Hey! Welcome to my Akiflow review of 2024
If you're anything like me, you've probably tried a dozen different daily planners, each promising to be the game-changer you need to streamline your workflow.
It's exhausting, isn't it? The endless cycle of signing up, testing, and ultimately abandoning apps that just don't cut it. I feel your frustration.
That's why I'm excited to share my experience with Akiflow. I've been in the trenches, testing it thoroughly in my daily routine, and I'm here to give you the lowdown.
I promise to deliver an unfiltered, no-nonsense review that cuts through the hype and gets to the heart of what Akiflow can really do for you.
By the end, you'll have a clear picture of whether this is the tool that can finally align with your workflow and make those productivity promises a reality.
Let's dive in.
Unlike Sunsama, Akiflow does not use AI to power any of its features, so you have 100% control over your tasks and schedules.
What is Akiflow?
Akiflow is a help you manage your day more effectively. It acts as a centralized platform where you can pull together all your tasks, meetings, and personal to-dos into one organized calendar.
This makes it super easy to see everything at a glance without flipping between different apps.
Akiflow is also great for planning out your time with features like time blocking, which lets you allocate specific slots in your calendar for different tasks.
Plus, it integrates with other tools you might be using, like Slack or Todoist, so everything is in one place.
Whether you're juggling multiple projects or just trying to keep on top of your daily tasks, Akiflow makes it simpler to stay organized and efficient.
What I Like/Dislike About Akiflow
Pros
Cons
Akiflow Dashboard
Let's take a quick tour of the Akiflow Dashboard.
On the left, you've got your 'Inbox' where all your new tasks land. It's your starting point.
Then there's the 'Today' section, which is pretty self-explanatory—it shows you what's on the agenda for the day.
If you're wondering what's coming up next, check out the 'Upcoming' section for a sneak peek at future tasks.
In the 'All Tasks' view, you can sort your tasks by different statuses, like what's planned or what you've put on hold.
For project management, the 'Projects' section allows you to create folders to categorize your tasks. This helps you stay organized and break down larger projects.
Tags are your go-to for keeping tasks in line. You can tag them by topic, making it easy to find related tasks later.
Over to the right is your calendar settings. It's flexible—show as many or as few days as you like and decide what task groups you want to be visible.
You can also click on your profile picture to get to 'Settings.' That's where you can connect Akiflow to other tools you're using, like Google Calendar.
It's about making everything work together smoothly.
Akiflow Review: Key Features
#1. Easily create and manage your tasks with options to schedule, repeat, and set deadlines
Managing tasks can sometimes feel like a juggling act, but with Akiflow, it's surprisingly straightforward.
Let me walk you through how to use it to keep your work in check, especially with the handy Google Calendar sync.
Say you are adding a new task; we'll call it 'Send 10 Upwork proposals '.
You can pop it into "Inbox" and decide when to tackle it: today, tomorrow, or maybe next week.
Akiflow allows you to set a specific time and duration, which is great for blocking out your day.
You can even set it to repeat if it's a recurring task.
When you dive into the task details, you can set and prioritize a deadline.
If it's urgent, simply mark it as a high priority and make sure it's on today's list.
In the description, you can jot down a few notes or a link—anything to remind you of what it's about.
Assigning it to your 'Business' project is a click away; you can tag it 'Business' too.
This way, you can find all your business-related tasks in a snap.
For scheduling tasks, just drag the task onto your calendar; you can also stretch it out if you need more time.
Later, if you need to focus, I hit 'F' for focus mode, and everything else fades away. It's just you and the task at hand.
If plans change, I can snooze or delete the task without any fuss.
With the snooze feature, you can push it off to a later time or date that works better for you.
If you've got a task that's not urgent, you can move it to next week with a couple of clicks.
And if you decide that a task isn't important anymore, you can clear it off your list altogether.
That's the beauty of Akiflow: it's task management made easy, no fluff, just getting things done.
#2. You can create custom events
If you're like me and want to keep all your plans in one place, Akiflow's custom event feature can be a lifesaver.
Let's say you need to remember a doctor's appointment on Friday at 1 p.m. Instead of flipping back and forth between different apps, you can set it up right in Akiflow, which is already synced with your Google Calendar.
Creating the event is easy. You just pick a color for it to stand out and label it 'Go to Doctor.'
If you need to, you can add guests directly to the event, which is super handy for meetings.
You can also pop in the location and any details you need to remember, like what to bring or questions to ask.
Plus, you can drag and drop to adjust the event time in the calendar view.
#3. Time Locking
Time locking is all about marking your calendar to show others when you're busy.
It's a feature in the app that lets you take a task and block out a specific time for it.
Once you do that, your calendar updates to show you're busy during that time. This is super handy when you're working with others.
They can see you've got something important planned and know that's your time to focus.
It's a clear signal that says, "Hey, I'll be busy then," helping you and everyone else stay organized and in sync.
#4. Time Slots and creating sub-tasks
Time slots are a fresh way to manage your day, especially when you've got a lot on your plate.
Think of it as a more effective way to manage your projects.
For example, when I plan to film my first YouTube video, time slots can be incredibly helpful.
I can block out a specific part of my day just for filming. Within this block, I can create sub-tasks for each step of the process.
For instance, I might have one sub-task for doing research, another for writing and rehearsing your script, and a third for the actual filming.
For each of these sub-tasks, I have the ability to customize how I tackle them. Click on a sub-task, and I can also decide its priority—is setting up the camera more urgent than rehearsing?
I can also set how long I think each step should take, helping me stay on track.
If I need to reference a tutorial on camera angles or lighting, I can attach that source directly to the sub-task.
And if I need to really focus on one step without distractions, I can switch on the focus mode.
This way, rather than looking at my calendar and seeing things all scattered around, I now have a neat timeline of tasks that streamlines my workflow.
#5. Task Consolidation
Akiflow offers a unique feature similar to what you might find in Sunsama: task consolidation.
To explain this feature simply, you can pull in tasks from other apps like Gmail, Slack, Trello, and Notion to manage everything in one place.
That's what Akiflow does. It acts as your personal dashboard for work.
When you connect these apps to Akiflow, you can see all the tasks without jumping from one to the other.
For example, if you start an email in Gmail, it shows up in your Akiflow inbox.
When you bookmark something in Slack, it appears in Akiflow too.
And it's not just about viewing tasks; you can interact with them across platforms. Check off a task in Notion, and it gets marked as done in Akiflow as well.
This feature is a game-changer because it saves time and keeps you focused. Instead of managing several different systems, you manage just one.
With additional integrations through services like Zapier and IFTTT, you can connect even more apps, making Akiflow the ultimate tool for keeping your work organized.
#6. Schedule online meetings and share availability directly in the app
Scheduling your meetings can be a breeze when you do it right within your calendar app.
For instance, you can mark those hours in the app if you're available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can even set it up to repeat for future dates, making it easy to manage recurring meetings.
Plus, you can choose your preferred meeting platform, like Google Meet or Zoom, and set reminders to keep you on track.
Sharing your availability is simple too.
"Hit 'A' or click on the 'Share Availability' icon in the top right-hand corner of Akiflow to start dragging in your free time slots.
Once you've selected your free time slots, Akiflow provides you with a simple way to share them with others.
To share your availability:
- After dragging to select your free slots, Akiflow instantly generates a link.
- You can copy this link and send it directly to your guests.
- They can view your available times and book a slot that works for both parties.
- They can pick a time that works for them, and the meeting is set just like that.
It's a straightforward way to coordinate with colleagues or clients without the back-and-forth hassle.
#7. Daily Planning & Daily Shutdown: Review and plan your day
Daily Planning
The daily planning feature in Akiflow is like giving your day a roadmap.
When you click on the daily planning feature, you can look back at what you accomplished yesterday and see what's still pending.
It's a simple way to keep track of your progress and plan ahead. You can easily add new tasks and get ready for the day.
Daily Shutdown
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#8. Command Bar
The command bar at the top of Akiflow is a quick and easy way to add/delete tasks and events without leaving your current screen.
Think of it as a shortcut to getting organized. You can open it with a simple keyboard combo, like "Command +K" for Mac or CTRL K for Windows, and start typing away.
When you need to capture a task that's on your mind, simply open the Command Bar, type in the task, and press ENTER.
It's immediately added to your Inbox, letting you return to work without missing a beat.
To schedule an event, just type the event name and use a simple keyboard command like CTRL/CMD + 2 to bring up the "New Event" option.
Setting up a Zoom meeting is just as effortless.
Enter "Zoom" into the Command Bar, and it will guide you through creating a new meeting link. This seamless integration saves you time and keeps you focused on your tasks.
The Command Bar also understands special characters, which act as shortcuts for adding details to your tasks and events.
For instance, you can use "#" to categorize a task under a project or "!" to indicate its priority. These intuitive characters help you finish your tasks with minimal effort.
Overall, the Command Bar in Akiflow is a straightforward feature that helps you stay organized without getting in the way. It's about enhancing productivity by reducing the clicks and time spent navigating the app, so you can focus more on the work at hand.
It is a shortcut to keeping your to-do list clean and up-to-date.
But the command bar isn't just about deleting tasks. It's your go-to spot for managing your calendar and sharing when you're free to work with others.
For instance, if you're available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., you can set that time aside right there in the command bar.
You can even add a title and description to let others know the time slot, like "Chat with Marcus."
And if you're someone who has regular meetings or work sessions, you can use the command bar to set these up as repeating events.
That way, you don't have to enter them every time. Just set it once, and Akiflow takes care of the rest, reminding you an hour before or giving you a buffer time to prepare.
In short, the command bar is your quick-access tool for organizing your day, sharing your availability, and ensuring you're ready for whatever's next.
Akiflow Pricing
Monthly Plan
The Monthly Plan costs $34 per month.
It's pretty straightforward: you pay each month, and if you decide it's not for you, you can cancel anytime.
This plan includes a dedicated coaching call to help you get the most out of Akiflow, which is a nice touch if you're looking to boost your productivity quickly.
Yearly Plan
The Yearly Plan is where you can save some money. It's $19 per month, but you pay for the whole year upfront.
This plan also lets you save 44% compared to the monthly plan, which is a significant discount.
Just like the monthly option, it includes the free trial, the ability to cancel anytime, and a personal coaching call.
Considering the cost can be less than 65 cents per day with the yearly plan, it seems like a reasonable investment if it helps keep your schedule on track and makes day-to-day tasks easier to manage.
If you like planning and want to streamline how you organize tasks and meetings, Akiflow's pricing seems fair, especially with the yearly option.
The coaching call is an added bonus that could make a difference in getting tailored advice for effectively using the tool.
Refund Policy
If you sign up for any of the plans—be it monthly, yearly, or the 5-year option—and decide it's not for you, you have 48 hours to cancel and get your money back.
Possible Alternatives to Akiflow
Here are 4 best alternatives to Akiflow to try this year:
- Sunsama (Review here)
- Motion (Review here)
- Reclaim (Review here)
- TickTick
Final Verdict: Is Akiflow Worth It?
So to wrap up my Akiflow review, it all comes down to the question: 'Is Akiflow worth it?
Akiflow offers a suite of features that can genuinely improve how you handle your daily tasks.
It's more than just time slots; it's about having a centralized place to manage your projects, set priorities, and attach necessary resources.
The focus mode is a standout, helping you zero in on tasks without distractions.
However, it's not without its drawbacks. One notable omission is a Pomodoro timer, a favorite productivity tool for many that helps break work into intervals.
This could be a dealbreaker for fans of the technique.
Plus, the cost of Akiflow might give you pause—it's on the pricier side compared to some other task management tools.
So, is Akiflow worth the investment?
If you're looking for a robust, all-in-one task manager and the price tag isn't a deterrent, then yes, it could be a valuable asset to your workflow.
But if you rely on the Pomodoro method or are budget-conscious, you might want to consider other options or wait for future updates that might address these cons.
