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Just in case you’ve been hiding under a rock for years, the number of productivity apps is growing. There are so many options to choose from that you must schedule a vacation just to investigate part of the alternatives.

I am a productivity geek, expert, addict. Whatever you want to call it. And I decided to help you on the mission of finding the Best Productivity Apps on the market. From to-do list managing systems, to calendars, project management tools and note-taking apps. Let’s get productive.

(I’ve got decision-making problems, so please, don’t think these 21 options are sequenced by order of preference… that’s nuts!)

The Best 21 Productivity
Apps for 2021

1. Notion

It is no secret I’m a big fan of Notion. The multiple functionalities make it the perfect solution for anyone looking for a robust, yet intuitive tool. The ability to create templates, connect databases and integrate other apps through API’s, make it one of the best productivity apps ever.

I’ve put together a 3-part-series on Project & Task Management with Notion, here.

Download Notion here.

2. TodoIst

If you’re looking for a great to-do list app, Todoist is a great option! You can easily add tasks, create sub-tasks, organize your life by projects, assign due dates to tasks, and so on.

If you want to learn how to create productive to-do lists, read this post.

Download Todoist here.

3. Toggl

This is my favourite app for tracking my time! Not only will this app make you more productive but it will also generate weekly reports in which you can analyse how you’ve been spending your time!

In this post, you can learn how to better manage your time.

Download Toggl here.

4. Freedom

Freedom is one of those apps you need to avoid access to social media or other distracting websites in the middle of a deep work session. You can even activate the “Locker Mode” which makes it impossible to edit your blocklist. It works with all devices (including iPhone), which is a plus.

The ability to focus is a skill that can (and should) be practised. Its biggest enemy is distractions. Eliminate them completely with Freedom.

Download Freedom here.

5. Calm

The benefits of meditation are well known already… Ellen Langer, a mindfulness researcher, found that mindfulness increases productivity, charisma, creativity, memory, concentration, health and even longevity. Not including a meditation app in the Best 21 Productivity Apps would be a mistake.

I use Calm for almost two years now and I can’t recommend it enough. There is a different 10-minute meditation every day, introducing the novelty factor into the practice, making it more likely you will repeat the habit.

Download Calm here.

6. Focus@Will

I’ve been a subscriber of Focus@Will for 4 years and that’s no coincidence. Focus@Will provides you with music to help you focus (backed by science). They have many playlists and a questionnaire to help you find the most optimized channel for you. I’ve done the test 5 times… and Bach Beats is always the result.

Download Focus@Will here.

7. ShortForm

ShortForm offers detailed summaries of hundreds of books and articles. This is a great tool to:
1) Find new books to reads;
2) Refresh your memory about a book you’ve read;
3) Help you create content regarding a certain book.

I’ve previously have experimented with other apps that offer a similar proposition, but ShortForm is, by far, the one I trust the most.

Download ShortForm here.

8. Evernote

Evernote is a fantastic app for note-taking, task management and archiving. You can create several notebooks that are inside stacks which allows multiple levels of organization. You have it across all devices and it is able to scan images and make the text searchable.

Download Evernote here.

9. FOREST

If you find yourself constantly grabbing your phone to scroll, try Forest. This app turns the experience of focusing into a game — for each focus session, you plant a virtual tree. The tree only grows in your virtual garden if you don’t leave the Forest app for the whole period. The goal is to grow the highest number of trees!

Download Forest here.

10. Tide

Tide is a visually appealing app that allows you to set a timer while listening to white noise. It then allows you to track your progress over time. You also have sounds to fall asleep and meditations to follow.

Download Tide here.

11. Asana

Asana is one of the most complete apps for project and team management. Its functionalities are endless which make it a great option for companies and teams.

Download Asana here.

12. Momentum

One of the most effective ways to form and maintain a habit, is establishing a visual cue that triggers the habit. With the app Momentum, you can keep track of all your habits, set up alarms and measure your progress.

Download Momentum here.

13. Sleep Cycle

Sleep Cycle is a must-have app — it tracks your sleep patterns and wakes you up in your lightest sleep phase. After setting an alarm for 7.30 a.m., Sleep Cycle will wake you up between 7 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. It is a great app to wake up feeling energized and productive… not grumpy.

Download Sleep Cycle here.

14. Waking Up

The Waking App was developed by Sam Harris, a neuroscientist. This app helps you to discover yourself a bit more — through the practice of meditation, theory and lessons. It also provides structured progression if you’re just starting out with the practice.

Download Waking Up here.

15. Adobe Scan

Adobe Scan is one of the most robust apps for scanning documents. If you happen to have a Creative Cloud membership, the benefits are even greater. I highly recommend it!

Download Adobe Scan here.

16. Audible

Audible is the most extensive app in terms of audiobooks. You can literally find any book you’re looking for. It comes with helpful features like a speed controller, sleep timer, and a book-marking tool to save your favourite passages. Audiobooks are also a great way to read more books.

Download Audible here.

17. Google Calendar

Google Calendar continues to be the most reliable and useful Calendar I’ve found. Besides its obvious features, the synchronization (and email reminders) with all my Google accounts makes it worth it. Easy to use and does its job!

Download Google Calendar here.

18. Otter

Otter has a powerful AI integration that allows it to create highly accurate transcriptions of what you dictate. This is really useful for meetings, ideas, lectures, interviews, and anything that requires audio transcription.

Download Otter here.

19. Airr

For a long time, I've used the standard Apple Podcasts app. But Airr is quite an interesting alternative with useful features. The one I like the most is the note-taking option, which allows you to highlight, comment and share different passages of a podcast and retrieve all of that information in the “Airr Quotes.”

Download Airr here.

20. Scrivener

Before writing my book, I did some research to find a dedicated app to write it. I happened to find Scrivener and definitely don’t regret it using. It’s easy to use, organize, compile, export, and much more. If you’re writing a book or any type of long document, it is definitely worth it.

Download Scrivener here.

21. Cold Turkey Writer

Cold Turkey is the perfect writing tool for writing procrastinators (or, basically, everyone). Once you open Cold Turkey Writer, you are forced to stay on the app until the timer is up or until you write the minimum number of words you set.

Download Cold Turkey Writer here.

Productivity is not just about the apps!

21 productivity apps after, there is something important to mention: it is not just about the apps! You might have the best apps out there, but if there is no focus, intention and discipline, the apps won’t save you. Deep work matters more than any app.

The Best 21 Productivity Apps for 2021