You just came home from a tough day at work, and as soon as you open the door, you realize you’ve forgotten to buy Parmesan cheese, and now you won’t be able to make that comfort meal you were craving. If only you had set a reminder, you’d be enjoying your little treat right now. This list includes free reminder apps for Android so that you’ll never forget the parmesan cheese again.
Good to know: learn how to create, customize, and edit lists in Google Docs.
Content
- 1. Your Phone’s Built-in Clock App
- 2. Your Phone’s Voice Assistant
- 3. BZ Reminder
- 4. Life Reminders
- 5. TickTick
- 6. Microsoft To-Do
- 7. Google Keep – Notes and Lists
- 8. To Do List
- 9. MyTherapy Pill Reminder
- 10. Water Time Tracker & Reminder
1. Your Phone’s Built-in Clock App
Price: Free
This is the easiest way to set a reminder on your phone without having to install a third-party app. It’s the method I usually use when I need to remember something. Every Android phone has a built-in clock app. My Pixel has Google’s Clock app.
To create a new alarm, press the big + button. If, for example, you want to create a reminder to buy something on your way home from work, set the alarm to ring around the time you usually leave the office. Set the days during which you want the alarm to ring, select a ringtone (you can even add tunes from Spotify), and don’t forget to add a label at the top to help you remember why you set the reminder.
Your phone will ring at the specified time with your reminder. Google’s Clock app also doubles as a Timer, Stopwatch, and Bedtime routine enhancer.
Tip: learn how to use the Google Password Manager in Chrome, and make it easier to remember passwords.
2. Your Phone’s Voice Assistant
Price: Free
Your Android probably has Google Assistant built in. (If not, you can download it.) Did you know that you can use it to easily set reminders?
You can do something like “Hey Google, set a reminder,” and the assistant will create a quick template for you. I usually go with this solution when I am trying really hard to concentrate on something and don’t want to get up and reach for my phone – it’s extremely convenient.
The Assistant saves all the info I’ve dictated in Google Tasks (part of Gmail or a standalone app), where I can view and modify it later.
3. BZ Reminder
Price: Free with premium option
BZ Reminder makes it possible to create reminders without even having to take your phone out. If you own an Android smartwatch, you can quickly set up reminders on your wearable.
I love that the app lets me categorize my reminders using colors so that I can easily differentiate between them at a glance. It even has voice dictation for those times you don’t feel like typing, which is usually my default state. On top of that, the option to set up birthday reminders is super helpful to me, as I’m really bad with dates.
The app also includes a customizable widget, calendar view, and the ability to send reminders to other people.
4. Life Reminders
Price: Free with premium options
I consider Life Reminders another great option if you want to make sure you don’t forget to do something. In my view, one of the standout features is that the app facilitates task completion. For example, if you’ve set up a reminder to call someone, Life Reminders will add a call button in the reminder for you to reach out directly from the app.
The app allows you to categorize reminders into four different sections: Today, Tomorrow, This week, and Later. I prefer this structure, as it simplifies keeping track of tasks without becoming overwhelming. I can relax seeing that I’ve completed most things today, and the remaining tasks are due later.
For additional clarity, I usually tag reminders using descriptive labels, such as “Medication,” ”Shopping,” and “Birthdays.” For more specific reminders, I can create custom categories and personalize them using colors and icons. The interface is a little outdated, but the app does its job quite well.
FYI: take a look at these apps that can help you improve your mental health.
5. TickTick
Price: Free with premium options
TickTick is a clean and great-looking reminder app that packs many features. Start by creating a list, then add your reminders that can be grouped into sections.
A surprising – but welcome – addition to this app is the habit-tracking option, which I found very fun to use, thanks to the colorful icons. TickTick also has a Pomodoro timer and an Eisenhower Matrix feature that helps you prioritize tasks. The widget option lets me see my reminders on the home screen when I unlock my phone.
A few other features, such as a monthly view of the calendar, are not available in the free version.
6. Microsoft To-Do
Price: Free
The Microsoft To-Do app is a wonderfully intuitive reminder app that can do wonders for your Android productivity. It’s actually a task-tracking app, but it lets you set reminders for them.
The app provides a few task lists by default, including My Day, Important, and Planned, but you can also create your own as you see fit. I really enjoyed the My Day option, which is basically a dedicated page that shows an overview of daily tasks displayed on a cool wallpaper.
I also appreciate the customization options, such as assigning a new list a custom background. In addition, Microsoft’s To-Do lets you create groups and invite collaborators to easily work on projects together with others. If you’re looking for an app that works similarly but offers even more features, try Todoist.
7. Google Keep – Notes and Lists
Price: Free
Google Keep is also not a dedicated reminder app. It’s more of a note-taking app, but it has a nice reminder component that works very well on Android, so I’ve included it in this list.
I usually rely on Keep to create shopping lists. I can, then, create the reminder from the same screen (by pressing the tiny bell icon in the upper-right corner), which is super convenient.
Even better, Google Keep offers a neat functionality that sends a reminder once you’ve arrived at a certain location (for instance, a shopping mall). So when I want to make sure the reminder arrives at the right time, I enable this option.
Tip: check out more interesting things you can do with Google Keep.
8. To Do List
Price: Free
To-Do List is a simple app for creating tasks. You can set a reminder, such as for due dates, when setting up a task. The app does not overwhelm with countless features, which I fully appreciate.
The coolest part is that it includes a Batch Mode, which lets me add tasks in bulk. This saves a lot of time with project management! What I didn’t like, however, is that I had to manually modify the dates and times afterward for each reminder.
With To Do List, you can also dictate your reminders and add its widget to your home screen to see the task list every time you glance at your phone.
9. MyTherapy Pill Reminder
Price: Free
MyTherapy Pill Reminder is a specialized app for helping you remember to take your medication and look after your health.
This app has helped me track the medications I take daily, so I never skip a dose. It has a large medication database and lets you add your daily dosage and how many pills you have left for the month.
Moreover, MyTherapy Pill Reminder allows me to keep track of health measurements, activities, and doctor appointments. I also use it to add my healthcare professionals for easier tracking.
Tip: check out more apps that can help you stay healthy.
10. Water Time Tracker & Reminder
Price: Free with premium options
I’ve been trying to build the habit of drinking more water for years now. With the help of Water Time Tracker & Reminder, I finally managed to increase my daily intake. Start by adding your current weight so that Water Time Tracker & Reminder can calculate how much water you need to consume each day.
I like that I can set the frequency of reminders I get on my phone, as it allows me to monitor my liquid intake closely. Recording water consumption is easy. I prefer to add it via the History tab, as it’s more specific. But you can do the same via the graphic interface that shows a cup, bottle, glass, etc.
The app features a cute water mascot, which, I believe, makes the experience even better. You can unlock more by hitting daily goals or upgrading to a paid subscription.
Now that these Android apps have helped you with your reminders, perhaps it’s time to relax by playing a hidden Google game. Or, discover more tips to improve your well-being by listening to one of these mental health podcasts.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
Alexandra Arici –
Staff Writer
Alexandra is passionate about mobile tech and can be often found fiddling with a smartphone from some obscure company. She kick-started her career in tech journalism in 2013, after working a few years as a middle-school teacher. Constantly driven by curiosity, Alexandra likes to know how things work and to share that knowledge with everyone.
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