Wunderlist: To-Do List & Tasks Reviews

by Imaniblack

Wunderlist has been faulty for the longest and I think I’m finally over it. My checklist items ALWAYS disappear as soon as I enter them in. SOMETIMES they somehow end up in the completed tasks section of the folder I’m in. Other times the tasks are completely gone. Another awesome thing about it removing my items is that when I check to see if my disappearing check list items are in the completed section — the button is sometimes not even there! I have to restart Wunderlist a few times and hope it’s there and hope that my checklist item is still there.

I’ve been using Wunderlist for five years and I really hate Wunderlist now. It’s really not useful. Because my tasks delete immediately after entering them in, I got to a point where I was screenshotting every task after I entered it in so I can find it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve created a grocery list and my items I listed were missing and I ended up having to go back to the store another time to get what I needed.

It’s so inconveniencing and has been going on for at least a year. I wish they would fix that awful bug! It’s not worth using anymore as there are so many other checklist apps — like even the notes app on iPhone. I just hate that I have to use a new productivity tool because this one is so bad. I used to tell everyone to use Wunderlist for checklist and task management. I cannot anymore.

by Brenn456

Wunderlist is the first to-do list app I've tried, and it's fine. It's obviously better than just making a list in my phone notes, but there are a couple of simple flaws that consistently bother me when I use it, which is often. First, an interface flaw: Wunderlist is extremely particular about where you have to tap in order to check off an item. On the main list this is not so bad, but the issue comes when I am checking items off a subtask list- if I tap too far in the direction of the item name, nothing happens, but if I tap too far to the edge of the screen I am flung back to the parent list. Intuitively, this function should only activate if I swipe right, not if I just tap too far to the left. It's a small thing, but I really use those sub-lists and it's a real pain to constantly have to be going back into the sub-list that I never intentionally left. Second, an easy feature that I'd like to see that maybe is available in a paid upgrade (I haven't checked): I use the same few lists repeatedly (e.g. a packing list), and once I have checked all items off a list, I have to manually and individually mark each item as incomplete in order to use the list again. It seems like there should be some kind of "mark all" feature. So maybe my needs are just really particular, but those two things would make Wunderlist pretty much perfect for me. Thanks, this app!

by G!e!o!

There are things I love about Wunderlist (I’m currently using it on my iPhone, iPad and iMac) and some truly frustrating annoyances.
The loves - convenient, easy to track ways to make and share lists and track progress. As a team platform it seems to be pretty good. Easy to set personal lists to keep stuff straight in your life as well.
The annoyances - constant reminders on my devices about stuff I already closed out on my iMac.
If you make a list of daily to do’s to keep yourself on track the list instantly repopulates showing items due tomorrow on the same list you just checked it off of (you can work around this going to a “Today View” but that list shows ALL your combined lists of what’s due today). The fact that It repopulates could be an annoyance if only you could sort by due date, so all the stuff you checked would drop to the bottom of the list for tomorrow. You can do that. After every item you check (sort by date) or whenever you open Wunderlist . Meaning there is no way to set “sort by date” as a default. It must keep telling it to do that after each action. This becomes downright frustrating as it just turns into a jumbled mess throughout the course of your day.

by Kevmartian

Update March 2017:
I still think this is the best free to do list manager, but I have been considering switching to todoist because the updates to Wunderlist are few and far between. There still are not location-based reminders, and since iOS 10, there is a problem where background sync isn't working. I reported it months ago, this app replied that they were aware and working on a fix, but it is still an issue. I want to support Wunderlist and I really appreciate the strong free version; however, I wish they would give the iOS app a bit more love.

Original review:
This is a great to-do list manager. The free version is functional enough to use for most people, as opposed to todoist's very limited free version. I appreciate all the platforms this app is compatible with. The OSX app is good and the I use the chrome extension at work and it is reliable and well designed. I wish subtasks showed separate from the main task and that I could swipe a task to mark it complete. From the lock screen, it would be nice to have options for snoozing a notification instead of just marking complete. Those are three very small gripes for a great free app though. I would consider purchasing the pro version if it was a bit cheaper and it had location based reminders. I also enjoy the nice backgrounds. Thanks for the great work.

by Book Fan 7

This is certainly among the elite productivity apps out there. I've tried my share of free and paid task list apps and I found it so useful that I subscribed to the pro version. It works perfectly most of the time. However, there are two functionality issues. The first issue is the occasional lag in background synch, which leaves my lists not fully updated after changes, so I have to wait or log in again. The second issue
is the "problem with our servers" message when I go to sign in. This forces me to have enter my info a second, third, or fourth time until I can get into Wunderlist . Admittedly, these two issues do not occur very often. Unfortunately, though, often enough to be irritating when I want to log info quickly. I'm not sure whether this is an issue because I have iOS 10 software or whether the same happens to any of you other users out there using other platforms. One more critique involves the backgrounds. It would be a good compliment to Wunderlist to have new backgrounds added in with the next update. The existing ones can become rather stale, and the appearance of Wunderlist is just as important as its practical use. The wallpapers set it apart from boring one color background to do apps. These changes would certainly merit a five star rating in my opinion. 👌🏻

by Ben-n-mel

My husband and I use Wunderlist regularly. I love that it syncs across all devices immediately. We create use it to help us with daily tasks, lists of what not to forget to bring/pack, and grocery lists. When grocery shopping we can walk around the store in separate directions and check off each item and see what the other person has grabbed. Or my husband can add items to the list while I’m on my way to the store and it’s instantly available. This is by far one of my favorite apps.

Something I wish could be different: I wish the subtasks could be shown on the main list possibly indented underneath (instead of having to click on individual items) along with a checkoff button there too. For some examples: I create a daily to do list. Main task- clean house, but I can use several subtasks to show what individual tasks fall under that category. Also can be useful when creating a meal plan (then subtasks could be which ingredients I need for each meal) or when when making a list of what to pack (it helps group items together and keep it organized and it’s not as overwhelming). As of right now we never use the subtasks mainly because if I did we’d forget to click the individual item.

by Susiewonder

Hi this app, I enjoy your list app and would like to keep using it regularly, but I just wish there were a few adjustments. One is I like the “plus sign” add feature on the main page, but it seems to only be a shortcut to add a single list item. It would be great if it also gave you the option to add new folder, add new list with that same add button, not just a single item. I know there is a “create list” option at the bottom of the user’s lists but the plus sign is so much more intuitive, and I have a lot of lists to scroll down :). There are a couple preferences I personally would super appreciate too. For list items: to show the user’s whole title of the list item instead of restricting it to a single line. For sub-tasks: to show these on the main list, indented in, as opposed to only when you open up that single list item. I think it makes sense to make the subtasks restricted to a single line on the main view. It just makes it so much easier for me to see exactly what I have to do, and what items require a little more portioning out / time management.

Thank you!! I enjoy using your app! I have tried a few different list apps and tend to come back to yours.

by Ilovenotetakingapps

If you’re looking for the best, this is it. The only issue I have with Wunderlist is that the original owners and app designers from Germany sold this software to Microsoft (as I understand it anyway). I really don’t care who owns it as long as it keeps being this app. No other app even compares. It’s pleasant to use. The aesthetics are amazing. You must love the look and feel of your productivity apps. One of the more important aspects of todo lists are quick summaries. this app does this very well, especially when it comes to subtasks. this app is one of the only app that gives you a settle progress bar. So as you check off subtasks you know how far you are advancing in your main task. It probably is one of my favorite features. I also love pressing the star to mark the tasks I want to focus on for the day, week, month whatever you want to label it. I use it for tasks I want to tackle for the week. Everything about this app is amazing. I have used all of the other task management applications and haven’t found anything close. While I don’t like that it was sold, I can certainly live with it as long as it doesn’t change too much by taking any of the top features that cause me to love it oh so very much!!! <3

by Mister13ub

I am one of those people that can't seem to keep anything straight, whether it's picking something up from the store, remembering what to pack for a trip, or completing a specific task at work. this app allows me to enter both personal and professional "To-Do's", complete with due dates, as well as the ability to add reminders to each task if need be. Additionally, there is a very good free app for both Windows and macOS, which automatically sync with your phone, so whether you're adding things or checking them off from your laptop, desktop, phone, or tablet, everything stays up to date. And the computer applications allow you to print out hard copies of your lists in case you're better about keeping track of outstanding items on paper. Lastly, you can create "To-Do's" for others, and get notifications when they check those items off. So if you have someone working under you and they have specific tasks to complete, you can use this program as a way to keep track of what they have outstanding. I'm not sure how I kept track of everything before this app, but I'm really glad I don't have to do that, whatever it was, anymore.

by LibertyFlame

I rarely write reviews, but Wunderlist deserves it. I hate being disorganized, but am not incredibly great at organizing my tasks. Wunderlist does it all for you, it organizes everything by task and category (for me, primarily by classes). You can view your upcoming week to see what you should be working on next, and Wunderlist organizes it all by date for you, and get send reminders.

Personally, I would love if you could do color coding of different events, and perhaps more “priority” levels (there is normal and a priority rank you can give items, but I’d love to be able to have high, medium, low, and no priority options. To help me consider more which tasks to work on next in a given day). I’d also love to be able to see all of my tasks listed by date (instead of just the week ahead) and perhaps all of my different priority tasks by date as well. It may be nice to be able to set dates on my sub tasks, as well (a project may be due a certain day, but I may want different deadlines for different steps in the process).

Despite these suggestions, though, Wunderlist is excellent and really helps keep me organized. Couldn’t recommend it more.

by Ipomaea

I have been using this app for many years now. I rely on it for work and personal to-do lists, for medication reminders when my family is ill, for home maintenance and improvements, to remember movies to watch and books to read and plants to buy, and much much more. I share shopping lists with my family and I keep packing lists we can all use when traveling. I have years of Christmas presents logged in this app. I have it hooked up to Google Home through IFTTT so that I can add items by voice. I use the iPhone app, desktop app, and web versions daily.

this app works well. I’ve watched it evolve over the years, getting better and better. I hear that Microsoft will retire this app, and roll it into a new product as part of the Office suite. I work in tech — I have never seen a seamless transition in a product integration and dread the day I will have to find a new solution. I sincerely hope Microsoft will consider maintaining this app as a stand-alone product, as it is today, and use the acquisition instead to improve other Microsoft products. Please don’t replace this app!

by Atlanta45879

Now I'm able to capture all the big and little tasks and ideas that flash to mind at inconvenient moments and either preserve them for later consideration or schedule them to an appropriate time. Wunderlist helps me focus on goals, the necessary next steps to reach them, and schedule actions to appropriate times so I make rapid progress to completion. I use some long repeating lists of tasks to help me not forget some critical steps on days when I feel overwhelmed and my mind starts to fog. I cut and paste items I read about for shopping lists that I can refer to when in appropriate store. I started with a general Mind Dump list and gradually refined it into categories and folders of lists. I love that I can go through the huge list(s), schedule dates for specific needed actions, and then look at today or this week and only see what I need to focus on now and the near future. My life feels more coherent with the help of this app . Calls get made, needed components purchased, bills paid, desired habits strengthened, small but critical actions completed to help me move toward important goals.

by Jettarock

I love Wunderlist and have been using it for many years. This has saved me from using several other apps since it has so many functions. Personal goals, grocery lists, big and large projects, school, work, so many uses for this app! The ability to add subtasks, due dates, reminders, priority, and even notes have come in handy for everything (including our home remodel!) I have used Wunderlist for work as well where I could add items and tasks in real time on a shared list for my expeditor, this saved him from having to answer phone calls or write notes down, simply check Wunderlist when he stops. Being able to sync your list over multiple devices has been an invaluable help also. On your desktop-it’s there, on your phone-it’s there. Easy for those of us who like to pretend our to-do lists don’t exist.

If you can add the items and remember to check it on a regular basis (frequency depending on your lists and what you are trying to accomplish) you will get everything out you put in and so much more!

by Geofred49

I am 66 years old and am developing noticeable memory problems. Amongst the practical recommendations (Including things like taking a photo of where I parked my car at the mall) my shrink suggested using a synchronized to-do app with my wife, coworkers, and close friends. She recommended specifically this app and after using it for a while I can see why.
Other than some annoying and awkwardly editable dictation translation errors… it is flawless.
Grocery and ToDo lists are defaults but you can add any other projects and track them separately. Any specific person is invited to share and complete items in any of your lists. They can't see the others.
My memory problems are said to be "age-appropriate". Wanderlust (dictation error! 😄) has helped save me from those little embarrassing problems of forgetfulness.
Hey developers, how about it… Particularly for the grocery list, I would love to be able to copy several "completed" grocery items and paste them back into the list rather than having to type/dictate each one back in manually.

by Leylee22

I love this app and use it as my external brain! Tracking to-dos is merely a way of remembering what to do and that is not really helpful when you intent to complete those to-dos and have multiple action items along the way with no real end date in concrete. That's where the others get it wrong as they all seem to be geared towards the annoying today, tomorrow, and calendar way of tracking. But with this app I am able to track the task, what I want the outcome to be, and all the action items that come up along the way. Plus little notes, reminders, and yes deadlines when I need them. Basically this has helped me manage my personal and professional life. But like anyone geared towards reducing stress and owning their lives, interactions, projects, tasks, and promises you have to commit to it. Check this app regularly and and focus on the use of it to maintain you external brain so you can finally get some of this open loop task geared annoyances out of your brain and focus on what is in front of you.

TLDR - seriously good app if you commit