You’ve decided to finally get serious about your tasks. But which app do you choose? Todoist and TickTick are both popular, but they work completely differently. I’ve tested both extensively and will tell you exactly how they differ.
Todoist in brief
Todoist is the minimalist task manager that’s all about speed. Type “tomorrow 2:00 PM meeting with John” and the app understands immediately. That’s the power of natural language input. The interface is clean and organized. No unnecessary features to distract you. Todoist focuses on one thing: adding and checking off tasks. And it does that well. The app syncs lightning-fast between all your devices and has strong integrations with tools like Gmail, Slack, and Zapier.
TickTick in brief
TickTick is the Swiss Army knife of task managers. In addition to your task list, you get a calendar, Pomodoro timer, habit tracker, and white noise. Everything in one app. Convenient if you don’t want to install a separate tool for each function. The calendar view is extensive: you can drag tasks, apply time-blocking, and visually plan your day. TickTick feels like a complete productivity suite rather than just a to-do app. And that at a lower price than Todoist.
Todoist vs TickTick: the differences
The biggest difference? Philosophy. Todoist wants to stay simple. TickTick wants to be complete.
Start with task entry. With Todoist you type “every Monday at 9:00 status update” and it understands you. The natural language processing is better than TickTick. There you have to manually select dates and times more often. That takes time. But TickTick does have voice input, which Todoist doesn’t have. Both balance out.
Then the calendar. This is where TickTick really excels. You get a full calendar view with drag-and-drop functionality. Drag tasks to a different time. Plan your day visually. With Todoist? That calendar view is only in the paid plan. And even then it’s basic compared to TickTick. Do you like working with time-blocking? Then TickTick is the better choice.
TickTick’s extra features are handy, but also overwhelming. A Pomodoro timer? Nice. A habit tracker? Can be useful. White noise? Okay, why not. But honestly? Sometimes you just want a simple task list. Then TickTick feels like an overcrowded toolbox you have to dig through. Todoist is more the minimalist workbench with exactly what you need.
Collaborating with a team? Todoist wins. The workspaces are better thought out. You can share filters, view project insights and the collaboration features feel more mature. TickTick does have team collaboration, but it feels like an afterthought. Most users choose TickTick specifically for personal use.
Another difference: reminders. With Todoist those are behind the paywall. Yes, really. Want a reminder for a task? Then you have to pay. TickTick gives you reminders in the free plan. Even ‘nagging alerts’ that keep beeping until you check off the task. Annoying? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
The interface is also a matter of taste. Todoist looks sleeker and more modern. TickTick feels dated, as if the design is from 2015. But functionality is more important than appearance, right? Yet that user experience matters when you open the app daily.
Pricing compared
Here’s where it gets interesting. TickTick is cheaper. Much cheaper.
Todoist charges $ 5 per month with annual subscription (total $ 60). TickTick asks $ 3 per month with annual subscription (total $ 35,99). That’s almost $ 25 per year difference. And TickTick gives you more features in that cheaper package: calendar view, Pomodoro timer, habit tracker. With Todoist you pay more for fewer extras.
The free plans? Both are limited, but in different ways. Todoist gives you a maximum of 5 active projects and no reminders. TickTick limits you to 9 lists and 99 tasks per list. For most people, TickTick’s free plan is more generous. You can continue working free longer before hitting the limits.
Honestly? That price increase of Todoist in December 2025 pushed many users toward TickTick. People want value for their money. And if you only need a task list with reminders, $ 60 per year is quite a lot to ask.
But price isn’t everything. Todoist feels higher quality. The synchronization is more reliable. The integrations work better. Sometimes you pay for that polish and stability. The question is: how much is that worth to you?
Conclusion
Choose Todoist if you want a fast, reliable task manager without fuss. If you work with a team. If you value that superior natural language input and strong integrations. And if you’re willing to pay for a sleek, minimalist experience.
Choose TickTick if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution. If you like working with a calendar and apply time-blocking. If you want a Pomodoro timer and habit tracker in the same app. And if your budget is limited but you still want premium features.
My personal preference? That depends on my workflow. For team projects and quick entry I choose Todoist. For personal planning with visual overviews I choose TickTick. Both tools are good. They’re just good at different things.
Try both of them out for free. That’s the only advice that really counts. Because what works for me doesn’t have to work for you.
