With so many apps to choose from, isn’t it nice when you find one that easily replaces several others? Any.do seeks to be everything from your grocery list to a project management tool in one convenient app. Anything you need to track and organize, the app has a feature for that. During my Any.do review, I had the opportunity to try both the free and premium versions for several weeks.
Also read:Do It Now Review: Does this RPG To-Do List Really Work?
Any.do Overview
Before I dive into my experience, let’s highlight what makes Any.do a useful productivity app. It has five main features that go above and beyond basic to-do lists and notifications:
- To-do list – Includes tagging, organizing, and dividing into projects or groups. Add notes, attachments, sub-tasks, and more. Easily set due dates, set up repeating tasks, and share with others for collaborative projects. It only takes a minute to set up a new to-do list item, too.
- Calendar – Combine everything you need to do in a single overview with the calendar feature. There’s even a home screen widget to view your calendar and upcoming list items quickly. It integrates well with other calendar apps to combine everything in one place.
- Grocery List – Not only can you make a grocery list, but Any.do organizes your items automatically (a few items require manual sorting) by type, such as dairy and fruits. This makes it easier to get everything on your list without having to backtrack in the store.
- Reminders – Set up custom reminders for anything on your list. You can even set up location-based reminders. You can also set up reminders for things not on your lists, such as grabbing your work project as you leave the next morning.
- Daily Planner – Prioritize tasks easily with the Daily Planner. Mark each item as Today, Later, Done, or Delete. This helps keep your tasks manageable without forgetting anything.
During my Any.do review, I only tested the Android app, but it’s compatible with numerous platforms. Use the Web version, iOS, Windows, Mac, Chrome, Apple Watch, and more. It’s also compatible with voice assistants, including Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.
Getting Started
Getting started with Any.do is completely free. In fact, I was impressed with just how much you can do without subscribing to the premium version. Start by setting up an account. No credit card is required, but you will need one if you sign up for the free trial.
I like that the app takes you through a brief tutorial to help you get started. With so many features, this is a good thing. You’re also prompted to link any existing calendars. If you already have items on another app, such as Google Calendar or iCloud, Any.do can import those items for you, if you choose.
Exploring Any.do
The interface is surprisingly clean. I’ve used other apps that are supposed to do it all, but the UI felt intimidating and cluttered. With this, you have a few simple options above and below the interface. At the bottom, you have Tasks, Calendar, and Settings. At the top, you have a few settings relevant to what you’re currently doing. For instance, in the Tasks pane, you’ll see options to create a new list, view current lists, organize lists, and a few others.
Logging into the web version gives you a similar experience, though I didn’t do much there. I mainly just wanted to see how things looked.
Setting up a new task is as simple as entering it at the bottom of the Task pane. You can even set a reminder, add tags, and choose which list you’d like to add the item to. I personally love that you don’t have to go through numerous screens or options to set up a simple task.
Of course, you’re free to edit tasks at any time. Add different reminders, add sub-tasks, or add an attachment. The latter is especially useful if you’re using the app for project management.
I’d like to point out that in the Tasks pane, you’ll see an option to view Any.do tips. These are ideal if you want to integrate the app with others, such as virtual assistants, or automate workflows using any of the over 1500 supported apps.
Setting up a grocery list is a breeze. This is one of your default task lists. Select the list and enter your items. The app does list some items as suggestions, but feel free to type your own. If a category doesn’t appear for your item, tap it and choose Change Category. Choose the category you want. This helps the app learn your preferences in the future.
I personally don’t use calendars often. I prefer task lists and reminders. However, integrating with Google Calendar was incredibly easy. This allowed me to see some scheduled work-related items shared by a client without ever leaving Any.do.
Free vs. Premium
I started my Any.do review with the free version. I could easily create lists, sort them, manage my calendar, and add tags to items. For the average user, you’ll get a lot of use out of the free version. I highly recommend using it for a few weeks to see what’s possible before upgrading.
On the other hand, there are some really nice features included in the premium version. My personal favorite was the colored tags to better organize your tasks. You also get location-based reminders on mobile devices, which can be incredibly useful, too. Focus mode is great for helping you stay on track.
Premium also gives more advanced reminders, custom themes, WhatsApp integration, and an unlimited daily planner. The price is reasonable, too, with the cheapest plan being just $2.99/month when you pay annually. If you’d rather go month to month, it’s $5.99/month.
My only complaint is a credit card is required for the free one-week trial. I hate trials that ask for a credit card, as it’s easy to forget to cancel in time. However, canceling isn’t difficult.
Final Thoughts
Rating: (4.5 / 5)
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my Any.do review time. I liked that everything is easy to organize in lists. Adding the color-coded tags during my time with premium was a nice upgrade, but not vital to using the app itself.
As strange as it sounds, I fell in love with the grocery list and how quick it is to set up and organize. Of course, having that in the same app as my to-do lists while being able to monitor goal progress is the icing on the cake.
If you’re looking for a productivity app that helps keep you organized, give Any.do a try. It’s free, easy to set up, and ideal for a busy lifestyle. If you like it, try out the premium version for even more benefits.