Best Task Apps in 2026: 8 Apps Compared

Todoist wins on capture speed. Type a task in plain words, such as call the bank every first Monday, and it sets the date and recurrence for you. Projects, labels, priorities, and filters help you sort a long list without turning task management into a second job.

The free plan covers basic use, but it caps active projects at five and limits collaborators. Pro, at $7 per month or $60 per year, raises those limits and adds calendar views, larger uploads, and more filters. If you want one list app that works everywhere, start here.

TickTick is the all-in-one pick. It combines tasks with a calendar view, habit tracking, and a focus timer, so you may not need separate apps for each habit. Reminders can nag until you act, which helps for tasks that are easy to postpone.

The trade-off is visual density. TickTick packs more tools into each screen, so it can feel busy if you only want a simple list. Premium costs $49.99 per year and lifts list, task, and checklist limits. Choose it if you plan your week in a calendar grid.

Things 3 is the most pleasant app on this list to look at, and its one-time pricing is rare in 2026. The iPhone app costs $9.99, the iPad app $19.99, and the Mac app $49.99, bought separately, with no subscription after that. Areas, projects, and a Today view keep daily planning simple.

Apple-only support is the hard limit. If your work computer runs Windows or Android, Things cannot help during work hours, and there is no way to share lists with a partner or team. For Apple-only users who hate subscriptions, it remains a strong pick.

Microsoft To Do is the free app that surprises people with how much it covers. It offers lists, steps inside tasks, due dates, reminders, and a My Day view for daily planning. Lists can be shared, and tasks sync with Outlook, which suits work accounts.

It lacks the deep filters, natural language input, and integrations of paid rivals. That matters less if your day already runs on Outlook and Microsoft 365. For a no-cost upgrade from sticky notes, Microsoft To Do is the best app for to do list use inside that ecosystem.

Google Tasks is the lightest app here, and that is its appeal. It lives inside Gmail, Calendar, Chat, and Drive, so a task can start from an email in one click. Once a task has a date, it shows on Google Calendar, which helps with time blocking.

Sharing is the gap. Google Tasks does not offer shared lists with assignment, so families or teams need another app. If you want the best to-do list app that stays out of the way and costs nothing, and you already use Google tools, this is it.

Any.do stands out for its morning routine. The daily planner walks you through today's tasks and helps you choose what matters, rather than showing a long undated list. The free Personal plan has no task limit, and Premium adds recurring tasks, location reminders, color tags, and AI features.

Premium costs $7.99 per month, or $4.99 per month on annual billing. The Family plan covers four people for $8.33 per month on annual billing, with a shared family space and grocery list. Pick Any.do if you want a guided start to each day.

Remember The Milk has been around since 2005, and its Smart Add still feels fast. One line can set a due date, priority, repeat pattern, and tags, which suits people who capture many tasks by keyboard or email. Reminders can arrive by email, text, and voice assistants on supported plans.

The design is less modern than Todoist or TickTick, and the free Basic plan limits sharing and keeps only a short completed archive. Pro costs $49.99 per year and adds subtasks, unlimited sharing, and automation links. Power users who love keyboard entry should give it a week.

Apple Reminders is the app most iPhone owners already have, and for simple lists it is enough. You can set location-based reminders, ask Siri to add a task hands-free, and use smart lists to group flagged or scheduled items. It also works on the web through iCloud, though the full experience is on Apple devices.

Complex projects expose its limits. There are no deep filters, no cross-platform apps, and no advanced team features. If your lists are mostly errands, appointments, and household tasks, Apple Reminders may be the best do list app for you, because it costs nothing and needs no setup.