Stop scribbling reminders on sticky notes and start planning your day efficiently and effectively.
If, like me, you struggle to keep track of social, work, sports and other commitments, you’ve probably tried a few different flimsy methods in an effort to stay on top of things. Sticky notes, wall calendars, writing on your hand, memory hooks and knot tying won’t always cut it, but there are plenty of great calendar apps out there that will. It can be tricky to figure out which one will best suit your needs, so we rounded up some of our favourites to help you choose.
Developed in conjunction with Moleskine (the brand that makes the nice notebooks), Timepage probably has the most elegant aesthetic and interface of any calendar app on the market. It has a wide range of colour schemes available but doesn’t just rely on its looks. The first time you log in, Timepage syncs up with your Gmail calendar, weather forecasts, maps, contacts and even Uber account, seamlessly integrating the mess of plans across your apps into one neat place. It also supports Siri commands, and provides cool historical trivia for each calendar day. The downside? It’s only free for the first seven days, but if you’re committed to organising your life, it’s worth the annual fee of $16.99.
WeekCal’s layout is similar to Apple’s inbuilt calendar app, but it has a smoother user experience. It’s functional, straightforward and a great choice for anyone who wants a no-frills, easy-to-grasp experience. Weekcal feels like having a wall calendar in the palm of your hand, so if you want to keep things simple, with reminders for the occasional bill or weekly commitment, it’s a great choice.
Doodle is probably the best app on this list for planning social events. How many times have you tried to lock in a date for birthday drinks or similar, only to find that everyone disagrees on the best time to meet and nothing gets organised? The app lets everyone vote on date and time options – and you don’t need to download it to do so. Users can link to polls and share the results externally. Doodle also offers a calendar for individual use, but it’s best used for group events.
There’s a good chance you’re already familiar with Google Calendar – it’s a popular choice with a lot of businesses and, unsurprisingly, integrates well with Gmail. The mobile app is fairly simple to use, but compared to other apps on the list, there’s relatively little guidance to help you grasp its features. Something that sets this one apart, though, is the Google Hangouts feature. If you’ve scheduled a time to chat with someone, you can audio or video call them directly through the app, saving the hassle of swapping phone numbers and setting up video chat on a new platform.
Timetree takes a few minutes to set up, but its layout is easy to grasp. It comes with calendars in several categories, such as personal, work, group and more, and gives you useful suggestions for each. Labels allow for plenty of customisation, and it’s a great way to organise your commitments with one calendar or many. Timetree’s strength is group organisation, so it’s a great choice for anyone trying to keep tabs on events in a team or small business.
Photography: Bri Hammond
