Apple Reminders vs Microsoft To Do
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Apple Reminders
Apple's free to-do app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
Free
Microsoft To Do
Free to-do list from Microsoft that syncs with Outlook tasks
Free
Where they differ
- Apple Reminders is free. Microsoft To Do is free.
- Only Microsoft To Do lists Windows and Android apps.
- Apple Reminders also covers templates, natural-language input and kanban boards.
In commonFree planiOSmacOSWebReal-time collaborationTasks
At a glance
| Apple Reminders | Microsoft To Do | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | The app is listed as free on the App Store, with no paid tier: lists, Smart Lists, tags, subtasks, shared lists, location-based reminders and iCloud sync. | The whole app is free: lists, My Day, due dates, reminders, steps, notes, shared lists and up to 25MB of file attachments on a task. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Apple | Microsoft Corporation |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Apple Reminders
- People who use only Apple devices
- Shared grocery and household lists among iCloud users
- Location-based reminders and adding tasks by voice with Siri
Microsoft To Do
- People who already use Outlook or Microsoft 365
- Anyone who wants a to-do list with no paid tier
- Sharing simple lists with family or coworkers
Worth knowing
Apple Reminders
- Apps are listed only for Apple devices; on anything else, reminders are reached in a web browser at iCloud.com.
- On iCloud.com a reminder's title, notes, day or location alert and flag can be edited; Apple directs you to the app for other details.
- Sync and shared lists depend on iCloud, and collaborators need to use iCloud as well.
- Apple notes that certain features are available only in select languages and regions.
Microsoft To Do
- Signing in requires a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account.
- Lists can be shared only between personal Microsoft accounts or between accounts in the same workplace or school.
- No Linux app is listed; the vendor names Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the web.
Key features
Apple Reminders
- Smart Lists
- Built-in lists such as Today, Scheduled, Flagged and Assigned to Me fill themselves. Custom Smart Lists gather reminders by tag, date, time, location, flag and priority.
- Tags, subtasks and sections
- Reminders can carry tags and subtasks. A list can be divided into sections and shown in a column view, which Apple suggests for simple kanban boards.
- Time, location and Messages alerts
- A reminder can repeat daily, weekly or at a custom interval, fire on arriving at a place or getting in the car, or appear the next time you message a tagged person.
- Shared lists and assignments
- Everyone on a shared list can add and complete reminders, changes show up for all collaborators in real time, and reminders can be assigned to people on the list.
- Grocery lists and templates
- Grocery lists group items into sections such as dairy and produce on their own. Any list can be saved as a template and shared with others through a link.
- Natural language and Apple Intelligence
- A typed phrase such as "Jog every other morning" sets the schedule. Apple Intelligence can sort a list into categories and suggest tasks from shared text or web pages.
Microsoft To Do
- My Day
- A daily list that resets every night. Tasks left unfinished go back to the Tasks list and appear among the next day's suggestions.
- Lists, steps and notes
- Tasks sit in lists and can have due dates, reminders, notes, a breakdown into steps and up to 25MB of attached files.
- Shared lists
- A list is shared by sending an invitation link, and it stays in sync as members make changes. Access can later be limited to current members or switched off.
- Outlook and Planner
- Tasks are stored in Exchange Online, so they show up in both To Do and Outlook Tasks. Flagged email can be handled as tasks, and Planner tasks can be seen in To Do.
- Sync across devices
- Signing in with the same account on each device keeps lists in step; the vendor says the app updates every 5 seconds.
- Tasks API
- Microsoft points developers to the public Outlook Tasks REST API for reading and updating the tasks that To Do stores.
Plans
Apple Reminders
Free$0
Every feature of the app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, plus browser access at iCloud.com.
Microsoft To Do
Free$0
Every feature of the app, signed in with a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account.
