10 apps. Not 50. Because who has time for that?
Every "top productivity apps" list has 47 apps and you end up using none of them. Classic productivity content irony.
Here's my actual stack. Apps I use every day. Apps that survived the "download, try, delete" cycle.
My daily driver. Not just tasks but life balance. The Purpose Wheel shows me when I'm overworking and neglecting health or relationships.
Gamification keeps me coming back. I know it sounds silly but earning coins for tasks actually works.
The safe choice. Works everywhere. Natural language input. Boring but reliable. Like a Toyota Camry of task apps.
Honestly? Still the best. Works everywhere. Syncs with everything. Don't overthink it.
If you want pretty and have money. Natural language input is chef's kiss. But Google Calendar is free so...
Built-in notes apps have gotten good. Don't pay for notes unless you need specific features.
For building complex systems. Databases, wikis, docs. But warning: you'll spend more time building than using.
Plant a tree, stay focused. Kill your phone addiction one tree at a time. Simple but effective.
Built into iOS. Block apps during work hours. Free and surprisingly powerful.
AI schedules your tasks automatically. Impressive tech. But $228/year impressive? Jury's still out.
Like Motion but cheaper. Protects focus time on your calendar. Good for meeting-heavy jobs.
If I had to pick just 3 apps:
Total cost: $0/month. Everything else is optional optimization.
The biggest productivity killer isn't the wrong app. It's switching apps every month looking for the "perfect" one.
Pick something. Use it for 90 days. Then evaluate. Anything less is just procrastination.