The Best Productivity Apps of 2022

Finishing off a highly productive day always feels amazing. With distractions all around us, though, staying on task and getting things done is a challenge. However, if you've got the right apps in your repertoire, consistent productivity becomes a piece of cake.

Effectiveness + Efficiency = Productivity

Many of these apps encourage you to knock things off your to-do list and provide you with the tools to do it conveniently and efficiently. We've compiled a handful of the best productivity apps available with that in mind.

Google Drive

Google Drive, part of the Google Workspace collection, is a free file storage and synchronization app. The app allows you to store files in the Google cloud, share files, and synchronize your files across multiple devices.

Google Drive offers you 15 free gigabytes (GB) of storage space through Google One, and you'll have the option to upgrade for more. The maximum file size you can upload through the app is 750 GB, which should be more than enough for the average user. Google Drive also allows you to change the privacy settings for individual files and folders. You can completely lock your files down, or you can share them with other users or the public; it's up to you. If you're using it for business purposes, accessing Google Drive through select Google Workspace plans may be perfect for you. That way, you can enjoy unlimited storage, enhanced administration controls, team collaboration tools, and more.

Ultimately, Google Drive is an excellent way to maintain easy access to all the files that you don't have room for on your devices. You'll need to upgrade to the larger storage packages to get the most out of the app, but fortunately, the primary plans are only a few bucks a month. The app is available for iOS, Chrome OS, and Android devices.

GoodNotes 5

Have you ever had something important pop into your head and pulled out your phone to write it down? If you have, you probably spent five minutes wondering where to type it. Well, instead of typing it into a text message and confusing your friend, you could be using the GoodNotes 5 app.

GoodNotes 5 will transform your iPhone, iPad, or Mac into a sheet of intelligent digital paper. The app costs just $7.99, and in addition to being an excellent digital notepad, it also serves as a document management platform. In reality, the app is helpful for far more than just scribbling a few notes. You can also use it for more powerful writing, drawing, or annotating imported images. And don't worry, you don't need to do all your writing with your finger; on your Mac, you can use the mouse, and on your phone or iPad, you can use the Apple Pencil. The image quality isn't always optimal, and it doesn't have the recording feature that some note-taking apps offer, but all in all, GoodNotes 5 offers excellent bang for your buck.

Google Slides

Presentations and slideshows are fantastic tools for numerous business and educational settings. With the Google Slides app, you can create, edit, and collaborate all of yours on your computer or mobile device. The free presentation platform lets you work on projects simultaneously with coworkers or friends, and you can even present those projects through in-app video calls.

You won't need to worry about losing your progress; Google Slides will save automatically as you work. It's also no problem to embed images and videos to enhance your presentation. You'll have the opportunity to add themes to your slides, but the app has a pretty limited selection to choose from. For more options, you may need to purchase a third-party template provider. If you're someone who utilizes presentations regularly, Google Slides is a must-have app.

Forest - Your Focus Motivation

If you have trouble focusing on your productive pursuits or staying on task, the Forest - Your Focus Motivation](https://www.forestapp.cc/) app offers a unique solution. The app costs $4.99, and its primary goal is to help you resist distractions when working on something.

Within the app, you plant a tiny seed in a virtual forest. The seed will flourish and transform gradually into a majestic tree, but there's a catch. If you pick up your phone and leave the app, your precious tree will wither and die. Although there isn't anything real at stake, it'll feel like a real accomplishment when you hold out long enough to achieve an entire tree. Despite its simple concept, the app is quite in-depth. You'll have 80 virtual tree species to choose from, and Forest will track statistics when it comes to your focus.

If you have an advanced issue with focusing, the hope of growing a beautiful tree may not be enough to overcome it. However, if your tendency for distraction is milder, Forest can uniquely help you. The concentration app is available for Android and iOS devices.

Grammarly - Keyboard & Editor

Anyone who has ever had to type a long email or document on a mobile device will tell you that it's frustrating. Beyond the annoyance of using your thumbs that much, it's also challenging to maintain your grammar and spelling. That's where the free Grammarly - Keyboard & Editor app can make your life easier.

Regardless of what kind of text you're working on, Grammarly will provide real-time feedback on your grammar, spelling, and the clarity of your writing. Plus, the app features an easy-to-use keyboard, so you won't have to use your phone's tiny default one. One downside is that certain feedback is subjective, and the app won't always know exactly what you're going for in terms of tone. However, it will undoubtedly improve your writing, and you won't have to worry about spelling and punctuating everything perfectly.

Tody

One of the most productive and satisfying things you can do is clean your house, but it's tough to know where to start. The task is far easier if you properly prioritize the chores and attack with a game plan, and Tody is the app that will help you do just that. Tody, available for iOS and Android, costs $6.99 to install and will allow you to manage your to-do list of household chores efficiently.

Tody lets you sort your cleaning tasks by actual need instead of arbitrary deadlines. The app visualizes the dirtiness of the different parts of your home, and it helps you and the other members of your household turn cleaning into a fun competition. You can record when you last did it, how often it needs doing, and its current status for any given chore. You can also write notes for each of your tasks. Tody doesn't have the most beautiful aesthetic, but its menus and interface are simple and functional. Overall, it's a nifty app for keeping track of your home's needs and getting motivated to handle them.

Gmail

In the modern world, email is an absolute necessity. There was a time when you used it for work and nothing more, but those days are long gone. These days, you get emails from blogs you follow, companies you patronize, old friends, and about a million other sources. Gmail is a user-friendly, free platform for managing all of your email-related needs.

With the Gmail app, you can easily access and compose emails anywhere, anytime. The app even lets you "undo" a sent email if you realize you've made a mistake, which I think we've all wished we could do at one time or another. Gmail also has a chat feature that you can use to connect and collaborate with your friends, family members, or business associates. If you need, you can easily switch between multiple email accounts, too.

In truth, Gmail has many more features and options beyond what we can list here, and having all those functions can get a bit overwhelming. Otherwise, Gmail is an excellent email platform. In addition to using its web platform, you can also download Gmail on your Android or iOS.

Awesome Calendar

Do you regularly find yourself forgetting appointments or procrastinating before deadlines? If you do, you may be missing a quality calendar app in your life, and Awesome Calendar is a savvy choice.

Awesome Calendar, available on iOS and Android, costs $9.99 and offers much more than just a primary calendar. Of course, you can do all the things you'd expect from a mobile calendar; you can view and edit your upcoming schedule, set reminders, and write notes. However, you can also make a to-do list, check the weather forecast, write in a virtual diary, and share your schedule and notes with others. Awesome Calendar automatically syncs with all other iPhone-supported calendar apps, so you won't need to worry about manually importing your schedule.

With its modern interface and impressive list of features, it's hard to find any negatives with this app. The $9.99 price is a bit steep for a mobile calendar, but with all the extra effort they've put into it, it's worth the cost.

Get More Done On-The-Go

As you can see, there are many apps you can use to help you stay productive and on top of things. Whether you need business utilities, focus aids, scheduling assistance, or anything in between, there are sure to be quality apps available to make your life easier. Give a few of these versatile productivity apps a try, and see if they make a difference in how you function and get things done. You might be pleasantly surprised at the improvements you notice!

The Best Productivity Apps of 2022