Is OmniFocus available on Android?
Perhaps the most frequently-asked question about OmniFocus is whether it is available on Android.
The short answer
No, OmniFocus is not available on Android.
And OmniFocus won't come to Android anytime soon, if ever—the Omni Group has made that clear:
[W]e don’t have any plans to create native Windows or Android versions of our apps in the foreseeable future.
— Omni Group CEO Ken Case
The long answer
The long answer is slightly more complicated, although the gist of it is the same.
There are official OmniFocus apps for iOS, macOS, and watchOS. For macOS, you can install OmniFocus through the Mac App Store, or purchase and download OmniFocus directly from the Omni Group's website.
And in May 2019, the Omni Group launched OmniFocus for the Web.
OmniFocus for the Web is a browser-based version of OmniFocus that is limited and intended for use on a desktop. You can use it for basic actions, like creating and editing projects and tasks, but it is not a full-fledged replacement for the macOS or iPad app.
Here's what it looks like:
It is possible to use OmniFocus for the Web on a smartphone (including an Android smartphone). But it isn't convenient. Seriously, I don't recommend it.
You can use it in a pinch, but take a look at this screenshot and you'll understand why OmniFocus for the Web is not a long-term solution for Android users:
There are also several third-party OmniFocus clients for Android. While it's possible to use one of these clients, I don't recommend doing that either. The Omni Group explains why:
Since v3 of OmniFocus for Mac shipped, customers using these types of [third-party] apps have contacted us about crashes and data loss. Customers who do not use them have not had similar experiences.
— The Omni Group
If you're an Android user and you insist on using OmniFocus, here are a few things you might try:
- Add items to your OmniFocus inbox using Mail Drop.
- Carry your iPad around with you to have access to OmniFocus.
- At least view your tasks on your Android phone using OmniFocus for the web.
Otherwise, I'd recommend using a different task manager. Sadly, my second-favorite task manager, Things 3, is also only available on Apple devices. But I've worked productively with Nozbe in the past, and Nozbe is available on pretty much any platform, so check it out.
Look, I get it. OmniFocus is an amazing app. If you're an Android user, it sucks that you can't run OmniFocus on your phone. I tried switching from an iPhone to an Android phone, twice, but both times I came back to iPhone.
Why?
I sorely missed OmniFocus. 😔