TickTick vs. Todoist: which is the best to-do app in 2026?

Todoist is the better to-do app for most people in 2026. Its clean interface, strong natural language input, and expanding AI suite (Todoist Assist, Ramble voice-to-task) make it the safer choice for anyone who wants simplicity that scales. TickTick is the better pick if you want more tools in one place: it bundles a Pomodoro timer, habit tracker, Eisenhower Matrix, and a full calendar view, all at a lower price ($36/year vs. $60/year for Todoist). Below, we compare both apps across nine categories so you can pick the right one for your workflow.

TickTick vs. Todoist at a glance

Overall: Todoist wins 4 categories, TickTick wins 4, with 1 tie. The right choice depends on whether you value simplicity and AI (Todoist) or feature depth and price (TickTick).

TickTick vs. Todoist pricing

Pricing is one of the sharpest differences between these apps, especially after Todoist raised its prices in December 2025.

Sources: TickTick pricing, Todoist pricing, Todoist Pro pricing update

TickTick Premium costs roughly 40% less than Todoist Pro on annual billing. Todoist's free plan is more restrictive (5 projects vs. 9 lists), but both free tiers cover basic task management.

The December 2025 price increase moved Todoist Pro from $48/year to $60/year, a 25% jump. If budget is a deciding factor, TickTick offers more features per dollar.

TickTick vs. Todoist: how they compare

Which app has a better user interface?

Todoist wins on interface. Its minimalist layout uses generous whitespace and a clear list-based design that makes tasks easy to scan. There is virtually no learning curve: new users can start managing tasks in minutes.

TickTick uses a similar two-pane layout (lists on the left, tasks on the right) and offers more themes and customization options. However, because TickTick packs in more features, the interface is denser. A mini-sidebar for its extra tools (Pomodoro, habits, calendar) and a detailed task panel with formatting options and subtasks add visual weight.

Neither app is cluttered, but side by side, Todoist feels more focused. As one long-time Todoist user who tried TickTick put it: TickTick had "too many features that were just distracting side quests."

If you prefer minimalism, Todoist wins. If you want more functionality at your fingertips and don't mind a denser layout, TickTick is still user-friendly.

Which app has more productivity features?

TickTick wins on feature count. It goes beyond basic task lists and includes a suite of productivity tools built into the app, no add-ons required:

• Pomodoro timer. Timed work sessions and breaks to maintain focus, with statistics and achievement scores.
• Habit tracker. Build and maintain daily routines with progress tracking, streaks, and reminders.
• Eisenhower Matrix. Organize tasks by urgency and importance in a four-quadrant view.
• Time tracking. Log how long you spend on tasks, with summary reports for reviewing your workflow.
• Four-column interface. Work across multiple projects and task details simultaneously.
• Rich notes. Add formatted text, file attachments, and checklists inside any task.

Todoist focuses on doing task management well. It does not include a habit tracker, Pomodoro timer, or Eisenhower Matrix. To get those, you need third-party apps or integrations.

That said, Todoist has been closing the gap. It added a calendar layout view for paid users, though it still shows only one project at a time, unlike TickTick's unified calendar across all projects.

Learn more: For a broader look at productivity tools with built-in planning, see our best planner apps guide.

Which app has better AI and automation?

Todoist wins on AI, and the gap widened in 2026. Todoist now offers a full AI suite called Todoist Assist:

• Task Assist. Breaks down complex goals into actionable steps, suggests task scheduling, and helps you plan projects.
• Ramble. Voice-to-task conversion that works in 38 languages (TechCrunch, Jan 2026). Speak naturally, and Todoist creates structured tasks from your words. Built on Google Gemini.
• Email Assist. Forward an email to Todoist, and it extracts action items automatically.
• Filter Assist. Describe what you want to see in plain language, and it builds the filter query for you.

TickTick does not have LLM-based AI, but it launched Suggested Tasks in December 2025. This feature analyzes your creation patterns, rescheduling history, and due dates to recommend which tasks to work on next. It is algorithmic rather than conversational, but still useful for daily prioritization.

For users who want AI to help plan, decompose, and capture tasks by voice, Todoist is the clear choice. For users who just want smart suggestions without the complexity, TickTick's approach is lighter and less intrusive.

Which app has better natural language input?

Todoist wins on natural language processing. Both apps let you type tasks in plain language, but Todoist parses more complex inputs more reliably.

In Todoist, you can type: "Submit project report by Friday @Work #Marketing p1" and it automatically creates a task in your Work project, assigns the Marketing label, sets high priority, and schedules it for Friday.

TickTick supports smart date parsing and basic natural language input, but it requires more specific formatting. Complex recurring phrases and multi-attribute inputs don't parse as cleanly.

Learn more: See Todoist recurring tasks for examples of Todoist's NLP handling repeat schedules.

Which app is better for teams and integrations?

Todoist wins on collaboration and integrations. Both apps support shared projects, task assignment, and commenting, but Todoist invests more in team-oriented features.

Todoist offers Teams/Workspaces that separate personal projects from team projects with admin controls. Real-time sync means changes from one team member update instantly for everyone. Notifications are more granular: you get alerts for completions, comments, and assignments.

The biggest gap is integrations. Todoist connects natively with over 150 apps (Todoist integrations directory), including Slack, Google Calendar, Zapier, IFTTT, and Make. TickTick has fewer native integrations, though it added a native Notion integration with two-way sync in February 2025.

For deeper Todoist-Notion sync with field mapping, filters, and relation database support, tools like 2sync offer more control than native integrations.

Which app has better filtering and organization?

TickTick wins on filtering. Its Smart Lists feature offers both a visual filter builder (Normal mode) and a logical condition builder (Advanced mode), making it easy to create custom task views without learning a query language.

Todoist uses Filter queries, a text-based syntax (e.g., overdue & #Work). These are powerful once you learn them, but the syntax is not intuitive for casual users. Todoist's new Filter Assist (AI-powered) helps by converting plain language descriptions into query syntax, which narrows the gap somewhat.

For users who prefer a point-and-click setup, TickTick makes filtering easier. Power users who enjoy writing queries may find Todoist's approach equally effective.

Which app has better reminders and notifications?

TickTick wins on reminders. Its standout feature is Effective Reminders: persistent notifications that keep alerting you until you mark the task done or snooze it. If you set a reminder for 8:00 AM and ignore it, TickTick pings again after a few minutes, and again, until you act.

You can also customize reminder sounds per task type, a small but useful detail for distinguishing urgent alerts from routine nudges.

Todoist's approach to reminders is more standard. Free users get one automatic reminder per task. Pro and Business users can set multiple custom reminders per task, including date/time-based and location-based alerts (Todoist reminders). Todoist does not offer persistent "nag" reminders.

For users who need aggressive nudging to stay on track, TickTick's persistent reminders are a real advantage. For users who just need a single notification at the right time, both apps work fine.

Which app has a better calendar?

TickTick wins on calendar. Its built-in calendar shows tasks from all projects in a single unified view, including daily, weekly, and monthly layouts. On mobile, the calendar is particularly strong, letting you drag tasks to reschedule them and see your full day at a glance.

Todoist added a calendar layout view for paid users, but it shows only one project at a time. There is no unified calendar across all your projects, which limits its usefulness for planning your full day. Free users don't get calendar view at all.

If you rely on a calendar to plan your week, TickTick's built-in option is significantly better. For a more powerful calendar setup, many users pair their task app with a dedicated calendar and use a sync tool to keep both updated.

Learn more: See our best calendar apps and best time blocking templates for more scheduling options.

Which app works on more platforms?

Both apps are available on almost every platform. TickTick and Todoist both support iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, web, Apple Watch, and browser extensions.

The only notable differences: Todoist supports Wear OS (Android smartwatches), while TickTick offers Gmail and Outlook add-ons for creating tasks directly from emails. Both apps sync reliably across devices.

TickTick pros & cons

✅ Pros

• More built-in productivity features (Pomodoro, habit tracker, Eisenhower Matrix, time tracking)
• Full calendar view across all projects
• Smart Lists with visual filter builder
• Persistent "nag" reminders with custom sounds
• 40% cheaper than Todoist Pro on annual billing
• Beginner-friendly despite feature density

❌ Cons

• Calendar, reminders, and task analytics require Premium
• No LLM-based AI (only algorithmic Suggested Tasks)
• Fewer native integrations than Todoist
• Denser interface can feel overwhelming for minimalists
• Occasional sync issues reported by users

Todoist pros & cons

✅ Pros

• Clean, minimalist interface with virtually no learning curve
• Full AI suite (Todoist Assist, Ramble voice-to-task, Email Assist, Filter Assist)
• Superior natural language processing for task input
• 150+ native integrations including Slack, Google Calendar, Zapier
• Teams/Workspaces with admin controls and real-time sync
• Multiple reminders per task on Pro

❌ Cons

• More expensive ($60/year Pro, increased 25% in December 2025)
• No built-in habit tracker, Pomodoro timer, or Eisenhower Matrix
• Calendar view limited to one project at a time (paid only)
• Free plan restricts to 5 active projects
• Filter queries require learning text-based syntax

Which should you choose?

The right app depends on what you need most:

• Choose Todoist if you want a clean interface, AI-powered task management, strong NLP for quick input, and deep integrations with other work tools. It is the better fit for teams, remote workers, and anyone who values a polished, focused experience.
• Choose TickTick if you want more tools in one app: habit tracking, Pomodoro sessions, a full calendar view, and advanced filtering. It is the better fit for students, solo productivity enthusiasts, and anyone on a tighter budget.
• Choose either if your main need is basic task management: both handle lists, due dates, priorities, recurring tasks, and cross-device sync well.

For a wider comparison that includes calendar-based planners and AI scheduling tools, see our best planner apps guide. If you are deciding between to-do apps more broadly, our best to-do list apps roundup covers more options.

You can get more out of Todoist by connecting it to your Notion workspace. 2sync keeps tasks updated both ways: changes in Todoist appear in Notion, and changes in Notion flow back to Todoist. Map your fields once, set your filters, and let the sync run automatically.

TickTick now offers a native Notion integration with basic two-way sync. For users who need deeper control (custom field mapping, filter conditions, relation database sync), 2sync provides more flexibility across Todoist, Google Calendar, and other apps.

Want events too? Sync Google Calendar with Notion.