Best To-Do App 2026: Todoist vs Things vs TickTick vs Apple Reminders
The best to-do app is the one you open every day without friction, and in 2026 four cover almost everyone. Todoist wins for cross-platform power and natural-language input, Things for calm minimalist design on Apple, TickTick for built-in calendar and habit tracking, and Apple Reminders for free, simple, and already on your phone. The wrong reason to choose is feature count; the right reason is which one matches how your brain plans. This guide compares them honestly so you stop app-hopping and actually finish tasks.
The one-line truth: the system you stick with beats the perfect system you abandon, so pick the one whose daily feel you like and commit.
TL;DR
- Cross-platform power, natural language: Todoist. Works everywhere, “tomorrow 3pm” parses automatically.
- Calmest design, Apple-only: Things 3. Beautiful, focused, one-time purchase.
- All-in-one (tasks + calendar + habits): TickTick. The most features for the price.
- Free and already installed: Apple Reminders. Genuinely good now, zero cost on Apple devices.
- The deciding factor: daily friction and feel, not the feature list.
Todoist: the cross-platform workhorse
Todoist is the safe default if you use mixed platforms (Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, web) and want one system everywhere. Its natural-language input is the standout: type “submit report every Friday 9am” and it schedules a recurring task automatically. It has projects, labels, filters, and a clean enough interface that power does not become clutter. The free tier is usable; Pro (around 4-5 USD/m) adds reminders and more. For most people who are not locked into Apple, Todoist is the recommendation because it is reliable, fast, and works identically on every device.
The comparison table
| App | Platforms | Standout | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todoist | All (Win/Mac/iOS/Android/web) | Natural language, cross-platform | Free / Pro ~4 USD/m |
| Things 3 | Apple only | Calm design, focus | One-time ~50 USD total |
| TickTick | All | Tasks + calendar + habits | Free / Pro ~3 USD/m |
| Apple Reminders | Apple only | Free, built in, now good | Free |
Things and TickTick: design vs all-in-one
Things 3 is the choice for Apple users who value calm. Its design is the most thoughtful in the category: it makes planning feel pleasant rather than stressful, with a gentle structure of Today, Upcoming, and Areas. It is a one-time purchase per platform (no subscription) but Apple-only. TickTick goes the opposite direction: it packs the most into one app, combining tasks, a built-in calendar view, and habit tracking, which is ideal if you want one tool instead of three. Choose Things if design and focus matter most; choose TickTick if you want tasks, calendar, and habits unified.
Apple Reminders: do not overlook the free one
Apple Reminders quietly became genuinely good. It now has lists, sub-tasks, tags, smart lists, natural-language scheduling, location and time reminders, and shared lists, all free and already installed on every Apple device with instant iCloud sync. For many Apple users it is enough, and the friction is zero because there is nothing to install or pay for. Before buying a to-do app, try Reminders for a week. If it covers your needs, you save money and gain deep system integration (Siri, widgets, sharing). Buy a dedicated app only when you hit a specific wall Reminders cannot handle.
FAQ
Which to-do app should I pick if I use both Windows and iPhone? Todoist. It works identically across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and web, with reliable sync and natural-language input. Things and Apple Reminders are Apple-only, so they do not fit a mixed-platform life.
Is Apple Reminders good enough in 2026? For many Apple users, yes. It has tags, smart lists, sub-tasks, natural-language and location reminders, and shared lists, all free and built in. Try it for a week before buying a dedicated app.
Things or Todoist? Things for the calmest design if you are Apple-only and want a one-time purchase. Todoist for cross-platform reliability and natural-language power. Both are excellent; the choice is design-feel versus platform reach.
What about an all-in-one with calendar and habits? TickTick. It combines tasks, a calendar view, and habit tracking in one app across all platforms, which suits people who want one tool instead of separate task, calendar, and habit apps.
Affiliate disclosure
This article may contain affiliate links to to-do apps (Todoist, TickTick). Apple Reminders is free. If you buy through our link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Reviews remain independent. FTC compliant.