Paprika is unusual among the project/task management tools I’ve reviewed in that it’s text based – there’s a variety of shortcodes that you key in while typing which can turn a word or line into a bullet point, task that can be checked off, tag, deadline, etc. It’s got a very clean, minimalist-esque vibe, without being too plain.
Good for you if:
- You like the idea of a text-based task management tool.
- You either don’t have a team or don’t need to manage a large one – the setup is ideal for people who either work alone or just need to share tasks/notes/files with a VA.
- You occasionally need to share notes/tasks with someone else (i.e. an outside contractor) but don’t necessarily need to permanently integrate that person in to your project management system – Paprika lets you share a specific project with a link.
- You want basic note-keeping and file-storing functions integrated in with your task management.
When I originally wrote this review, I had no plans of using Paprika in any way. However, I actually came across a need that it serves perfectly. I’m going through a six-month planning curriculum, in which I choose specific business areas of devotion, set goals for those areas, break things down into projects/tasks, etc. Paprika is great for keeping my notes and my tasks from this course/work in one spot, easily accessible; so then I just put something on my main project management tool (Rule.fm) to remind me to dedicate 2-4 hours each week to working on the projects and tasks I have outlined in Paprika. Kind of roundabout, but it felt better to me to have all of the coursework in one spot than scattered willy-nilly.
Not so great for:
- People who are addicted to color – you’d probably find the design boring/unappealing.
- People who need to manage a large team (though it does integrate with Staction, which I have not tried).
- People who need a visual/calendar layout – there isn’t one.
- People who really need to use their task management tool on the go – there’s no mobile app, and I’d think (though I haven’t tested it myself) that text-based use could get clunky on a mobile phone. Possibly not an issue with a tablet, but could be annoying with a smartphone.
What do you think? Is Paprika something you’ll be checking out?