EffortList vs Project Planner

Effortlist brings simplicity back to task management. Designed for people who want to get things done without wrestling with complicated features, Effortlist focuses on what matters: organizing your tasks efficiently across all your devices. Seamless Multi-Device Sync your tasks sync instantly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac through Firebase. Check off a task on your phone during your commute, and it's already updated when you open your laptop. No manual syncing, no conflicts, no lost data - it just works. Project-Based Organization Group related tasks into projects with an intuitive tab-based interface. Each project maintains its own task list, making it easy to focus on one area at a time. Whether you're managing work deadlines, home improvements, or personal goals, keep everything organized without overwhelming complexity. Smart Task Management • Create tasks with a simple tap or keystroke • Add detailed subtasks for complex items • Mark tasks as focused to highlight priorities • Completed tasks automatically move to the bottom • Reorder tasks with drag-and-drop simplicity Built for Real Work Effortlist handles the realities of task management: tasks that move between projects, changing priorities, and the need to quickly capture ideas without disrupting your flow. The app maintains data integrity even when switching between devices rapidly or working offline. Privacy-Focused Design Your data syncs through your personal Firebase account with anonymous authentication available. No social features, no public profiles, no distractions - just you and your tasks. Enable Apple Sign In for additional security and account recovery options. Thoughtful Details • Automatic order normalization prevents display glitches • Smart conflict resolution handles simultaneous edits • Keyboard shortcuts for power users • Clean, native interface that follows iOS and macOS design guidelines • Dark mode support for comfortable viewing anytime Perfect For: • Professionals juggling multiple projects • Students organizing assignments and deadlines • Anyone who's tired of overcomplicated task apps • People who need reliable sync between devices • Users who value privacy and data ownership No Subscriptions, No Complexity Effortlist is a one-time purchase with no recurring fees. All features are included from day one. No premium tiers, no artificial limitations, no ads. Just a well-crafted tool that respects your time and privacy. Whether you're managing a complex work project or simply keeping track of daily errands, Effortlist provides the perfect balance of power and simplicity. It's task management that gets out of your way and lets you focus on what needs to be done.

Most projects stall not because you lack motivation — but because "finish the project" is too vague to ever act on. You open a blank to-do list, dump in a dozen tasks, and within a week it's either abandoned or buried under newer ones. Milestones is built around a different idea: every project deserves structure, and structure is what makes finishing possible. A smarter way to plan Milestones introduces a three-tier hierarchy — Projects, Milestones, and Tasks — that mirrors how real work actually happens. A project isn't one thing; it's a series of phases. Each phase has its own focus, its own deadline, its own definition of done. Milestones makes that structure explicit so you always know where you are and what's next. Break goals into phases Every project is divided into named milestones — the chapters of your work. Whether you're building an app, writing a thesis, planning an event, or launching a side project, milestones give you a natural way to chunk the journey into stages you can actually complete one at a time. Track progress visually Each milestone has its own live progress bar showing task counts and completion percentage. At a glance, you can see how much you've done, how much is left, and which phases are moving. No more guessing whether you're close or far. Focus on what matters right now Mark one milestone as Active. It pins to the top of your project, pulses with a live indicator, and becomes your single point of focus. Everything else stays visible but secondary — giving you clarity without losing context. Organized from every angle Milestone statuses — Draft, Planning, In Progress, In Review, Released — give each phase a clear stage in the lifecycle. Tasks are sorted into To Do, In Progress, and Done sections automatically. Tag tasks to group related work across a project. Store unscheduled ideas in the project backlog so nothing falls through the cracks. Designed to look as good as it works Give every project its own icon — choose from a curated set of symbols or use your own photo — paired with a custom color. Your project list becomes a visual dashboard that's satisfying to open every day. Manage projects with AI Milestones includes a built-in MCP server — connect Claude and other AI agents on your Mac to create projects, add tasks and move milestones forward just by asking. Your project planner, now AI-native. Built for iPhone, iPad, Mac & Apple Vision Pro On iPad, Mac and Vision Pro, Milestones expands into a full three-column layout: your project list, milestone list, and task list all visible at once. On iPhone, everything is one tap away. Sync seamlessly across both with iCloud. Whether you're a developer shipping a product, a student finishing a dissertation, a designer managing client work, or anyone with a goal worth finishing — Milestones gives your projects the structure they've always needed.