Most people don’t need a more powerful to-do app. They need one that’s quick enough to capture a task in two seconds and sits where they already work. This comparison focuses on the seven apps people actually use, their real free-plan limits, and which one fits how you work.
Pick in 30 seconds
Best to-do list apps compared
| App | Platforms | Free plan | Paid | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todoist | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, web | 5 personal projects, 3 filters | Pro about $4/month billed yearly ($5 monthly) | Natural-language quick add, integrations |
| TickTick | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web | Yes (about 9 lists) | Premium $35.99/year | Calendar view, habits, built-in Pomodoro |
| Things 3 | Mac, iPhone, iPad only | No (free trial on Mac) | One-time: $49.99 Mac, $9.99 iPhone, $19.99 iPad | Beautiful design, no subscription |
| Microsoft To Do | Windows, iOS, Android, Mac, web | Free | Free | Works with Outlook tasks and flagged email |
| Google Tasks | Web, iOS, Android, inside Gmail and Calendar | Free | Free | Tasks appear in Google Calendar |
| Apple Reminders | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Free | Free | Siri, shared lists, built into Apple devices |
| Any.do | iOS, Android, web | Limited free plan | From about $3/month | Daily planner with calendar |
The best to-do apps in detail
1. Todoist: best overall
Todoist’s quick add understands plain language, so typing “Send invoice every last Friday #Admin p1” creates a recurring, prioritised task in the right project. It syncs fast across every major platform and connects with calendars, email and automation tools. The free Beginner plan covers 5 personal projects and 3 custom filters, which is enough to test it properly.
Watch out for: its calendar planning is lighter than TickTick’s, and Pro is best value when billed annually.
2. TickTick: best value and best for planners
TickTick packs a calendar view, habit tracker and Pomodoro timer into one app, and Premium costs $35.99 a year, roughly $3 a month. If you like to drag tasks onto a calendar and run focus sessions from the same place, it’s the best value here. Pair it with our Pomodoro guide.
Watch out for: the free plan limits the number of lists, and the many features can feel busy at first.
3. Things 3: best for Apple users who hate subscriptions
Things 3 is the most pleasant to-do app to use on Apple devices, with Areas, Projects and headings that keep big lists calm. You pay once per platform: $49.99 on Mac, $9.99 on iPhone and $19.99 on iPad.
Watch out for: no Windows, Android or web app, and no real collaboration.
4. Microsoft To Do: best free app for Outlook users
If you work in Microsoft 365, To Do is free and ties into Outlook tasks and flagged emails, so your work to-dos appear in one list without extra setup.
5. Google Tasks: best free app for Gmail users
Google Tasks is simple, but it lives inside Gmail and Google Calendar, so you can turn an email into a task and see due tasks on your calendar. Ideal if you want almost no setup.
6. Apple Reminders: best free app on iPhone
Reminders has grown into a capable free app with smart lists, tags and shared lists, and Siri capture is hard to beat. It’s limited only if you also use Windows or Android.
How to choose (the 3 questions that matter)
- Where are your email and calendar? Microsoft 365 points to To Do; Google points to Google Tasks; mixed devices point to Todoist or TickTick.
- Do you plan by time or by list? Time-blockers prefer TickTick’s calendar view; list people prefer Todoist or Things.
- Will you share tasks? For a small team, Todoist works well; for bigger projects, see our project management software guide.
Make any to-do app work
- Capture everything, decide later. Use one inbox and sort it once a day.
- Write tasks as next actions: “Email Sam the draft” beats “Project X”.
- Keep “Today” short: three to five tasks you will really finish.
- Do a weekly review. Our 30-minute weekly system shows how.
Our verdict
Frequently asked questions
What is the best to-do list app in 2026?
Todoist is the best all-round choice for most people. TickTick is the best value with a calendar, habits and Pomodoro timer, and Things 3 is best for Apple-only users who don’t want a subscription.
What is the best free to-do list app?
Microsoft To Do for Outlook users, Google Tasks for Gmail users and Apple Reminders for iPhone users. Todoist and TickTick also have usable free plans.
Is TickTick better than Todoist?
TickTick is better if you want a calendar view, habit tracking and a Pomodoro timer for about $36 a year. Todoist is better for fast natural-language capture, integrations and cross-platform reliability.
How much does Todoist cost?
Todoist has a free Beginner plan with 5 personal projects. Pro costs about $4 a month billed yearly, or about $5 billed monthly; check Todoist’s pricing page for your region.
Is Things 3 a subscription?
No. Things 3 is a one-time purchase per platform: $49.99 for Mac, $9.99 for iPhone and $19.99 for iPad.
Get more done with less
Our focus system pairs a simple task list with time blocks and fewer interruptions.
See the focus system