Google Tasks is a bad to-do list app, but one feature makes it irreplaceable

There’s no shortage of excellent to-do list apps for Android. Whether you want something easy to use like TickTick or something seriously robust like Notion, there are endless options to choose from. Years ago, I would bounce back and forth between various to-do apps, always hunting for my next favorite one.

For the last couple of years, though, I’ve been using Google Tasks for all of my to-do needs. Google’s to-do list app has all the basics, but compared to virtually every other alternative, it’s missing a lot of key functionality, some of which I find really frustrating.

But despite that, I don’t see myself ever leaving Google Tasks, and it’s all because of one niche aspect of it I can’t live without.

For what it’s worth, I do like the simplistic nature of Google Tasks. To-do list apps that are overly complicated just don’t work for my brain, so the simpler the better. And this is a big part of why Tasks is a good fit for me. I can organize my tasks into different sections, set reminders for specific times, add extra details, and create sub-tasks if needed. It’s nothing groundbreaking by any means, but it works for what I want and need.

However, even as a fan of Google Tasks’ simplicity, it’s a little shocking as to how much the app is missing. And I’m not talking about superfluous, power-user features. Some features you’d expect to find in virtually any to-do list app are completely missing from Google Tasks.

One of the most frustrating for me is the lack of sharing. I recently wanted to share a weekend to-do list with my partner, only to realize that Google Tasks doesn’t allow this. You can’t share individual tasks, task lists, or anything in the app — it’s all restricted to your specific Google account.

I also hate that Google Tasks doesn’t support location-based reminders. There are so many times I’ve wanted to be reminded of a task when I get home or when I arrive at a store. This should be easy for Google to do (it already has my Android phone’s location data), but the functionality just isn’t there.

Those are the two biggest and most consistent roadblocks I run into, but there are other issues, too.

For one, I really wish there were better filtering tools in Google Tasks, such as an option to see only tasks due today. I’d also think an inbox feature similar to TickTick’s would be great, letting me see all my tasks due today and tomorrow, plus what’s coming up in the next 7 days. Sure, you can kind of mimic this in Google Tasks with its Google Calendar integration, but a better UI built right into Tasks that ignores my other calendar entries would be really helpful at times.

If Google Tasks is missing so many features, why in the world do I keep using it? Why haven’t I switched to one of the many other to-do list apps? It’s all because of one thing: Google Nest Hub integration.

I have a first-generation Nest Hub on my office desk. It primarily functions as a photo gallery and control hub for smart home devices, but because I use Google Tasks, it’s also the perfect device to ensure I never miss a reminder. Whenever I have something due on Google Tasks, it automatically appears on the Nest Hub’s home screen like a virtual sticky note. Since the Nest Hub is within my peripheral vision all day while I’m working, it’s impossible for me to miss a task when it pops up like this.

I know this sounds basic, and that’s because it is, but there’s something about seeing to-do list items on a smart display that’s more helpful than yet another notification on my phone. It feels more intentional. Seeing that red pop-up out of the corner of my eye until I actually get off my butt and complete the task at hand really is beneficial.

And it’s not just these pop-ups. If I tap the Nest Hub’s display to see my daily cards, any upcoming Google Tasks items also appear here. Furthermore, if I ask Gemini on the Nest Hub to show me my reminders, I can see a full list of my current items in Google Tasks. Being able to do this without picking up my phone (and likely getting distracted by something else) is a huge benefit.

All of these Nest Hub integrations are only possible with Google Tasks. If I used TickTick, Todoist, Microsoft To Do, or any other app, I wouldn’t get any of this functionality. And for me, that’s reason enough to stick with Google Tasks. It might be missing numerous other features I’d like to see, but the Nest Hub tie-in is so helpful that I’m willing to overlook those things.

Is this a very specific, likely niche use case? Absolutely. But it’s something I’ve come to rely on every day, and it’s why I don’t see myself quitting Google Tasks anytime soon.