8 Personal-Assistant-Like Apps to Keep You Organized

In the age where attention is demanded and stolen by the minute, staying on top of everything can be like trying to get through the line at Starbucks within 10 minutes at 6 a.m. Remembering to study for that bio test, running late to work for the fourth day in a row, and debating whether drinks will fit into your budget for both time and money: it all keeps you running on all 4 cylinders. To stay organized, the old stationery and planner just don’t cut the mustard. Fortunately, this age of instant gratification also means there is an app to solve any and all logistical messes. Here are eight apps that will help to streamline day-to-day activities and keep you on the straight and narrow.

Coach.Me

Coach.Me lets ambitious goal-setters thrive on nuggets of community-based motivation and support. Once you’ve identified your goals, you can set up the frequency of completion, like publishing at least one blog post or going for two runs per week. If you decide to make your goals public, users with the same goals can see what you’re working on and give you “props” on your progress, and returning the favor is just as easy. While the app is free, there is an option for one-on-one coaching from a live person for $14.99/week. These coaches are experienced in their niches and are available all through the week.

Android: Free
iOS: Free

TimR

TimR is a mobile tracking device that is great for users who want to monitor their productivity. Students can track how long they’ve been studying or see how long it takes to complete a project. TimR runs in the background and helps you breakdown where your limited time is going. With that information, you can make changes to your schedule to increase your efficiency. TimR includes a free 3-day trial; after that, it’s $11.80 a month.

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Android: $11.80/month
iOS: $11.80/month
Windows: $11.80/month

ReQall

For the absentminded, this app gets rid of the scattered traditional sticky notes tacked onto the fridge: Instead of writing things down, ReQall lets you verbally account your to-do list so it can store the items in its memory. The app then puts your list in text form and sends it to your phone and computer. ReQall also offers a nifty GPS-based feature, which pulls up your grocery list on your phone when you’re near a grocery store, for example. The app is free, but also offers an annual premium subscription of $25. The premium app sends out reminders 30 minutes prior to scheduled events or deadlines.

iOS: Free
Android: Free

Timeful

Timeful is like a supportive life coach—but without the cost for a weekly session. Each day, the app suggests healthy options to add to your schedule like reading, exercising and stretching to keep you mentally and physically sharp. The app also focuses on keeping the user engaged by setting up times for him or her to plan out their subsequent days. The app’s drag and drop feature makes rearranging to-do lists easy.

Android: Free
iOS: Free

EasilyDo

Have your own personal assistant with EasilyDo. This app syncs your calendars, social media accounts, and email accounts to give you access to all of your tools in one location. Start by signing up via Facebook or Gmail and EasilyDo will pull your data from there. On the app, you will be notified of things like birthdays, will have access to your boarding pass, and can even track packages. The basic version is free, but for those who’d like to remove the ads or use the bulk merge option, it costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 annually.

Android: Free
iOS: Free

Evernote

Let’s face it; group projects are the worst. Trying to collaborate with other students can be a logistical nightmare, especially when it comes to putting all of the information together. Evernote gives you the ability to record your notes, thoughts, photos and anything in between to the cloud. The Work Chat feature allows you to real-time message the group your notes so that you’re all on the same page. Evernote has 3 tiers: Free, Premium: $5/month, and Business: $10/month/user.

iOS: Free

Taasky

With Taasky, you can categorize tasks by home, work, friends and shopping lists. The app allows you to prioritize tasks using stars, but more importantly, it also gives you progress reports, providing a breakdown of the percentage of task completion. Through these breakdowns, Tansky can figure out which day of the week is your most productive.

iOS: $1.99

Any.Do

If the thrill of crossing off items on your to-do list is what makes the pen and paper appealing, Any.Do has not overlooked that. The digital to-do list that remains in your pocket at all times features the favored ability to cross out items once you complete them, and allows you to sort based on long-term and short-term. The free version will take care of all of your productivity needs, but for those who want to create customized recurring tasks or location based reminders, the price is $5 per month or $45 per year.

Android: Free
iOS: Free