quick breakdown:
- If you need something clean, free, and reliable, go with Microsoft To Do. It nails the basics without overwhelming you.
- If you want full control, calendar syncing, and natural-language smarts, try Todoist. It’s our top pick for serious task management.
- If you like working with boards or want something more visual, Trello is perfect (especially for collaborative or multi-step workflows).
- If turning chores into a game sounds like your thing, Habitica is a fun way to stay motivated.
- And if you want something beautifully simple, distraction-free, and are willing to pay for polish take a serious look at Things 3. It’s not just sleek, it feels perfectly at home on iPhone, with the kind of thoughtful design Apple users tend to appreciate.
Pick one, try it for a week, and you’ll know if it clicks. And if not? You’ve got four more to explore.
