r/ProductivityApps

Would this kind of library view make you use a reading app more? 🤔📚

Would this kind of library view make you use a reading app more? 🤔📚

been working on a reading app and recently added this “shelf view” for the library

noticed more people started using it after sharing it, so trying to understand if this kind of layout actually makes a difference

most apps like goodreads / storygraph feel more like lists. this was more about making it feel like an actual bookshelf

also built it to work offline, since not being able to log reading or thoughts without internet was always a bit annoying.

would this kind of view make you more likely to use a reading app, or does it not really matter?

u/Legendaryfortune — 5 hours ago
Image 1 — I got tired of juggling 5 different apps and paying $7/mo subscriptions, so I spent 1.5 years building a genuinely free all-in-one alternative.
Image 2 — I got tired of juggling 5 different apps and paying $7/mo subscriptions, so I spent 1.5 years building a genuinely free all-in-one alternative.
Image 3 — I got tired of juggling 5 different apps and paying $7/mo subscriptions, so I spent 1.5 years building a genuinely free all-in-one alternative.

I got tired of juggling 5 different apps and paying $7/mo subscriptions, so I spent 1.5 years building a genuinely free all-in-one alternative.

Hi everyone, I'm a 15-year-old solo dev. I was tired of juggling three different apps for tasks, habits, and my calendar, and honestly, the paywalls on basic features (looking at you, Todoist) were driving me crazy.

So, I spent the last year and a half building an alternative completely from scratch.

It’s called Telic. It’s an all-in-one productivity ecosystem, totally free, with zero ads and absolutely no paywalls. To avoid server costs and respect your privacy, I built it to sync securely straight through your own Google Drive - meaning your data never touches my server.

Here are some of the core features:

  • A Connected Ecosystem: Tasks, Habits, Calendar, Gantt charts, and Gamified stats all interconnected in one place.
  • On All Your Devices: Native on iOS, macOS, Android, and even Web.
  • Deep Customization: 10+ palettes, time-based palettes, and heavy UI tweaking to make it feel native to your setup.
  • Smart Features: An optional AI Assistant and QuickAdd functionality.

It's been a massive project and I know it’s not flawless yet, which is why I'm actively pushing updates.

I’d genuinely appreciate any feedback! Let me know if the app runs smoothly on your device, if anything's missing or what bugs you manage to find. :)

u/jodeedev — 4 hours ago
Would you use a to-do app that looks like this? a to-do app with Glass UI

Would you use a to-do app that looks like this? a to-do app with Glass UI

Hey everyone,

I’ve been working on a simple to-do app recently and wanted to get some honest feedback from you guyz.

The app on which I'm working on is a normal to-do app named To-DoBee 🐝 It’s pretty minimal in terms of features (nothing groundbreaking), but I focused a lot on the UI and feel—trying out a glass style with dynamic, aesthetic backgrounds and smooth bouncy animations that will take you to next level.

The app is FREE, no subscription.

You would ask what is the use of backgrounds. For this I would say someone who is genuinely determined to complete their tasks will usually do so even without a to-do app. But if you do need an app, it should at least help set your mood and motivate you to get things done. That’s exactly what this app does. You can choose your background, and when you open the app daily to check your tasks, you’ll see a cool background that lifts your mood—and just like that, you’re ready to start completing your tasks.

And I think you should definitely give a try to this app.

It is set to launch in upcoming one to two weeks.

I need your genuine feedback on this so that I can improve the app. Do tell what's your thought on it, features you want, and anything extra you would like to share....

u/_Shaurya99 — 1 hour ago
▲ 7 r/SideProject+2 crossposts

I stopped trying to “be disciplined” with money. this worked better

I used to think managing money was about being disciplined.

Track everything. Stay consistent. Review regularly.

In reality, I’d do it properly for a few days, maybe a week, then miss a couple entries and the whole thing would fall apart.

Not because I didn’t care, just because life isn’t that structured.

Expenses come from everywhere. Cards, cash, random receipts, subscriptions you forget about. Trying to keep it all perfectly updated never lasted for me.

So instead of trying to be more disciplined, I changed the approach.

I focused on making it easy enough that I don’t avoid it.

Now I just capture things as they happen. Receipts get scanned in seconds, statements can be uploaded if I miss something, and instead of digging through transactions I just ask simple questions like how much did I spend on food or where most of my money went.

That shift made a bigger difference than any budgeting method I tried.

Also important for me, I didn’t want to connect bank accounts or deal with data being shared around. So everything stays on the device.

I built this into a tool I’ve been using daily.

If you’re open to trying something like this once, I’d really appreciate your honest feedback
https://www.expenseeasy.app/scan

There’s a quick demo here if you want to see how it works to chat with personal assistant
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UlpK7T4kXd4

I’m trying to build this around real usage, not theory. So if something feels pointless or missing, I’d rather hear that than compliments

u/Anon081 — 3 hours ago

So i spent 2 weeks trying to build a habit / productivity app with a system that works for me or maybe others but I'm burnt out and hesitating if it was all a waste of time

I really believed in it but maybe its time to quit, if some people are interested i might not fully quit but i got other goals or dreams that trying to make this app prevents me fulfilling but in the other hand its gonna be hard without a system since i procrastinate a lot... i'm really lost i tried every app you can think of even bought a real notebook but nothing seems to work.. maybe i need to train my brain that nobody will save me and "just do it"... honestly idk anymore

reddit.com
u/Single_Economy_9024 — 3 hours ago
I built a zoomable window overview for Windows in Rust -- with click-through pin mode (OSS - MIT license)

I built a zoomable window overview for Windows in Rust -- with click-through pin mode (OSS - MIT license)

https://preview.redd.it/dnqxlm1zjltg1.png?width=3165&format=png&auto=webp&s=7ab91d0ce5e6ae142793ac148be63e606b5f4e27

I built a window manager for Windows that shows live thumbnails of all your open windows on an infinite zoomable canvas. Hit Ctrl+Space from anywhere, see everything at once, click to switch. It also works across virtual desktops.

The part I'm most happy with: press F1 on any thumbnail and it zooms in and punches a hole through the overlay so you can actually interact with the app -- type, click, scroll -- without dismissing the canvas. Built in Rust using

the DWM Thumbnail API and Direct2D. Open source, no installer.

▎ GitHub: https://github.com/sermtech/wincanvas

reddit.com
u/FigZestyclose7787 — 24 minutes ago
SpendBuddy: Renewal, Bills and One-off Spending
▲ 2 r/ProductivityApps+1 crossposts

SpendBuddy: Renewal, Bills and One-off Spending

How are you all tracking your subscriptions, bills, and the little “one-off” purchases that quietly add up?

I kept bouncing between notes, banking apps, and reminders… so I started building (and using) my own lightweight tracker: SpendBuddy.

What it does:

  • Subscriptions: track renewals + monthly totals at a glance
  • Bills: keep recurring utilities in one place (no more “when is this due again?”)
  • One-off spending: quickly log everyday purchases without mixing them with bills

The best part: no accounts, no ads, no tracking — everything stays on your device.

If you’re curious, I’d love feedback on what’s missing or what would make this genuinely useful for you 👇

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/vn/app/spendbuddy-renewal-bills/id6759035436

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.buddyapp.spendbuddy

u/hoabuidev — 3 hours ago

How would you position this app so normal users instantly “get it”?

I’m building a mobile app and I’ve hit a positioning wall.

The product is basically about helping people think better through short guided exercises.

Right now it includes things like:

•	idea generation

•	structured thinking prompts

•	creativity/problem-solving exercises

•	saving and developing ideas over time

The issue: “creativity app” sounds vague.

Most people don’t wake up thinking, “I want to improve my creativity.”

They think:

•	“I need a better idea”

•	“I’m overthinking this”

•	“I need a fresh angle”

•	“I want to make better decisions”

•	“I’m stuck on a problem”

So I’m trying to figure out what positioning would make this feel instantly useful and worth downloading.

Here are a few directions I’m considering:

  1. Better ideas and decisions, every day

Makes it broader than just creativity.

  1. Think better every day

Simple, broad, habit-based.

  1. Turn rough thoughts into real ideas

More about idea development and clarity.

  1. A daily workout for your thinking

Leans into practice/training.

  1. Stop overthinking. Find better ideas faster

More pain-driven and direct.

  1. Creative problem solving for everyday life

More descriptive, but maybe less catchy.

If you saw an app like this, which direction would make the most sense to you?

What would make you actually try it?

And if none of these are right, how would you position it in one short sentence?

thanks for your attention 🙏

reddit.com
u/plumduckling — 30 minutes ago

best ai for school

i’m using chatgpt right now and i think it’s not the best for learning and doing school work so i’m looking for an alternative ai.

what ist in your experience the best ai for school work like research and academic writing?

reddit.com
u/chestfield — 2 hours ago

Anyone else take notes while watching videos? What's your setup?

I watch a lot of videos to learn new things. But I always forget what I learned, which video it was in, and where exactly in the video I saw it.

The worst is when I need something I know I watched before but I can't remember which video. So I end up searching and rewatching the whole thing for one part.

I tried taking notes in Notion and Google Docs. But you have to leave the video, switch tabs, write something down, and by the time you're back you missed 30 seconds. And the notes are separate from the video anyway. I'd write "22:15 good explanation" then go back, scrub to that time, and hope I got it right.

What I wanted was something like a book margin but for videos. You read a book, you write next to the paragraph. Videos don't have that.

So I built a Chrome extension called ClipMargin. It opens right next to the video. You never leave the tab. Just type and keep watching.

What it does so far:

  • Notes are pinned to the exact timestamp automatically
  • Pin to a single moment or capture a time range
  • Search across all your notes from every video
  • Click any note to jump back to the exact moment
  • Markdown formatting
  • Screenshot capture from the video
  • Tags to organize your notes

Right now it works on YouTube. Planning to add more platforms.

How do you take notes on videos? I'm curious what works for other people.

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u/faris_box — 4 hours ago
No more "tuna pasta" because I don't know what to cook: I tried automating my diet (and it works)
▲ 5 r/SideProject+4 crossposts

No more "tuna pasta" because I don't know what to cook: I tried automating my diet (and it works)

Hi everyone!

I don't know about you, but for me the worst part of cooking isn't actually cooking, but deciding what to make and making sure I have the ingredients. Between work and the gym, I always ended up eating the same two things or ordering takeout.

I started using AegisTable and wanted to share how it's changing my meal planning, because it solves problems I haven't seen solved elsewhere:

Zero waste: The "empty fridge" feature is killer. You enter what you already have and it will pull out the recipe.

True customization: It's not your typical recipe book. You can tell it, "I want a one-pot meal, I only have 20 minutes, and I don't want to make a mess" (difficulty level), and it will generate everything.

Allergy/diet management: Just set up your profile once and you no longer have to worry about reading a thousand labels or recipes you can't eat.

Automatic shopping list: Once you've planned your week on the app's calendar, it generates a precise shopping list.

If you want to try it out: https://aegistable-mealplanner-antiwaste.base44.app

Honestly, for those short on time or following specific diets, it's a game changer. Do any of you already use similar apps, or do you have better "analog" methods?

u/Emavike — 7 hours ago

[50 PROMO $19.9 -> Free Lifetime] [App] Stop "Aesthetic Procrastination." I built a T9 launcher that forces intentionality and learns your habits.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been reading the threads here about "Productivity App Fatigue" and the ADHD cycle of setting up a perfect system only to abandon it three days later.

As a UX designer, I realized a hard truth: Infinite space leads to zero priority. Most launchers give you unlimited home screens and folders, which invites "Aesthetic Procrastination." You spend hours picking icons and organizing folders instead of actually doing the work. I built Key Launcher as an intervention to turn your phone back into a high-performance tool.

1. The Power of Intentional Constraints (Dynamic Workspace)

Unlike other launchers, I’ve implemented a Hard Limit on the home screen grid. You can’t have 50 icons cluttering your view. You are forced to decide: What are the 8 most important tools for my life right now? This intentionality stops you from mindlessly clicking on distracting apps and keeps your "North Star" apps front and center. Everything else? It’s just a two-tap T9 search away.

2. Reduced Friction through Habit Learning

The "magic" happens the more you use it. Key Launcher features a Learning Engine that observes your daily routines.

  • It identifies which apps you actually use vs. which ones just sit there.
  • The dynamic grid evolves with you, ensuring that the friction to open your "Power Apps" reduces to near zero over time. It’s not just a launcher; it’s an interface that adapts to your brain’s rhythm.

3. T9 Muscle Memory (Fitts's Law)

Searching for an app shouldn't be a visual chore. By using a T9 keypad, we move from "Visual Search" (scanning icons) to "Physical Execution."

  • 2-2-6-5 for "Bank."
  • 8-6-3-6 for "Todo." Within days, your thumb remembers the patterns. You stop looking at the screen and start executing. It’s the fastest "Low Effort" capture method I've found.

4. Zero-Clutter Focus Tools

  • Focus Mode (Key 0): Long-press 0 to transform your phone into a minimalist desk clock. It silences the world and gives you a clean workspace for deep work.
  • Super Shortcuts: Long-press keys 1-9 to trigger deep actions (like a specific Notion page or a Payment QR) in 0.5 seconds.
  • Quick Glance: See your next calendar event, AQI, and Weather without ever opening an app.
  • Native App Limits: Track daily usage and set time limits per app. Key Launcher will gently nudge you (or block access) when you've exceeded your limit, helping you break the infinite scroll cycle.
  • Dedicated Widget Center: Swipe left to access your favorite 3rd-party widgets in one clean stream. Your home screen stays 100% minimalist, but your data is just a swipe away.

Why I'm sharing this here:

I’m an indie dev who was tired of my phone treating my attention like a commodity. I wanted a "Search-First" experience that was ergonomic, stable, and actually helped me stay productive.

If you’re tired of the "App Grid" fatigue and the endless cycle of organizing folders, I’d love your feedback on this "Intentionality-first" approach.

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.loitran.minimalt9launcher.free

The UX Science behind the design (Substack Deep Dive): https://loitran07.substack.com/p/t9-search-the-ux-solution-to-smartphone

---

🙏 A Huge Thank You: To everyone who has already purchased a Pro license—thank you. Your support is the only reason I can afford to spend time perfecting the UX and offer this giveaway today.

⏰ Claim: If you want to try the Pro version, comment below, and I’ll DM you a lifetime code (first 50 people).

u/loitran07 — 4 hours ago
Image 1 — I was tired of "cute" productivity apps, so I built a digital executioner.
Image 2 — I was tired of "cute" productivity apps, so I built a digital executioner.
Image 3 — I was tired of "cute" productivity apps, so I built a digital executioner.

I was tired of "cute" productivity apps, so I built a digital executioner.

Most productivity apps treat you like a child with cute icons and motivational quotes. If you’re like me, that doesn't work. We need a system that actually enforces discipline.

I built V O I D .

It’s a brutalist app blocker designed for one thing: severing the dopamine loop. No ads, no fluff, no mercy.

How it works:

Total Intercept: It doesn't ask. It shuts your "target" apps down instantly.

Breach Logs: It tracks every single time you tried to "cheat," showing you the raw data of your distractions.

Minimalist UI: Designed to be boring. The goal is to get you OFF your phone, not keep you in the app.

If you’re stuck in the "just 5 more minutes" loop, you don't need motivation—you need a hard reset.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thevoid.focus

I’m the developer. Is a "hard-lock" approach too much, or exactly what you need for deep work?

u/Gonsrb — 4 hours ago
[iOS][FREE] Reign: Budget & Expense Log

[iOS][FREE] Reign: Budget & Expense Log

https://preview.redd.it/bt7lvxtyyktg1.png?width=2392&format=png&auto=webp&s=1230db0bfe7c80ac6bf64198ede884c7749c971d

My frustration until now was the gap between purchasing something at the store and then waiting to go home to log the expense and usually most days I would just forget about it until I really sat down for an hour or so and go through every transaction I made on every single card. I was doing this biweekly via spreadsheets but I really tried all the possible ways to budget honestly. From the notes app, to pen and paper to taking out cash and putting them in envelopes, to apps but every thing still didn't unblock me to log it in the moment.

I wanted to build some thing easy. An app you open, use for 3 seconds, and close.

So I built Reign, where the sole purpose is to allow me to log the expense as soon as I pay for something. It hides my numbers with a single tap so that I don't have to worry about anyone looking over at my phone with my finances exposed. 

I thought I'd share because this is something that I actively wanted to solve in my life for the past 4 years but I just couldn't figure out a way to do it but it's a net positive to my life so I figured I should share.

Feel free to try it out, there's no sign ups and it's free.

Here's the link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reign-budget-expense-log/id6760743385

reddit.com
u/mrpurpss — 2 hours ago
Littlebird AI – 2 months free ($40 credit) with my referral code
▲ 4 r/ProductivityApps+3 crossposts

Littlebird AI – 2 months free ($40 credit) with my referral code

Been using Littlebird AI for a while now and thought I'd share it here since it's flown a bit under the radar.

It's a context-aware AI assistant for Mac that quietly runs in the background and learns what you're working on across your apps — so instead of writing long prompts to explain your situation, it already knows. It's genuinely useful if you're switching between a lot of tasks or apps throughout the day.

There's a free tier to try it out, and if you want to upgrade, you can get **2 months free ($40 credit)** using my referral code or link below.

**Referral code:** `2WXJMY3R`

**Or use the direct link:**

https://littlebird.ai/download?ref=2WXJMY3R

No catch — works for new users signing up. Happy to answer any questions if you've been on the fence about trying it.

u/JG-Batz52 — 8 hours ago
JobSnail - app for tracking job applications and interviews. Limited Lifetime Premium codes giveaway
▲ 9 r/iosapps+5 crossposts

JobSnail - app for tracking job applications and interviews. Limited Lifetime Premium codes giveaway

Keeping track of job applications can get overwhelming fast - spreadsheets, scattered notes, and missed follow-ups. JobSnail helps you stay organized by tracking applications and interviews in one place, without the clutter.

💡 Want Lifetime Premium?

Drop a comment, upvote, and DM me for a promo code. The first 100 people will get the code.

JobSnail is available as a MacOS and iOS versions on the App Store. And there's also a web version at jobsnail.app. It's also worth mentioning that all the apps are fully synced through iCloud, and an Apple account is required to use the app on Web.

u/netsplatter — 2 days ago
I had 100+ tabs open across two browsers and couldn't find anything anymore. Here's what actually helped.

I had 100+ tabs open across two browsers and couldn't find anything anymore. Here's what actually helped.

so i finally looked at my browser situation today and it was genuinely bad. hundreds of tabs in chrome for work, another bunch in safari for personal stuff and AI tools. i can't read a single tab title in either browser, they're just crushed little favicons at this point. no idea when it got this bad but here we are.

the worst part is whenever i need something i had open earlier, i just google it again. open a new tab. so now i have duplicates of stuff that was already open somewhere. and i never close anything because what if i need it later right? so it just keeps growing.

the thing that really messed me up was using two browsers. chrome for work, safari for personal - which sounds organized but in practice it means i literally cannot see everything i have open. i'm constantly cmd-tabbing between them trying to remember where i saw something. half the time i give up and just search it again.

someone on this sub posted a while back about saving 497 tabs into a text file and feeling organized for about 3 days before being back to 59 tabs. felt that in my soul lol

anyway here's what actually ended up helping after trying basically everything:

stopped treating tabs as bookmarks. an open tab is not a save-for-later system, it's just something i haven't closed yet. once i actually accepted that, things got easier.

started doing this thing where instead of leaving 40 tabs open from a research session, i save them all into a folder with a name like "api research april" and close everything. fresh browser. the important thing is nothing is lost, i can go back and find it whenever. but my browser is clean and i can actually think.

searching instead of scrolling. this one sounds dumb but i spent years clicking through tabs one by one looking for that one page. just searching for it is so much faster and i don't know why it took me this long.

the multi-browser thing i solved by getting an app that shows tabs from both browsers in one sidebar. i actually built a mac app that does this in my free time - it shows all open tabs from every browser in one list and you can search across everything. made a short 1 min video showing how it works if anyone wants to see it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-qDlVV9T9g

but honestly even without any app, just the habit of saving your tabs somewhere before moving on instead of keeping 200 tabs open "just in case" - that alone is a huge difference. the clean browser feeling after dumping everything into a folder is weirdly satisfying.

idk if the multi-browser problem is common or if most people just stick to one browser. that was the part that drove me the most crazy.

u/DogZealousideal5717 — 6 hours ago

Would people use PWA (non app store apps)?

I'm building a productivity app that I have been using as a test case for myself and a few friends (currently a web app).

I want to give it to more people, get more feedback, but would people do it if it is still just a web app (it can be added as a PWA to your phone, looks and behaves like an app, but there's no app store download)

is it worth showing people like that, or should I get it onto the app store/play store first?

reddit.com
u/Productivity-Hunter — 13 hours ago
Week