Talking about personal productivity has never felt as tasteless as it does now. After many months of global pandemic challenges that no one asked for or could have prepared for, making a point to "do more" seems laughable. Haven't we been through enough?

Hear me out. I still want to tell you about the best productivity apps, and for good reason.

Productivity apps aren't about pushing yourself to do more with less or be more efficient—unless that's what you want. What they really offer is to take something that's a little sucky and make it better or easier.

A lot of productivity apps take some job you would have otherwise done manually, like copying and pasting info from one app to another or transcribing audio, and they do it for you automatically. Others improve your quality of life by helping you get organized so you spend less mental energy trying to remember where you wrote down important details or what you're supposed to do next. They take that weight off you. And couldn't we all benefit from carrying a lighter load?

This article looks at apps that you can use in both professional and personal spheres, either by yourself or collaboratively. We include a few apps from the best office suites, as well as our top picks from project management software, to-do list apps, and note-taking apps. It's by no means a comprehensive list, but we hope it offers useful suggestions for apps that make your life a little better. Finally, this list is arranged alphabetically.

We don't think you should try to be more productive for the sake of doing more or making someone else more money. We see personal productivity as something that helps improve your life. The point of productivity apps is to make something you do smoother, easier, and more efficient. That way, you worry about it less and have more time and energy for everything else you love.

Many productivity apps take a job you would have otherwise done manually, like copying and pasting info from one app to another or transcribing audio, and do it for you automatically. Others improve your quality of life by helping you get organized so you spend less mental energy trying to remember where you wrote down important details or what you're supposed to do next. They take that weight off your shoulders. And who couldn't benefit from a lighter load?

You can use the best productivity apps listed below in professional and personal spheres, by yourself, or in many cases collaboratively. We hope some of these apps make your life a little better.