You missed a deadline again. That one task you absolutely couldn’t forget disappeared somewhere between your notes, text messages, and post-its. Remember The Milk is a to-do app that has been helping people avoid these kinds of moments since 2005. With smart reminders, flexible lists, and a focus on speed, this tool aims to be your digital memory.
Who is behind Remember The Milk?
In 2004, Omar Kilani and Emily Boyd started Remember The Milk Inc. in San Francisco. They described themselves as ‘hopelessly disorganized’ and wanted to build an app to stop forgetting things. The name literally comes from that classic mistake: not bringing the milk home from the store. Gmail had just launched and that inspired them to create a web-based to-do app that would be just as fast and accessible.
What makes Remember The Milk special is that the company is completely bootstrapped. No venture capital, no external investors. Kilani and Boyd built the app on their own terms and timeline. That perhaps explains why the interface looks somewhat classic, but also why the tool has existed for almost 20 years without being acquired or shut down. The app now has more than 6 million users worldwide.
A fun detail: the mascot of Remember The Milk is a monkey named Bob T. Monkey. He regularly appears in the interface and communication of the company. It is one of the oldest to-do apps still being actively maintained and developed, which in itself is an achievement in the rapidly changing world of productivity tools.
Who is Remember The Milk for?
Remember The Milk is primarily aimed at individuals and freelancers looking for a reliable way to keep track of their personal tasks. If you like keyboard shortcuts and want to work quickly without reaching for your mouse, this is a good fit. The app has extensive shortcuts for virtually every action.
For large enterprises or project management teams, Remember The Milk is less suitable. The collaboration features are basic: you can share lists, but there’s no extensive task distribution, no Gantt charts, and no advanced team reporting. The tool remains primarily personally focused, even though you can collaborate with others.
If you find functionality more important than a modern interface, Remember The Milk is right for you. People who primarily value sleek design and visually appealing apps will probably be disappointed. The interface is reminiscent of web apps from the 2000s, and that’s not a plus for everyone.
What can Remember The Milk do?
The free version offers basic functionality for task management, but for advanced capabilities such as subtasks, offline work, and file attachments, you need a Pro account. Here are the main features:
- Smart Add: You type a task in natural language and Remember The Milk automatically recognizes dates, times, priorities, and tags. For example: “Submit report tomorrow 2:00 PM !1 #work” is immediately processed correctly. This saves a tremendous amount of time when entering tasks.
- Reminders via multiple channels: You receive reminders via email, SMS, instant messaging, or push notifications. Especially useful if you’re not in the app all day but still want to be notified on time. Note: push notifications are only available in the paid version.
- Smart Lists: These are dynamic lists that automatically collect tasks based on criteria you set. For example, you can create a list with all high-priority tasks due this week, or all tasks with a specific tag. These lists update themselves automatically.
- Tags and priorities: Organize tasks with tags and give them a priority level from 1 to 3. This helps to quickly filter and see what’s most important. You can add unlimited tags to each task.
- Subtasks: You can break down large tasks into smaller steps. This makes complex projects more manageable. This feature is only available in the Pro subscription.
- Offline mode: With a Pro account, you can continue working without an internet connection. Your changes sync automatically as soon as you’re back online. The free web version requires an active internet connection.
- File attachments: Add files to your tasks, such as documents or images. This is also a Pro feature.
- MilkScript: For advanced users, there’s a scripting language that allows you to automate tasks. For example, you can automatically add tags, move tasks, or adjust priorities based on certain triggers.
Remember The Milk works on virtually every platform: web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. According to users, synchronization between devices is flawless and fast. The app also integrates with tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Outlook, and Evernote, allowing you to manage tasks from different places.
What does Remember The Milk cost?
Remember The Milk has a free Basic account that can be used indefinitely. You can create tasks, organize them with tags and priorities, and use Smart Lists. The limitations are mainly in communication and collaboration: no mobile push notifications, sharing is limited to 2 people, and you don’t have access to subtasks or file attachments.
The Pro subscription costs 49,99 dollars per year, which comes down to approximately 4,17 dollars per month. Only an annual subscription is available, no monthly option. For that amount you get all features: unlimited sharing, subtasks, offline mode, file attachments, and push notifications on your phone. There is no free trial period, so you have to decide right away if you want to pay.
Compared to competitors like Todoist (4 to 6 dollars per month) and TickTick (2,40 dollars per month with annual subscription), Remember The Milk is in the mid-range segment. Microsoft To Do is completely free, but lacks the advanced features of Remember The Milk.
What should you watch out for?
The interface of Remember The Milk feels dated. Where many modern to-do apps focus on minimalist design and visual appeal, Remember The Milk looks like it’s from 2010. For some users that’s not a problem, but if you’re used to tools like Todoist or Things, this may take some getting used to.
A common complaint is that basic functionality like mobile reminders is behind the paywall. Many competitors offer push notifications for free. If you want to use Remember The Milk effectively on your phone, you really can’t avoid the Pro subscription.
The price-quality ratio of the Pro subscription receives mixed reviews. Some users find 50 dollars per year reasonable for the functionality offered, others find it pricey for an app with an older interface. Especially since you can’t take out a monthly subscription to test it first, the threshold is higher.
Remember The Milk is not a project management tool. If you’re looking for Kanban boards, time tracking, or extensive collaboration features, you need to look elsewhere. The tool stays true to its original mission: personal task management. That’s a strong focus, but also means that certain use cases are not supported.
Remember The Milk alternatives
If Remember The Milk doesn’t quite fit what you’re looking for, there are various alternatives that emphasize different aspects:
- Todoist: Choose this if you’re looking for a more modern interface and better collaboration features. Todoist has a sleeker design and is better suited for teams. The free version also offers more basic functionality.
- TickTick: Go for TickTick if you also want a calendar view and focus timer in one app. This tool has a built-in Pomodoro timer and more extensive calendar integration. TickTick is also often more affordable price-wise.
- Microsoft To Do: Choose this if you already work in the Microsoft ecosystem and are looking for a completely free option. To Do integrates seamlessly with Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft services. The functionality is more limited than Remember The Milk Pro, though.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about Remember The Milk:
Is there a free version of Remember The Milk?
Yes, there is a free Basic account that can be used indefinitely. You can create tasks, organize them, and synchronize between devices. However, you miss advanced features like subtasks, push notifications, and offline mode. For basic task management, the free version works just fine.
Does Remember The Milk work offline?
Only with a Pro account can you work offline in the web version and mobile apps. Your changes are automatically synchronized once you’re connected again. The free version requires an active internet connection to function.
Can I share tasks with others?
Yes, with a free account you can share lists with a maximum of 2 other people. Pro users can share with unlimited others. Shared lists synchronize in real-time, so everyone always sees the latest status.
Conclusion
Remember The Milk is a solid to-do app that stands out through reliability and powerful functionality, not through a modern appearance. If you value speed, keyboard shortcuts, and advanced search and filtering options, this is a good choice. The app has been doing what it’s meant to do for almost 20 years, without frills.
The free version is usable for basic task management, but for truly effective mobile use, you need the Pro subscription. 50 dollars per year is not extremely expensive, but you do have to pay for the entire year upfront without a trial period. The dated interface won’t appeal to everyone, and for teams there are better alternatives.
Choose Remember The Milk if you’re looking for a reliable, feature-rich to-do app and design is less important. Look at alternatives if you prioritize modern appearance, lower costs, or better team features.
