I have always been on a quest for ideal productivity apps – the ones that would finally help me stay organized, focused, and conquer my ever-growing to-do list.
Over the years, I have downloaded and tested dozens of them on my Google Pixel 8, each promising to be the key to unlocking my full potential. But more often than not, they ended up creating more friction than flow.
While these apps have their takers, I have come to a simple conclusion: for me, they just didn’t work. Here’s why I finally gave up on these Android apps and uninstalled them for good.
Notion
Let’s start with Notion, the app that promised to be the one-stop shop for my entire life. On a desktop, it’s a power beast, but on Android, it’s a different story.
The app is incredibly slow. Navigating my large databases and workspaces always felt like a test of patience. They took ages to load, making it impossible to reference information or add a new entry on the go.
The biggest issue for me, though, is that the Android app feels like a web wrapper – a slow, clunky version of the desktop crammed into an app frame. It doesn’t feel like a native mobile experience at all.
I wanted to use Notion for everything, but it failed at the simple things. When I needed to jot down a quick thought, the app’s sluggishness made it faster to use a sticky note.
When I needed a simple reminder, its complicated system made me just use TickTick instead.
It’s a powerful tool, but its mobile performance made it completely unusable for the quick, on-the-go tasks I needed it for.
Day One Journal
Next on the list is Day One, an app I genuinely wanted to love on Android because I was a huge fan of its polished and feature-rich experience on iOS.
When I switched to Android, Day One was one of the first apps I downloaded.
However, that excitement quickly faded.
The Android app felt like a second-class citizen. The beautiful, fluid interface I was used to on my iPhone was replaced by a clunky, dated UI that felt out of place.
It was immediately obvious that the Android version was far from perfect. It lacked many of the core features that made the iOS version special.
I gave it an honest shot, but after a few days of frustration, I was ready to move on. I uninstalled it and went back to Journey, which has a better UI and suits my digital journaling preferences.
Obsidian
When it comes to the ‘second brain’ philosophy, I had huge expectations from Obsidian. The idea of a local-first, interconnected knowledge base that I finally owned was appealing.
However, the Android app was a letdown. While the core concept is fantastic, the mobile experience is nowhere near as good as some of the other native apps out there (Anytype, for example).
The UI feels like a scaled-down desktop application, not something built from the ground up for a touch-first device. It’s functional, but it lacks the fluidity and polish I have come to expect.
A major point of frustration was the reliance on third-party plugins. Some of them felt half-baked or were completely unusable on Android. Obsidian also lacks home screen widgets.
I couldn’t get a quick view of my daily notes or a simple button to create a new entry without having to open an app.
Wallet by Budgetbackers
Wallet by Budgetbackers was another app I had high hopes for, specifically for its promise of effortless bank connections.
The idea of having my transactions automatically updated was a dream. Unfortunately, the Android app just didn’t live up to that promise.
First off, the design feels dated. It still uses a classic hamburger menu, and the overall UI hasn’t been updated with Material You. But that was a minor annoyance compared to the biggest problem: the bank connections.
For an app that sells itself on this feature, it was broken. My connections with my banks would often fail or simply stop updating. I would open the app expecting to see a full picture of my finances, only to find the entries from days ago.
Manually refreshing or reconnecting was a constant hassle that completely defeated the purpose of using (and paying for) the app in the first place.
Thunderbird
As a long-time desktop user of Thunderbird, I had huge expectations for its Android app. The desktop version is fantastic – a powerful, customizable, and privacy-respecting email client that does the job.
With the recent Nebula UI refresh, the desktop experience has become better. I was hoping to find that same quality on my phone.
Unfortunately, the Android app is below average. It lacks the same UI makeover and feels like a generation or two behind.
Even worse, the app lacks many of the features that make Thunderbird so great on a computer. After a week of testing, I was back to my Outlook setup.
Google Tasks
My experience with Google’s own apps is usually good, so I had high hopes for Google Tasks.
I was looking for a simple, reliable to-do list that seamlessly integrated with everything else I use. But the problem is that Google Tasks is too basic.
The biggest issue with Google Tasks is that it doesn’t understand natural language. I have been spoiled by other to-do apps that let me type something like ‘call mom tomorrow at 2 PM’ and it automatically sets the reminder, due date, and time.
With Google Tasks, I have to type the task, and then tap a separate field to set the due date and time.
On top of that, there is no way to add attachments. This is a deal-breaker for me. I often need to link a receipt, a document, or a screenshot to a specific task.
Brave browser
Brave browser promises a faster, ad-free, and more secure web experience right out of the box, and it largely delivers on that promise. My main issue is the lack of customization compared to other browsers like Vivaldi.
The other major turn-off was the constant push for its own services. Every day, it felt like Brave was pushing me to engage with its ecosystem. There is the Brave Rewards system, Wallet for crypto enthusiasts, news service, and paid add-ons like VPN.
While I appreciate that they need to generate revenue, the constant presence of these features felt like the company forcing its products on users.
Uninstalled these apps in no time
My experience with Notion, Day One, and other apps on this list is a reminder that what works for one person may not work for another.
The five-star reviews and glowing recommendations can often set an expectation that the app will magically transform your life.
But productivity is deeply personal. For me, alternatives like OneNote, Journey, TickTick, Microsoft Edge, Spendee, and Outlook do a much better job for my workflow.
While I will continue to keep an eye on these apps and new tools, my main focus now is on simplification. I’m more interested in using a few simple tools that help me do the things that truly matter.
