Alcove vs Apple Reminders: when is the free app enough?
Apple Reminders is free, built into every Apple device, and great for shared family lists and location reminders. Alcove is for people who want more from their Mac: the day in a menu bar popup, quick add from any app with one sentence, boards, and notes that calculate, for $29.99 once on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Apple Reminders has quietly become a good app. It's free, it's on every Apple device, and it now does smart lists, tags and columns. So when is it worth paying for something else? Here's an honest comparison, checked on 28 September 2026.
At a glance
| Alcove | Apple Reminders | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 once for Mac, iPhone and iPad, after a 14-day free trial | Free, built in |
| Platforms | Mac, iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and more Apple devices |
| Menu bar | Popup with today, lists, the month and notes; lists can float on top | None |
| Quick add | ⌥ Space from any app; one sentence sets day, time, length, list, tag, priority and repeat | Add in the app, or ask Siri |
| Organising | Lists, folders, tags, boards | Lists, tags, Smart Lists, sections and columns |
| Notes | Notes that calculate, with tables and budget rows, beside your tasks | A separate Notes app |
| Sharing | No | Shared lists and assigned reminders |
| Sync | Your own iCloud | Your own iCloud |
Where Reminders is stronger
- It's free and already there. Nothing to install or buy, on every Apple device.
- Sharing. Shared lists, with reminders you can assign to people.
- Smart Lists. Lists that gather reminders by tags, dates, priority, flags or location.
- Location reminders and Apple Watch. Reminders can nudge you when you arrive somewhere, and it's on your wrist.
Where Alcove is stronger
- The Mac menu bar. Your whole day, one click away, with today's count beside the icon and lists that can float above your work. See the menu bar guide.
- Quick add from any app. Press ⌥ Space and type "Pay rent every month !high /Home". See the quick add guide.
- Notes and tasks together. Notes live beside your lists, can link to tasks and do the maths. See notes that do the maths.
- Boards. Drag cards from To do to Done, and each card stays a real task. See personal kanban boards.
- More in a task. Durations, reminders, attachments, links and linked notes.
Which should you choose?
Stay with Reminders if you share lists with family, rely on location reminders or your Apple Watch, or want something free.
Choose Alcove if you spend your day on a Mac and want the list in the menu bar, capture tasks mid-flow with one shortcut, and keep notes, boards and tasks in one calm place.
Sources
Checked on 28 September 2026:
- View reminders as lists or columns on Mac, Apple Support
- Organize reminders on your iPhone or iPad, Apple Support
- Create custom Smart Lists in Reminders on Mac, Apple Support
Questions people ask
Is Apple Reminders good enough?
For many people, yes. It's free, syncs through iCloud and shares lists with family. Alcove is worth it if you want your day in the Mac menu bar, notes and tasks in one place, and boards.
Does Apple Reminders have a menu bar app?
No. Reminders lives in its own window. Alcove keeps your day in a menu bar popup, one click from any app.
Can Alcove share lists like Reminders?
No. Alcove is built for one person, so for shared shopping or family lists, Reminders is the better choice.
Do both sync through iCloud?
Yes. Both keep your data in your own iCloud, with no separate account.