Our Testing Methodology
We tested 12 todo apps over 4 weeks, using each as our primary task manager. We evaluated on:
- Daily usability — would we use this every day?
- Speed of capture — how fast can we add a task?
- Visual clarity — can we understand our day at a glance?
- Cross-device sync — does it work everywhere?
- Value for money — does the free tier deliver real value?
The Top 5 Todo Apps Overall
1. ToDoSphere — Best Visual Planner
ToDoSphere is the only mainstream todo app that uses a true visual metaphor — each task becomes a sphere sized by time. It's built for daily execution, not project management.
- Best for: Visual thinkers, ADHD brains, daily execution
- Price: Free · Premium $2.99/mo or $14.99/yr
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
- Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Todoist — Best Project Manager
Todoist is the most polished text-based todo app on the market. Deep nesting, natural language parsing, powerful filters and labels.
- Best for: Complex projects, professional teams
- Price: Free · Pro $4/mo
- Platforms: All major
- Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. TickTick — Best Free Option
TickTick has the most generous free tier — calendar view, Pomodoro timer, habit tracker. The free tier alone outclasses many paid apps.
- Best for: People who don't want to pay
- Price: Free · Premium $3.99/mo
- Platforms: All major
- Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Things 3 — Best Apple Aesthetic
Beautiful. Polished. Apple-only. One-time purchase ($49.99 iOS + $79.99 macOS).
- Best for: Apple loyalists who hate subscriptions
- Price: $49.99 once (iOS)
- Platforms: Apple only
- Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Microsoft To Do — Best Free Microsoft Integration
Free and well-built. Strong integration with Outlook and Microsoft 365. Lighter on features than Todoist or TickTick.
- Best for: Microsoft ecosystem users
- Price: Free
- Platforms: All major
- Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Full Comparison Table
| App | Best For | Free Tier | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| ToDoSphere | Visual daily planning | 5 spheres/day | $2.99/mo |
| Todoist | Project management | Limited | $4/mo |
| TickTick | Free features | Generous | $3.99/mo |
| Things 3 | Apple aesthetic | None | $49.99 once |
| Microsoft To Do | MS integration | Full | Free |
| Any.do | Simple lists | Limited | $5.99/mo |
| Notion | Knowledge management | Personal | $10/mo |
| Asana | Team projects | 15 users | $13.49/mo |
| Trello | Kanban boards | Limited | $5/mo |
| OmniFocus | GTD methodology | None | $9.99/mo |
| Reminders (Apple) | Simple iOS use | Full | Free |
| Google Tasks | Gmail integration | Full | Free |
The Best Todo App for Your Use Case
If you have ADHD
Choose ToDoSphere. Visual task management with time-sized spheres dramatically reduces working memory load — the biggest hurdle for ADHD planning.
If you manage projects across weeks/months
Choose Todoist or Notion. Both handle deep nesting, dates, and ongoing context.
If you want to pay nothing
Choose TickTick Free or Microsoft To Do. Both deliver real value at zero cost.
If you're Apple-only and hate subscriptions
Choose Things 3. One-time purchase, beautiful, fast.
If you want to see your day visually
Choose ToDoSphere. No other mainstream todo app shows your day as proportionally-sized visual objects.
The Hybrid Approach (What We Actually Recommend)
The most productive setup we found in testing wasn't a single app. It was a pairing:
- Todoist (or Notion) for long-term project management and backlog
- ToDoSphere for daily visual execution
Each morning, pull 3-5 tasks from your Todoist backlog into ToDoSphere. Sized as spheres, you can immediately see if you've overloaded the day. This combo costs less than $7/month and works better than any single app we tested.