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The Apple Reminders alternative for when lists aren't enough
Done Bear is the Apple Reminders alternative for people who've outgrown lists. It adds real GTD structure (Inbox, Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday), Windows and web apps, real-time team workspaces, and CLI and MCP automation, while staying local-first fast. Free to start.
Done Bear vs Apple Reminders at a glance
Done Bear
Apple Reminders
Done Bear
Apple Reminders
GTD structure
Platforms
Offline speed
Collaboration
CLI / API / MCP
Pricing
Why people switch from Apple Reminders
Lists stop scaling; systems don't
Reminders gives you lists; GTD needs a system. In Done Bear, capture lands in the Inbox, Today is a deliberate choice, and Someday holds ideas without guilt: structure Reminders can't express without hacks.
Leave the walled garden without losing speed
Your tasks shouldn't require an Apple device. Done Bear runs fully in the browser and ships native Windows and Linux apps, so a work PC no longer cuts you off from your system.
Automation beyond Shortcuts
Reminders automation tops out at Siri and Shortcuts. Done Bear has a CLI, a GraphQL API, and a hosted MCP server, so scripts and AI assistants like Claude can capture and triage for you.
Who should stay on Apple Reminders
If your needs are light (groceries, a few dated reminders, Siri capture from your wrist), Apple Reminders is excellent and free, and switching would be overkill. Done Bear is for the moment your lists turn into a workload that needs a system.
Moving from Apple Reminders
Most Reminders setups move in one sitting: create a project per list, then re-enter the tasks that still matter. Treat it as a review rather than a copy; half of an old Reminders list is usually done or dead.
Frequently asked questions
What does Done Bear do that Apple Reminders doesn't?
Reminders has no real GTD structure: no Someday list, no distinction between scheduled and available work, and projects are just more lists. Done Bear ships the five GTD views as the app's navigation, so bigger workloads stay organized without you inventing a system.
Does Done Bear work on Windows and the web?
Yes. Done Bear runs in any browser, plus native apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS. Apple Reminders is effectively Apple-only: the iCloud.com version is limited, and there's no Windows or Android app.
Apple Reminders is free, so what does Done Bear cost?
Done Bear is free for up to 250 tasks with unlimited workspace members: enough to run a full personal GTD system without paying. Paid plans start at $7/month per member billed yearly when you need unlimited tasks or more teams.
Is Done Bear as fast and offline-capable as Reminders?
Yes. Like Reminders, Done Bear is local-first: tasks live on your device, open instantly offline, and sync in the background. Unlike Reminders, that sync reaches every platform and shared team workspaces.
Can I share tasks with people who don't use Apple devices?
Reminders sharing is per-list and Apple-to-Apple only. Done Bear has real-time shared workspaces that work across platforms, so a teammate on Windows or the web sees changes the moment they happen.