TickTick Vs. Todoist Vs. Google Tasks: Which App is Better?
Compare TickTick, Todoist, and Google Tasks to find the best app for managing tasks, reminders, and productivity.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Most of us rely on a to-do list app to keep life in order. From managing work deadlines to planning grocery runs or even tracking side projects, these tools quietly shape how we spend our days. Among the countless options out there, TickTick, Todoist, and Google Tasks stand out as the ones most people turn to again and again.
At first glance, they seem to do the same job as listing the task, setting reminders, and keeping priorities visible. But once you look closer, the differences begin to matter.
TickTick packs in extras like habit tracking and Pomodoro timers, Todoist shines with project views and team-friendly features, while Google Tasks leans on simplicity and its tight link to Gmail and Google Calendar.
I’ve taken a deep look into each, so you can see not just how they compare on paper, but how they fit into real workflows.
An Overview: TickTick Vs. Todoist Vs. Google Tasks
What is TickTick?
TickTick is a powerful app that helps you manage tasks, stay organized, and get more done. You can use it for simple checklists or bigger projects. It works for both personal use and teamwork. TickTick includes tools for tasks, calendars, reminders, focus timers, and habit tracking, all in one place.
Key Features
- Quick task creation with smart date recognition
- Flexible reminders, including recurring and location-based options
- Multiple task views: list, calendar, kanban, and timeline
- Built-in Pomodoro focus timer and habit tracker
- Collaboration tools with shared lists and task assignments
- Works across all devices with fast syncing
Who is it for?
TickTick suits:
- Individuals needing a robust organization for work, personal life, or student schedules
- Teams/Collaborators requiring shared lists and assignments.
- Productivity Enthusiasts looking for Pomodoro and habit tracking.
- Users juggling multiple projects who need advanced filtering and list organization.
What is Todoist?
Todoist is a flexible and powerful task manager that helps you stay on top of both work and personal projects. It’s known for its clean design, smart integrations, and easy ways to organize even the busiest schedules.
Key Features
- Works across web, mobile, desktop, and email
- Quick task creation with natural language input
- Supports projects, sub-projects, and multiple task views (list, board, calendar)
- Smart reminders with one-time or recurring deadlines
- Collaboration with task assignments, comments, and shared projects
- Custom labels, filters, and templates for flexible workflows
- Strong integrations with Google Calendar, Dropbox, Zapier, and more
Who is it for?
Todoist works best for:
- Professionals and Small Businesses are managing complex tasks, projects, or client work .
- Teams that need flexible collaboration and reporting features .
- Individuals who value cross-device syncing and customizable workflows.
- Power users or administrators leveraging advanced filters, templates, and extensive integrations.
What is Google Tasks
Google Tasks is a simple, no-frills to-do app that works best if you’re already using Gmail, Google Calendar, or other Google services. It keeps your task lists clean and easy to manage, without overwhelming features. Everything syncs across your phone, computer, and tablet, so your tasks are always up-to-date.
Key Features
- Simple task creation with subtasks and manual sorting
- Direct integration with Gmail, Google Calendar, Docs, and Chat
- Real-time syncing across mobile and desktop devices
- Easy due dates and reminders to stay on track
- Multiple lists to organize different areas of life
Who is it for?
Google Tasks is ideal for:
- Users in the Google ecosystem who want a no-nonsense, zero-friction solution for tracking everyday tasks.
- People seeking minimalism over complex tagging, filtering, or integrations.
- Anyone needing basic synchronization without collaborative features or workflow customization.
Quick Side-by-Side: TickTick Vs. Todoist Vs. Google Tasks
Key Features | TickTick | Todoist | Google Tasks |
Pricing and Plans | ✅ Winner (affordable + feature-rich free plan) | Paid features needed | Free but limited |
Task Management | ✅ Winner (smart input, subtasks, recurring tasks) | Strong but premium-locked | Very basic |
Organizing Your Tasks | ✅ Winner (folders, tags, kanban, calendar views) | Good with labels/filters | Limited to lists |
Notifications | ✅ Winner (multiple reminders + recurring) | Premium-only | Basic due reminders |
Productivity Tools | ✅ Winner (Pomodoro, habit tracker, calendar) | Goals & karma | None |
Team Collaboration | Suitable for Family and Friends Collab | ✅ Winner (Best for both small projects and complex team setups) | Minimal |
Platforms & Syncing | Good cross-platform | ✅ Winner Relys on lots of integration | Best with Google ecosystem |
Ease of Use | Feature-rich, slight learning curve | ✅ Winner (clean and user-friendly) | Very simple |
Overall | ✅ Winner (best all-around option) | Great for power users | Works for basic needs |
Feature Comparison: TickTick Vs. Todoist Vs. Google Tasks
1. Pricing and Plans: TickTick Vs. Todoist Vs. Google Tasks
When I first started looking for the right task app, I realized something: it’s not just about picking the most popular one. It’s about finding the tool that fits how you work. Each app comes with its own strengths and trade-offs, and the small details matter more than you think.
Here’s how I see TickTick, Todoist, and Google Tasks when it comes to pricing and plans.
TickTick, honestly, gives you a lot without asking for much. The free plan already lets you create plenty of lists, track habits, and even use a Pomodoro timer. If you’re just starting, that alone could be enough.
But the real win is the Premium plan about $35.99 annually (less than $3 a month). For the price of one coffee, you get almost unlimited lists, advanced calendar views, task duration, stats, and even space for team collaboration. It feels like the “budget-friendly power app.”
In the case of Todoist, it makes you feel more like the “professional” option. The free plan works well, but it’s super limited, just 5 projects and some basic filters. If you’re serious about task management, though, the Pro plan $4/month (paid annually) or $5/month (paid monthly), gives you way more: 300 projects, unlimited history, reminders, and even an AI assistant to help organize things.
If you’re working with a team, they also have a Business plan $6/month (paid annually) or $8/month (paid monthly), that adds shared workspaces and admin tools. It’s pricier, but it’s built for folks who live and breathe productivity at work.
Whereas in Google Tasks is the simplest of the three. No premium plans, no hidden costs. Just free, forever. If you live inside Gmail and Google Calendar, it blends in like it was always meant to be there.
That said, it’s basic. No habit tracker, no Pomodoro, no fancy stats. But if all you need is a lightweight to-do list, it does the job without asking for a cent.
Verdict: For pricing, TickTick stands out as the best value, combining an affordable plan with rich productivity features.
2. Task Management: TickTick Vs. Todoist Vs. Google Tasks
When it comes to adding tasks, each app has its own vibe.
TickTick feels like the tool for planners who want everything in one place. You can set start dates, due dates, even end dates. Add priorities, tags, notes, and break a big project into as many subtasks as you like.
I like that it even lets you use voice commands or grab tasks from email and the web. It’s powerful, but sometimes I catch myself spending more time setting up the task than actually doing it. If you love detail, you’ll probably love this.
Todoist hits a sweet spot. I can type “Marketing meeting every Monday at 10am” and it just knows what I mean, no clicking around. It’s clean, smart, and handles recurring tasks better than most. You can flag priorities, drop in comments, or even build templates if you repeat projects a lot. Honestly, it feels like it was made for people who want control without overcomplicating things.
Google Tasks is the opposite. It’s super bare-bones, but that’s the charm. Just add a title, maybe a note, a date if you need it, and you’re done. This has no priorities, no tags, and no crazy setup. And the best part is it sits right inside Gmail and Calendar, so if you already live in the Google world, your tasks are always right there. I use it when I just need to get something out of my head fast.
Verdict: For task management, TickTick takes the lead, which has comprehensive task management with smart inputs, subtasks, and recurring tasks.
3. Organizing Your Tasks
I’ve found TickTick to be the most flexible when it comes to organizing stuff. You can group tasks into lists, bundle those lists into folders, and even add tags to cut across everything. The smart lists are the real gem; they automatically pull tasks together based on rules you set. It feels like having your own little database without the headache.
If you’re someone who likes room to spread out, TickTick gives you almost endless space. Hundreds of lists, each holding hundreds of tasks. I never even come close to hitting the limit.
Todoist is more about a clean structure. Everything sits neatly inside projects, and you can break those projects into sections. It’s like putting all your work into tidy boxes. The labels and filters make it easy to slice through tasks in different ways, and you can save those views if you use them often.
I like that Todoist feels polished and consistent. If you’ve got repeating projects, like weekly reports or client checklists, you can just use a template and move on. It keeps things simple, but still powerful.
Google Tasks is bare-bones, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. It’s just lists, work, personal, shopping, whatever. You drag things around to set the order, and that’s about it. The nice part is how it hooks right into Google Calendar, so your to-dos show up next to your events.
It won’t give you filters or tags or fancy organization tricks. But if you want something light that just gets out of your way, Google Tasks does the job.
Verdict: TickTick is the better choice because it balances flexibility with powerful organization features (Smart Lists, tags, filters) while still being intuitive.
4. Notifications
When it comes to reminders, here’s how I see it:
TickTick is like that friend who refuses to let you forget anything. You can set more than one reminder for the same task, get alerts based on where you are, and even schedule really specific patterns if you’re on the paid plan. It buzzes you on your phone, desktop, or even through your calendar. I like how flexible it feels; you can make the alerts as frequent or as chill as you want.
Todoist, on the other hand, feels built for teamwork. It’s not just about reminding you of your own tasks; it’s about keeping you in sync with others. If someone assigns you something, drops a comment, or updates a project, Todoist makes sure you know. What I appreciate here is the control; you can decide which types of notifications you actually want. No drowning in pings you don’t care about.
Google Tasks keeps it simple. It leans on the whole Google ecosystem in Gmail, Calendar, and Assistant, so reminders just blend into tools you’re already using. If you add a due date, it’ll pop up in Calendar automatically. It’s super light, but the downside is you don’t get much say in how those alerts work. It’s more “take it or leave it.”
Verdict: TickTick takes the lead in notification because it covers both solo use and enough collaboration features to keep you covered.
5. Productivity Tools
TickTick gives the feeling of a full productivity kit packed into one app. It’s not just a to-do list; it’s got a Pomodoro timer built in, plus a habit tracker, even little extras like white noise to help me focus. The calendar views are super flexible so that I can see my day, week, or month at a glance, and even pull in outside calendars.
Another thing that stood out to me is the way it tracks your progress. It estimates how long tasks will take, shows your stats, and helps you spot patterns in how you work. The habit tracker feels like its own little app, but because it ties back into your tasks, it all clicks together in one dashboard. It makes personal growth feel less scattered.
Todoist feels more like a clean, smart assistant that’s always organizing things for you. The AI features help sort tasks and suggest what’s important, and their Karma points system makes finishing tasks a bit like a game, which is surprisingly motivating.
The real power is how well it connects with other tools. If you’re deep in Google Calendar, Slack, or Zapier, Todoist becomes this hub that ties everything together. Templates also save a ton of time if you run similar projects over and over. I like how the activity history shows patterns too; it’s less about the “extras” and more about streamlining your system.
Google Tasks is… simple. And honestly, that’s its strength. It slips right into Gmail and Google Calendar, so you don’t need to think about syncing or managing another app.
I’ll be honest, it doesn’t have fancy features like Pomodoro or habit tracking, but that’s kind of the point. You can just turn emails into tasks, add reminders, and even tell Google Assistant to create tasks with your voice. It’s light, has no learning curve, and it keeps you focused by not giving you too many options.
Verdict: TickTick takes the lead, because it delivers the most value straight out of the box and also packs the most all-in-one punch productivity tools.
6. Team Collaboration
When it comes to working with others, each of these tools feels very different.
I see TickTick as more of a “family and friends” kind of tool. You can share a list with up to 29 people, assign tasks, leave comments, and keep things moving together. It’s simple, no big dashboards or heavy rules.
If you’re running a small project with friends or managing family chores, TickTick works just fine. But if you’re leading a big team at work, it might feel too basic.
Todoist, on the other hand, feels like it was made with serious team projects in mind. Their Business plan gives you workspaces, roles, and strong admin controls. You can bring in unlimited collaborators, track activity, and even use templates to speed things up. It plugs into tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, which makes it great for office life. Honestly, if I had to manage a proper work team, Todoist would be my pick.
Google Tasks is the odd one here, it’s not really about teams at all. It’s perfect if you just want to keep your own to-do list clean and connected with Google Calendar or Gmail. Sure, in Google Workspace you can kind of share things, but it doesn’t feel like a real team space. I’d say Google Tasks is for the solo player, not the group project.
Verdict: Todoist wins this battle because it’s the only one of the three that can handle both small projects and complex team setups smoothly.
7. Platforms and Syncing
When it comes to syncing across devices, here’s how I see it:
TickTick feels like that friend who’s everywhere you go. I can open it on my phone, laptop, or even in my browser, and everything is there waiting for me. Even if I lose connection, it quietly updates when I’m back online. I also love how it connects with calendars; it becomes one big hub where I don’t have to jump between apps.
Todoist is more like the “integration master.” It doesn’t just live on every platform; it connects with pretty much everything: Google Calendar, Slack, Zapier, you name it. If you’re the type who loves to build systems or automate your work, this is where Todoist shines. It feels like it plays well with everything else you use.
Google Tasks is the simplest of the three, but also the most “invisible.” If you live in Gmail or Google Calendar all day, Tasks just sit there waiting. No setup, no fuss. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t really connect with much outside Google’s world, but for quick reminders inside the tools you already use, it’s kind of perfect.
Verdict: Todoist leads in this battle because its integration ecosystem and platform reach are broader.
8. Ease of Use
I’ve always felt TickTick strikes a nice balance. It has depth if you want it, but it doesn’t smack you in the face with complexity on day one. You can start small, add a task, set a due date, and it feels simple enough. Then, as you get curious, you’ll stumble into things like smart lists or recurring reminders. It grows with you, instead of overwhelming you.
Todoist feels like the polished desk setup of productivity apps. Everything has its place, and the design is sharp but not distracting. What I like most is the natural language input; you just type “Finish report tomorrow 5pm,” and it gets it right. The more advanced stuff, like filters and labels, takes a bit of practice. But even if you never touch those, Todoist still works beautifully.
Google Tasks is like a notepad stuck to your fridge. You write something down, and that’s it. No frills, no learning curve. If you’re already living inside Gmail or Google Calendar, it just clicks; you don’t need to “learn” it. But here’s the catch: it’s bare-bones. For some people, that’s perfect. For me, it sometimes feels too thin.
Verdict: Todoist takes the better value, because it’s very polished, intuitive, especially with natural language input.
Which Should You Pick?
If you want one tool that keeps life simple and doesn’t cost much, I’d go with TickTick. It’s got tasks, reminders, habits, and even a calendar view. I like that it feels all-in-one, so I don’t have to jump between apps. The free plan works fine, and the upgrade is cheap. For personal use or a small team, it’s hard to beat.
For bigger teams, I’d lean toward Todoist. It feels more professional. You can type tasks in plain language, build big projects, and filter down to the smallest detail. It also connects with tons of other apps. It costs more, but if your work is complex, it’s worth it.
If you just want the basics, Google Tasks is the easiest choice. It’s free, built into Gmail and Calendar, and does exactly what you need without extra fluff. I use it when I need something quick and light.
Personally, my pick is TickTick. It gives me enough features to manage both my work and habits, without feeling overwhelming or expensive. It’s the one I keep coming back to.
Focuzed: The Better Alternative to Todoist, TickTick, Google Tasks
While TickTick, Todoist, and Google Tasks help organize tasks, Focuzed goes a step further by planning around your energy, not just your to-dos. Designed for health-conscious and productivity-focused users, it balances work, personal projects, and wellness by scheduling tasks during your peak focus hours.
Why Focuzed Stands Out
- Energy-Aware Scheduling: Tasks are automatically arranged according to your natural productivity peaks, using AI and wearable data. Work aligns with your energy levels, not fixed time slots.
- Daily Planner for Health-Conscious Users: Integrates sleep, stress, and activity data from wearables (Apple Watch, Google Fit, Fitbit), helping you schedule tasks when you’re most alert.
- Distraction-Free Focus Bar: One-task-at-a-time interface reduces overwhelm and improves focus without cluttered dashboards.
- Smart Timeboxing & Pomodoro: Adaptive work and break periods that adjust to your energy, keeping flow consistent.
- Seamless Integrations: Syncs with Google Calendar, Notion, Trello, Asana, and more—bridging work and personal planning.
Features TickTick, Todoist, and Google Tasks Don’t Offer
- AI-driven energy optimization for task scheduling
- Wearable integration to track real-time energy and rest
- Minimalist focus bar for deep work sessions
- Dynamic daily planning based on health and productivity patterns
Focuzed is perfect for professionals, students, or anyone managing multiple projects who wants both productivity and well-being. Unlike other task apps, it doesn’t just list tasks, it helps you balance life, work, and energy intelligently.
In short, Focuzed combines a planner, a focus tool, and a wellness tracker all in one. It gives the kind of smart guidance that TickTick, Todoist, or Google Tasks just don’t. If you want to work with your energy instead of against it, this is the tool for you.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right App
After testing TickTick, Todoist, and Google Tasks, here’s what I’ve learned: each app has its own style, and the best choice really depends on what you need.
TickTick feels like a comprehensive suite of productivity tools, whereas Todoist is clean, smart, and ideal for teams or individuals who want control without clutter. Google Tasks is simple, quick, and works best if you want a lightweight, no-fuss list inside Gmail and Calendar.
But beyond that, Focuzed is the best choice overall.
It doesn’t just list tasks, it schedules them around your energy, keeps distractions away, and makes deep focus feel natural. It’s minimal, ADHD-friendly, and actually helps me get more done without burning out.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is TickTick better than Todoist?
TickTick wins as an all-in-one tool. It packs tasks, reminders, habit tracking, Pomodoro timers, and calendar views in one place. Todoist is cleaner and great for teams, but TickTick feels more flexible for managing both work and personal life.
- Is Todoist or Google Tasks better?
It depends on what you need. Todoist is better for managing complex projects, recurring tasks, and team collaboration. Google Tasks is super simple and perfect if you just want a lightweight to-do list that works right inside Gmail or Calendar.
- What are the disadvantages of TickTick?
TickTick is feature-rich, which can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Some users may spend more time setting up tasks than actually completing them. Certain advanced features require a premium subscription, though the free plan is still very capable.
- Which app is best for daily tasks?
If you want simplicity and speed, Google Tasks is perfect for daily checklists. If you want extra productivity tools like Pomodoro, habit tracking, and smart organization, TickTick is my top choice. And if you want to work with your natural energy levels, Focuzed takes daily task planning to the next level.
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