Best To-Do Apps for People Who Hate Complex Apps
If you've tried Todoist, Notion, or Asana and thought "why is this so complicated?"—you're not alone. Many to-do apps add projects, tags, filters, and integrations until using them feels like work. This guide is for people who hate complex apps and just want a simple list that works.
Why Complexity Kills Productivity
Studies on decision fatigue show that every extra choice drains mental energy. When a to-do app asks you to assign a project, pick a label, set a priority, and choose a due date—before you've even written the task—you're making four decisions before doing any work. The best to-do apps for people who hate complexity reduce choices to the minimum: what needs doing, and when.
What Makes an App "Simple"
We evaluated apps on:
- Low friction: Add a task in under 10 seconds
- No project/tag overhead: No mandatory organization structure
- Daily focus: Helps you see today and tomorrow, not everything at once
- Clean interface: Minimal UI, no clutter
- Quick setup: Start using it immediately, no configuration
8 Best To-Do Apps for People Who Hate Complex Apps
1. TaskSpot — Top Pick for Zero Bloat
TaskSpot is built for people who hate complex apps. No projects, no tags, no reminders—just Today, Tomorrow, Backlog, Done, and Deleted. Add a task, see it in Today or Tomorrow, done. Free forever.
Why it works: Zero learning curve. No setup. No decisions about where to put things. The interface gets out of your way.
Best for: Anyone who has abandoned Todoist, Notion, or similar apps because they felt like work.
2. Google Tasks — Simplest Free Option
Google Tasks is about as simple as it gets. Add tasks, check them off. Built into Gmail and Calendar. No projects, no tags, no complexity.
Why it works: You already have it if you use Gmail. Zero setup. Impossible to overcomplicate.
Best for: Google users who want the absolute minimum.
Compare TaskSpot vs Google Tasks →
3. TeuxDeux — Daily Checklist Philosophy
TeuxDeux is built around daily checklists. One week view, add tasks to days, they roll over if you don't finish. "Don't add more decisions to your day" is the design philosophy.
Why it works: No projects or tags. Just days and tasks. Very minimal.
Best for: People who think in daily checklists.
4. Superlist — Modern Minimalist
Superlist is a clean, modern list app. Fast capture, minimal UI, no project hierarchies. Intentionally uncluttered.
Why it works: Feels fresh and simple. No enterprise bloat.
Best for: People who want a minimal app with a modern design.
Compare TaskSpot vs Superlist →
5. Tweek — Weekly Planner Simplicity
Tweek is a very simple weekly planner. Paper-like calendar, add tasks to days. No projects, no complex organization.
Why it works: Weekly view keeps things visual and simple. Minimal decisions.
Best for: People who plan by week.
6. Microsoft To Do — Simple If You Keep It Simple
Microsoft To Do can be simple if you ignore lists and use "My Day." Add tasks to My Day, check them off. Don't dive into the full feature set.
Why it works: My Day view is focused. Free. Cross-platform.
Best for: Microsoft users who can resist over-organizing.
Compare TaskSpot vs Microsoft To Do →
7. Apple Reminders — Simple on Apple
Apple Reminders is simple if you use the basic list view. Add tasks, check them off. Siri and location reminders are bonuses, not requirements.
Why it works: Built-in, free, no setup. Stays simple if you don't over-organize.
Best for: Apple users who want basic lists.
Compare TaskSpot vs Apple Reminders →
8. Todoist — Simple If You Ignore 80% of It
Todoist can work as a simple app if you use only the Inbox and Today view. But projects, filters, and labels are always one click away—and many users get pulled into complexity.
Why it works: Inbox + Today is minimal. Natural language is fast.
Best for: People with discipline to ignore advanced features.
TaskSpot: Built for People Who Hate Complex Apps
TaskSpot's entire philosophy is "remove features until it's stupid simple." No projects. No tags. No reminders. No learning curve. Just Today, Tomorrow, and a Backlog for everything else.
If you've tried complex apps and abandoned them, TaskSpot might be the one that sticks. Free forever, 2-minute setup, no credit card.
Read The Case for a Minimalist To-Do App or see all TaskSpot comparisons.