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Milestones vs Apple Reminders

Reminders is the free list app that ships with every Apple device. Milestones is a native planner built around Project → Milestone → Task. Same ecosystem, very different shape.

Download on the App Store Free · Works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Apple Reminders is already on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and HomePod. It's free, fully integrated with Siri, Mail, Messages, Maps, and the system share sheet, and it syncs through iCloud without a single tap of setup. For grocery lists, errands, location-based nudges, and shared household lists, it's hard to beat — and it shouldn't be replaced.

Milestones is built for a different job. Instead of one flat list of reminders, it organizes work as Project → Milestone → Task. Each milestone has its own target date and an 'active' state, so a project always tells you what phase you're in and what's next. Project status (idea, active, in progress, abandoned) is a first-class concept, not a tag.

Most people who use both end up with Reminders for life admin and Milestones for things that have phases — a side project, a renovation, a launch, a thesis. They're complementary more than competitive.

Feature comparison

Milestones vs Apple Reminders

  • Built for

    Milestones

    Multi-phase projects with deadlines

    Apple Reminders

    Quick reminders, lists, and household tasks

  • Price

    Milestones

    Free; optional Pro

    Apple Reminders

    Free, included with iOS/macOS

  • Platforms

    Milestones

    iOS, iPadOS, macOS — native SwiftUI

    Apple Reminders

    iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, HomePod, web (iCloud.com)

  • Planning model

    Milestones

    Project → Milestone → Task

    Apple Reminders

    List → Reminder (with subtasks)

  • Deadlines on a 'phase'

    Milestones

    Yes — every milestone has a target date

    Apple Reminders

    Only individual reminders have dates

  • Project status (idea / active / done / abandoned)

    Milestones

    First-class

    Apple Reminders

    Not a concept — done or not done

  • Siri integration

    Milestones

    Planned

    Apple Reminders

    Deep, system-level ('Remind me when I get home')

  • Location & messaging triggers

    Milestones

    Recurring tasks, Due date reminders, Daily briefing

    Apple Reminders

    Yes — arrive at, leave, when messaging X

  • Apple Watch app

    Milestones

    Not yet

    Apple Reminders

    Yes, native

  • Sharing & collaboration

    Milestones

    Single-user today

    Apple Reminders

    Shared lists, assigned reminders

  • Sync

    Milestones

    Private iCloud sync

    Apple Reminders

    iCloud (system-level)

  • Account required

    Milestones

    No account

    Apple Reminders

    Apple ID for sync

  • Tags

    Milestones

    Yes

    Apple Reminders

    Yes (since iOS 16)

  • Smart lists (Today, Upcoming, Inbox)

    Milestones

    Yes

    Apple Reminders

    Yes (Today, Scheduled, Flagged…)

Pick Milestones if

  • Your work has phases, not just due dates. You want a real 'active milestone', not a flagged task.
  • You want to mark a project as an idea or as abandoned without losing it.
  • Reminders' single-list-per-project shape feels too flat for what you're actually planning.
  • You want a dedicated planner app, separate from your grocery list and your 'pick up dry cleaning' nudges.
  • You want a calmer surface that isn't also receiving Siri-dictated reminders all day.

Pick Apple Reminders if

  • You mostly need quick captures: 'remind me to call mom tomorrow at 6'.
  • Location- and message-based reminders are core to how you remember things.
  • You share lists with a partner, family, or roommates — Reminders does this beautifully and for free.
  • Apple Watch and HomePod access matter to you.
  • You don't actually have multi-phase projects — you have a long list of small things, and that's fine.

Bottom line

Reminders is excellent at what it is: the free, system-integrated list app for everyone with an Apple ID. Don't replace it for groceries, errands, or shared household lists. Milestones is for the projects in your life that deserve more than a list — things with phases, deadlines, and a question of 'what's next?'. Use both. They're not in the same fight.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Should I stop using Apple Reminders if I get Milestones?

No. Reminders is great for quick captures, location triggers, Siri, and shared household lists. Milestones is for projects with phases. Most people end up using both — that's the intended split.

Can Milestones import my Apple Reminders lists?

Not as a one-click import. The structures don't map cleanly: a Reminders list is flat, a Milestones project has milestones with their own deadlines. Most people re-plan their bigger lists at the milestone level instead.

Does Milestones work with Siri?

Through Shortcuts, yes. Reminders has deeper, system-level Siri integration ('remind me when I get home') that no third-party app can fully replicate. If voice-driven capture is your main workflow, keep Reminders.

Is there an Apple Watch app for Milestones?

Not yet. If wrist access is important, Reminders is the better fit today.

What about shared lists and family collaboration?

Reminders wins clearly — shared lists and assigned reminders are first-class and free. Milestones is currently single-user and aimed at personal project planning.

Is Milestones really free if Reminders is also free?

Milestones is free to use, with an optional Pro upgrade for advanced features. The pitch isn't 'pay to replace Reminders' — it's 'use the right tool for the job that has phases'.

Keep Reminders. Add a real project planner.

Free, native, private — built for the projects in your life that have phases.

Download on the App Store

Free · No account required · Private iCloud sync