Routine vs Any.do: Which Tool Is Better?

What is Routine

Routine is a productivity tool that sets itself apart with its all-in-one approach, combining elements of task management, note-taking, and calendar integration into a single platform. Designed to cater to the needs of busy professionals and individuals seeking to streamline their organizational process, Routine offers a comprehensive solution for managing daily tasks, appointments, and notes. Its unique selling point is the integration of these features within an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for users to track their to-dos, schedule their days, and store important information in one place. This level of integration is particularly useful for those who prefer a unified system to manage various aspects of their work and personal life.

Key Features of Routine

• Timeline Agenda: Offers a detailed view of the day’s plan with timestamps, including meeting and event reminders, with options to time-block tasks.
• Week Calendar: Provides a 5-day, week, and month view for task planning, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
• Console Capture: A desktop feature for capturing events, notes, and tasks outside the application, ideal for GTD enthusiasts.
• Centralized Workspace: Combines tasks, notes, and calendar in one space.
• Organization: Utilizes categories and tags for better event and task management.
• Daily Plan: Helps in crafting focused daily tasks and important events.

What is Any.do

Any.do is a to-do list app that integrates a calendar and to-do list, ideal for managing tasks and calendar events in one place. It’s user-friendly, designed for checklist management, task organization, and calendar integration. Any.do also experiments with AI features. The app is available on multiple platforms including Web, iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows. It’s recommended for those seeking an easy-to-use tool for task management, and it’s suitable for beginners.

Key Features of Any.do

• Task Management: Any.do excels in organizing tasks. It allows users to create, categorize, and prioritize tasks, making it easy to keep track of what needs to be done. Its intuitive interface simplifies task management, even for complex projects.
• Calendar Integration: The app seamlessly integrates with calendars, providing a unified view of tasks and events. This feature is essential for planning and ensures users don’t miss important deadlines or appointments.
• Cross-Platform Accessibility: Any.do is available on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, web, and desktop. This makes it highly accessible and ensures that users can manage their tasks and calendars from any device.
• Voice Entry and AI Features: The app supports voice entry, allowing users to add tasks hands-free. Additionally, it is experimenting with AI features to enhance user experience and task management efficiency.
• Customizable Reminders: Users can set up customizable reminders for tasks. This feature helps in ensuring that important tasks are not forgotten and aids in effective time management.
• Collaboration Tools: Any.do includes features for sharing tasks and lists with others, making it a good tool for collaborative projects. This functionality is beneficial for teams and individuals who work in collaborative environments.

Routine vs Any.do: Features

Features	Routine	Any.do
Integrations	Syncs with multiple calendar services and task managers like Todoist and Google Tasks.	WhatsApp, Zapier, Gmail, Slack, Siri & Apple Reminders, and Smart Watch
Calendar	Google Calendar, Notion, Slack, Zapier, Siri, Gmail	Yes
Platforms	macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web	macOS, iOS, Android, Web, Windows
Task Management	No	Creating tasks, setting due dates, adding reminders, organizing tasks into lists, attaching files, and sharing tasks with others
Natural Language Processing	Offers task creation with date assignment via drag-and-drop	Yes
Time Blocking	Available	No
Analytics	No	No
Meeting Scheduler	No	No
Time Zones	Yes	Yes
Reminders	Yes	Yes
Customer Support	Average	Average
1:1 User Onboarding	No	No
Pricing	$12 per month, annually	Free version for basic task management and a Premium version at $36 per year

Routine vs Any.do: Pricing

Routine Pricing

(i) Free Version: Available for students and hobbyists, though with limited features.

(ii) Professional Plan: Priced at $12 per month.

(iii) Business Plan: Costs $15 per user per month.

(iv) Believer Plan: Priced at $10 monthly or $8 per month for an annual commitment, totaling around $96 annually

Any.do Pricing

Any.do offers a free version and two paid versions: Premium and Teams.

(i) The free version allows basic task organization and syncing across devices but lacks third-party app integrations.

(ii) The Premium version, priced at $36 per year, includes features like recurring tasks, location and WhatsApp reminders, task color-tagging, and integration with over 5,000 third-party apps.

(iii) The Teams plan, at $60 per year, adds unlimited boards and team members, collaborative workspace, kanban boards, and advanced admin tools.

A 48-hour money-back guarantee is available for paid plans.

Routine vs Any.do: Reviews

Routine Review

Routine stands out for its exceptional design, skillfully combining elements of daily planning, note-taking, and journaling into a user-friendly interface. The application’s free version is especially popular among students and individuals using it for personal or hobbyist projects, making it a preferred choice in these communities. Additionally, Routine’s smart planning and scheduling capabilities are highly valued by users who favor an automated, intelligent approach to organizing their tasks and appointments. However, a significant limitation of Routine, particularly in its free version, is the constrained number of integrations it offers. This restriction is frequently mentioned by users as a downside, as it may limit the app’s effectiveness in more integrated digital workflows.

Any.do Review

Any.do is praised for its intuitive interface and flexibility in managing tasks and to-do lists, making it a popular choice for personal and professional use. Its integration capabilities with other platforms and tools enhance its functionality. However, some users find its features limited compared to more robust project management tools. Additionally, the premium version might be necessary for accessing all features, which could be a consideration for those on a budget.

Which One Should You Pick

Consider Routine if

1. You Want a Balance Between Calendar and Task Management: Routine offers a mix of these features, but it might not be as comprehensive as some specialized apps in either category.
2. You Like Quick Task and Note Capturing: The app has convenient features for this, though it’s not a full-fledged note-taking application
   
3. You’re Looking for a Personal Planner: Routine is more suited to personal use and less technical users, but it might not meet all the needs of power users or large teams.

Consider Any.do if

1. You Seek a Simple Task Manager: Any.do is suitable for those who need a straightforward, easy-to-use task management tool without overly complex features.
2. Integration with Daily Tools is Key: If integrating with everyday applications like calendars and email is crucial for your workflow, Any.do’s basic integration capabilities can be beneficial.
3. You Value Cross-Platform Accessibility: Ideal for users who require a task manager accessible across various devices, although some may find its synchronization less robust compared to more advanced tools.

Best Routine and Any.do Alternatives

• Akiflow: Akiflow is a time management app offering time blocking, task scheduling, and integrations with various tools. It focuses on productivity and organization through a unified task and appointment interface.
  Akiflow Price: $19 per month, paid annually
• Reclaim: Reclaim.ai is a smart calendar assistant that automates scheduling for work and personal life. It intelligently blocks time for tasks, meetings, and personal events, ensuring a balanced schedule. The app syncs with existing calendars making it ideal for professionals looking to optimize their time.
  Reclaim Price: $8 per month, paid annually
• Motion: Motion uses AI to automatically plan your day, considering tasks, meetings, and personal time. Motion offers features like smart rescheduling and priority-based task management, aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing stress.
  Motion Price: $19 per month, annually