Best productivity apps for Mac and iPhone

Nowadays, you will not surprise anyone with applications to improve productivity. The experience of hundreds of users proves that these are skillful assistants in the fight against procrastination and achieving tangible results – at work and in personal life. Do many people wonder how to improve productivity in their workday with the help of the iPhone and Mac? The App Store has many apps, from maintaining good habits to preventing distractions, that you can use to improve your productivity. The App Store is so full of productivity apps that it takes time to choose the right one.

Productivity apps are popular

Recently, staying focused without being distracted has become more challenging, so we need tools to improve personal and professional productivity. Nowadays, there are so many macbook apps for productivity that selecting the most suitable of them becomes a distraction. 

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iPhone and Mac best productivity apps 

Many productivity apps are available for Mac and iPhone; the best ones will depend on your individual needs and preferences. However, here are some of the most popular and highly rated productivity apps for MAC and iPhone. These are just a few examples of the many productivity apps available for Mac and iPhone. Try them out and see which ones work best for you!

Todoist

It’s one of the best mac apps for productivity. With this application, you can easily manage large projects or small tasks. This application dramatically simplifies the work process. You can plan your tasks and understand what you need to do now and what to do in the future. You will also be able to track your success and the tasks you have already completed. Also, you can save tasks, create folders according to specific projects, or add execution accordingly. In addition to scheduling, you can edit, comment, delete, and mark completed tasks. You can even set reminders here. The application allows you to set priorities to understand the order in which tasks should be performed clearly.

In the settings, you can turn off the automatic grouping of projects and studies by date or topic. This application is very convenient because you can easily find the file you need by setting the appropriate filters. The application will provide an opportunity to manage the entire team effectively. You can appoint a project manager who can grant access to all other employees, distribute tasks between executors and monitor progress. This application was developed using the GTD methodology. The principle’s essence is that organizing all your tasks will free up your brain and help you work more productively. This app can also be integrated with other apps. This feature is built into Todoist.

Trello

What is Trello? Now it is one of the most straightforward and convenient project management systems. It is universal, lightweight, flexible, with an open API, and, most importantly, accessible. Its greatest strengths are tracking the status of different tasks on the same screen in parallel and easy integration with other popular tools. Of the minuses, one can distinguish that:

• Trello functionality is not enough for huge companies;
• on small screens, Trello becomes less comfortable;
• automation, repetition, and quick addition of tasks take time to implement.

Despite some shortcomings, Trello is growing in popularity and is being actively implemented by companies in various fields. It is a great online solution for organizing work quickly and easily.

Evernote

Evernote is one of the best macbook productivity apps, an advanced workspace to increase the productivity of any user. This application is suitable for those who want to plan personal affairs and small tasks and those who want to plan some serious business. The application allows you to create notes, lists, tables, and research objectives. You can also provide access to any projects to other users. Here you can save text information, pictures, photos, and documents. You can also scan Anything and send it to other users. With the help of this application, you will be able to write complete instructions for the team, keep joint notebooks, and track the progress of the collaborative project. Sorting using filters is also available here.

Forest

The easiest way to describe Forest is as a mobile game. You choose a tree, set the time for work (30 minutes), and start the timer. The tree will die if you turn on your phone and exit the app to go to Facebook, a browser, or any other place. However, the tree will be planted on your virtual farm if you finish the specified period to the end. The app works. Responsibility for a virtual tree somehow overpowers the desire to get a smartphone and rummage through social networks. Most likely, this desire is nothing more than a regular habit that is not so difficult to get rid of. Forest statistics show how many trees you have planted or how productive you have been. Forest is one of those applications that will come in handy for anyone who wants to be more effective.

RescueTime

RescueTime is an automated time and attendance tracking tool that helps people and teams track processes and break bad habits. It is a means of combating information overload and multitasking. The program can follow standard parameters on desktop computers, including screenshots, fixing sites, programs, and other elements that interfere with productive work. At the same time, the mobile client can perform the following tasks:

• accurate auto-tracking of the time of mobile applications;
• call duration information;
• information about visited sites and spent time;
• specify alerts and targets to manage the workflow;
• marking milestones and highlighting achievements;
• performance history reports tracking progress;
• privacy options.

Productivity apps from Apple

Apple has several productivity apps that are available for use on its devices. Here are some of the built-in productivity apps that come with Apple devices.

Notes

No Apple device is complete without the Notes app. It appeared simultaneously with the first iPhone and has only been saturated with new features and designs. Fifteen years later, notes are:

• A powerful enough tool for storing various information.
• Creating lists, and for some.
• A place to draw.

Right in your notes, you can create a shopping list with checkboxes, draw perfectly smooth shapes with your fingers, highlight the necessary information in scanned documents, convert a table to text, change the appearance of the background, and create light pages even with the dark theme turned on.

Reminders

In the multitasking rhythm of modern life, we must remember many things from different areas of life. Previously, paper diaries reminded us of business, but now they have been replaced by interactive applications on our devices. Apple has created a unique and easy-to-use Reminders app with many features that make life easier. The Reminders app on iPhone and iPad is convenient because we can create different alerts: simple reminders and repeating every day/week/month/. It is possible to add reminders of any business related to a particular location when we are in it and others.

Pages

Pages is a text editor with support for Apple templates (more than 70), allowing you to create a report, e-book, resume, poster, and more. It works on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch devices. In Pages, you can:

• create your template based on a blank document;
• import Microsoft Word files;
• add content – pictures, video, audio, charts, shapes;
• make Apple Pencil annotations (supporting device required) – draw and write with Apple Pencil or just your finger;
• create drawings using pen, pencil, crayon, fill, and animation tools;
• comment and put text labels – they will move along with the associated text (the status of the feature is still in beta mode);
• have support for the iCloud cloud will allow you to synchronize files with other Apple devices.

Collaboration in the program is available – Mac, Windows, and Apple devices are supported. It means access through the browser’s web interface: access control, username view, and editing document. Files saved in iCloud and Box are supported.

Numbers

Numbers for iPhone was designed for iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone. With it, you can create spreadsheets with one click with graphs, illustrations, and photos with light hints on the screen. Main functions of the program:

• there are 250 different options to choose from in the program;
• implemented the ability to enter and edit tables using the smart keyboard;
• numbers allow you to realize the need for creative self-expression and reveal your talent by creating impressive tables and various graphics;
• you can move them around on the application canvas as you like;

One of the main advantages of Numbers is the use of intelligent scaling. As you enter data, the image adjusts automatically for readability. The function is indispensable for people with poor eyesight. The application allows you to select the font and design of cell borders and change and move many tables around the workspace. Also, entering text is very convenient.

Keynote

This application is one of the presentation components of the entire iWork suite. Apple Keynote is an add-on to Pages and Numbers. All these three applications are universal and work on both iPhone and MacBook, as well as iPad. They are straightforward to use on the go and support the latest iOS update. If you have an Apple gadget and need to make a presentation while you are away from home, this application is ideal for you and will come in handy. Steve Jobs created this program, and its desktop version was used for all his presentations. 

How to maximize productivity on Mac?

There are many ways to maximize productivity on a Mac. As Apple devices have many exciting features, you can use them to be more productive. Using these tips, you can maximize productivity on your Mac and get more done in less time. So what are tips to help you get started?  

Use keyboard shortcuts

Macs have various keyboard shortcuts that can save you time and effort. Learn the most useful ones for your workflow and practice using them until they become second nature.

Set up your workspace

Create a workspace that is comfortable and conducive to productivity. Ensure your desk is clean and uncluttered and your chair, monitor, and other peripherals are set up correctly for ergonomic comfort.

Use multiple desktops

Macs allow you to create multiple desktops, each with its windows and apps. It can help you keep your work organized and minimize distractions.

Use the right apps

Many productivity apps are available for Macs, and choosing the right ones can make a big difference in your productivity. Find apps that work well for your workflow and use them consistently.

Minimize distractions

Macs can be very distracting, with notifications, alerts, and other interruptions. Minimize these distractions by turning off notifications and other unnecessary alerts and using apps like Focus@Will or Forest to help you stay focused.

Use automation

Macs have many built-in automation tools that can save you time and effort. Use tools like Automator and AppleScript to automate repetitive tasks and streamline your workflow.

Use time management techniques

Many time management techniques can help you stay focused and productive, such as the Pomodoro Technique, time blocking, and the Eisenhower Matrix. Find the methods that work best for you and use them consistently.

Top 3 the biggest productivity apps

The “Big 3” productivity apps generally refer to Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Apple iWork. These are all suites of productivity apps, including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software, and other productivity tools.

Microsoft Office 

It includes apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as OneNote and Teams. It is widely used in business and education settings and is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and mobile devices.

Google Workspace

It includes apps such as Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail, as well as other apps like Google Drive and Google Meet. It is cloud-based, making it easy to collaborate and work remotely, and it is also available on multiple platforms, including the web, Android, and iOS.

Apple iWork

It includes apps such as Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Notes and Reminders. It is designed to work seamlessly with other Apple devices and services and is available on Mac, iOS, and the web.

Conclusion

Therefore, Apple devices provide many opportunities to increase productivity. You can both download new applications and use a ready-made package from Apple. In any case, the company does everything possible to make users as satisfied as possible. So if you are an iPhone or Mac user, try productivity apps for Mac and increase your productivity.