3 Apple Apps to Boost Productivity

Do you need an all-in-one tool when a simple one will do the job just as well? For years, people relied on a combination of complex third-party apps to manage their productivity, believing that Apple's built-in apps were too basic. But after deciding to use all of Apple's productivity apps, they only wish they had done it sooner.

Reminders: A surprisingly capable task manager

At first glance, Apple's Reminders app seems like a basic to-do list—great for grocery shopping and quick reminders. While Reminders doesn't have as many features as robust project management tools like OmniFocus , that's exactly why it's so effective.

Reminders strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and functionality, and its seamless integration with other Apple apps has made it an indispensable part of any productivity system.

Reminders focuses on the essentials — everything right where you need it, without unnecessary complexity or endless customization. This makes it easy to organize your to-do list in Reminders. For example, one of the most underrated features of Reminders is its ability to handle both simple to-dos and complex projects. You can break large projects down into smaller tasks and even create subtasks within those tasks.

Location-based reminders are another simple but effective feature, as it allows you to set alerts that trigger when you arrive at a specific location. For example, you can set a reminder to water your plants as soon as you get home.

You also use Smart Lists in Reminders to help you easily organize tasks. Instead of manually sorting reminders into different lists, Smart Lists automatically group tasks based on criteria like date, priority, time, or location.

Notes: Personal Knowledge Center

Apple Notes is the best note-taking app for Apple users. While many power users may feel that the Notes app lacks some important features , its benefits far outweigh its drawbacks, especially for those in the Apple ecosystem. Instead of switching to another app, many people use ProNotes to enhance the Notes app on their Mac.

One of the things people love most about Apple Notes is how quickly they can access information. Thanks to deep macOS integration, you can pull up specific notes in Spotlight Search just by typing a keyword.

Note : You can also use the Notes app on your iPhone to scan documents. Whether it's a receipt, a handwritten note, or a contract, you can quickly scan and save it. Thanks to iCloud Sync, you can access it instantly on all your Apple devices.

As someone who often has random ideas, you need a way to capture them quickly before they slip away. You can use Hot Corners on your Mac to designate one of the corners of your screen to quickly open the Notes app. With a simple click, you can capture a thought without interrupting your workflow.

Calendar: Time Manager and Meeting Scheduler

Admittedly, Apple Calendar isn't always a fan. That's why they initially replaced the default Mac app with a third-party alternative called Fantastical . However, they brought Calendar back because it was free, and they've since realized that sometimes simplicity is what you need.

One of the things people love most about Apple Calendar is how easily it handles multiple calendars. For example, you can have separate calendars for different aspects of your life, each assigned a unique color. This visual distinction makes it easy to tell them apart at a glance.

Another feature people love is that Calendar can sync events from other calendar accounts, like Google Calendar . Whether it's a work meeting scheduled by a coworker or a family event shared via Google , everything appears in one place.

Apple Calendar's simplicity shines when it comes to creating events. You can set reminders, add location information, invitees, attachments, and more. If plans change, rescheduling is as easy as dragging and dropping the event to another day.

Adding a new event is as easy as clicking on the desired date and adding details.

Samuel Daniel

Update 25 May 2025