Aug 30, 2024
A minimalist task manager for Notion
An iOS app that connects to your Notion database for better task management.
SyncTasks is an iOS app designed for Notion users, but it can also function as a standalone to-do app for minimalists.
In short, SyncTasks improves your Notion task management on mobile devices, even allowing you to check off tasks directly from your homescreen through widgets.
As a daily Notion user himself, the developer understands the frustrations we face with the Notion mobile app, particularly when we simply want to check off items from our to-do list.
Setting It Up
You can connect SyncTasks to your existing task database in Notion or use a template provided by the developer.
There are prerequisite like the database needs to be a page not a sub-page and that the task database requires a status property, just make sure to have that before you connect your Notion account and give access to these databases.
Inside the App
SyncTasks can be used as a standalone app to add and complete tasks. Its simple interface is reminiscent of the Reminders app.
Even without using the homescreen widgets, you might find this interface more straightforward than managing your tasks directly in Notion.
Home Screen Widgets
SyncTasks allows you to display tasks on your homescreen using widgets and check them off directly from there.
Having Notion tasks on a homescreen widget has long been on my wishlist for Notion to support. With SyncTasks, this feature is finally available.
Moreover, by using a wallpaper that matches the widget color, you can create the illusion of tasks appearing directly on your wallpaper, similar to the experience of the Dumb Phone app.
Pricing
You can use SyncTasks for free, which includes Notion integration and task viewing in the mobile app.
To unlock widgets, you can upgrade to the pro plan with a one-time payment of S$9.98.
There's a 7-day free trial available, allowing you to experience having Notion tasks on your homescreen before upgrading.
Wishlist
One limitation I encountered was the inability to connect a simpler task database in Notion that uses a checkbox property instead of a status property.
I hope this feature will be supported in the future, as it would be useful for contexts like a grocery list database in Notion or for those who prefer a simpler database setup.
Another wish is related to the widget functionality.
While we can have multiple task lists from different databases, the widget only reflects the task list currently open in the app. It would be great if we could choose a list directly from the widget customization options.
Lastly, my big wish for SyncTasks is to help improve Notion's reminders and repeating features.
Something akin to what Apple Reminders app offers would be powerful for Notion users—features like setting early reminders and managing repeating tasks to be added to Notion daily, weekly, etc.
Final Thoughts
As someone who aims to be intentional about phone usage, I find that having my Notion tasks on my homescreen simplifies my workflow.
This means I spend less time navigating within Notion and am less likely to get distracted by other things I have stored there.