an honest list · checked September 2026
The best TickTick alternatives.
TickTick packs a lot into one affordable app: tasks, calendar, Pomodoro, habits, an Eisenhower matrix. For some people that's exactly the appeal. For others, the toolbox has become the distraction.
Full disclosure: we make one of the apps below (Nuffo). We’ll say which, and we’ll say when something else is the better pick.
Why people look for a TickTick alternative.
- Too many features. Timers, habits, matrices, calendars: it's easy to spend more time organising than doing.
- Confusing pricing. The list price and frequent “limited-time” discounts make it hard to know what you'll pay.
- Wanting a calmer day. A long list with every tool attached can feel noisy.
The quick pick.
| app | best for | free plan |
|---|---|---|
| Todoist | a cleaner, more polished list | yes. 5 personal projects |
| Things 3 | calm, on Apple devices | no. free trial on Mac |
| Nuffoours | doing less, on purpose | yes. everything, while we're young |
| Sunsama | a guided daily planning ritual | no. 14-day trial |
| Microsoft To Do | free and simple | yes. free |
| Pen & paper | the simplest possible system | yes. cost of a pen |
The alternatives.
- 1
Todoist
best for a cleaner, more polished list
The big, fast, grown-up to-do list. Every platform, great filters, lots of integrations.
- better than TickTick
- Simpler interface, great filters, an official MCP server.
- the catch
- Fewer built-in tools; the free plan is capped at five projects.
- price
- yes. Pro $5/mo yearly, $7 monthly
- runs on
- yes. iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Watch
- 2
Things 3
best for calm, on Apple devices
The most beautiful to-do app on Apple devices. Two Apple Design Awards. Paid once, no subscription.
- better than TickTick
- Minimal, beautiful, paid once.
- the catch
- Apple only, no habits or timer.
- price
- yes. one-time: Mac $49.99, iPhone $9.99, iPad $19.99
- runs on
- partly. Apple devices only
- 3
Nuffowe make this one
best for doing less, on purpose
A to-do list that keeps you to three things a day. Dump anything; it sorts it.
- better than TickTick
- Three things a day, three projects, new ideas wait a week. AI does the sorting.
- the catch
- No timer, habits, calendar or repeating tasks.
- price
- partly. Pro planned at $9/mo or $72/yr, not on sale yet
- runs on
- no. installable web app; iOS app planned
- 4
Sunsama
best for a guided daily planning ritual
A calm daily planner for knowledge workers: a guided morning ritual, timeboxing, and a gentle shutdown.
- better than TickTick
- Plans your day with you, warns when you've planned too much, timeboxes on your calendar.
- the catch
- No free plan: $17-22 a month.
- price
- yes. $17/mo yearly, $22 monthly
- runs on
- yes. iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux
- 5
Microsoft To Do
best for free and simple
Free, simple lists that fit right into Outlook and Microsoft 365. My Day gives you a fresh start every morning.
- better than TickTick
- Free, clean, My Day resets every morning.
- the catch
- Few features, slow development.
- price
- no. none
- runs on
- yes. Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
- 6
Pen & paper
best for the simplest possible system
The Ivy Lee method, from 1918: each evening write down six things for tomorrow, do them in order. Still brilliant.
- better than TickTick
- No features at all. That's the feature.
- the catch
- No reminders or sync.
- price
- no.
- runs on
- no.
How to choose.
- Want a cleaner, more polished list? Try Todoist.
- Want calm, on Apple devices? Try Things 3.
- Want doing less, on purpose? Try Nuffo.
- Want a guided daily planning ritual? Try Sunsama.
- Want free and simple? Try Microsoft To Do.
- Want the simplest possible system? Try Pen & paper.
Still not sure? Most of these have a free plan or trial. Use one for a week with your real list. The right app is the one you still open on day eight.
Switching from TickTick
TickTick can back up your tasks to a CSV file from its settings (on the web app). Or copy a list's tasks and paste them into your new app; Nuffo will split and sort a pasted list.
Quick answers
What's a simpler alternative to TickTick?
Microsoft To Do (free and simple), Things 3 (calm, Apple-only) or Nuffo (three things a day, AI sorting, no extra tools).
Is Todoist or TickTick better?
TickTick has more tools for less money; Todoist is more polished with better integrations. If you want fewer tools rather than a different set, neither may be the answer.
Three things. Then go live.
If the problem isn't your app but how much is on your list, try Nuffo: dump everything, it sorts it, and you do three things a day. Free.
Try nuffo free
