Best To-Do List Apps in 2026: Stay Organized

The right to-do list app can transform your productivity. The wrong one becomes another thing on your to-do list that you ignore. In 2026, the market has matured significantly — AI-powered task suggestions, built-in habit tracking, and cross-platform sync are now standard features rather than premium add-ons.

We tested the top to-do list apps based on ease of use, features, pricing, platform support, and how well they actually help you get things done. Here are the 8 best options for every type of user.

Quick Comparison: Best To-Do List Apps 2026

App	Free Tier	Paid Price	Platforms	Best For
Todoist	Yes (5 projects)	$5/mo	All platforms	Best overall
TickTick	Yes (9 lists)	$36/yr	All platforms	All-in-one (habits + timer)
Microsoft To Do	100% free	Free	Windows, iOS, Android, Web	Microsoft 365 users
Things 3	No	$50 one-time (Mac)	Apple only	Design-focused Apple users
Google Tasks	100% free	Free	All platforms	Gmail/Calendar users
Any.do	Yes	$5/mo	All platforms	Simple daily planning

1. Todoist — Best Overall To-Do App

Price: Free / $5 per month (Pro) / $8 per month (Business)

Todoist is the most popular to-do list app for a reason: it balances power with simplicity better than anything else. Natural language input lets you type "buy groceries tomorrow at 5pm" and it automatically sets the task, date, and time. It runs on every platform — web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Apple Watch, and has browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

The 2026 update introduced Todoist Assist, an AI suite that breaks complex goals into actionable steps, suggests optimal scheduling, and helps plan projects. With 80+ integrations (Slack, Gmail, Google Calendar, Alexa, Zapier), Todoist fits into virtually any workflow.

The free tier gives you 5 active projects and basic features. Pro at $5 per month (or $60 per year) unlocks unlimited projects, reminders, filters, AI features, and calendar layout. Note: Todoist raised prices 25% in late 2025, from $48 to $60 per year.

2. TickTick — Best All-in-One Productivity App

Price: Free / $36 per year (Premium)

TickTick pulls ahead of Todoist if you want everything in one app: tasks, habits, Pomodoro timer, and calendar. Instead of juggling separate apps for task management, habit tracking, and focus sessions, TickTick combines them all with a clean interface.

The free tier is generous — 9 lists, habit tracking, calendar view, and the Pomodoro timer. Premium at $36 per year (significantly cheaper than Todoist Pro) adds unlimited lists, calendar subscription, and more. The built-in habit tracker with streaks and statistics is genuinely useful, not a gimmick.

TickTick's 30+ integrations are fewer than Todoist's 80+, which matters if you rely heavily on third-party tools. But for personal productivity, TickTick offers more built-in features per dollar than any competitor.

3. Microsoft To Do — Best Free Option

Price: Completely free

Microsoft To Do is completely free with no premium tier — every feature is available to everyone. The killer feature is deep Microsoft ecosystem integration: flagged Outlook emails automatically become tasks, Planner tasks sync into your list, and it integrates natively with Teams.

The "My Day" feature encourages you to plan each morning by selecting which tasks you want to focus on today. Smart suggestions pull from your task list to help you prioritize. The interface is clean and friendly, with customizable backgrounds for each list.

If you already use Microsoft 365 for work, Microsoft To Do is a no-brainer. It is less powerful than Todoist or TickTick for advanced workflows but handles daily task management exceptionally well.

4. Things 3 — Best for Apple Users

Price: $49.99 (Mac) / $9.99 (iPhone) / $19.99 (iPad) — one-time purchase

Things 3 is the most beautifully designed to-do app ever made. Every interaction feels considered and intentional. The app follows GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology with Areas, Projects, and Next Actions, but wraps it in an interface so intuitive that you never feel like you are following a system.

The one-time purchase model means no subscriptions — pay once and it is yours forever. However, you need to buy it separately for each Apple device. There is no web version, no Windows support, and no Android app. If you are all-in on Apple, Things 3 is a joy to use. If you need cross-platform, look elsewhere.

5. Google Tasks — Best for Gmail Users

Price: Completely free

Google Tasks is built into Gmail and Google Calendar, making it the simplest option for people already in the Google ecosystem. Turn any email into a task with one click. Tasks appear in your Google Calendar alongside events. It is free, simple, and does the basics well.

Google Tasks is intentionally minimal — no tags, no priorities beyond a star, no collaboration features. For people who want a simple checkbox list integrated with their email and calendar, it is perfect. For anything more complex, you will outgrow it quickly.

How to Choose the Right To-Do App

• Want the best all-rounder: Todoist. Runs everywhere, 80+ integrations, AI features.
• Want tasks + habits + timer in one: TickTick. Best value at $36/year.
• Use Microsoft 365: Microsoft To Do. Free and deeply integrated.
• All Apple devices + love beautiful design: Things 3. One-time purchase, no subscription.
• Live in Gmail: Google Tasks. Built in, zero friction.
• Want simple daily planning: Any.do. Clean "Today" view with calendar integration.

For more productivity tools, check our guides to the best Mac apps and free typing software to boost your daily workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions