Google Tasks vs. Google Keep

Raise your hand if you've used Google Tasks before. Raise your hand if you've used Google Keep before. Raise your hand if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

Fear not, friends! Today, I'm going to talk to you about both so that you can utilize each to your benefit!

I'm going to be really real with you (as my daughter would say).  It wasn't until a few years ago that I started using both of these.  I was exclusively using Keep until Google updated their stuff and then embedded the toolbar into everything and then I started using Tasks.  They have some similarities, but their unique features are what will determine what you will use each app for. Let's start by briefly describing what each one is.

Google Tasks:   Essentially, it's a to do list.  You can create different lists with different tasks assigned to them and also set up reminders.

Google Keep:  This is an app where you can also create lists and notes as well, but in various formats.  You can enter in text, write with your finger, do voice memos, upload pics or take a pic.

Now that we have an idea of what each app is, let's talk a little more in depth on the features as well as when we would use each of these. 

You can find Tasks in your Google Apps button icon or in the sidebar of your Gmail, Google Drive, or any Google apps that you have open. Personally, I like to use this most with my Gmail.  I'll explain why in a bit.  This sidebar is collapsable to be conveniently hidden and out of the way but still easily accessible when you need it.  

With GTasks, it's pretty cut and dry.  You open the app and enter a new task.  That's all it really has to be, if you want.  However, if you want a little more, you can enter your task by clicking on the edit button on the side and enter more detailed info about that task, set a due date, and set a reminder, if you'd like.  You can also add a subtask.  For example, if I'm helping plan a team meeting at school, I could enter, "Plan team meeting" as my parent task and "create agenda" and "get snacks" as subtasks (because let's be real, any meeting is better with snacks).  Then, just check tasks as you complete them, and they will appear in a "completed" section at the bottom of your tasks screen that you can go into later and delete permanently.  Note:  If you end up checking the box next to the parent task, all subtasks will also be automatically checked.

As mentioned before, you can also create different lists for different things.  I may have a Work task list and a Personal task list.  Or you may want to create a task list for each major project you're working on.  It's all up to you on how you want to use it.  In addition to all of this, Tasks offers a sorting feature to make accessibility easier for you.  If you click on the three little dots next to the "My Tasks" title, you're offered the option of sorting your task lists by your own order or by date.  This is especially useful if you have assigned a due date for any of your tasks, as they will be listed in that order first.  

The last great feature that Tasks offers as a pleasant surprise is the ability to drag and drop emails into it.  Let's say your principal emails you letting you know they'll be dropping by tomorrow for an observation (as if it really worked that way, right?).  If I have my Tasks sidebar app open, I can drag that email to my list...the top of the list, mind you...which will then be a reminder to me to create a phenomenal lesson for the next day.  This is why I had mentioned earlier that I tend to have Tasks open mostly on my computer when Gmail is up.  Your original email message will still stay in your email inbox, even if you check it off your Tasks list.  The mobile app isn't much different than the web app, which makes it user friendly.  This is what I like to suggest my students use if they are reluctant planner users and have trouble keeping track of homework.  We use Google Classroom in our school and if they can remember to check their email (which I remind them to do so in class on a daily basis), then they can drag and drop assignments at least into their task list.  

Where GTasks is cut and dry, Keep has a few more bells and whistles when it comes to the app so let's chat about that.  First, Keep offers you a selection of ways you want to enter your info into the app.  As mentioned before, it can be in a checklist format, a blank canvas to draw with a stylus or your finger, with a voice memo (which will also transcribe your voice notes to text), or to upload/take a pic.  Each note or list is saved in blocks, or in a card-like fashion.  I'm not gonna lie--I use Keep all the time.  I will never use a paper grocery list again.  This is perfect for that.  If I create a new checklist and start typing in cereal, it auto senses what I may want to be saying and offers a list of grocery items.  No joke.  You'll see what I mean.

The voice memo feature is great if I'm out and about and don't have a paper and pen to write something down or just need to note something fast.  Done.  The blank canvas feature is good for doodling, taking notes with a stylus if that's your jam, or taking down a phone number or phone convo information.  Need to take a pic and use it for something later? You can do that in Keep! I personally like to add pictures as note headers just to make it look fancy schmancy.  I'm a little extra like that.  To add more customization to each one of your notes, you can also add labels and color code each one.  If there are certain notes/lists that are more important, you can pin those to the top. With the web version, you can set reminders. 

But the real kicker...the one thing that Keep does that Tasks does not....is it makes all your notes shareable.  Remember the grocery list we were talking about earlier? I remember that we need eggs, I open my Keep app on my phone, add it, it pops up on my husband's app because it's a shared list between the two of us.  Boom.  Oh, I took notes on my app from a conference and want to share with a colleague? Shared.  Done.  **NOTE: For those of you who dig the Dark Mode on your apps, Keep offers this as an option as well.

The Verdict?

That's up to you to decide.  Again, what are you looking to use it for? My suggestion would be to play around with both and brainstorm how you could use each one.  I'm including three free Google Keep note title pictures that you can download and use, if you'd like! You may have seen me use them in my other blog post where I talked about iPads. Just right click, save, and then upload to your Google Keep note by clicking the picture option!

Try them today! See what you like about each of them.  No need to commit to one or the other, or any if neither are your jam.  It's all about options, people.  And not just for you, for your students as well! A little organization can't hurt anyone.