Efficient Reminder Free

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on March 30, 2010

Everyone can use a reminder now and then, and developers have stepped up appointment and scheduling software at all prices. We like "free," as in EfficientSoftware's Efficient Reminder Free. It's a powerful, capable, and businesslike tool that will remind you when it's time for meetings, whether they're every Tuesday or once a year, or give you a timely heads-up for looming events such as birthdays, anniversaries, sporting events, concerts, or anything you might forget or need a nudge to get going on. You can configure various types of reminders, including pop-ups and sounds, and prioritize events. Bulk importing of predefined schedules and holiday calendars saves time.

Like many of Efficient's free tools we've tested, this is a scaled-back version of more capable shareware with the same basic functionality but leaving out some features, such as the ability to add custom labels and attachments to events. What isn't missing is the capabilities users need most, not to mention the paid version's sophisticated, customizable interface choices, full Help options, backup and restore features, and security settings, including password protection. We particularly like the wizardlike pop-up dialogs that simplify setting individual events as well as the clean calendar view that keeps it all together.

This professional-level scheduling tool is freeware that's certified for Windows 7 and supports 19 languages. With so many capable features that are so easy to use, it's difficult to see how the same old excuses will cut it when Efficient Reminder is there to keep you on time and on date.