We tested 20+ to-do list apps to find the simplest and most effective options. These apps focus on capturing and completing tasks without the complexity of full project management.
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Natural Language | Calendar View | Reminders | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todoist | Free/$4/mo | All | Paid | 9.5/10 | ||
| Things 3 | $49.99 | Apple | 9.3/10 | |||
| Microsoft To Do | Free | All | 8.8/10 | |||
| TickTick | Free/$36/yr | All | 9.1/10 | |||
| Google Tasks | Free | All | 8.2/10 | |||
| Apple Reminders | Free | Apple | Siri | 8.3/10 | ||
| Any.do | Free/$6/mo | All | 8.0/10 |
Todoist is the best to-do app for most people. Natural language input makes adding tasks fast, the apps work everywhere, and the free tier is generous enough for most needs.
Things 3 is the most beautiful and intuitive to-do app for Apple users. One-time purchase, gorgeous design, and thoughtful organization make it a joy to use.
Microsoft To Do is completely free and surprisingly capable. My Day feature helps focus on today, and Outlook integration is seamless for Microsoft users.
TickTick packs the most features into an approachable package. Calendar view, Pomodoro timer, and habit tracking go beyond basic to-do without overwhelming.
Google Tasks lives inside Gmail and Google Calendar, making it effortless for Google users. Simple but reliable for basic task tracking.
Apple Reminders is already on your iPhone and has become surprisingly capable. Siri integration, shared lists, and location reminders work great.
Any.do takes a daily planner approach, prompting you to plan your day each morning. Calendar integration and voice entry round out a focused experience.
We tested each app for simple task management without unnecessary complexity.
Google Tasks and Apple Reminders are the simplest since they are already on your devices. Microsoft To Do is the simplest full-featured option that is also free.
Start free. Microsoft To Do and Apple Reminders are excellent free options. Upgrade to Todoist Pro or TickTick Premium only if you hit real limitations.
Things 3 if you are all-Apple and prefer one-time purchase with beautiful design. Todoist if you need cross-platform or prefer subscription with regular updates.
