How to Build a To-Do List App with AI (2026)

What a to-do list app needs

Tasks with due dates and priorities
Projects/lists grouping
Reminder notifications
Recurring tasks
Today + Upcoming views

The screens

Screen	What it does
Today	Due and overdue tasks
Projects	Lists with progress
Add Task	Quick entry with date, priority, project
Upcoming	Week ahead
Settings	Notifications, themes, subscription

The data model

Task: title, dueDate, priority, projectId, recurring, done
Project: name, color

The build prompt (copy this)

Paste this into ShipNative and it becomes a working React Native app with these screens, navigable in a live preview, in about two minutes:

“A to-do app for teachers. Tasks with due dates grouped by class (projects), recurring weekly tasks for lesson prep, Today and Upcoming views, reminder notifications. Screens: Today, Classes, Add Task, Upcoming, Settings. Free for 2 classes, subscription for unlimited.”

Then iterate with small, screen-specific prompts (“make the primary button bigger”, “add an empty state”), preview on your own phone, and export the full Expo project whenever you want. The full method: how to build an app with AI.

How it makes money

Freemium by list/project count. The niche version supports $3–5/mo; generic ones struggle to charge.

Implementation and the revenue math for every model: how to make money from an app. When you’re ready to ship: App Store and Google Play publishing guides.

Build it now

The prompt above is free to run at shipnative.dev — working to-do list app on your phone today, full code export, no credit card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth building another to-do app?

Generic: no. Niched to an audience with specific workflows (teachers, contractors, ADHD): absolutely — those keywords are winnable and the features write themselves from the workflow.

What is the hardest part?

Recurring tasks and notification reliability. Prompt for both explicitly and test notifications on a real device with the app closed.

How to Build a To-Do List App with AI