Task Management Apps Compared — Todoist, Things 3, TickTick, and Apple Reminders Data

The task management app market is mature and stable. Wirecutter, PCMag, and Tom’s Guide consistently rank the same 5-6 apps at the top: Todoist, Things 3, TickTick, Apple Reminders, Microsoft To Do, and OmniFocus. This article walks through what each does well, the pricing tiers, and which fits which workflow.

The TL;DR: Todoist is the safe cross-platform pick. Things 3 is the best Apple-only option. TickTick offers the most features per dollar. Free options (Apple Reminders, Microsoft To Do) are capable for simple needs. Match the app to your platforms, complexity needs, and budget.

For complementary content, see Pomodoro vs time-blocking research.

What makes a good task manager

Per Wirecutter and PCMag testing criteria, the dimensions that matter:

Capture speed

How fast can you add a new task from any context? Quick capture (keyboard shortcut, widget, share extension) determines whether you actually use the app for everyday tasks.

Cross-platform

Available on phone, tablet, laptop, web. Cross-platform sync (no manual export/import) is table stakes for most workflows.

Organization features

Projects, tags, sub-tasks, due dates, recurring tasks, priorities. The depth of these features differentiates apps.

Search and filtering

Finding “all overdue tasks tagged @errand” should be instant. Power users live in custom views and saved filters.

Reminders and notifications

Time-based and location-based reminders. Smart escalation when tasks become due.

Collaboration

Shared lists, assignment, comments. Important for couples managing household, teams managing projects.

Integration

Connecting to calendar, email, other tools. Worth more for power users; less for solo casual use.

Top picks comparison

Todoist (best cross-platform)

Pricing: Free tier (5 projects, 5 collaborators); Pro $48/year ($4/month)

Strengths:

• Cross-platform: web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
• Natural language input (“submit invoice tomorrow at 3pm” auto-fills date)
• Karma gamification system for completion habits
• Powerful filters and saved searches
• Solid integrations (Google Calendar, Slack, Zapier)
• Smart Schedule suggestions

Weaknesses:

• Subscription required for some basic features (reminders, labels, comments)
• Interface less polished than Things 3
• Karma system is gamification (some find motivating, some don’t)

Best for: Users on multiple platforms (work Windows + personal Mac, or Apple + Android household), team collaborators, people who like natural language input.

Things 3 (best Apple-only)

Pricing: $50 macOS + $20 iPad + $10 iOS = $80 total one-time. No subscription.

Strengths:

• Best-in-class interface design (Apple Design Award winner)
• Today / Upcoming / Anytime / Someday model from GTD
• Quick Entry shortcut (Ctrl+Space) — one of fastest captures available
• iOS/macOS deep integration (Siri, Shortcuts, share sheet)
• One-time purchase: cheaper than Todoist after 2 years
• No subscription anxiety

Weaknesses:

• Apple-only (no Windows, Android, Linux)
• No collaboration features
• Limited filtering compared to Todoist
• No Pomodoro built in
• $80 upfront cost

Best for: Apple-only households, people who hate subscriptions, those who value interface polish, GTD-focused workflow.

TickTick (best feature-per-dollar)

Pricing: Free tier (limited recurring tasks, basic features); Premium $35.99/year ($3/month)

Strengths:

• Built-in Pomodoro timer
• Built-in calendar view (rare in task apps)
• Habit tracker integrated
• Pomodoro stats and history
• Cross-platform: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, web
• Most features per dollar

Weaknesses:

• Interface less polished than Todoist or Things 3
• Free tier has more limitations than Todoist
• Less mature than Todoist (younger company)

Best for: Power users wanting Pomodoro + tasks + calendar in one app, budget-conscious cross-platform users.

Apple Reminders (best free for Apple)

Pricing: Free, included with iOS/macOS

Strengths:

• Free
• Tight Apple ecosystem integration (Siri, share sheet, smart lists)
• Reasonable feature set: tasks, lists, due dates, recurring, sharing, location-based reminders
• iCloud sync
• Hands-free via Siri

Weaknesses:

• Apple-only
• Less powerful than Todoist/Things 3 for complex projects
• Limited integrations
• No Pomodoro

Best for: Apple users with simple task management needs, families wanting shared lists, people unwilling to pay.

Microsoft To Do (best free cross-platform)

Pricing: Free, included with Microsoft account

Strengths:

• Free across all platforms
• Outlook integration
• Microsoft 365 ecosystem
• “My Day” focused list view
• Task assignment via Office 365

Weaknesses:

• Less polished than Todoist
• Limited filtering and search
• No advanced features
• No Pomodoro

Best for: Microsoft 365 users, simple cross-platform free needs.

OmniFocus (power-user GTD)

Pricing: $50/year subscription or $100 one-time per platform

Strengths:

• Most powerful GTD implementation available
• Custom perspectives (advanced filtering)
• Forecast view combines tasks + calendar
• Apple-only but deep integration
• Used by serious GTD practitioners

Weaknesses:

• Apple-only
• Complex interface (steep learning curve)
• Expensive
• Overkill for most users

Best for: Serious GTD practitioners with complex project hierarchies, executive assistants, productivity power users.

Feature comparison table

Feature	Todoist	Things 3	TickTick	Apple Reminders	Microsoft To Do
Cross-platform	Yes	Apple only	Yes	Apple only	Yes
Free tier	Limited	No	Limited	Free	Free
Annual cost (paid)	$48	$0 (after one-time)	$36	$0	$0
Natural language input	Excellent	Good	Good	Basic	Basic
Recurring tasks	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sub-tasks	Yes	Yes (checklists)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tags / Labels	Premium	Yes	Yes	Limited	Limited
Filters	Powerful	Limited	Powerful	Smart Lists	Limited
Pomodoro	No	No	Yes	No	No
Calendar view	No (sync only)	Limited	Yes	Limited	Limited
Collaboration	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Integrations	Many	Limited	Many	Apple ecosystem	Microsoft ecosystem

How to choose

Decision tree

Are you Apple-only and dislike subscriptions? → Things 3 ($80 one-time) or Apple Reminders (free)

Are you cross-platform (Windows + Mac, Android + iOS, etc.)? → Todoist (paid) or TickTick (paid) or Microsoft To Do (free)

Do you want Pomodoro + tasks in one app? → TickTick

Do you want shared family/household lists for free? → Apple Reminders (Apple users) or Microsoft To Do (mixed)

Are you a serious GTD practitioner with complex projects? → OmniFocus or Things 3

Do you want the most polished interface? → Things 3 (Apple) or Todoist (cross-platform)

Switching cost

Most apps support import from other apps. Migration time: 30 minutes to 2 hours typical. Ten years of task history is hard to migrate cleanly; recent 6-12 months is straightforward.

If switching, do it during a slow workweek. Set up new system, keep old one available for reference, fully cut over after 2 weeks.

Common usage patterns

GTD-focused

David Allen’s Getting Things Done has 5 stages (capture, clarify, organize, reflect, engage). Apps that fit:

• Things 3 — built around GTD philosophy
• OmniFocus — most comprehensive GTD implementation
• Todoist with custom labels — flexible enough

GTD requires weekly review (60-90 minutes) regardless of app. Without review, any app becomes a graveyard of tasks.

Time-blocking integrated

Tasks scheduled to specific calendar slots:

• TickTick — has calendar view built in
• Todoist + Reclaim.ai or Akiflow — task scheduling on calendar
• Things 3 + manual calendar drag — works but more steps

For full time-blocking workflow, see Pomodoro vs time-blocking research.

Daily focus

“Today” lists rather than projects:

• Things 3 — best “Today” view
• Microsoft To Do — “My Day” feature
• Apple Reminders — Smart List for today

For users who plan day-by-day rather than project-by-project, this pattern fits.

Project-heavy

Complex projects with many sub-tasks:

• Todoist — projects with sub-projects
• OmniFocus — most powerful for hierarchical projects
• Asana, Notion — beyond traditional task apps

For deeply nested projects, consider whether you actually need a project management tool (Asana, Linear, Jira) rather than a task manager.

What about paper?

Paper notebooks (Bullet Journal, Hobonichi, plain notebook + pen) compete with digital task apps. Strengths:

• No notifications or distractions during planning
• Forces summarization and prioritization (limited space)
• No platform updates breaking workflows
• Survives ecosystem changes (Apple/Google deprecating apps)

Weaknesses:

• No reminders (you must check the book)
• No search
• Not portable to many devices
• Loss/damage destroys data

Many productivity practitioners (including Cal Newport) use paper for daily planning + digital for reference and reminders. The hybrid avoids both system’s weaknesses.

Common mistakes

App-shopping forever

Trying 10 apps in 6 months never sticks. The best app is one you use consistently. Pick within a week, commit for 60 days, then evaluate.

Over-engineering organization

Creating 50 projects with 200 tags before adding any tasks. Start with 3-5 projects (Work, Personal, Errands, Reading). Add structure only when it’s needed.

Capturing without reviewing

Capturing tasks without weekly review creates an overwhelming dump. The review is what turns tasks into action.

Treating app as productivity solution

Apps are tools. Methodology (GTD, time-blocking, Pomodoro) and discipline matter more than app choice.

Ignoring sync issues

If your app doesn’t sync reliably across devices, you’ll stop trusting it. Verify sync works before committing.

Bottom line

For most users:

• Apple-only, dislike subscriptions: Things 3 ($80 one-time, lasts years)
• Cross-platform, want polish: Todoist Premium ($48/year)
• Power user, value features-per-dollar: TickTick Premium ($36/year)
• Free + simple needs: Apple Reminders (Apple) or Microsoft To Do (cross-platform)
• GTD-focused with complex projects: OmniFocus

Pick within these constraints and commit. The best task app is the one you actually use consistently.

For complementary content, see Pomodoro vs time-blocking research.