You can create a reminder and task management system for yourself and your team, but getting family and friends to adopt the same app can be challenging. Karo, an iOS app developed by Mustafa Yusuf, addresses this issue even if your contacts don’t use the app themselves.
Yusuf, who also created the more complex task management app Tasks, designed Karo to offer a unique solution. He wanted an app that allowed him to delegate and track tasks for people in his address book—such as his accountant, sister, plumber, or electrician—without requiring them to use the app.
As Yusuf explained to TechCrunch, “No app let me simply assign and track tasks for people in my contacts. I wanted to send them a task, have it received on their existing apps like WhatsApp or Messages, and get notified when they acted on it. If they don’t, I’d rather the app send automatic reminders instead of me nagging them.”
Before Karo, Yusuf had to manually remind people through WhatsApp or other chat apps and often forgot tasks due to the lack of a tracking system.
The App and Its Features
Karo offers an intuitive interface that mimics a messaging app, making task management straightforward. Users can easily input tasks using natural language, and Karo understands identifiers like “tomorrow” or “10 am” to set deadlines automatically. You can also use @mentions to assign tasks to specific people, or utilize buttons to manually add dates, times, and contacts.
Additional features include the ability to attach images, videos, PDFs, or voice notes to tasks. In line with modern trends, Karo integrates AI to enhance productivity: users can employ Karo AI to break down large tasks into manageable steps or to help plan trips and generate to-do lists.
When you assign a task to someone, they receive a notification on Karo if they have the app. If not, Karo sends a chat via WhatsApp and, if necessary, a reminder through text message. For scheduled tasks, reminders are sent on the due date and also two and four days after. For non-scheduled tasks, reminders are sent two, four, and six days after creation.
On the main screen of Karo, tasks are organized by contact. Tapping on a contact’s name opens a conversation interface where you can view past tasks and add new ones. The app also features an activity tab to track updates on all tasks you’re involved in.
While teams and small organizations often use dedicated task management solutions, many businesses in India still rely on WhatsApp groups for task coordination. Yusuf believes Karo’s integration with WhatsApp and its ability to create groups within the app will be particularly appealing to WhatsApp users.
Yusuf noted that some businesses are already using Karo for their operations. For example, a dry fruit distributor in Mumbai uses the app to assign packaging and delivery tasks to their team, who then check off tasks through WhatsApp. Yusuf also sees potential uses for study groups and book clubs.
Karo is available for free, but advanced features like groups, themes, and attachments require a subscription. The app is priced at $4.99 per month, $39.99 per year, or $99.99 for a lifetime unlock, with introductory offers available.
An Android version is in the works, but Yusuf believes the ability to send reminders to contacts who don’t use the app is a key feature.
