iPhone Reminders App: 10 Power Tips 2026
Apple Reminders went from joke to legitimate Things/Todoist competitor. After 4 years using it as my main task manager, here are the tips that make Reminders genuinely powerful.
⚡ Productivity Pairings
Reminders + these = unstoppable.
Reminders on wrist
Cost Breakdown — All Options
| Where | Cost | Wait | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-based | Free | Built-in | Default mode |
| Location-based | Free | When I arrive at..., When I leave... | Killer feature |
| Sub-tasks | Free | Indent for nested | Project breakdown |
| Smart Lists | Free | Filter by tag/date/etc | Auto-organize |
| Share with family | Free | Per-list collab | Shopping/family |
Top 5 Reminder Tricks
- Location alerts — 'Pick up bread' when arriving at grocery store
- Tags — type #urgent in reminder, Smart List filters by tag
- Subtasks — indent reminder under another for project structure
- Templates — create reusable lists (vacation packing, weekly grocery)
- Share entire list with family — shopping list, chores, party planning
Hey Siri Workflow
'Hey Siri, remind me when I get home to take out trash.' Done. Powerful.
'Hey Siri, remind me when I leave work to call Mom.' Geofence triggers exit-based reminder.
Smart Lists
New List → Smart List. Pick filters: Tag (#work), Priority (high), Due (today), Location (nearby). Auto-populates as you add reminders matching criteria. Eliminates manual organizing.
Templates Save Hours
Create 'Vacation Packing' list with everything you always pack. Save as Template (long-press). Each new trip → duplicate template → ready to go in 5 seconds.
Reminders vs Things vs Todoist
- Reminders: free, deep iCloud, location alerts, Hey Siri integration
- Things 3: $50 once, gorgeous UI, deep workflows
- Todoist: $4/mo, cross-platform, natural language entry
- Verdict: Reminders is enough for 80% of users in 2026. The other 20% will pay $50 for Things.
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