Apple Reminders vs CheckYourList
We give Apple Reminders a 3.8 GPA and CheckYourList a 2.8, out of 4.0. Apple Reminders grades higher on value for money, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Apple Reminders
Apple's free to-do app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
CheckYourList
Reusable checklists for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
How we grade them
| 3.8GPAApple RemindersExcellent | 2.8GPACheckYourListGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThere's nothing to buy. The app is listed as free on the App Store with no paid tier, and that covers Smart Lists, tags, subtasks, shared lists, location reminders and iCloud sync. | BThe FAQ gives Pro as $3.99 a month, $19.99 a year or $24.99 for life, and the yearly price is cheap. But the press kit says lifetime is $49.99, and the App Store lists two or three prices for each option. So check the number in the app before you tap. |
| Free plan and trial | AEvery feature is free on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, plus a browser version at iCloud.com. No limits to hit and no upgrade to be sold. | BFree gets you 2 checklists with unlimited items, iCloud sync and the Watch app. Gym bag and morning routine, and that's your two. Widgets, daily reminders and more lists need Pro. |
| Features | ASmart Lists that fill themselves by tag, date, place or flag. Subtasks, sections and a column view for simple kanban. Alerts on arriving somewhere or messaging a person. Shared lists with assignments, grocery lists that sort themselves, and templates. Type "Jog every other morning" and it sets the repeat. | BIt does one small job and does it properly: reusable lists with a one-tap reset, a standalone Watch app, widgets, and Shortcuts that open a list for you. By design there's no scheduling of repeats and no sharing. |
| Ease of use | A4.8 from about 1 million App Store ratings. It's already on the phone, so there's nothing to install, and commenters say they add things just by telling Siri. | BNo App Store rating is on record for it, so a B is as high as we go. There's no login at all. Make a list, tick it, reset it. It's hard to imagine anything simpler. |
| Platforms and integrations | BiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, plus iCloud.com in a browser for everything else. But no Android or Windows app, and on the web you can only edit a reminder's title, notes, day or location alert and flag. | CiPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, synced through iCloud, with Apple Shortcuts and Spotlight search. The FAQ says there's no Android version yet, and the App Store listing has no Mac app. |
| Best for | free to-do lists if everything you own is Apple | checklists you reuse, like the gym bag |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Apple Reminders and CheckYourList. How we grade
Where they differ
- Apple Reminders is free. CheckYourList starts at $3.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Only Apple Reminders lists a web app.
- Only Apple Reminders lists a macOS app.
- CheckYourList can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Apple Reminders also covers templates, natural-language input and kanban boards.
At a glance
| Apple Reminders | CheckYourList | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $3.99 per month, or $19.99 per year |
| Free plan | The app is listed as free on the App Store, with no paid tier: lists, Smart Lists, tags, subtasks, shared lists, location-based reminders and iCloud sync. | Up to 2 checklists with unlimited items. Unlimited checklists, widgets, daily reminders and more customization need Pro. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Apple | Brighten Labs, LLC |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | checkyourlist.app |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Apple Reminders
- People who use only Apple devices
- Shared grocery and household lists among iCloud users
- Location-based reminders and adding tasks by voice with Siri
CheckYourList
- Routines repeated often, such as packing, gym bags and mornings
- People who want a checklist with no streaks or habit scores
- Apple Watch users who check items off from the wrist
Worth knowing
Apple Reminders
- Apps are listed only for Apple devices; on anything else, reminders are reached in a web browser at iCloud.com.
- On iCloud.com a reminder's title, notes, day or location alert and flag can be edited; Apple directs you to the app for other details.
- Sync and shared lists depend on iCloud, and collaborators need to use iCloud as well.
- Apple notes that certain features are available only in select languages and regions.
CheckYourList
- The free version is limited to 2 checklists; widgets and daily reminders are Pro features.
- Apple devices only: the FAQ says there is no Android version yet, and the App Store listing does not include a Mac app.
- Vendor pages disagree on the lifetime price, and the App Store lists two or three prices for each Pro option, so the price shown in the app may differ.
- By design it has no streaks, habit tracking or recurring-task scheduling.
Key features
Apple Reminders
- Smart Lists
- Built-in lists such as Today, Scheduled, Flagged and Assigned to Me fill themselves. Custom Smart Lists gather reminders by tag, date, time, location, flag and priority.
- Tags, subtasks and sections
- Reminders can carry tags and subtasks. A list can be divided into sections and shown in a column view, which Apple suggests for simple kanban boards.
- Time, location and Messages alerts
- A reminder can repeat daily, weekly or at a custom interval, fire on arriving at a place or getting in the car, or appear the next time you message a tagged person.
- Shared lists and assignments
- Everyone on a shared list can add and complete reminders, changes show up for all collaborators in real time, and reminders can be assigned to people on the list.
- Grocery lists and templates
- Grocery lists group items into sections such as dairy and produce on their own. Any list can be saved as a template and shared with others through a link.
- Natural language and Apple Intelligence
- A typed phrase such as "Jog every other morning" sets the schedule. Apple Intelligence can sort a list into categories and suggest tasks from shared text or web pages.
CheckYourList
- Uncheck All
- A finished checklist is reset with one tap on Uncheck All, so the same list is ready for the next day or the next trip without being rebuilt.
- Apple Watch app
- A standalone watchOS app syncs with the iPhone, so lists can be viewed and items checked off from the wrist.
- iCloud sync with no account
- Checklists sync across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch through iCloud. There is no login; the press kit says the developer sees none of the data.
- Daily reminders
- A checklist can have a daily reminder that sends a notification at a set time each day. The FAQ lists reminders among the Pro features.
- Widgets
- Home screen and lock screen widgets show how many items are left on a checklist and open it directly. Widgets need Pro.
- Shortcuts and Spotlight
- Apple Shortcuts automations can open a checklist or a group of checklists, and checklists, groups and items are searchable in Spotlight.
Plans
Apple Reminders
Free$0
Every feature of the app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, plus browser access at iCloud.com.
CheckYourList
Free$0
Up to 2 checklists with unlimited items, with iCloud sync and the Apple Watch app.
Pro Monthly$3.99
per month
Unlimited checklists, widgets, daily reminders and more customization. The App Store also lists a $7.99 Pro Monthly purchase.
Pro Yearly$19.99
per year
The same Pro features billed once a year. The App Store also lists a $29.99 Pro Yearly purchase.
Pro Lifetime$24.99
one-time purchase
Pro with a single payment. The FAQ says $24.99 but the press kit says $49.99, and the App Store lists $24.99, $49.99 and $69.99.
Ways to pay less
Apple Reminders
No public discounts listed.
CheckYourList
- Annual discount
About 58% less with the yearly subscription
The FAQ gives Pro at $3.99 a month or $19.99 a year. Twelve monthly payments come to $47.88, so the yearly subscription costs about 58% less.
- Lifetime license
One-time lifetime purchase of Pro
Pro can be bought once instead of by subscription. The FAQ gives the price as $24.99; the press kit says $49.99, and the App Store lists $24.99, $49.99 and $69.99.
