Unless explicitly stated, we spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. Our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. Other options, including project management software, note-taking apps, and other tools that can do the job Microsoft To Do for Microsoft power usersĪny.do for people who forget to use to-do apps TickTick for embedded calendars and timers Todoist for balancing power and simplicity Click on any app to learn more about why I chose it, or keep reading for more context on to-do list apps. Whatever you're looking for, one of these task management apps is going to be right for you. We then tried the top-rated apps in every respective app store, and spent way too much time making to-do lists on one app after another.Īnd now I'm offering you what I feel is the cream of the crop. We started by finding the best apps for every platform: Android, Windows, macOS, and iPhone/iPad. Research for these pieces was exhaustive. Create a note from selection: In a Cocoa-based application (such as the Safari web browser), select some text and press Command-Shift-Y or use the Services menu to create a new sticky note with the text selection.To that end, we've been hard at work researching the best to-do apps, trying to find the right ones for various use cases.Search data: Press Command-F to search for words or phrases within a sticky note.The database can be backed up by copying the file StickiesDatabase, which is located in a user's Library directory ("~/Library/StickiesDatabase"). Backup data: Stickies keeps all information in a self-contained database.Embed other media: Add other media besides text, such as QuickTime movies, PDFs, images, just by dragging them into the sticky note.Translucent: Press Command-Option-T with a sticky note selected and it will become translucent.Float above all windows: Press Command-Option-F with a sticky note selected and it will float above any other windows that are visible.The Stickies application currently supports the following usage scenarios: In macOS Big Sur, the icon has been changed to look like a stack of sticky notes in a rounded square design. The window button layout, which is unusual for a modern macOS application, is retained from Mac OS 8. The ability to collapse note windows, which is present in all versions of Stickies, is a holdover from System 7.5's WindowShade feature. ĭuring the transition to Mac OS X in 2001, Stickies was rewritten in Cocoa, and is still included in macOS, with features such as transparent notes, styled text, lists, and the ability to hold pictures. Apple planned to acquire it from him, but realized that they already legally owned it under the terms of his employment.
Alfke had originally developed it in his free time as Antler Notes and intended to release it as shareware, doing business as Antler Software. In 1994, the first version of Stickies was written by Apple employee Jens Alfke and included in System 7.5. Similar applications (described as " desktop notes") are available for most operating systems. Īn unrelated freeware program with the same name and similar functionality is available for Microsoft Windows. Contents are automatically stored, and restored when the application is restarted. Stickies is an application for Apple Macintosh computers that puts Post-it note-like windows on the screen for the user to write short reminders, notes and other clippings.