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To-Do List Apps: The Freemium 411
We all need a great to-do list app. But is it worth paying for one? We tested the most popular options to find the best to-do list app at the best value.

Best All-Around To-Do List App, Free or Premium
With an intuitive interface and lots of features, even in the free version, Todoist was our favorite to-do list app. It’s a pleasure to use for everything from jotting a quick list of errands to managing complex projects.
Why we chose Todoist:
- Best combination of easy to use and powerful features.
- Seamless user experience — makes you want to return to the app each day.
- Excellent language parsing (can create recurring tasks by typing “do x every day,” etc.)
- Good support for complex projects.
- Many ways to organize and view tasks.
- Premium upgrade for $3.99/mo or $35.99/year. While this sounds a bit steep, it is comparable to similar apps like Remember the Milk and Any.do.
Spring for the upgrade if:
- You want reminders of upcoming tasks. The app offers phone, email, or location-based reminders.
- You want to make time-saving templates for repeat projects.
- You want more options for sorting and organizing your tasks -- labels, filters, and themes help you easily visualize and prioritize all your tasks.
Stick to free if:
- You just need a simple (but still powerful) to-do list app that you enjoy checking in with on a daily basis.
Both the free and premium versions of Todoist work well; what’s best for you will depend on your needs. We’d recommend starting with the free and seeing if you find yourself wanting the extra features of the Premium app.
Read Todoist's Full ReviewBest simple to-do list app
If you’re looking for a simple to-do list without the bells and whistles, Google Tasks is for you. It could not be easier to use, and it integrates with Gmail and Google Calendar, a significant benefit if you use those products.
Why we chose Google Tasks:
- It's free for an excellent, simple to-do list!
- Easy to use, as simple as jotting a list on a piece of paper.
- Minimal, frictionless design.
- Useful integration with Google Calendar and Gmail.
- While it doesn’t have a ton of features, you can make multiple lists and sort tasks by date.
For those who want a digital alternative to a paper to-do list, Google Task’s lack of features is its best feature. We found the app convenient, simple, and minimal.
Read Google Tasks' Full ReviewBest way to plan your day
Another simple-yet-powerful option, Microsoft To Do (formerly Wunderlist), greets you each day with a blank screen titled My Day rather than a list of predetermined things to do.
Why we chose Microsoft To Do:
- See other lists of project tasks and add them to the My Day screen with a simple tap to plan your day.
- Great combination of simplicity and robust features — the basic interface is a simple day planner, but there are options for more complex task management as well.
- Easy to set up projects and recurring tasks.
- You can save your to-do list from being derailed by planning the day of rather than in advance.
- Another great choice for free.
This was one of our favorite apps to open each day. The My Day feature is more compatible with real-life than many other apps.
Read Microsoft To Do's Full ReviewBest if you love games
Can a to-do list actually be fun? With Habitica, the answer is yes. The app is designed like an RPG video game, with a little avatar that earns health points, objects, and coins when you complete your tasks. We found it motivating, effective, and fun.
Why we chose Habitica:
- A gamified habit tracker/to-do list that makes getting things done rewarding.
- Simple and fun to use — completing tasks results in points and prizes for your avatar.
- Can share your progress with friends and form parties.
- While it’s probably not full-featured enough for a work to-do list, it’s motivating for personal use.
- Premium upgrade for $4.99 a month, $14.99 for 3 months, $29.99 for 6 months, and $47.99 annually.
Spring for the upgrade if:
- You love games — the upgrade doesn’t unlock real features but gives you points to acquire more stuff for your avatar.
Stick to free if:
- You just want to use a cute and fun app to get more done and make behavior changes.
While fans of video games may be especially drawn to Habitica, it’s simple enough for anyone to use and enjoy. It’s definitely made for personal use and doesn’t have powerful project management features, but turning tasks and habits into a game really helps promote behavior changes.
Read Habitica's Full ReviewEverything We Recommend
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Our Pick🏆 2020 Editor's Choice by Google
🥇 "Todoist is the best to-do list app right now" - The Verge
Todoist is used by 25 million people to organize, plan and collaborate on projects, both big and small.
Use Todoist to:
• Capture and organize tasks the moment they pop into your head.
• Remember deadlines with reminders and due dates.
• Build lasting habits with recurring due dates like "every Monday".
• Collaborate on projects by assigning tasks to others.
• Prioritize your tasks with priority levels.
• Track your progress with personalized productivity trends.
• Integrate your tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Amazon Alexa and more.
Available on any device, Todoist will quickly become your hub for getting work and life organized.
Why you’ll love it on Android:
• Stay organized from your phone, tablet and watch.
• Drag the Plus Button anywhere to insert a new task.
• Simply type details like "tomorrow at 4pm" and Todoist will recognize it all for you.
• All the power from Android: lock screen widget, Quick Add tile, Assistant, and notifications.
Happy organizing!
• • •
Questions? Feedback? Visit get.todoist.help or reach out on Twitter @todoist.
*About Premium billing*:
If you choose to purchase Premium, payment will be charged to your Google Play account, and your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You can choose to be billed monthly or annually. You can turn off auto-renew in your Google Play settings any time after purchase.CostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$0.99 - $36.00 per item$3.99 - $35.99 per item -
Runner UpGet more done with the Google Tasks mobile app. Manage, capture, and edit your tasks from anywhere, at anytime, with to-dos that sync across all your devices. Integrations with Gmail and Google Calendar help you get tasks done—faster.
Quickly capture tasks anywhere
• Create task lists with your most important to-dos
• View, edit, and manage tasks on the go, from any device
• Manage tasks created in Gmail or Calendar on the web from your mobile device
Add details and create subtasks
• Break down your tasks to subtasks
• Add details about the work you need to focus on
• Edit details about any task as your work progresses
View tasks created from emails
• Create a task directly from an email in Gmail
• View your tasks in the side panel of Gmail
• Trace a task back to its source email
Stay on track with due dates and notifications
• Set a due date for every task to help you achieve your goals
• Organize your tasks by date or prioritize using drag-and-drop
• Receive due date notification reminders to keep your tasks on track
Part of G Suite
• Bring Google's suite of powerful, intelligent apps to your business
• Leverage Google’s AI to bring data insights and analysis to every employee
• Connect with your team seamlessly using one suite: Gmail, Tasks, Calendar & more
Take control of your task management and install the Google Tasks mobile app. Start easily managing your to-do list on the go with the Tasks planner app from Google.CostFreeFreeIn-App PurchasesNoNo -
Also GroovyMicrosoft To Do is a task management app to help you stay organized and manage your day-to-day. You can use Microsoft To Do to make shopping lists or task lists, take notes, record collections, plan an event, or set reminders to increase your productivity and focus on what matters to you. Microsoft To Do makes it easy to stay organized and manage your life.
Accomplish what's meaningful and important to you each day with My Day and Suggestions, your personalized daily planner tools. Intelligent suggestions recommend tasks from across your lists that may be relevant for the day. From grocery lists to housecleaning routines, daily tasks are simple with To Do. When you're quickly switching between contexts and tasks, it's important to have tools that help you achieve what matters. Microsoft To Do helps you quickly capture and retrieve your lists and tasks across devices and between multiple accounts.
Capture tasks from different Microsoft apps and services and sync them with Microsoft To Do. Flag emails as tasks in Outlook or any email account hosted by Microsoft, add to lists with Cortana, and see tasks assigned to you from Microsoft Planner. Get peace of mind knowing that your tasks and lists are hosted on the Microsoft 365 service – one of the most reliable services with industry-leading security offerings.
Microsoft To Do’s modern, easy-to-use experience makes your lists unique, with customizable features like emoji in lists, colorful themes, dark mode, and more. Plus, shared lists help you stay connected and collaborate with family, friends, and colleagues.
Microsoft To Do features:
Daily planner
• A daily planner personalized with suggested tasks: My Day
• To do lists are accessible anywhere, on any device
• Share lists and assign tasks with your friends, family, colleagues, and classmates
• Task management features break your tasks into manageable steps
• Take notes to add to any task
• Group lists together by topic or project
Task manager
• Add reminders, tasks and lists with the To Do widget
• Daily organizer personalized with bold and colorful backgrounds
• Reminders with one-time or recurring due dates
• Make task lists and switch between school, work, and personal lists
• Attach up to 25 MB of files to any task
To Do lists for any purpose
• Bill planner
• Shopping list
• Reminders
• Task management
• Take notes
• And more
Office 365 integration
• Sync reminders and task lists between Outlook and To Do
• Lists and tasks are hosted with the security of Microsoft 365
• Task lists are compiled from the apps and services across Microsoft 365
• Add multiple Microsoft accounts
Microsoft To Do helps you organize and simplify your plans, whether it's for work, school, or home.
To Do is free and available across the web and iOS, Mac, Android, and Windows devices.
Learn more: https://to-do.microsoft.com
Follow us on Twitter: @MicrosoftToDo
Have an idea or feature suggestion? https://todo.uservoice.com/
Need support? https://todosupport.helpshift.com/
By installing Microsoft To Do, you agree to the Microsoft Terms of Use: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=842575CostFreeFreeIn-App PurchasesNoNoTreat your life like a game to stay motivated and organized! Habitica makes it simple to have fun while accomplishing goals.
Input your Habits, your Daily goals, and your To-Do list, and then create a custom avatar. Check off tasks to level up your avatar and unlock features such as armor, pets, skills, and even quests! Fight monsters with friends to keep each other accountable, and use your gold on in-game rewards, like equipment, or custom awards, like watching an episode of your favorite TV show. Flexible, social, and fun, Habitica is the perfect way to motivate yourself to accomplish anything.
If you have any questions, feel free to send feedback to mobile@habitica.com! And if you enjoy our app, we would really appreciate it if you would leave us a review.CostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$0.99 - $47.99 per item$0.99 - $47.99 per item
The 411 from our Appventurer
How we tested?
The testing procedure was simple: I used all ten of these apps as my primary to-do list app for ten days. I focused on these apps as personal to-do lists, but as a freelancer, I often blend my work and personal lists together, so I used the apps for both. Since these apps are not an apple to apple comparison -- some are basic, and some are packed with features -- the process was not entirely systematic.
I tried out whatever features each app had and evaluated them according to their intended use. I evaluated the apps on how much they can do and how easily they do it. Features were important, but so was user-friendliness. While some level of a learning curve is inevitable, especially for apps that can do more things, I was looking for relatively intuitive and quickly masterable apps.
A to-do list app is useless if you don’t use it, so I paid close attention to which apps I was most excited to open each day. What I learned in this process is that using ten to-do apps simultaneously is not efficient. However, checking off the same task ten times is a powerful dopamine rush!
Why get the app?
Having easy access to your to-do list makes life easier. Since most of us have our phones with us most of the time, a to-do list app just makes sense. All these apps sync across devices, so regardless of which you prefer, it’s useful to have the app so you can access your lists on the go.
Particularly for setting up tasks for complex projects that might involve a lot of typing or benefit from a larger screen, it might be easier to use the web version to create tasks and then use the app to view tasks or check them off. That said, all the apps below have extremely user-friendly and well-designed app versions, so you could get all you need on the app alone.
More About Todoist: Our Pick
Before Todoist, I thought I had to choose between powerful features and ease of use. I would read descriptions of to-do list apps that seemed capable of transforming my life, that could manage everything: work projects, grocery lists, and future plans. But when I downloaded them, they were usually too complicated. They could do lots of stuff, sure, but the learning curve was steep, and using them was a pain -- so I stopped. Todoist is both user-friendly and fully featured, and while I wouldn’t say my life is totally transformed after using it for a week, I’m definitely more organized.
Todoist features an Inbox, where you enter tasks that you can move elsewhere later. This works well for entering things as they occur to you, without having to think about details. Later, you can add deadlines, turn tasks into projects or add them to existing projects, etc. (Folks who use the Getting Things Done system will recognize how well Todoist fits into that model, but it works well for anyone/any system.)
And as someone who, well, doesn’t always get things done, I appreciated the way Todoist deals with overdue tasks: it marks them but offers a “reschedule” option that quickly moves tasks to the next day or any other day you choose. You can do this for all overdue tasks at once, as well, so it’s not an onerous procedure.
Todoist’s language parsing is smooth and intuitive: you tell it what you want, and it does it. “Write 1 hour every day” becomes a recurring task, “grocery shop Monday” gets scheduled to Monday.
The Premium upgrade ($3.99/month or $35.99/year) is definitely useful. You can set reminders for tasks, add labels and custom task views, create project templates, and pick a theme. It also lets you look at your completed tasks and activities in-depth, great for people who want to measure their progress over time. You probably know just by looking at that list whether or not you need those features.
The free version is also packed with features and probably enough for most people to use as a personal to-do list app. For more complicated work projects or organization fanatics, Todoist premium would make a great project manager. So it really depends on what your needs are.
Todoist can do complicated things, but it feels simple. It does everything you need without requiring a lot of effort. It’s easy to learn and a pleasure to use. It is the app on which, when I finish writing this article, I will check off “delete other to-do list apps.”
Snags but not drags:
Todoist is a Goldilocks app, and for me, it was just right. But that means it makes compromises on either side -- it’s not as dead simple as our Runner Up, Google Tasks, and it’s not as fully featured as project management tools like Asana or Trello.
So if you’re looking for more or less than Todoist, it may not be the best app for you. That said, for most people, especially if you're looking for an app for personal, non-professional use, either the free or premium version of Todoist is likely to meet your needs.
More About Google Tasks: Runner Up
For managing complex projects, software/apps cannot be beat. But when it comes to jotting down a quick list of things I want to get done on a Saturday morning? The biggest competitor to a to-do list app is good old paper and pencil. And honestly, most of them don’t measure up to the ease of simple handwriting --no tapping, no tiny keyboard and typos and autocorrect, no accidentally assigning “do dishes” to next Wednesday.
But even analog-inclined people like me don’t always have a pen and paper handy, and our phones are always with us.
Enter Google Tasks. Simple, intuitive, and accessible on the rectangle that lives in your pocket. There’s not much to say about Google Tasks because there’s not much to Google Tasks, which is the best thing about it.
Blank screen, button with a plus sign to add tasks, that’s it. And that simple screen makes you recognize the constant low-level stress of making tiny decisions. Peaceful and functional, what more can you ask for?
Maybe nothing, but Google Tasks does offer a bit more, in the form of integrations with Google Calendar and Gmail. As a person who ignores fake/aspirational things on their calendar -- if I block off 3 PM to “revise draft,” the only thing I can guarantee is that I will be doing something else -- I rely heavily on the ability to add a task to a date without specifying a time, and that’s what Google Tasks lets you do.
You can also add emails as tasks. And having the task list available on the sidebar in Gmail is handy too -- especially since some days it seems like half my tasks are email related. These integrations also mean that your task list is easily accessible on the web and across devices, which is convenient and also allows you to enter tasks on a real keyboard easily if you prefer.
Though the interface is simple, you can do a few more things with Google Tasks. The app allows you to make multiple lists, so you can keep lists for different projects or for future events (movies to see, trips to take if that’s ever possible again, etc.). You can also add details to tasks, set due dates and reminders.
All of this makes Google Tasks my pick for best simple to-do list app, especially for users of other Google products. If you’re already in the Google ecosystem, Google Tasks saves you time because you don’t have to open a new app. And it’s free! If you’re looking for a simple to-do list app, there is no reason to pay for it. Google Tasks offers everything you need.
More About Microsoft To Do: Also Groovy
You know what I hate about to-do lists? They tell me what to do. I resent this, especially in the morning. It’s a new day, and yet I’m already beset by yesterday’s plans, tomorrow’s deadlines, and assorted obligations that I don’t want to think about until after coffee.
Microsoft To Do’s opening screen, “My Day,” is blessedly blank. It invites you to think, “what do I want to do today?” And even if you then fill that list with things you need to do, it provides a feeling of choice. It also invites you to think actively about the day ahead, which I found to be a useful practice in the morning.
Of course, part of the point of a to-do list is to, you know, remind you of what you need to do. Microsoft To Do has lists for planned tasks, projects, important tasks, items assigned to you, and just a general task list that allow you to see everything you have on deck. You can also make new lists. With a tap, you can add tasks from these lists to the “My Day” screen. A lightbulb icon on the “My Day” screen pulls up suggestions for tasks you may want to add, streamlining the process.
While this may feel like an extra step, it aligns with the way life actually works. The best-laid plans are often thwarted by a surprise meeting or even just a bad night’s sleep. By planning your day first thing in the morning, you can take into account new information, as well as your current energy levels.
Microsoft To Do use to be Wunderlist, a beloved to-do list app that was acquired by Microsoft. I’m not sure how it compares to Wunderlist, but this was one of my favorite apps to visit each day. The design is clean and satisfying to use, and taking a few minutes to design my day each morning helped me focus and prepare. Microsoft To Do saves you money (it’s free!) and it also ends up saving time. The time spent building your day seems to make things run more smoothly, so it’s like you get back the time you put in.
More About Habitica: Also Groovy
I don’t play video games. Gamification generally annoys me. I am not motivated by tiny pictures of coins. And yet, I love this habit tracker/to-do list app that takes the form of an RPG video game. I’m guessing that if you do like games, you’ll like it even more than I do.
Habitica makes behavior change into a quest, and the user, in the form of an adorable avatar, is the hero. Complete your tasks, and you gain health and experience points. Get enough points, and you receive coins that you can use to equip your avatar with items and tools. You also earn eggs that hatch into pets and mounts to join you on your journey. You can join parties and guilds with other users or hang out in the tavern to chat with other Habitica community members.
Habitica is really a habit tracker that includes a to-do list feature. The app lets you track three things: to-dos, habits (which can be things you want to stop doing or things you want to do more), and “dailies,” which are things you want to do every day (or weekly, monthly, or yearly). I used the dailies section to list my recurring tasks and the to-do section for things I only had to do once. Both lists allow you to add a checklist or notes to a task and set a level of difficulty that determines how many points you get to complete the task. You can also set reminders and add tags. This adds up to a pretty robust set of features, but the app is definitely more of a personal app than a professional one.
There is an upgrade -- $4.99/month, $14.99/3 months, $29.99/6 months, and $47.99/12 months. However, the paid version doesn’t offer more features, just more in-game items. For me, that’s not worth it, but if you’re used to paying for items in video games, you may not balk at the price and find that the paid version enhances your experience.
The app is delightful. It’s also highly motivating. Where overdue alerts on most to-do list apps feel a bit like getting scolded, in Habitica, you want to finish your tasks to get more coins or avoid losing health points. The stakes may not be real, but they feel both important and enjoyable. Maybe I like gamification after all.
Other Apps Considered
It’s a good app, but very similar to Todoist and not quite as user friendly or powerful. To-do list app preferences are personal, though, so you might want to take advantage of their free trial and see how you like it. It has a special grocery list feature.
I had high hopes for Remember the Milk, a popular app that’s been around a long time. But I found it confusing and not very user-friendly -- every action seems to take a tap or two more than necessary. It has powerful features, especially on the pro version, but the pro version is only available as an annual subscription, which means it’s more of an investment to try it out.
Part kanban board, part mindmap, this is an interesting app that is better as a project manager than as a to-do list app. This appealed to me initially because I love mind maps. But I never got a handle on this app. It has a lot of unique features that don’t seem to integrate with each other. At $10 per month, the Pro version is pretty steep.
If you already use Trello, it’s a great option as a to-do list. You can create to-do lists with high levels of customization and flexibility. But if you’re only looking for a to-do list app, Trello is overly complicated. Also, the card structure of Trello means you don’t get the satisfaction of checking items off.
Good simple app with a built-in Pomodoro timer. The premium version ($2.79/month or $27.99/year) allows you to estimate how long a task will take, which helps time management. For Pomodoro devotees, or those who want to try it out, this is a solid choice.
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Caroline Rothnie
WriterHard as I try to keep a minimalist phone, I can't stop downloading more apps. In addition to my can't-live-without apps for organization, music and podcasts, fitness, and meditation, I'm constantly trying out new ones. So I love apps, but it's a complicated relationship -- some of my favorites are for keeping me off my phone/internet.
In second grade, I attempted to do a book report on a story I had written myself, so you could say I've always thought of myself as a writer. These days, I write a wide variety of web content with a focus on mental health and productivity. I also write personal essays. I live in Kansas with my husband and two dogs.
Introduction
Mobile task lists have organizational features that just can't be accomplished with pen and paper, so it's no wonder there are tons of app options. After testing 10 of the most popular apps, we found that most people do not need to pay for a premium service, but an upgrade may be useful for complex tasks. Overall, Todoist was the clear winner, combining powerful features with an easy-to-use design for free or upgraded for $3.99/month. Here are all the details: