The best bucket list app depends on what stops you from ticking things off. If the problem is remembering dreams, a list app such as The Bucket List App or Bucket Pal works. If the problem is that you never do anything alone, Solo Era turns a bucket list into small, rated missions you actually complete. Most apps store wishes; very few help you start.
What makes a bucket list app useful?
A bucket list tends to fail for one of three reasons. You forget it, you wait for the right moment, or the item feels too big to begin. So we compared apps on the criteria in this table. We read each App Store listing on 2026-11-01 and did not test every feature, so treat the notes as a reading of what the listing says.
| Criterion | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Capture | Is it easy to add a wish in seconds? |
| Breakdown | Can a big dream be split into small steps? |
| Doing, not just listing | Does the app nudge you to start something this week? |
| Memory | Can you keep photos or notes after you do it? |
| Pressure | Does it work alone, without a feed to compete against? |
Quick comparison
| App | Core idea | Best for | Platforms (listing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Era | Missions for doing things alone | Solo outings, one small step at a time | iPhone |
| The Bucket List App | Create and check off lists, passport stamps | Travel-minded list keepers | iPhone, iPad |
| Bucket List (Bucket) | Share lists, see friends' goals | Social bucket listers | iPhone, iPad |
| Bucket Pal | Goals with milestones, life-in-weeks grid | Long-range planners | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| DreamPaths | Different trackers per goal type | Goals with savings or habit parts | iPhone, iPad |
| BucketListers | Local events and pop-ups | Weekend plans | iPhone, iPad |
1. Solo Era
Best for: anyone whose bucket list includes "go to a restaurant alone", "see a film by myself" or "travel on my own", and who wants a way to get there.
The tagline is literal: "A bucket list for doing things alone." Instead of one long wish list, missions are grouped into seven categories: food, movement, culture, travel, everyday, solitude and people. Each mission carries a difficulty from level 1 (gentlest) to level 5 (biggest step). Real examples from the library show the range: "Explore a park's accessible sensory trail." is level 1 in movement, "Eat a cuisine you have never tried, alone." is level 3 in food, and "Walk a multi-day route on your own." is level 5.
A weekly mission gives you a place to start each week, and you can write custom missions for items only you would put on a list. You rate how nervous you felt before and after, and the journal saves a photo and notes with every completed mission. The Progress screen plots your ratings over months, with XP and a weekly streak. Our solo bucket list article explains how to build a personal list around those categories.
Free to download. A subscription is required to start missions. Prices and any free trial are shown in the app and depend on the offer and eligibility.
Not a fit if: your bucket list is about big-ticket goals such as saving money, learning a language or a career change. Solo Era is about outings and small social steps, it has no financial or habit trackers, it is iPhone only, and it is not therapy.
Solo Era for iPhone
Turn one bucket-list item into a rated outing
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
2. The Bucket List App
Best for: people who want a clean place to create lists, tick them off and keep a travel record.
From THE BUCKET LIST STUDIOS INC., this app's listing describes creating and checking off bucket lists, tracking trips, collecting passport "stamps" and sharing lists with friends and family. The listing refers to The Bucket List Family and a "bucket list life". Subscription terms appear in the listing, so check the in-app details before you pay.
Not a fit if: you want structure for daily life or small outings. It is travel flavoured and does not help you rate how nervous you feel.
3. Bucket List (The Bucket App)
Best for: bucket listers who enjoy seeing what other people want to do.
This app, by Trent Wann, lets you track, organise and share a list. The listing describes a home feed of friends' and community goals, an explore page for ideas, storybook posts with photos, video and text for completed items, and a way to find goals you have in common with friends or strangers. A paid BucketPlus plan is mentioned in the listing.
Not a fit if: you find feeds stressful. If comparing yourself to others kills your motivation, pick a private tool. Our comfort zone apps page lists calmer options.
4. Bucket Pal
Best for: people who think in timelines and milestones.
Bucket Pal's listing says it shows your life as a grid of weeks and turns goals into plans with milestones, due dates, priorities and ten life areas. You can attach photos, voice notes and video to each goal and see a timeline grow. It also lists suggested first steps and related ideas for people unsure where to start.
Not a fit if: a grid of weeks sounds more stressful than motivating. The framing is serious, so it suits people who like long-term planning.
5. DreamPaths
Best for: goals that have a number attached: savings, workouts, books read.
The DreamPaths listing describes a bucket for each dream and seven "path" types, including financial, checklist, habit, metric, deadline and experience. That makes it flexible when one dream needs a savings target and a checklist. It does not add outing practice or social support.
Not a fit if: your list is mostly one-off experiences. Setting up trackers for a single afternoon outing would be overkill.
6. BucketListers: Things To Do
Best for: finding something to do this weekend in your city.
Despite the name, BucketListers is not a personal list. Its listing describes curated lists of local events, festivals and pop-ups with in-app ticket booking. Think of it as a source of ideas rather than a tracker. For a fuller roundup of discovery apps, see apps for finding things to do alone.
Not a fit if: you want to store your own goals.
How to choose
| Your obstacle | Try |
|---|---|
| "I forget what I want to do" | The Bucket List App or Bucket Pal |
| "I want ideas from others" | Bucket List (The Bucket App) or BucketListers |
| "I need to track money or habits too" | DreamPaths |
| "I never start because I would be alone" | Solo Era |
You can combine tools. Many people keep a long list in a notes app and use Solo Era to turn one item a week into a small outing.
Five items to put on any bucket list
- One outing you can do in under an hour.
- One thing you would normally wait for a friend to do.
- One place within walking distance you have never entered.
- One skill you can try in a class.
- One bigger trip, with a date.
Rate your nerves before and after each item. The self-rating method shows how.
Last checked: 2026-11-01. App facts come from App Store listings and can change. Confirm features and prices in the app before you subscribe.
FAQ
What is the best free bucket list app?
Most apps here are free to download, but plans and limits differ and can change. Check each listing for what is included, then try one for a week before committing.
Can a bucket list app make me actually do things?
An app can remind and break goals into steps. Starting still takes a small first action, which is why Solo Era uses weekly missions and difficulty levels instead of a blank list.
Is a paper list better than an app?
A paper list is fine if you look at it. Apps help when you want reminders, photos or a record of progress. Use whichever you will open.
How many items should a bucket list have?
Enough to feel exciting, few enough to review. Ten to twenty with a few small items works for many people. Add small ones so you get regular wins.
Is Solo Era only for solo bucket lists?
Yes, it focuses on doing things alone, across seven categories. It does not track money goals, habits or big life projects.
Do I need to share my list?
No. Sharing is optional in most apps. In Solo Era nothing is shared unless you choose to share it.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
