Bento: The Do Less To-Do List App Reviews

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Calming, retraining for realistic expectations. I just am getting started with it. We are able to have up to 7 boxes, which is nice. I would like to be able to save “discarded” boxes because they are workflows I repeat weekly or monthly. It would be nice to retrieve a small set of related boxes, like my own templates, to save remaking them as I need to shuffle for space for other things. I do see I can modify the couple of templates it comes with. The point in part is to reduce brain clutter. I get it. A few more templates? Well, I’m working on it 🤣 It’s a clean, really pleasant experience that works without glitches. Mind clearing into realistic expectations. Thank you. Thanks! 😊

Love it. Great app, design works simply, I love the Japanese motif.

Refunded. The bento method did not help me. It was confusing and simply didn’t work for me. The app functionality is not as fun as appeared in the photos, and it is too basic.

Lack of Updates. Feels half-finished.. If you were like me looking at ways to boost productivity and saw the bento methodology, avoid this app. Although it may seem a nice way to get into the method and all at first, the app itself is so lackluster in quality compared to others on the market. Firstly, there are no updates to the app for live activities, or any additional maintenance. Its not a big deal, but many other similar apps have some form of this which is helpful. Secondly, half the time the timer for some reason will stop running. Its very annoying. And lastly, the app just lacks some features such as saving typical tasks instead of resetting everything, and for some reason you can put any amount of time for a small, medium, or large task. Yes, you can make a small task an hour and a large one 20 minutes. Its not a big deal, but when your app rides on this whole bento methodology this sort of thing just makes the app feel half made.

I don’t know how to use this. It’s not complicated, but I just can’t find a practical use. For awhile, I was picking 3 tasks to prioritize each day from my main task app & assigning the workflow for the order I wanted to tackle based on the difficulty of each (which seems pointless). But, this is exactly like just listing your priorities for the day each morning, which only requires a piece of paper or a notes/journal app. I assume each box was meant for a day because it limits your boxes to 7. But, why would I want to have a Bento for each day? I don’t do the same thing every week. Then it gives examples of boxes that are clearly not to last the entire day, so maybe the limit is simply part of the minimalism? The structured parts of my day are completion focused and / or based on a time schedule, so I’m just not sure how to apply something like this. It’s a really pretty app, and I’m keeping it next to my pomodoro focus timer app, which I use to take standing breaks. I feel like I still might find a use for it at some point.

Lovely but a teeny bug. I love the app! It keeps me from overwhelming myself in my day and helps me stay focused. The workflow methodology does feel like it helps things to feel more manageable. The only caveat is that the app has been periodically deleting the title of my bentos. Definitely not the worst bug and I'm hoping it will be fixed soon since this is a new app! Update: the title of the bentos issue is fixed, but the app seems to drain a lot of battery when it runs in the background.

Frequent bricking (updated). This App freezes and stops working after inputting a task, and I have to restart it each time. I like the concept, but really hoping for an urgent update to get better functionality. Am concerned that similar reviews with this same issue are now weeks old and no update has been released. For feature requests (less urgent) AirPlay please. The Development team reached out to me directly and we figured out this was due to Accessibility/Reduce Motion. I toggled it off/on and now App seems to be working! Thank you Team.

beautiful app; not functional. this app is stunning and the goals it sets out to meet are exactly the ones I need. each time I name a task, though, the app freezes and I have to relaunch it. I also can't change the duration of any of the tasks. I want to love this app, but it's unusable for me in its current state

Absolute Waste of Money. I am very disappointed with the app. It did not help me at all. I’ve only used it once and it left me dissatisfied. I deleted the app after using it once and requested a refund but they didn’t even budge. I’ve wasted $6 on this piece of junk that they refuse to refund.

Bento. Implement the Bento Methodology. Helping you do less, but more meaningful tasks. With music to help you find and stay in flow.

Had high hopes... Not practical.. I've used the app maybe once since purchasing it over a year ago. Just not practical. Things or Ticktick are just more worth it.

Beautiful, Stunning & Mindful. Having started a new more mindful approach to life this app has proven to be really amazing. The three level to do list is perfect and really helps you get much more done and feel better while doing it. Not only that but you feel more relaxed because you feel better able to manage your day and time and get everything out of it. Thank you! Worth the price. One suggestion - I LOVE the Bento 🍱 image you guys have - would there be a way to make the bento more visual with the checklist - to me it’s just part of the relaxing and soothing organization of it all and I’d love to put my goals visibly in a box / thanks! 😃

Don't be fooled.. This app is not as special as the photos and descriptions say. Look into the app "Time wave" instead.

Abandoned. Sad to see this app abandoned. I purchased knowing that fact, but I’d still like to see the team come back for some updates. So much potential. 🍱🍱🍱

Increases productivity. Simple app with amazing philosophy. I’m able to target and break down my priorities to something manageable so I’m always working on either the important or urgent.

Helping me focus by doing what is most important!. I’m loving this app. Fits nicely with my overall productivity system, and I love the simple workflows. I don’t feel constrained at all, and it’s actually helping me complete more each day by focusing on less. Great job!

The system works!. Really loving this app! I've followed the developer's productivity tips for quite some time now, so I was very excited to see they had an app of their own coming out, and sure enough, the Bento system works! It's a great way to segment your tasks into digestible bites to make you feel much less task overwhelm. On top of the functionality of the system and app, the app itself is pleasant to use, with relaxing visuals and sounds. A+!

Simple, beautiful, thoughtful.. Very happy to see this little team put out such a well rounded app. The philosophy with its emphasis on energy management is amazing and the execution with this pleasant and simple app is terrific. The V1 of this app actually feels finished, which can be rare in the software world. I also love the simple payment structure. I’m excited to include this in my workflow! Well done, guys! :)

Great but needs some improvement. I really like the idea and the illustrations. The main thing I struggle with is the transparent windows that appear when trying to edit or add a new task. There is too much overlap between the multiple transparent windows making the UX confusing and difficult. It’d be great if the developers could work on this problem so the clarity of each window was improved and easier to read.

It freezes…a lot. After paying $5.99 for this app, I wish I had more to review. The app freezes up a lot and I haven’t been able to customize it or use it as intended.

So far so good. I’ve tried a million time mgmt apps, note taking apps (u know the regular ones) GTD, Eisenhower matrix, etc etc and while they all have their place and value, I’m at a point now in life where I just need simplicity and flow state. Just downloaded this app after researching the medium articles written by developer company and so far it’s been working. To be objective, you could just use Evernote or drafts or notes and just limit yourself to 3 tasks but it’s those little intentional nuances that make this app great as it’s focused on ONLY three tasks vs having to use your mind power to limit yourself to three tasks. My current setup is using drafts for quick easy capture of ideas in head, Google keep purely for their text grab feature from pdfs/images as I also use good ol handwritten notebook a lot for idea capture (like Leonardo da Vinci) but for Macro top level planning and scheduling, am using Bento to stay focused on what’s most important vs getting lost in the weeds of my thoughts. Keep up good work devs!

The place to start the day. This app is fantastic!! It is where I try to start my day, every morning! The built-in concepts of how to approach your three chosen tasks is super insightful as well. And I would be remiss not to mention the beautiful theming. Overall, a solid app that has much more depth and intention behind it, making it more than simply a “to-do app.”

Poorly Designed. Not user friendly. Overpriced.. This application purported to help improve the quality of work that I do over the quantity of work that I do. While it “may” be possible to split up your workflow into three-part chunks that would fit into the structure of this method, You will need to leave the application running and check off each item as you do it. There is no automation save timers. That’s it. Timers. And art and sounds. Support articles reference Brian Tracey. Or not, Brian Tracey, if you can’t do your most significant task first. For eight dollars. Yep. 7.99. That’s poorly priced for pre-existing info. I’m getting my money back. This application is not worth eight dollars to me. I could buy a journal and pen set for eight dollars. A nice one. It would do the same job.

Instructions Not Included. Perhaps this is a fabulous app for those familiar with the concepts of the “Bento theory”, or whatever they are basing this on. I know what a bento box is regarding food, but know nothing beyond that. I’m lost on how this app is supposed to help. I can enter a task in, but are they supposed to be related, subtracts off the largest task, or in their opinion, does it not matter? If this app is just here, enter three tasks, one small, one medium and one large, then this is a very unnecessary app and a waste of$6. If there is something more to the theory, please direct me to where I can learn more about how this is supposed to function and help, because I’m not seeing it. Save your pennies.

Task Manager with NO PRESENCE.. You just need to open the app everytime you need an update or check the task or timer. Obvios things like: WIDGETS, new OS16 lock screen customization, and BASIC NOTIFICATIONS are absent! Beautiful app but USELESS.

Bento stops at the name. Maybe it’s just me but I’m always disappointed when I remember I have this app, open it, and realize the task lists are basic vertical lists and not actually laid out in a cute bento box. 😔

A refreshing entry to the productivity app space. Bento is a fantastic addition to my new workflow. I love how the app complements rather than competes with my current task management system. More themes, native iPad and MacOS support, and widgets would make this app even better!

Perfect. Exactly what I needed. I have lists & tasks for days, but this helps me stay focused on the most important aspects of my day. 3 lists, 3 tasks each. Perfect.

Delightful. This app is a solution to that feeling of task overwhelm. I find it delightful to use and I really need that feeling of positivity to help me focus. Thank you for making this.

Simple, privacy respecting, but really unpolished. Review got refreshed while I was writing, so here’s a shorter one. I like the app’s simple methodology. Privacy respecting always a plus. Main two reasons I bought it. Major gripe is that it’s unintuitive and clunky. I never triggered the timer intentionally before, until I realized the >> button on the side starts the timer. I guess the >> was meant to be interpreted as a “let’s go (do this task)” but to me it’ll usually mean “edit more details in this submenu”. Swiping through the bentos, if my thumb lingers even a bit the app interprets it as a tap. A lot of my experience using this app has had unintentional clicks. The timer notifications are buggy. After (accidentally) starting the timer, I come back to turn on my phone and I see 10, 15 notifications all from 29 minutes ago telling me time’s up. Okay. My biggest problem is, I had wondered why my battery’s draining faster today. I check and Bento’s been in the background playing audio for 16 hours. Bento has no business doing anything for 16 hours. And, surprise, I didn’t start a timer… I just don’t know what to say. Well, please just take this review into consideration. I’ve never made so many “mistakes” in one app or attempt to exit out of things I didn’t intend to use before. I really hope you guys take another look at the user friendliness etc of this app. As it is now, the app frequently stands between point A and point B of using it.

Amazing App - helps get things done!. It’s okay. But doesn’t really help me get things done. No Mac version and very limited. And most recent update was 1 year ago!?!?!!!

Needs IPad specific version. Love the idea behind this, but would really like to have an iPad specific version instead of the oversized GUI with zoom in. Also, if you guys are planning on doing some sort of premium option…please offer a lifetime option. I hate subscriptions with a passion and I stop using products typically if they don’t allow a lifetime option.

💀💀💀💀💀🦨🦨🦨🦨🦨👎👎👎👎👎Needs Fixing. 💢App locks up upon 1st use & starts to drain battery 🔋> 🪫 real fast.

Interesting concept with beautiful design!. I’m liking this app so far but agree with others that a few other choices in music would be nice so that each task in the bento box could have its own unique tune. Maybe one with a faster pace for doing active tasks. It would also be nice to have a couple of customizable templates that could be saved. For instance I’d like to create one for yard-work and household chores without having to type it each time. But this app is great for getting my day organized and accomplishing meaningful tasks that I can be proud of at the end of the day. And it’s simple to use!

Needs more customization. It would be nice if you could customize your bento “type.” I like to do small/large/medium but the app does not support this task order. Kind of disappointing.

Not really worth the money.. Honestly, it’s a pretty notes app. That’s it. There’s nothing really anything special. Once you finish a checklist it simply throws some confetti on your screen and doesn’t even delete the task box for you. I wish this app did more! Just so basic.

Love it!. I love that this app makes me focus on just one task at a time. Love the music, very peaceful. On request: Can you add more music tracks similar to what you have right now? Overall, good job!

Annoyed I Paid. I’m annoyed I paid money for this app. It’s beautiful and it does what it says it does, but just barely. There’s only one music option for the countdown timer which is literally what you spend the entire app using. So if I plan out a half hour session, an hour session, and a 90 minute session for my day, then I’m spending three hours listening to the same 20 or so measures looping over and over. Like would it be that hard to just offer four or six different music options? It also doesn’t give any guidance on how to plan, I know it’s supposed to be simple but simple doesn’t have to mean lacking important guidelines. And I don’t understand the names of the different time plans. “Eat that frog?” What does that mean. I don’t want to think about eating frogs for 90 minutes. Esotericism is annoying and unfriendly.

Climb the Summit. I love everything about the Bento method. It allows me to prioritize what is most critical in my day, choose a workflow that matches my energy, and induces a state of focus and relaxation with its beautiful visuals and music.

Bento is the app I’ve been waiting for❤️. Bento has quickly become part of my daily routine. I’ve long used the 3 things a day rule and have used the Pomodoro method throughout my career - but the timer I once used disappeared from the App Store long ago, I got a new computer, and we all know how that goes. Then comes Bento! Combining the above and a gorgeous UX and is quickly become part of my routine. It’s so lovely. Thank you!

Needs more customizable options. The concept is great. I’ve managed to get a lot more work done, in spite of having brain fog through long Covid. However, listening to the same song for 45 min is rather annoying. The app really needs more music options and maybe a few more wallpapers.

Beautiful But Unreliable. As soon as I entered my first title for my bento the app froze and would not allow me to activate any of the buttons on screen when touched. Three times, I have had to quit out of the whole app and reopen it to do anything. It also will not play any sounds. It's beautiful to look at, and a great concept, but I am underwhelmed and frustrated by the glitches that make it impossible to effectively navigate. Not going to keep. Update: The creator's contacted me and so I am raising my rating by a star. They said they will be updating the app to attempt to fix the issue I discussed. I may try to download it again and give it another try.

I am not great with time based task apps. Bento is pretty straight forward it allows me to keep my tasks to a minimum. Normally if the app allows I would make a huge list of tasks and timeframes that never actually works out. I can switch between bentos depending on what’s feasible. I am postpartum so I can’t stick to a perfect schedule this helps alot especially without applying dates and while my baby sleeps I can focus on the task I listed as a priority. One suggestion: the music is great I can’t seem to play it out loud i can only use my AirPods. Alternate sound options would be awesome my favorite scene is the cafe and I would love for it to be some scenic sounds like cooking sounds light murmurs leaves falling etc.

The Most Brilliant Task Managing App. As someone with executive dysfunction, this app has proven amazing. I just hope we could add unlimited bentos. And have separate collections for those bentos.

Great start ⭐️. I’ve started to use Bento to use my time more effectively as I work throughout the day. The methodology is sound and it enables me to do both the critical projects AND the smaller (but still essential) day-to-day tasks. I’m very excited for the updates to come and the team is very open to feedback which I am very grateful for.

Freezing and Battery Drain. Freezing ❄️🧊 - When I try to edit time of task - when I press return or enter on keyboard - When I try to change size of an individual task where it shows the bento box sizes This app drains my battery horribly 🔋 iPhone 11 Pro Max

Amazing! But need some QoL changes!. I love the app so much, I just wish the focus music could continue while switching apps and an option for a pop up notification when time is up for a task! Overall love it tho!

Good addition to your favorite productivity system. I love testing out new productivity apps and especially ones that have a clear vision vs just making the same old system prettier, so I was excited to try Bento. I do usually jot down my top three priorities for the day in my bullet journal so my biggest question was whether this app would add value to that process, and it did! First, Bento forces you to decide how you will work through your list, starting with the biggest, smallest, or medium task. The timer lets you focus on on the task at hand and the instrumental music in the background is lovely and relaxing. The pictures and animations are also pretty and create a nice ambiance. This is not going to replace any of your existing productivity apps, but it’s a great add-on for those of us who may struggle to focus or know where to start. Definitely recommend if you have ADHD/executive functioning issues like me. Feedback for developers: the graphics are beautiful, however it veers too much into cultural appropriation territory for my taste, as my understanding is that the developers are not Japanese. You can appreciate Japanese culture without making it the whole thing of this app. At the very least, give some credit to the Japanese artists who inspired this aesthetic. The switching themes function doesn’t work. I tried several times to do it in the settings, but the original theme remained. Would be great to have a longer track for the looping audio, and maybe some different choices. I love it for now but can see myself getting tired of it after a few days.

Basic app with attractive name. Well to make it short this is a timer with music. it is very basic and has nothing special at all. the main idea is to split a task into 3 portions SML and thats it. the price is soo high for such an app.

timer resets randomly. I love the concept of this app, but the timer resets on my frequently for no reason. I will have started a task let’s say with 90 minutes. Fifteen minutes in I’ll notice that the timer is back up to 89:59. I’m annoyed that I paid so much for a timer that doesn’t even work.

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Do less, well. Bento is a unique and refreshing addition to a crowded space of ‘do more’ apps. Better thought of as a method with an app, Bento breaks the curse of ‘do nothing’ by focusing on regular and sustained accomplishment of ‘do less, well’.

Beautiful productivity tool. The Bento app is an example of how a beautiful, mindful and minimally designed productivity tool should be. Franseco’s team has done a brilliant job conceptualising and building this application. I have tried multiple To Do applications and hurried myself in a pile of unimportant tasks. Bento methodology and this application finally introduced me a mindful and simple way to organise my most important tasks and life goals. The calm music with pomodoro timer is a great add-on to focus on my work during the day and practice self-discipline. A big thumbs-up to the team for building this app and looking forward to more exciting updates to the app.

Finally focusing better at work. I work in a position with big projects and multiple tasks. It’s a demanding environment where priorities can shift. With the app I’ve been able to apply quality time to each task that I’ve prioritised. The countdown, instrumental music, the serene screen saver all contribute towards assisting me.

I just love it!!! Everything! Not just an app, a full methodology behind task management!. Francesco and the team from Keep Productive have worked hard to produce not only this app but a total methodology behind getting things done! Bento has supercharged my productivity and time management by incorporating several apps into one! My daily highlight (task to be done) always had 2-3 tasks, so why not make it a bento? Assigning time to each piece in my bento allows me to stay on track and then it has timers to ensure I achieve! Well done team! Loving the app and I have only been using it for a few days following its launch this week! For only $8! Get your hands on a Bento today! 😁

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No Widget. This is a very lovely app, but without a widget it’s pretty useless. I want to check my tasks quickly without having to enter the app.

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Just one more thing. A widget would make life easier, a small widget with a future to add one, three bentos (think about the Spotify widget look and feel) and that’s it.