BetterKeeper vs Google Tasks: full Apple task manager vs. free & basic
BetterKeeper
A native Apple task manager with projects, rich-text notes, time tracking, and iCloud collaboration — built in SwiftUI for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Google Tasks
Google's free, minimalist task app. Tightly integrated with Gmail and Google Calendar, it handles simple to-do lists well — but stops there.
Feature comparison
| BetterKeeper | Google Tasks | |
|---|---|---|
| Task management | ✓ Yes, with priorities & labels | ✓ Yes, basic lists & sub-tasks |
| Projects with progress | ✓ Yes, deadlines & % complete | ✗ No project concept |
| Built-in notes | ✓ Rich text notes on tasks & projects | ✗ Plain text details field only |
| Time tracking | ✓ Built-in timers per task | ✗ No |
| Recurring tasks | ✓ Daily / weekly / monthly / custom | ✓ Basic repeat options |
| Calendar view | ✓ Built-in calendar | Via Google Calendar sidebar |
| Home screen widgets | ✓ 4 widgets, 3 sizes each | ✓ Basic list widget |
| Native Apple app | ✓ SwiftUI + AppKit | ✗ Cross-platform, no Mac app |
| Data storage | Your iCloud only | Google servers |
| Pricing | $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr | Free |
Where they really differ
Projects with progress tracking, rich-text notes, per-task time tracking, templates, priorities, labels, and a Smart Today View that auto-sorts by due date. It's a complete system for managing work, not just a list of items to check off.
Lists, sub-tasks, due dates, and basic repeat — that's essentially it. Google Tasks does simple well, but if you need project grouping, notes, or any kind of progress tracking, you'll outgrow it quickly.
Built in SwiftUI and AppKit for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Deep integration with iOS — widgets, Siri, Focus filters, CarPlay — and your data stays in your personal iCloud, never on a third-party server.
Designed for the Google ecosystem — it shines when you live in Gmail and Google Calendar. But there's no Mac app, no CarPlay, and limited iOS integration. Your data lives on Google's servers, not your iCloud.
Full rich-text notes with formatting — headings, lists, bold, italic — attached to any task or project. Plus file attachments (photos, documents) stored in iCloud alongside your tasks.
Each task has a single plain-text "details" field. No formatting, no attachments, no standalone notes feature. If you need notes, you're switching to Google Keep or Docs.
No BetterKeeper servers, no BetterKeeper database. Everything lives in your personal iCloud account. Your tasks aren't used for advertising, profiling, or training AI — they're just yours.
Data is stored on Google servers as part of your Google account. Google's privacy policies apply — which for most people means their task data sits alongside their email, search, and ad profile data.
Which one is right for you?
You want more than a checklist — projects with progress, rich notes, time tracking, and a Smart Today View that does the organizing for you. Especially if you're on Apple devices and want your data in iCloud, not on Google's servers.
You live in Gmail and Google Calendar and just need a quick, free way to jot down to-dos that show up alongside your emails and events. If a basic checklist is all you need, Google Tasks does it well — and it's free.