8 Best TickTick Alternatives for 2026
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I used TickTick as my daily driver for about four months last year. It is genuinely good — Pomodoro timer, habit tracker, calendar, and a reminder system that actually nags you — all for roughly $36 a year. But it also drove me a little crazy: the interface felt busy on smaller screens, some advanced filters stayed locked behind Premium, and the achievement score that dings you for missed deadlines started feeling like a second boss. So I went looking for the best ticktick alternatives, installed eight of them, ran my actual work and personal life through each for at least two weeks, and wrote down what held up.
This guide is the result. Whether you want a free ticktick alternative, something cheaper than ticktick that still covers the basics, or a full workspace app that swallows TickTick whole, you will find your match below. If you have not decided about TickTick itself yet, my ticktick review walks through what it does well, and the ticktick pricing page breaks down what Premium actually costs before you commit.
Quick verdict: Todoist is the best all-round TickTick replacement for most people — cleaner design, reliable sync, and a generous free tier. Microsoft To Do is the best completely free option. Things 3 is the buy-once choice if subscriptions make you itch, and Notion wins if you want tasks living inside a bigger workspace.
How I Picked These TickTick Alternatives
I did not just scroll app-store charts. Every app below went through the same real-world test:
- Two full weeks of daily use with real deadlines, recurring habits, and at least one shared list.
- Cross-device check — I ran each on a phone and a desktop and watched how fast changes synced.
- Reminder reliability test — recurring tasks, location reminders where supported, and late-night “do this tomorrow” entries.
- Import friction — I exported my TickTick lists and tried to bring them in, noting what survived and what did not.
- Price per feature — I compared what the paid tier actually unlocks against TickTick Premium’s roughly $2.99/month (billed annually).
Apps that only work on one platform, that have abandoned development, or that cost twice as much while doing half the job did not make the cut.
The 8 Best TickTick Alternatives in 2026
1. Todoist — Best Overall TickTick Alternative
Todoist is the name that comes up in nearly every “ticktick alternatives” discussion, and after two weeks of side-by-side use I understand why. It is quieter than TickTick — no achievement score glaring at you, no five-tab interface — just fast task entry, projects, and a calendar view that stays readable.
Best for: People who want TickTick’s power without TickTick’s clutter, plus anyone who shares tasks with family or a small team.
Key features:
- Natural-language task entry (“pay rent every 1st at 9am”) that just works
- Projects, sections, labels, and filters for organizing hundreds of tasks
- Calendar layout, task durations, and custom reminders on paid plans
- Over 60 integrations including Google Calendar, Slack, and Outlook
- Karma points that reward streaks without punishing missed deadlines
Pricing: Free for basic use. Pro starts at around $4/month billed annually at the time of writing — check the official site for current pricing. A Business tier adds shared workspaces and team roles.
Pros:
- Noticeably faster and lighter than TickTick on every device I tried
- The free tier is genuinely usable, not a teaser
- Sync is near-instant across phone, desktop, and web
Cons:
- No built-in Pomodoro timer or habit tracker — you will need separate apps or integrations
- Pro costs more than TickTick Premium per year
- No native voice input on mobile
The ticktick vs todoist comparison is genuinely close, but if your priority is a calm, fast task list rather than an all-in-one productivity cockpit, Todoist takes it.
Try Todoist free and see if it fits your workflow
2. Any.do — Best Cheaper Than TickTick Pick
When people search “ticktick vs any.do,” they usually want the same question answered: which one is simpler and cheaper? After testing both, my answer is that Any.do wins on simplicity and ties on price. Its “My Day” planning ritual — a daily prompt that walks you through scheduling today’s tasks — is the single feature I miss most when I leave it.
Best for: Busy people who want a gentle daily planning habit and a great-looking calendar-task combo on mobile.
Key features:
- My Day planner with drag-and-drop scheduling into your calendar
- Voice entry, location reminders, and one-tap recurring tasks
- Shared lists and assigned tasks for household or small-team use
- Calendar sync with Google Calendar and Outlook
- Clean widgets on iOS and Android
Pricing: Free plan covers the basics. Premium starts at around $3/month billed annually at the time of writing — check the official site for current pricing — putting it in the same ballpark as TickTick Premium.
Pros:
- The prettiest daily-planning flow of any app here
- Very easy learning curve; my partner set it up in ten minutes
- Good value on Premium compared with Todoist
Cons:
- Fewer power-user filters than TickTick or Todoist
- No habit tracker and no Pomodoro timer
- Desktop app feels like an afterthought next to the excellent mobile app
Check current Any.do Premium pricing
3. Microsoft To Do — Best Free TickTick Alternative
If your main complaint about TickTick is “why am I paying for a to-do list,” Microsoft To Do is the honest answer. It is completely free — no premium tier, no upsell popups — and it is better than most paid task apps were five years ago. The My Day feature (borrowed from the old Wunderlist, which Microsoft acquired) is simple and genuinely useful.
Best for: Anyone who wants a free ticktick alternative with zero compromises on cost, especially if you already use Outlook or Microsoft 365.
Key features:
- My Day smart list for daily focus
- Steps (subtasks), due dates, reminders, and file attachments
- Shared lists with family or colleagues
- Syncs with Outlook tasks and Microsoft 365
- Available on web, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
Pricing: Free. There is no paid tier.
Pros:
- Completely free with no feature gates
- Deep integration with Outlook and Microsoft ecosystem
- Clean, calm interface that never feels busy
Cons:
- No Pomodoro, no habits, no calendar view as rich as TickTick’s
- Fewer integrations than Todoist
- Development moves slowly; do not expect monthly feature drops
4. Notion — Best Workspace-Style Alternative
The “ticktick vs notion” debate is really a category question: do you want a task app, or a workspace where tasks happen to live? I run my content calendar and project notes in Notion, and having tasks embedded in the same pages as my research notes is genuinely powerful. But it is slower for quick capture than TickTick, and you will spend time building your system before it feels natural.
Best for: Writers, students, freelancers, and small teams who want notes, docs, databases, and tasks in one place.
Key features:
- Flexible databases that turn into kanban boards, calendars, or tables
- Rich notes with embedded tasks, files, and media
- Real-time collaboration with comments and mentions
- Huge template library and a massive community
- AI assistant features on higher plans
Pricing: Free for individual use. Plus starts at around $10/user/month billed annually at the time of writing — check the official site for current pricing.
Pros:
- One app replaces your notes app, wiki, and task list
- Unlimited flexibility — build exactly the system you want
- Generous free plan for solo users
Cons:
- Slower for quick task capture than dedicated task apps
- Overkill if you just want a to-do list
- Offline support is weaker than TickTick’s
5. Google Tasks — Best Simple Free Option
Google Tasks is the minimalist of this list: a bare-bones task list that lives inside Gmail and Google Calendar. I would not recommend it as a TickTick replacement for power users, but for someone whose entire life already runs through Google Workspace, its invisibility is the feature. Tasks you add from an email show up on your calendar automatically.
Best for: Gmail and Google Calendar loyalists who want the lightest possible task list.
Key features:
- Built into Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive sidebar
- Subtasks, due dates, and basic recurring tasks
- Mobile apps with a simple list interface
- Free with any Google account
Pricing: Free.
Pros:
- Zero setup if you use Gmail; it is already there
- Tasks appear on Google Calendar automatically
- Completely free forever
Cons:
- No reminders beyond due-date notifications
- No collaboration, no tags, no priorities
- Far fewer features than even the free tier of TickTick
6. Things 3 — Best Buy-Once Alternative (Apple Only)
Things 3 is the anti-subscription choice. You buy it once per Apple platform and own it forever. It is also, in my opinion, the most beautiful task app ever made — the animations, the typography, the way the Today view flows. The catch is obvious: it only exists on Apple devices, and buying all three apps costs roughly what two years of TickTick Premium costs.
Best for: iPhone/Mac users who hate subscriptions and want the most polished task experience available.
Key features:
- Gorgeous Today, Upcoming, and Anytime views
- Projects with headings, checklists, and deadlines
- Quick Find and natural date parsing
- Deep Shortcuts and automation support on Apple platforms
- One-time purchase — no subscription, ever
Pricing: One-time purchase per platform (Mac, iPhone/Watch, and iPad sold separately). The combined cost lands in the rough vicinity of one to two years of a competitor’s subscription at the time of writing — check the official site for current pricing.
Pros:
- No subscription fees, ever
- The best-designed task app on any platform
- Fast, private, and reliable sync via Things Cloud
Cons:
- Apple only — no Windows, Android, or web app
- No collaboration features worth mentioning
- Major future versions would likely be a new purchase
7. Asana — Best for Team Task Management
Asana is overkill for personal to-dos, but if your TickTick lists keep growing into team projects, Asana is where many people land. I tested it with a small content team: timelines, workload views, and project templates made it far better than TickTick for coordinating other humans. For solo use, though, I would pick Todoist.
Best for: Small teams and freelancers managing client projects with multiple collaborators.
Key features:
- List, board, timeline, and calendar project views
- Task assignments, dependencies, and custom fields
- Project templates and automation rules
- Portfolios and workload management on paid plans
- 200+ integrations
Pricing: Free for small teams getting started. Starter plans begin at around $10.99/user/month billed annually at the time of writing — check the official site for current pricing.
Pros:
- Far stronger team features than TickTick
- Multiple views of the same project data
- Good free tier for small teams
Cons:
- Expensive per user once you outgrow free
- Overcomplicated for personal task management
- No built-in time tracking on lower tiers
8. ClickUp — Best Feature-Packed Alternative
ClickUp’s pitch is “one app to replace them all,” and it nearly delivers: docs, goals, time tracking, whiteboards, and tasks in one subscription. I found it powerful but genuinely overwhelming at first — the settings menus have settings menus. If TickTick felt busy to you, ClickUp will feel like Times Square. But for teams that want everything in one place at a lower per-user cost than Asana, it is compelling.
Best for: Teams and power users who want docs, time tracking, and project views bundled with tasks.
Key features:
- Tasks with 15+ view types including Gantt, mind map, and workload
- Built-in docs, whiteboards, and goals
- Native time tracking
- Automation and custom fields
- Generous free plan
Pricing: Free for personal use. Paid plans start at around $7/user/month billed annually at the time of writing — check the official site for current pricing.
Pros:
- Enormous feature set for the price
- Strong free tier
- Good value for teams versus Asana or Monday
Cons:
- Steep learning curve; setup takes real effort
- Can feel sluggish with very large workspaces
- Interface is busy — TickTick minimalists will flinch
TickTick Alternatives: Side-by-Side Comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Paid price (approx.) | Pomodoro | Habits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TickTick | All-in-one value | Yes | ~$2.99/mo annual | Yes | Yes |
| Todoist | Clean, fast task lists | Yes | ~$4/mo annual | No | No |
| Any.do | Daily planning ritual | Yes | ~$3/mo annual | No | No |
| Microsoft To Do | Free and simple | Fully free | $0 | No | No |
| Notion | Workspace + tasks | Yes | ~$10/user/mo annual | No | No |
| Google Tasks | Google ecosystem | Fully free | $0 | No | No |
| Things 3 | Apple users, no subscription | Trial | One-time per device | No | No |
| Asana | Team projects | Yes | ~$10.99/user/mo annual | No | No |
| ClickUp | Everything-in-one | Yes | ~$7/user/mo annual | Via add-on | Via add-on |
Notice the pattern: TickTick is still the only app here that bundles a Pomodoro timer and habit tracker at its price. Every alternative trades that bundle for depth somewhere else.
Cheaper Than TickTick? Free TickTick Alternatives Worth Using
Let me answer the money question directly, because “cheaper than ticktick” is one of the most-searched phrases in this space and the honest answer is nuanced.
TickTick Premium at roughly $36/year is already one of the cheapest paid task apps around. Nothing with the same feature bundle costs meaningfully less — Todoist Pro, Any.do Premium, and TickTick Premium all sit within a few dollars of each other annually. So if you want cheaper than TickTick, your real options are:
- Go fully free. Microsoft To Do and Google Tasks cost $0 forever. Todoist’s free tier and ClickUp’s free tier are generous enough that many people never pay.
- Buy once. Things 3 costs more upfront but nothing after — after about two years, you are ahead of every subscription on this list.
- Use what you already pay for. If your employer provides Microsoft 365, Microsoft To Do is effectively free. If you pay for Notion Plus anyway, its task features come along for the ride.
The trap to avoid: switching to a “cheaper” app and then paying for three separate apps to replace TickTick’s Pomodoro, habits, and calendar. Do that math before you move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best TickTick competitors overall?
The best ticktick competitors in 2026 are Todoist (best overall balance of power and simplicity), Any.do (best daily planning experience), Microsoft To Do (best free option), Notion (best workspace integration), Things 3 (best one-time purchase for Apple users), Google Tasks (simplest free pick), Asana (best for teams), and ClickUp (most features per dollar). Which is “best” depends on whether you value TickTick’s bundled extras or want a calmer, more focused tool.
TickTick vs Any.do — which should I choose?
The ticktick vs any.do decision comes down to breadth versus calm. TickTick gives you more built-in tools — Pomodoro timer, habit tracking, an achievement system, and richer calendar views — at a similar price. Any.do gives you a simpler, prettier daily planning ritual and a gentler learning curve. I recommend TickTick if you want one app to run your whole productivity system, and Any.do if you mainly want to plan each day well and stay consistent.
Is there anything genuinely cheaper than TickTick?
Yes, but with trade-offs. Microsoft To Do and Google Tasks are completely free. Todoist, ClickUp, and Notion all have free tiers generous enough for many users. Among paid apps, TickTick Premium (~$36/year) is already near the bottom of the price range — Todoist Pro and Any.do Premium cost about the same or more. The only way to meaningfully undercut TickTick’s paid tier long-term is a one-time purchase like Things 3 or a free app.
What is the best free TickTick alternative?
Microsoft To Do is the best free ticktick alternative because it is completely free with no premium tier gating features. It covers lists, subtasks, due dates, reminders, and sharing. If you want more power without paying, Todoist’s free tier and ClickUp’s free tier offer more features, though both reserve their best capabilities for paid plans. Google Tasks is the simplest free option for Gmail users.
TickTick vs Notion — which is better for tasks?
In the ticktick vs notion matchup, TickTick wins for pure task management: faster capture, better reminders, built-in Pomodoro and habits, and superior offline mobile apps. Notion wins if your tasks need to live alongside notes, docs, and databases — for example, a content creator linking tasks to article drafts. Many people I know use both: TickTick for daily doing, Notion for planning and reference. If you must pick one, choose based on whether tasks or notes dominate your day.
What other task app alternatives should I consider beyond the big names?
Beyond the eight above, other task app alternatives worth a look include OmniFocus (deep GTD system for Apple power users), Remember The Milk (a veteran with great smart lists, ~$39.99/year), Habitica (gamified tasks and habits, free), and Sunsama (guided daily planning, pricier). None displaced my top eight in testing, but OmniFocus in particular deserves mention if you follow the Getting Things Done method religiously.
Final Verdict: Which TickTick Alternative Should You Pick?
After a month of testing, here is my honest take: most people do not need to leave TickTick. At roughly $36/year with a Pomodoro timer, habit tracker, calendar, and excellent reminders, it remains the best value bundle in task apps. Check the ticktick pricing breakdown before assuming a rival is cheaper — most are not.
But if TickTick’s busy interface or its achievement-score pressure is wearing on you, Of all the ticktick alternatives I tested, Todoist is the switch I recommend most often: calmer, faster, and easier to trust. If you want to pay nothing, Microsoft To Do is genuinely good. And if subscriptions are the actual problem, Things 3 ends the debate permanently — at least on Apple devices.
Pick the one that matches how you actually work, import your lists, and give it two full weeks before judging. The best task app is the one you open every morning.