Your iPhone is full of tasks. Your Mac too. And somewhere there’s a Windows laptop where you also need to remember things. Which to-do app do you choose? Todoist is the well-known name with all the bells and whistles. Apple Reminders is already on your iPhone and is free. I’ve used both for weeks. Here’s what I discovered.
Todoist in brief
Todoist is the to-do app for people who take productivity seriously. Type “tomorrow 2:00 PM meeting Jan” and the app understands it. Deadline, time, project – all filled in automatically. It works on literally every platform. Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, web. That reliable sync is why people pay for it. The free plan exists, but is quite limited. Maximum 5 projects and no reminders. That feels tight.
Apple Reminders in brief
Apple Reminders is the quiet powerhouse on your iPhone. Completely free, no tricks. It’s woven into iOS and macOS in a way other apps can’t match. Siri understands you perfectly. Widgets work immediately. Location reminders trigger when you arrive at the grocery store. But here’s the problem: no Windows. No Android. The web version is slow and feels like a workaround. Are you fully in the Apple ecosystem? Then this might be all you need.
Todoist vs Apple Reminders: the differences
The biggest difference? Platforms. Todoist works everywhere. Apple Reminders only works where Apple is. Sounds simple, but this often determines your choice. Do you work on Windows? Then the discussion ends here. Do you have an Android phone next to your MacBook? Todoist is your only option.
But let’s say you’re all-in on Apple. Then it gets interesting. Todoist has natural language input that actually works. Type “every Monday at 9:00 report” and it creates a recurring task with time and everything. Apple Reminders also understands natural language through Siri, but it’s less consistent. Sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes you have to manually adjust dates.
Where Apple Reminders wins: location reminders. That feature technically exists in Todoist too, but only in the expensive Business version. With Apple it’s free and works reliably. “Remind me about milk when I’m at the grocery store” – and it happens. You’re in the car and the notification comes in as soon as you park. That’s practical at a level Todoist doesn’t reach without paying significantly.
Then there’s organization. Todoist has a powerful system of projects, sections, labels, and filters. You can build complex workflows. Filter on “urgent AND work AND this week” and you see exactly what you need. Apple Reminders has smart lists, but that logic is more limited. You can filter on tags, priority, and date, but advanced combinations aren’t possible.
Here’s where it hurts with Todoist: reminders are behind the paywall. In the free plan you can’t set a single reminder. That’s odd for a to-do app. Apple Reminders gives you unlimited reminders, location-based or time-based, completely free. The same goes for the calendar view – with Todoist only for paying users, with Apple it’s standard.
Collaboration is another story. Todoist is built for teams. Assign tasks, add comments, share projects. It works well. Apple Reminders also has shared lists, but it feels more like “I’m sharing my grocery list with my partner” than professional project management. For work you choose Todoist. For home Apple is fine.
Recent updates make it more interesting. Todoist has finally expanded a calendar view to more sections (August 2024) and improved Google Calendar integration. Apple Reminders is now integrated into the Calendar app since iOS 18 – you can edit tasks directly in your calendar. That’s handy if you’re already in that app.
The prices compared
Apple Reminders: free. Completely. No limitations. That’s simple.
Todoist just implemented a price increase. The Pro subscription now costs $ 7 per month or $ 60 per year (was $ 48). Honest? I think that’s on the high side for a to-do app. Yes, you get unlimited projects, reminders, and that handy calendar view. But $ 60 per year for functionality that Apple gives for free feels bitter.
The Business subscription costs $ 10 per month or $ 96 per year. For that you get team features and those location reminders. For teams that can make sense. For individual use it’s overkill.
Todoist’s free plan exists, but is so limited that it becomes frustrating. Five projects sounds like enough until you realize that “Work”, “Personal”, “Groceries”, “Ideas”, and “Reading” is already your limit. No sixth project for that renovation. And not being able to set a single reminder in the free plan? That’s just annoying.
That price increase pushes people toward alternatives. Apple Reminders benefits from that. The question is: do you pay for cross-platform and powerful filters, or do you choose free within the Apple ecosystem?
Conclusion
Choose Apple Reminders if you’re fully Apple and don’t need Windows or Android. It’s free, reliable, and deeply integrated. Location reminders alone are worth it. For personal use, it’s often more than enough.
Choose Todoist if you need to work cross-platform or need complex project structures. That natural language input is truly superior. Filters and labels give you control that Apple doesn’t offer. But be prepared to pay – the free plan is too limited for serious use.
My personal preference? I prefer using Todoist. It works on every platform, so if I ever switch, at least I have an app I can continue with.
The best to-do app is the one you actually use. Apple Reminders has that advantage – it’s already there, it works, and it costs nothing. Sometimes that’s enough.
