I’ve used plenty to-do list applications in my day, and shelled out quite a bit of money for them, to say the least. Some boasted much more features than others, while some were better designed. And, well, some were better than others. I have found that I prefer the simple to-do app, so I resorted to using Clear.
Then a nifty little app called Cheddar came out. It was similar to Clear because of its simplicity of design and function, but seemed to be a bit more robust when it came down to features. But does Cheddar make the cut and replace Clear as my go-to to-do list application? Find out after the jump.
What is Cheddar?
No, we’re not talking about the cheese. As mentioned before, Cheddar is one of the newest to-do list applications on the block. It takes on a simple paper and pencil to-do list form: just the tasks, no due dates or any of that jazz. Just type in a task, and check it off once you’re done.
It's easy: add a todo, then check it off once you're done
One of the biggest features that sets Cheddar apart from many todo list applications is that it spreads across many platforms. With a universal iOS app, a web service, and a Mac app in the making, you are able to access your tasks no matter where you are. All changes made to your lists are instantly synced across all platforms, so you’ll almost never have to worry about having an out-of-date to do list. Being a new service, however, the syncing can be a little bit finicky at times, but this should be fixed in the near future.
Those Nifty Little Features
Sure, Cheddar is a simple to-do list application, but what sets it apart from its competition? Well, within Cheddar, there is just a little bit extra that adds a whole lot of usefulness to the application itself. The two biggest features are the tagging system and the support of Markdown.
Use hashtags to organize your lists
Cheddar’s tagging system is essentially the same as Twitter’s. All you do is add a hashtag and a word to tag the item. Once you have tagged it, you are able to use the tag to wean down the list into just the tasks that have the tag in them. This is an incredibly useful tool to keep your lists organized, especially if you are a student or are managing many different projects.
The Markdown support in Cheddar is also a really awesome feature. For those who don’t know about Markdown, it is a text-to-HTML conversion system. Essentially, it allows you to do basically anything with your text. Some basic features are the ability to bold, italicize or strike-through words. Markdown also allows you to add hyperlinks to your list. For you fun-lovers out there, Emoji is supported in the app as well. You can find the whole list of supported Markdown terms here.
The markdown support allows you to add text styles as well as hyperlinks to your lists
I have found that some of these extra features, such as strike-through and Emoji, aren’t all too necessary. However, the capability to bold text and add hyperlinks will come in handy rather often. These features can add emphasis and prioritize tasks and allow you to easily access information respectively. Ultimately, this can save you time in the end, which is always great to see in an app.
Still, like all new apps, Cheddar isn’t 100-percent perfect. At press time, there was still no way to delete an item. They can only be archived, and are available to you through an email to the app’s support team. Also, I didn’t particularly like that there is no easy way to clear several completed tasks at once, as you can only archive individual items or whole lists. Regardless, these two things don’t impact the usability of the app all too much, and can easily be fixed in future updates.
Premium Cheese
Unfortunately, Cheddar does not happen to be completely free. With the iOS app alone, you are limited to just two lists. In order to have unlimited lists, you must subscribe to Cheddar’s service, which will cost you $1.99/month or $19.99 a year. While this is not a high cost to pay, it is a bit annoying that you can’t get the most out of the app unless you pay a fee.
After creating two lists, you will be greeted with this screen if you try to open more
Luckily for us, Cheddar has enough features that you can still be organized even with the restraint of two lists. Using the tagging system, you are able to sort through your lists rather easily. If this still doesn’t fare you well, I would recommend shelling out the $20 for a year’s service — at least you know you’re supporting a small service.
Cheddar's simple design is seamless and looks great
Besides having pretty pixels, the UI is functional. Its simplicity makes it easy to use right off the bat. The only thing that threw me off a little was the fact that you can swipe right to archive an app, but the animation still moves to the left. Even that is minor, as it doesn’t affect the app in any way.
The Verdict
Overall, Cheddar is one of the best to-do list applications I have ever used. It is simple to use, and the Markdown and tagging support gives the app a little extra oomph. All of your tasks will be synced across all of your platforms, which is awesome to see in a free service. Not to mention that the app is gorgeous in all its versions.
Honestly, the only problem (aside from the standard new app problems) that I found with the application is that you can’t truly make the most of it unless you pay a monthly or yearly fee. To-do lists aren’t exactly something people want to pay a subscription for, but most people will not necessarily need these lists to keep organized. Nonetheless, Cheddar is stellar when it comes down to what it needs to do, and is unbeatable at its price of free.