Microsoft To Do vs TickTick
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Microsoft To Do
Free to-do list from Microsoft that syncs with Outlook tasks
TickTick
To-do list with a calendar, habit tracker and Pomodoro timer built in
Where they differ
- Microsoft To Do is free. TickTick starts at $49.99 per year (about $4.17 per month).
- Only TickTick lists a Linux app.
- Only TickTick lists a browser extension.
- TickTick also covers natural-language input, calendar, kanban boards, Pomodoro timer and habit tracking.
At a glance
| Microsoft To Do | TickTick | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $49.99 per year (about $4.17 per month) |
| Free plan | 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. | 9 lists, 99 tasks per list, 5 habits, 2 reminders per task and 1 attachment per day, with list and kanban views, a basic calendar view and sync across devices. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Microsoft Corporation | Appest Inc. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | ticktick.com |
| Checked | Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
TickTick
- People who want tasks, habits and a focus timer in a single app
- Keeping the same lists on Windows, Mac, Linux, phones and the web
- Students and school staff, who can apply for a discount on Premium
Worth knowing
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.
TickTick
- The free plan is capped at 9 lists, 99 tasks per list, 5 habits and 1 attachment per day.
- Multiple calendar views, task duration and email reminders are listed as Premium features.
- The pricing page shows Premium only as a $49.99 annual plan; a $4.99 monthly option appears on the App Store listing.
- Location-based reminders are listed as iOS only.
Key features
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.
TickTick
- Typed and spoken task capture
- Dates and times are recognized as a task is typed. Voice Capture turns speech into one or more tasks and uses AI to pull out dates and priorities.
- Calendar views
- Yearly, monthly, weekly, multi-day, multi-week and agenda views show tasks alongside subscribed calendars. The free plan has a basic calendar view; Premium lists multiple views.
- Kanban, timeline and matrix
- A list can be shown as a kanban board, as a timeline for tasks that have a duration, or as an Eisenhower matrix that sorts tasks by urgency and importance.
- Pomodoro timer
- Work on a task in 25-minute focus intervals. Statistics report focus time next to completed tasks and habit logs.
- Habit tracker
- Habits are logged and charted in the same app as tasks. The free plan allows 5 habits and Premium allows 299.
- Shared lists
- Share a list with other people and assign tasks to them. The member count is 2 on the free plan and 29 on Premium.
Plans
Microsoft To Do
Free$0
Every feature of the app, signed in with a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account.
TickTick
Free$0
9 lists with 99 tasks each, list and kanban views, date recognition as you type, task reminders and cross-platform sync.
Premium$49.99
per year
299 lists with 999 tasks each, multiple calendar views, task duration, email reminders, themes and 299 habits.
Ways to pay less
Microsoft To Do
No public discounts listed.
TickTick
- Education
25% off Premium for students, faculty and staff
Eligible students, faculty and staff can apply with proof of status for 25% off one year of Premium. TickTick lists the price after the discount as $37.99.
- Annual discount
Annual billing costs about 17% less than monthly
The App Store listing shows Premium at $4.99 monthly or $49.99 annually, so a year paid up front costs about 17% less than 12 monthly payments ($59.88).
