How to make a to-do list app for iOS
What a to-do list app needs
- A task model with a title, notes, due date, and done state
- Lists or projects to group tasks, with a sort order
- Quick add, so a new task takes one tap and a few keystrokes
- Due dates and local notifications for reminders
- Recurring tasks for things that repeat daily or weekly
- A Home Screen and Lock Screen widget showing today's tasks
- Optional iCloud sync with CloudKit so tasks follow the user across devices
Keep the first version tight. Quick add, lists, reminders, and a widget already make a useful app and a shippable one.
How to build it with AppFlight
Describe it in plain English, for example: "A to-do app where I add tasks with a title, notes, and due date, group them into lists, mark them done with a tap, get a reminder notification before a task is due, set tasks to repeat daily or weekly, and see today's tasks in a Home Screen widget." AppFlight plans the screens, generates native SwiftUI, and launches it in a live simulator so you can try quick add and the reminder flow right away. You refine it by asking for changes in plain language, for example adding swipe-to-complete or a Today view.
Monetization for a to-do list app
The proven model is a free tier with a paid upgrade. Free users get a couple of lists and basic reminders; the subscription unlocks unlimited lists, recurring tasks, more reminders, custom themes, and widget styles. Add a RevenueCat paywall for subscriptions, and use Superwall if you want to test paywall designs without shipping an update. A few dollars a month, or a discounted yearly plan, is typical for productivity apps in this category.
Shipping it to the App Store
When the app is ready, AppFlight signs the build, uploads to TestFlight so you can test reminders and the widget on your own device, then submits to the App Store with metadata and screenshots from the simulator. If Apple rejects the build, AppFlight reads the reason, works on the fix, and resubmits. Apple reviews every app, so a submission is not the same as an approval, but the whole pipeline runs without you opening Xcode.
FAQ
Do I need to code to make a to-do list app?
No. You describe the app in plain English and AppFlight generates native Swift and SwiftUI. You can read and edit the code if you want, but you do not have to.
How do to-do apps make money?
Most use a free tier with a subscription that unlocks unlimited lists, recurring tasks, more reminders, and themes. A RevenueCat or Superwall paywall is the common setup, often a few dollars a month or a yearly plan.
Can a to-do app send reminders and sync across devices?
Yes. Local notifications handle due-date reminders, and iCloud with CloudKit can sync tasks across a user's devices. AppFlight can build the reminders and a Home Screen widget as part of the app.