TickTick alternatives: 11 to-do list apps tools compared

TickTick is a task and calendar app made by Appest Inc. that combines lists, reminders, habits and a Pomodoro timer for individuals and small groups. People who look for an alternative to TickTick usually hit its free limits, want a vendor with a stated home country, or prefer a plainer list. The alternatives below cover Berlin and Stuttgart makers, one-time purchases, daily planners and the built-in apps from Google, Apple and Microsoft.

Short answer: The first three alternatives to TickTick in our to-do list apps ranking are Superlist, Things and Remember The Milk. Ranking order favours the challenger over the household name, so the best-known vendors begin at place 4 where the category allows it. Choose Superlist if you want a German vendor and notes next to tasks. Each of the 11 alternatives sits in Best To-Do List Apps in 2026 and is described against TickTick.

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TickTick

#1 of 12 in our to-do list apps ranking

  • Pricing: Free tier with list limits; Premium billed yearly, price published
  • Established in: Not stated by the vendor
  • Built for: Individuals who want tasks, calendar and habits in one app on every device
  • Not for: Buyers who must record the vendor's country before signing
01

Why buyers look past TickTick

  1. 01

    Which TickTick free limits push people to pay?

    TickTick's upgrade page shows the free plan at 9 lists, 99 tasks and notes per list, 1 checklist item per task and 2 reminders per task. Premium costs US$49.99 per year and lifts those figures to 299 lists, 999 tasks, 199 checklist items and 5 reminders. A person with a few large projects meets the free ceiling within weeks.

  2. 02

    Where does TickTick keep your data, and who runs it?

    TickTick's security page says databases and servers are hosted by Amazon Web Services in the United States and that task data is encrypted at rest. The page lists no certifications. Appest Inc., the operator, names no country in its terms, which leaves European buyers without a stated legal home to point to in a data protection file.

  3. 03

    Is TickTick sharing enough for a small team?

    TickTick's upgrade page lists 2 members on the free plan and 29 on Premium, and mentions no separate teams plan. A household or a team of five fits. A department that needs workspaces, roles and workload views has to look at tools sold for that purpose.

02

11 alternatives at a glance

Smaller vendors first, big brands after
AlternativeHeadquartersFree optionPricing model Switch ifOur rank
SuperlistGermanyYesPublishedyou want a German vendor and notes next to tasks#10
ThingsGermanyNo free tierSee profileevery device you own is Apple and you prefer paying once#3
Remember The MilkUnited StatesYesPublishedyou want a long-established list app with a documented export format#7
Any.doNot stated by the vendorYesPublisheda family or household needs to share tasks under one plan#4
SunsamaUnited StatesNo free tierPublishedyou plan each day against your calendar and accept a paid-only product#8
OmniFocusUnited StatesNo free tierPublishedyou run a detailed weekly-review system and want to own a licence#6
TodoistUnited StatesYesPublishedyou want cross-platform projects with sub-tasks and a CSV export#2
MotionUnited StatesNo free tierPublishedyou want tasks scheduled into your calendar automatically and will pay per seat#9
Apple RemindersUnited StatesNo free tierSee profileyou already carry an iPhone and Mac and want no extra subscription#12
Google TasksUnited StatesNo free tierSee profileyour day already happens in Gmail and Google Calendar#11
Microsoft To DoUnited StatesNo free tierSee profileyour organisation already licenses Microsoft 365 and Outlook#5
03

What each one does differently

Superlist

Germany · Published

Superlist Software GmbH in Berlin mixes notes and tasks on one page, so a meeting note can hold its own to-dos. The free tier covers 5 private and shared lists, shared with up to 5 people. Basic adds unlimited lists, integrations and 25 GB of storage. The pricing page names macOS, iOS, Android and web, with no Windows app.

Switch from TickTick if you want a German vendor and notes next to tasks.

Superlist comes 10 of 12 when to-do list apps products are ranked here →

Things

Germany · See profile

Things comes from Cultured Code, a GmbH & Co. KG in Stuttgart, and is bought once per device family: Mac, iPhone, iPad and Vision. The Watch app ships with the iPhone purchase and sync costs nothing extra. Only the Mac version offers a trial, of 15 days. It runs on Apple hardware only.

Switch from TickTick if every device you own is Apple and you prefer paying once.

Full verdict on Things, which sits at number 3 of 12 for to-do list apps →

Remember The Milk

United States · Published

Remember The Milk has run since 2004 and lists an address in San Francisco. Basic is free but shares a list with only 2 other people and keeps 7 days of completed tasks. Pro, billed yearly, adds sub-tasks, unlimited sharing, attachments and Outlook sync. Export produces a JSON file or an iCalendar feed.

Switch from TickTick if you want a long-established list app with a documented export format.

More on Remember The Milk: ranked 7 of 12 in to-do list apps →

Any.do

Not stated by the vendor · Published

Any.do offers a free Personal plan plus Premium, a Family plan for 4 members and a per-member Teams plan with a trial. Recurring tasks, WhatsApp reminders, location reminders and the AI features sit in Premium. Personal lists leave as PDF from web or desktop, and a full archive arrives as zipped CSV by email.

Switch from TickTick if a family or household needs to share tasks under one plan.

More on Any.do: ranked 4 of 12 in to-do list apps →

Sunsama

United States · Published

Sunsama is a daily planner that pulls tasks and calendar entries into a timeboxed day. It sells one Pro plan after a 14-day trial without a card, and an Enterprise tier for SSO and SCIM. The company says it will not offer a free forever plan. Export covers the primary workspace only.

Switch from TickTick if you plan each day against your calendar and accept a paid-only product.

Full verdict on Sunsama, which sits at number 8 of 12 for to-do list apps →

OmniFocus

United States · Published

The Omni Group of Seattle sells OmniFocus 4 as a perpetual Standard or Pro licence, or as a yearly subscription that includes the web version. A 14-day trial is available. Major upgrades cost extra at a discount, and the app needs macOS 15.2 or iOS 18.2, which leaves older devices out.

Switch from TickTick if you run a detailed weekly-review system and want to own a licence.

Why OmniFocus is #6 among 12 to-do list apps products →

Todoist

United States · Published

Todoist is sold by Todoist Inc., registered in Delaware, with prices in US dollars. The free Beginner plan allows 5 personal projects against 300 on Pro, and a team workspace of up to 1,000 members exists only on Business. Any plan exports a project to CSV, while automatic backups need a paid plan.

Switch from TickTick if you want cross-platform projects with sub-tasks and a CSV export.

Our to-do list apps guide puts Todoist at 2 of 12; read why →

Motion

United States · Published

Motion is operated by Nexusbird, Inc. from the United States and sells Pro AI and Business AI per seat. Each plan carries a monthly credit allowance, so the invoice follows headcount and AI use together. The suite adds projects, docs, meeting notes and a calendar around the task list. A free trial cancels in one click.

Switch from TickTick if you want tasks scheduled into your calendar automatically and will pay per seat.

Read our review of Motion (position 9 of 12 on the to-do list apps list) →

Apple Reminders

United States · See profile

Apple's user guide describes lists or columns, smart lists, tags, sub-tasks, templates, shared lists and grocery lists, all without a separate plan beyond an iCloud account. Some features work only with updated iCloud reminders, not with accounts from other providers. The guide we read covers macOS and describes shared lists, not team workspaces.

Switch from TickTick if you already carry an iPhone and Mac and want no extra subscription.

Apple Reminders holds rank 12 among 12 entries in our to-do list apps guide →

Google Tasks

United States · See profile

Google Tasks lives in the side panels of Gmail, Calendar, Chat and Docs, and has a mobile app. The help page we read describes lists, due dates, notifications and sub-tasks, not boards or workload views. On work or school accounts an administrator controls access. It carries no separate plan on those help pages.

Switch from TickTick if your day already happens in Gmail and Google Calendar.

Why Google Tasks is #11 among 12 to-do list apps products →

Microsoft To Do

United States · See profile

Microsoft To Do sits inside the Microsoft account and Outlook, contracted with Microsoft Corporation in Redmond. Lists share between personal accounts or within one organisation, so a personal and a work account cannot join the same list. Team work is pointed towards Planner. Microsoft's pages blocked our automated check, so confirm details with Microsoft.

Switch from TickTick if your organisation already licenses Microsoft 365 and Outlook.

Our to-do list apps guide puts Microsoft To Do at 5 of 12; read why →

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Which alternative for which situation

  1. 01

    You want a vendor based in Germany

    Superlist: Superlist Software GmbH sits in Berlin, and the free tier allows 5 lists shared with up to 5 people.

  2. 02

    You want to pay once and not subscribe

    Things: Things is a one-time purchase per device family from Cultured Code in Stuttgart, with sync included, and runs on Apple devices only.

  3. 03

    You share tasks with your household

    Any.do: Any.do sells a Family plan for 4 members next to its free Personal plan.

  4. 04

    You plan every day against your calendar

    Sunsama: Sunsama turns tasks and calendar entries into a timeboxed day after a 14-day trial without a card.

  5. 05

    You already live inside Google Workspace

    Google Tasks: Google Tasks opens in the Gmail, Calendar, Chat and Docs side panels and adds no separate plan on its help pages.

04

When TickTick is still the right choice

TickTick stays a sound choice when one yearly price of US$49.99 for tasks, calendar views, habits, a Pomodoro timer and countdowns is what you want in a single app. The free plan works for light use, and the home page lists phone, computer, tablet and watch with real-time sync. If your pain is only the free limits, price Premium against the alternatives before leaving.

05

What moving off TickTick involves

  1. 01

    What happens to my lists and habits when I leave TickTick?

    TickTick's security page mentions a manual web backup but describes no export feature, so we cannot promise a clean file for another app. Check what the backup contains before cancelling, and copy habit history and countdowns by hand if you need them.

  2. 02

    Which TickTick features have no match elsewhere?

    Habits, countdowns, the Eisenhower Matrix and the Pomodoro timer are part of TickTick itself. Most plain list apps skip them, so decide first whether you keep a separate habit app. Also check how many reminders per task the new tool allows.

  3. 03

    Should I move shared lists before or after the personal ones?

    Move shared lists first and tell the other members which app they now join. Share links and assignments from TickTick do not carry over, so every member needs a new invitation in the destination tool.

06

Questions about replacing TickTick

6 answers
How much does TickTick Premium cost?

TickTick's upgrade page lists Premium at US$49.99 per year, which it describes as under US$4.17 per month. The page we read shows no monthly price. Purchases through Google Play, PayPal or Stripe can be refunded within 14 days, and Apple purchases go through Apple Support.

What are the TickTick free plan limits?

The free plan allows 9 lists, 99 tasks and notes per list, 1 attachment per day, 2 reminders per task, 5 habits and 5 countdowns, with 2 members per list.

Premium raises these to 299 lists, 999 tasks, 199 attachments per day, 5 reminders, 299 habits and 29 members.

Where is TickTick data stored?

TickTick's security page says servers and databases are hosted by Amazon Web Services in the United States and that data is encrypted at rest. It also says all data is backed up automatically with point-in-time recovery. The page does not name a certification.

Is there a free alternative to TickTick?

Superlist has a free tier of 5 lists, Any.do a free Personal plan, Todoist a free Beginner plan with 5 personal projects and Remember The Milk a free Basic plan. Google Tasks and Apple Reminders list no separate plan on the pages we read.

Which TickTick alternative is made in Europe?

Superlist Software GmbH is seated in Berlin and Cultured Code, maker of Things, in Stuttgart. The other tools we list are operated from the United States, or from a country the vendor does not state.

Which TickTick alternative needs no subscription?

Things is a one-time purchase per device family, and OmniFocus sells a perpetual licence in Standard and Pro tiers. Apple Reminders and Google Tasks list no separate fee on their help pages but depend on an account with Apple or Google.

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Sources

Checked 3 November 2026
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Who wrote this

Last reviewed 3 November 2026

Sebastiaan Smits

Founder · Amsterdam, Netherlands

Founder of The Knowledge Engineers and of 2 Steps Ahead, an AI search visibility agency. Editorially responsible for every page on this site; research and drafting are AI-assisted.

Author and fact-checker: Sebastiaan Smits. This page was last reviewed on 3 November 2026; our review process is public.

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TickTick head to head

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