The 7 best to-do list apps for iPhone in 2026, compared

The best to-do list app for iPhone depends on two questions: do you only use Apple devices, and how much structure do you want? Things 3 is the best iPhone task manager for Apple-only users who want a beautiful, one-time purchase. Todoist is the best choice if you also need Windows, Android or a browser. Apple Reminders is the best free, simple to-do list app because it is already on your phone.

This guide compares seven iPhone to-do apps on platforms, pricing model, standout features and who each one is really for. Every app description is based on its official site or App Store listing as of October 2026. We only quote prices we could confirm on that date.

If your problem is less "which app" and more "what to do first," our guide on how to prioritize tasks will help whichever app you choose.

Best to-do list apps for iPhone at a glance

The best iPhone to-do list apps, reviewed

1. Things 3: best for Apple users who want a calm, polished app

Things 3 from Cultured Code is the app many iPhone users point to when they talk about well-designed task managers. It holds an Editors' Choice badge on the App Store, and its structure is easy to grasp: to-dos live in projects, and projects live in areas of your life like Work or Family.

Standout features: the Today and Upcoming views, Quick Entry, the Magic Plus button for inserting tasks anywhere, repeating tasks, tags, Markdown in notes, Shortcuts support, widgets and Things Cloud sync between devices. The iPhone app was $9.99 as a one-time purchase on the App Store (as of October 2026) and includes the Apple Watch app.

Best for: people who use only Apple devices and want a task manager that feels finished, with no subscription.

Limitations: there is no Android, Windows or web version. Each platform is bought separately, so iPhone, iPad and Mac add up. It does not include AI features or a focus timer. Read our Podomodo vs Things 3 comparison if you are weighing the two.

2. Todoist: best cross-platform task manager for iPhone

Todoist runs on virtually everything: iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, the web, Apple Watch and Wear OS. That reach, plus excellent natural language input, is why it is a common pick for people who move between devices all day.

Standout features: smart quick add (type "Call Sam every Friday at 4pm" and it sets the date), filter views, a calendar layout on Pro, and Todoist Assist, a set of AI features. Ramble lets you speak a messy stream of thoughts and turns it into structured tasks, with limited use on the free plan and unlimited use on Pro. Task Assist, Email Assist and Filter Assist are part of Pro and Business.

Best for: people who need the same task list on an iPhone and a Windows or Linux computer, and anyone who likes typing tasks in plain English.

Limitations: the free Beginner plan is limited to five personal projects and three filter views. Reminders and the calendar layout are richer on Pro. See our Podomodo vs Todoist comparison for more.

3. TickTick: best all-in-one to-do list app for iPhone

TickTick combines a to-do list, calendar, Pomodoro timer and habit tracker in one app. If you want to stop juggling several apps, it is the most complete option on this list.

Standout features: list and Kanban views, natural language input, multiple calendar views on Premium, an Eisenhower Matrix, widgets, an Apple Watch app, the built-in Pomo timer and habit tracking. Its newer AI Assistant can create tasks, break down projects and organize lists from a single instruction. Premium was $49.99 per year on the App Store (as of October 2026).

Best for: people who want tasks, schedule, focus timer and habits in one place, across iPhone, Android and desktop.

Limitations: the number of features can feel overwhelming if you just want a checklist. The free plan caps lists and tasks per list. Our Podomodo vs TickTick page goes deeper.

4. Apple Reminders: best free and simple to-do list app for iPhone

Apple Reminders is already on your iPhone, costs nothing and syncs through iCloud to your iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. It has grown from a basic checklist into a capable task manager.

Standout features: lists with sections that can be viewed as columns, subtasks, tags, custom Smart Lists that gather tasks by tag, date, location, flag or priority, and grocery lists that automatically group items into sections like dairy and produce. On devices with Apple Intelligence, Reminders can suggest reminders from text in other apps and Auto-Categorize a list into sections.

Best for: anyone who wants a simple to-do list app with zero setup and no subscription, especially if Siri is how you add tasks.

Limitations: it is Apple-only, so you cannot reach your list from a Windows PC or Android phone in a native app. AI features depend on having a supported device. It has no focus timer or habit tracking.

5. Microsoft To Do: best free option for Outlook users

Microsoft To Do is completely free and runs on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, Windows, Mac and the web. Its big advantage is that tasks sync with Outlook.

Standout features: My Day, a personal daily planner with suggested tasks, steps for breaking tasks into subtasks, shared lists, due dates and reminders, notes, file attachments, and color themes.

Best for: people who live in Outlook or Microsoft 365 at work and want their personal and work tasks in the same place for free.

Limitations: it has no built-in AI organization, focus timer or habit tracking, and it is lighter on features than Todoist or TickTick. Microsoft has put much of its newer task investment into Planner, so check that To Do still fits your workflow before committing.

6. Any.do: best for daily planning with a calendar

Any.do mixes a to-do list with a calendar and a daily planner, and it runs on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, the web and smartwatches.

Standout features: the free Personal plan includes unlimited tasks, lists and reminders, the calendar and daily planner, and cross-device sync. Premium adds recurring tasks, location-based reminders, WhatsApp integration, color tags and AI features. Premium was listed at $4.99 per month billed annually or $7.99 billed monthly on Any.do's pricing page (as of October 2026). There are also Family and Teams plans.

Best for: people who plan their day around a calendar and want reminders that reach them on WhatsApp.

Limitations: recurring tasks, which many people consider basic, require Premium. There is no focus timer or habit tracker.

7. Podomodo: best for turning a brain dump into an organized list

Podomodo launched in October 2026 for iPhone and the web, so it is the newest app here. It is built around one idea: capturing should take a second, and organizing should not be your job. There is a single glowing input, "What's on your mind?" You type a thought, press enter, and it becomes a task, with no forms, due dates or projects to fill in.

Standout features: AI automatically sorts tasks into groups like Work, Home and Health and puts them in a sensible order, which you can re-sort anytime with the Reorder button. AI task organization is paired with voice capture: tap the mic and each recording becomes a task. You can long-press to select several tasks and move them into a gold priority group pinned at the top. A built-in focus timer, a habit tracker and an AI Insight Report round it out. It works offline and syncs in real time with the web app.

Best for: people whose to-do lists get messy fast, including many people with ADHD, who want to dump thoughts in quickly and let AI handle the structure.

Limitations: there are no due dates, reminders per task or projects, so it is not a replacement for a deadline-driven task manager. It is iPhone and web only, with no Android, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch app, and no widgets. Access requires starting the 1-month free trial, then $3.99 per month, $29.99 per year or $79.99 lifetime (USD; varies by country). As a new app, it does not have the long track record of Things or Todoist.

Which type of iPhone task manager do you need?

Most to-do list apps fall into one of three styles, and knowing yours narrows the choice quickly.

1. Simple checklists. You want to write things down and tick them off. Apple Reminders and Microsoft To Do fit, and both are free.
2. Structured task managers. You manage projects, deadlines and recurring work. Things 3, Todoist and TickTick are built for this.
3. Capture-first, organize-later apps. You think in bursts and hate filing tasks. Podomodo is designed around this, and Todoist's Ramble voice capture also helps. Our guide on how to brain dump explains the method.

How to choose the best to-do list app for iPhone

Run through this checklist before you move your tasks:

• List every device you use daily. If any are Windows or Android, rule out Apple-only apps like Things 3 and Reminders.
• Decide how you feel about subscriptions. Things 3 is a one-time purchase per platform, Reminders and Microsoft To Do are free, and most others use subscriptions.
• Check how you capture tasks. If you add most tasks by voice or on the go, natural language input or AI capture matters more than views and filters.
• Test the free tier's limits. Todoist's project limit and TickTick's list limit are fine for some people and a dealbreaker for others.
• Think about deadlines. If you need due dates and reminders on most tasks, pick a structured task manager.
• Consider what else you want in the same app. TickTick and Podomodo include a focus timer and habits; the others focus on tasks.
• Give it a real week. Import your actual tasks and use it daily before you decide.

Where Podomodo fits

If you already have a system that works in Things 3 or Todoist, there is little reason to switch. Podomodo is for the other group: people whose lists keep collapsing because filing every task into the right project is too much friction. You type, AI organizes, you mark what matters with priority, and you start a focus session on a few tasks. If that sounds like what has been missing, the 1-month free trial lets you test it with your real tasks.