I have tried many task management solutions and I haven’t found any that I really like. I have a few criteria for an acceptable solution but nothing I have tried so far meets them.

• Multi Platform
  • I need to be able to access my tasks from the web, my iPhone, and if possible a Mac.
  • Many solutions hit 2 out 3 of the platforms. I can accept not having a desktop app if the web app is available but I don’t like it.
• Effortless Syncing
  • I want to be able to enter/close tasks on one device and have those changes propagate within a couple of minutes across clients.
• Due Dates/Times
  • I want to be able to set a due date and time on a task.
• Reminders
  • I want to be able to set a reminder time on a task and preferably be notified on my iPhone.
• Cheap
  • I am willing to pay for task management software as evidenced by the numerous iPhone task managers I have bought in the last few years. However I am not willing to let a company siphon money from me indefinitely and I find the companies trying to charge extra for syncing particularly distasteful.

I have tried OmniFocus, Things, The Hit List and none of them have kept me using it for more than a few days. OmniFocus is to expensive and has no web app. Things has been promising sync forever and aside from a limited beta test hasn’t produced it. Cultured Code the make of Things also doesn’t seem to updated their website since last August. The Hit List was presumed dead for a long time until it’s developer popped up with a new version and added syncing for an extra monthly charge. So I have encountered show stoppers with all the big Mac task managers that preclude me from using them.

I have tried many web applications however most of them aren’t available on any other platform. I have been sporadically using iPhone clients that store their data in the Toodledo web application. This gave me the 2 platforms I needed the most web and mobile. However I haven’t been particularly pleased with any of the iPhone apps and Toodledo’s UI is ok but not great.

I am currently giving Wunderlist another try because it’s available on practically every platform Mac/Windows/Web/iOS I would want to use it on. Wunderlist is very simple however it does support multiple lists, due dates and times, syncing, and reminders on the iPhone. Wunderlist is free which isn’t actually a good sign in my book because they have no revenue to keep them in business.

I am going to try and stick to using Wunderlist for two weeks to really evaluate it. There is one thing that annoys me already and that is the custom backgrounds they use everywhere, I would prefer that the app use the native window background on iOS and Mac/Windows. I also wish Wunderlist would use black text in order to increase the contrast and make the test easier to read.