Todoist vs TickTick
Todoist and TickTick are both capable task management apps, but they suit different working styles. Choose Todoist if you want a streamlined system for capturing tasks, organizing projects, collaborating with a team, and syncing scheduled tasks with Google or Outlook Calendar. Choose TickTick if you want more capacity for personal lists on the free plan and want List or Kanban views without upgrading.
At a glance
| Decision area | Todoist | TickTick | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Includes 5 personal projects, Smart Quick Add, reminders, list and board layouts, 3 filter views, and one week of activity history. Todoist pricing | Includes 9 lists, up to 99 tasks per list, List and Kanban views, natural-language reminders, and cross-platform sync. TickTick upgrade | TickTick for larger free personal task lists |
| Task capture | Smart Quick Add helps turn typed text into tasks quickly. | Supports natural-language task reminders. | Todoist for a focused quick-capture workflow |
| Project organization | Offers flexible list and board layouts, plus filters that expand with paid plans. | Offers List and Kanban views on the free plan. | TickTick if boards matter before paying |
| Team work | Documents shared projects, task assignments, comments, team roles, and centralized billing options. Todoist team setup | The available evidence supports personal list and task planning features, but does not provide equivalent detail on team administration. | Todoist for structured shared work |
| Calendar workflow | Supports scheduled-task syncing with Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar, with documented sync rules. Todoist calendar integration | Its upgrade information references calendar access and timeline features. | Todoist when detailed calendar sync rules matter |
| Recurring tasks | Recurring tasks can sync to a connected calendar, though recurring occurrences have specific sync behavior. | Use the product’s current upgrade page to check premium limits and recurrence options before committing. | Todoist for documented calendar-linked recurrence behavior |
| Paid-plan evaluation | Paid plans raise project, filter, history, and team capabilities. | Premium adds capabilities beyond the free plan, including items shown on its upgrade comparison. | Compare the first paid feature you actually need |
Key differences in task management
Todoist favors focused capture and structured projects
Todoist centers its workflow on getting tasks into the system quickly, then sorting them into projects, views, and filters. Its free plan includes Smart Quick Add, which is designed to speed up task entry.
Todoist also supports flexible list and board layouts. That means you can keep a straightforward list for household chores while using a board for a project with stages such as “Planning,” “In progress,” and “Done.”
Filters matter when your task list grows. A filter is a custom view that gathers tasks matching a rule, such as tasks due this week or tasks assigned to you. Todoist’s free plan includes three filter views, while paid plans offer more planning capacity.
TickTick gives personal planners more free-list capacity
TickTick’s free plan includes 9 lists and up to 99 tasks per list. It also includes List and Kanban views, natural-language reminders, and cross-platform sync.
Kanban is a visual board format that moves tasks through columns. For example, a student could organize an assignment board into “Not started,” “Research,” “Drafting,” and “Submitted.” TickTick makes this view available on its free tier.
TickTick’s upgrade information also references calendar access, timeline features, integrations, themes, and statistics. Those options may suit users who want their task manager to act as a broader personal productivity hub, rather than only a task list.
Interface, planning, and everyday usability
Todoist is a strong option for people who prefer a direct path from thought to task. Smart Quick Add supports fast entry, while projects, layouts, and filters help organize the backlog later.
TickTick can suit people who plan visually from the beginning. Its free List and Kanban views let users switch between a simple task list and a board layout without paying for the change.
Neither style is automatically better for beginners. Beginners who want a minimal starting point may find Todoist easier to learn. Beginners who think in categories, boards, and separate lists may get more immediate value from TickTick’s free structure.
Calendar, recurring tasks, and integrations
Todoist
Official Google Calendar and Outlook integrations sync scheduled tasks assigned to you. Changes to task names, dates, duration, and completion have documented calendar behavior; recurring occurrences have special rules.
TickTick
Calendar, timeline, and integration features support planning, with cross-platform sync in the free offering. Check whether your workflow needs calendar display or two-way updates.
Try before migrating
Create a timed, all-day, and recurring task. Change each title, deadline, and completion status, then check the result on your actual phone and laptop.
Pricing and free-plan value
Todoist’s free individual plan includes 5 personal projects, Smart Quick Add, reminders, flexible list and board layouts, three filters, and one week of activity history. It also lists email and calendar integrations among its included options.
TickTick’s free plan includes 9 lists, 99 tasks per list, List and Kanban views, natural-language reminders, and cross-platform sync. That may offer more breathing room for someone with many personal categories.
Todoist’s paid plans expand individual and team features, including higher limits and team-oriented options. TickTick’s upgrade page outlines its Premium plan and its expanded capabilities.
Prices and plan details can change. Review the current Todoist pricing page and TickTick upgrade page before paying for either app.
What to compare
- •Choose Todoist for rapid task capture. Smart Quick Add supports a direct, low-friction way to record tasks.
- •Choose TickTick for more free list capacity. It provides 9 lists and up to 99 tasks per list on the free tier.
- •Choose Todoist for formal team coordination. Its documentation covers shared projects, assignments, comments, roles, and centralized billing.
- •Choose TickTick if free Kanban is essential. Its free plan includes both List and Kanban views.
- •Choose Todoist if you need documented Google or Outlook Calendar task sync. Its help page explains what task changes sync to your calendar.
A two-week comparison is usually enough to make the decision. Put three active projects into each app, use recurring tasks, plan a real week, and record every moment that feels slow or confusing. Keep the app that makes it easier to get work out of your head and into action.
Final verdict
For most people comparing Todoist vs TickTick, the answer is simple. Todoist is the stronger pick for focused task capture, organized projects, team workspaces, and documented Google or Outlook Calendar sync. TickTick is the stronger pick for users who want more personal list capacity and free Kanban planning from the start.
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Sources
Official provider pages for the plans, billing terms, and account actions discussed in this guide. Confirm the terms shown in your own account before making changes.
| Source | Status |
|---|---|
| Todoist pricing | Official source |
| TickTick upgrade | Official source |
| Todoist team setup | Official source |
| Todoist calendar integration | Official source |