- TickTick packs tasks, calendar, habits, and a Pomodoro timer into one app — people leave when that's too much, or when the free tier's 9-list cap bites.
- Todoist is the cleaner, more focused task manager; Things 3 is the premium Apple pick.
- Microsoft To Do is the best genuinely-free option; Productivity Genie keeps the all-in-one idea but adds an AI coach.
- Pick by what you want to remove from TickTick, or what you want it to do that it doesn't.
Why people look for a TickTick alternative
TickTick is genuinely good — a rare app that does tasks, a calendar view, habit tracking, and a built-in Pomodoro timer, on every platform (web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux). But that breadth is also the top reason people leave: for some it's clutter, a simple to-do list buried under features they never touch. Others hit the free tier's limits (9 lists, 99 tasks per list, no calendar view) and would rather switch than pay $35.99/year. And a growing group wants something TickTick doesn't offer at all: an app that plans and adapts the day, not just stores it.
Here are the seven best alternatives, sorted by the reason you're leaving.
1. Todoist — if you want TickTick minus the clutter
Todoist is the clean, focused task manager TickTick fans reach for when the calendar-habits-timer bundle feels like noise. Best-in-class natural-language input, a calm interface, and it runs on every platform with a consistent experience. The free plan is capped at 5 projects (see our free Todoist alternatives if that's tight); Pro is about $5/month.
2. Things 3 — the premium pick, if you're all-Apple
Things 3 is the most elegant task manager on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with a one-time price (about $50 across devices) instead of a subscription. The catch: it's Apple-only, with no Android or web version. If you have an Android phone anywhere in your life, skip it — or read our guide on Things 3 on Android.
3. Microsoft To Do — the best free alternative
If you're leaving TickTick over its free-tier limits, Microsoft To Do is completely free with any Microsoft account — unlimited tasks, reminders, shared lists, My Day planning, and cross-platform sync, with no paid tier at all. It's simpler than TickTick (no calendar view, no habits), but for straightforward task management at zero cost, it's hard to beat.
4. Productivity Genie — the all-in-one, reimagined with AI
If you liked that TickTick put everything in one place but wished it did the thinking for you, Productivity Genie is worth a look. An AI coach, Mo, plans your day from your tasks and calendar, and the app keeps habit tracking, a focus timer, and a short daily review alongside it — one system, on iOS and Android, free to start. It's new (launching now) and mobile-only, so it won't have TickTick's platform coverage or track record yet. But it's the closest thing to "TickTick's breadth, with an AI coach steering it."
Want the all-in-one of TickTick, but with an AI coach that plans your day? Try Productivity Genie — free to start.
5. Sunsama — for a calmer, calendar-first daily plan
Sunsama replaces TickTick's speed with intention: a guided morning planning ritual where you pull tasks in, estimate time, and build a realistic day on a calendar. It's a desktop-first subscription aimed at knowledge workers who feel busy but scattered. Slower on purpose — and that's the point.
6. Akiflow — for time-blocking power users
Akiflow pulls tasks from everywhere and drops them onto your calendar with sharp keyboard shortcuts and a command bar. If TickTick's calendar view was the feature you lived in and you want it turbocharged, Akiflow is the upgrade — at a premium price. Pair it with our free time-blocking planner to try the workflow first.
7. Habitica — if habits were why you stayed
If TickTick's habit tracker was your favorite part, Habitica turns habit-building into a role-playing game, with a free tier and a devoted community. It's playful where TickTick is utilitarian. For the science of why streaks work, see our guide to habit streaks.
How to choose
- You want TickTick, just cleaner: Todoist.
- You're all-Apple and want the best: Things 3.
- You want free, forever: Microsoft To Do.
- You want the all-in-one with an AI coach: Productivity Genie.
- You want a calmer daily ritual: Sunsama.
- You live in the calendar: Akiflow.
- You stayed for the habits: Habitica.
Switching apps is a good moment to trim your system rather than port your clutter. Our guide to simple task management covers how.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best TickTick alternative?
It depends on why you're leaving. Todoist is the best clean, focused task manager; Microsoft To Do is the best genuinely-free option; Things 3 is the best for all-Apple users; and Productivity Genie keeps TickTick's all-in-one approach but adds an AI coach that plans your day. Match the pick to the reason you're switching.
Is there a free alternative to TickTick?
Yes. Microsoft To Do is completely free with no paid tier. Todoist and Any.do have usable free plans, and Productivity Genie is free to start. If TickTick's free-tier limits (9 lists, 99 tasks per list, no calendar) are the reason you're switching, Microsoft To Do is the most generous free choice.
Is TickTick or Todoist better?
TickTick does more out of the box — calendar, habits, and a Pomodoro timer are built in. Todoist does less but does it more cleanly, with better natural-language input and a calmer interface. Choose TickTick if you want an all-in-one; choose Todoist if you want a focused task manager without the extras.