To-do list apps have the power to streamline your day, week, and month. Gone are the days of hauling ten different notebooks around campus or the office. Tablets, and more specifically iPads, have revolutionized the way we live, including how we organize our days.
But with hundreds of to-do list apps in the App Store, how do you choose the best one? We’ve gathered all the top-ranking paid and free apps to bring you our picks for the best to-do list apps for iPads.
⚡️ Our top picks at a glance:
- Things 3 for existing Apple users
- Todoist for most people
- Any.do for staying on track
- Reminders for Apple ecosystem fans
- Google Tasks for a web-based to-do list
- Reminders With Voice for voice reminders
- Do! For minimalists
- TickTick for boosting productivity
- Actions for colorful lists
Things 3
Best to-do list app for: Apple users
Pricing: $19.99 for iPad, $9.99 for iPhone and Apple Watch, and $49.99 for macOS
Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (26.3k ratings on the app store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Apple Watch
Account: Only required if you want to sync your tasks across devices
Links: App Store | Official Site
Few to-do list apps are both minimalist and intuitive, but Things 3 manages to tick both boxes. Developed by German-based development company Cultured Code, Things 3 won the Apple Design Award in 2017 and has stayed at the top of its game ever since.
It’s primarily for personal task management. Areas are folders for Projects, whereas Projects are for more focused tasks that can be customized with titles, notes, checklists, and deadlines. You can also use the Label feature to filter your tasks and the “This Evening” view to split your day into two.
Things 3 even has a section for “Anytime” and “Sometime” tasks that don’t fit into the black-and-white categories we see in the other best to-do list apps. Another great feature is the Logbook, where you can write notes and track your progress. If the Logbook appeals to you, you might be interested in our article on the 12 best digital planners for iPads, which includes far more detailed templates for personal reflection.
These features might be advanced, but the interface is simple to grasp and easy to navigate. With iPadOS 14 and later, Thing 3 can integrate with Scribble, allowing you to input hand-drawn handwriting into the app. But beware, many digital notetakers try and fail to produce neat handwriting. If you’re interested in improving yours, read our guide on how to make handwriting better on iPad.
One of the biggest downsides of Things 3 is the lack of built-in collaboration features. Unlike other to-do list apps, Things 3 doesn’t support real-time sharing of tasks or lists, which could pose a problem for teams. But, as we mentioned before, this app is designed for personal task management, not collaborative workflows.
Unfortunately, there is no free version of Things 3. But on the bright side, there are no subscription fees, so once you buy the app, you’ve got it forever.
Pros:
- Minimalist design: Things 3 is as complex as platforms like Trello, but with a far more minimalist user interface.
- Integrates into the Apple ecosystem: It seamlessly syncs your data across iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac.
- Splits the day: This ingenious app splits your day into two, creating space for morning and evening tasks.
Cons:
- Price: $19.99 is a hefty upfront investment for a to-do list app, especially considering the iPhone and Apple Watch versions are half the price.
- No free trial: $19.99 seems a bit steep for a note-taking app that you can’t try on a trial basis.
- No collaboration feature: Things 3 doesn’t let you collaborate with others, a seemingly large oversight for an otherwise detailed task management app.
Todoist
Best to-do list app for: most people
Pricing: Free to download and use, but Todoist Pro is $4 per month (or $48 annually)
Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (116.6K ratings on the App Store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro
Account: Required
Links: App Store | Official Site
Todoist is a convenient digital planning app that’s especially well-known for its task management abilities. It has several core features, including the ability to assign notes, files, and reminders to tasks. The Recurring Reminder feature is handy, allowing you to set reminders for weekly events like your yoga class at 8 pm on Wednesday.
Want to make your tasks even more detailed? Leverage the power of Subtasks to break them into easily digestible chunks.
Like many to-do list apps, Todoist supports collaboration. You can share file attachments, assign others to your tasks, and comment on other people’s to-do lists.
And finally, Todoist integrates a bunch of external organization and note-taking tools. You can personalize your experience by connecting to Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, and more nifty apps.
The free plan is extensive, allowing you to create up to five personal projects, collaborate with up to five people per project, upload files of up to 5 MB, and use third-party apps. The Pro plan gives you access to calendar layouts, custom task reminders, automatic backups, and the ability to manage up to 300 projects. And at just $4 per month, it’s an affordable and effective option.
Paid users can take advantage of an external app called Smashlists, which sends daily, weekly, or monthly email reports detailing their accomplishments in Todoist. It’s a brilliant way to keep bosses and college professors in the loop, even though some reviewers think that the Reporting feature is too simplistic for big projects. But if you’re just in the market for a to-do list app, this is a nice bonus.
Pros:
- Cross-platform support: Todoist effortlessly syncs with other apps, creating a comprehensive to-do list tool.
- Extensive Basic Plan: For most people, the Basic Plan contains more than enough features to plan their day effectively.
- Collaborative features support team projects: Even on the Personal Plan, students, professionals, and friends still have access to enough features to work collaboratively.
Cons:
- Limited customization: Todoist is customizable, but it has far fewer options than some of the more popular to-do list apps.
- Premium paywall: Some of the best features (including Reminders and Task Duration Tracking) are hidden behind a paywall.
- Not suitable for reporting: The basic reporting features aren’t suitable for large-scale projects.
any.do
Best to-do list app for: staying on track
Pricing: Free to download and use, but Any.do Premium is $7.99 per month ($4.99 per month with annual billing), and Any.do Teams is $7.99 ($4.99 per month with annual billing)
Reviews: 4.6 out of 5 stars (49.2K ratings on the App Store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision
Account: Required
Links: App Store | Official Site
If you’re anything like me, you forget about your to-do list as soon as you’ve made it. So, what’s the solution?
Any.do integrates into Google and Outlook calendars, meaning you can see all your appointments and tasks at a glance. When you look at your calendar, you’ll also see the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks you’ve set for yourself, lessening the likelihood of a memory lapse.
Another great feature is called “Plan My Day”. It forces you to schedule time to complete tasks or, in other words, encourages you to break the task into smaller chunks to make it more manageable. Your scheduled time slots appear in your calendar, reminding you to work toward your goals.
And of course, Any.do wouldn’t be one of the best to-do list apps for iPad without a built-in AI feature, which is only available for Premium, Family, and Team users. It suggests subtasks to make jobs more manageable and even makes recommendations based on your preferences and patterns. It’s rare to see this sort of personalization in to-do list apps, which tend to favor simple user interfaces and features.
💡 Why not try… To make your workflow even more personalized, explore our 10 iPad tips and tricks you need to know.
For every positive, there’s a negative. Many users say Any.do is inconsistent across platforms, with the mobile version offering the most intuitive interface. And although the app itself is free, you won’t get all the features unless you upgrade to Premium for $5.99 per month or $35.99 per year.
The Premium plan includes features like Enhanced Reminders, more customization options, and AI Suggestions. Premium for Teams also includes a collaborative workspace and unlimited project boards.
Pros:
- Calendar integration: Any.do effortlessly pairs with calendars to give you a bird’s eye view of your day.
- AI support: The AI helper makes your tasks more manageable, so you can focus on the things that matter.
Cons:
- Basic features: Customization options are a bit limited, and the features are nowhere near as complex as other top-ranking to-do list apps.
- Limited collaboration: The Teams plan has some collaboration features (like the ability to share lists and tasks), but the free plan focuses on individual users.
Reminders
Best to-do list app for: Apple ecosystem fans
Pricing: Free
Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (663.7K ratings on the App Store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro
Account: Not required
Links: App Store
Built-in apps rarely get the attention they deserve, and Apple’s Reminders is a good example of that. What started as a simple built-in feature has transformed into one of the best to-do list apps for Apple users who prefer simple, intuitive processes.
You can use tags, due dates, and subtasks to organize your tasks and Smart Lists to filter and view reminders based on your own criteria. You can also see reminders for completely different lists at a glance: buttons like “Today”, Flagged”, “Completed”, “Assigned to Me”, and “Scheduled” offer extra flexibility and personalization. The fact that you can add notes to each task is another bonus.
We love the fact that you can share tasks and lists with other Apple users — after all, a burden shared is a burden halved. And don’t forget about Apple Intelligence, which seamlessly makes your day easier. It understands the context of your actions; for example, it will automatically group items on your grocery list into categories, instantly simplifying your task.
Apple Reminders even integrates with Microsoft Todo, allowing you to connect to Zapier and automate your to-do lists. And as recently as last year, Apple finally integrated Apple Reminders with Apple Calendar. It’s surprising that this update took so long, but at least it’s here now.
To be clear, this app doesn’t offer nearly as many features as some of the big hitters on our list, instead taking a minimalist approach to personal task completion. And although Siri is thoroughly integrated into the app, it isn’t able to understand 100% of complex natural language prompts.
The price makes the disappointments easy to overlook. Apple Reminders is completely free, and it comes pre-installed on iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs.
Pros:
- Free: Apple Reminders is entirely free to use, meaning you can take advantage of all the features.
- Comprehensive Apple Watch integration: Apple Reminders will display all your lists on your Apple Watch, so you never have to miss a thing.
- Shared lists: Stay on top of your day-to-day obligations by sharing lists with family and friends.
Cons:
- Not suitable for teams: Apple Reminders just doesn’t have the functionality to support entire teams. Instead, it’s far more suited to personal use.
- Simple natural language processing: The app could have better natural language processing abilities, but it’s better than nothing!
Google Tasks
Best to-do list app for: web-based to-do lists
Pricing: Free
Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (94.1K ratings on the App Store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS and iPadOS
Account: Google account required
Links: App Store
The premise of Google Tasks is simple: you can create tasks and lists. That’s it! You can create a list in under five seconds by assigning a name and pressing “Done”. Tasks are slightly more complex, with the ability to add a date and time, add a description, and choose whether it’s a one-off or recurring task.
You can also connect Google Tasks with Google Calendar (and a whole host of other Google Workspace apps) for a more integrated experience.
It’s available on the App Store and online as a web-based app. So, why choose a web-based app over a native app?
Web-based apps use technologies (like JavaScript and HTML) rather than platform-specific development for iOS or Android. Because of this, they are typically easier to maintain (read: update with shiny new features) and more accessible. You don’t have to download or install files — the only thing you need is access to the internet. Web-based apps are also easier to scale, meaning eager dev teams can more easily upgrade features to suit user feedback.
In short, you might consider Google Tasks to be the best to-do list for iPad if you want quick updates and more storage space on your device.
That said, it’s on the simple side. There’s no denying that the user interface is functional and easy to navigate, but there’s no visual appeal. The customization options also leave a lot to be desired.
Pros
- No learning curve: The great thing about Google Tasks is that anyone can create a to-do list in seconds.
- No upfront costs: It’s simple, effective, and, above all, free!
- Recurring reminders: Some of the best to-do list apps hide recurring reminders behind a paywall — but not Google Tasks. The (minimal) features are all at your disposal.
- Integration: Combine Google Tasks with Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Assistant, and a bunch of other Google platforms.
- Saves storage: If you opt for the web-based platform, you can save storage space on your iPad.
Cons
- Few customization options: You can choose the time and date of your task, but that’s about it.
- Virtually no visuals: If you’re a visual learner, this isn’t the app for you. The interface is clean, minimalistic, and primarily text-based.
Reminders With Voice
Best to-do list app for: voice reminders
Pricing: Free to download and use, but the full version is a one-off purchase of $4.99
Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars (17.7K ratings on the App Store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
Account: Not required
Links: App Store
Ready for something a bit different? We are, too. Many of the best to-do list apps follow a similar format, so it’s refreshing to see voice reminders hit the market.
Our pick, Reminders with Voice, has everything you could possibly need to create voice reminders. You can create daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly reminders that repeat for any number of minutes or hours, or simply set an alarm for your morning wake-up call. It’s not a standard to-do list, but it’s easy — and surprisingly more effective — to translate your tasks into reminders. It forces you to schedule time to complete your tasks, which feels far more focused than just writing them on a to-do list.
The best feature is Recurring Reminders. Let’s say you attend a yoga class every Monday at 7 pm. Simply open the app and set a reminder every Monday at 9 am. All it takes to organize your schedule for the year is a few taps, and you’ll never miss a class again!
There’s also a Cycle option that allows you to set specific parameters. For example, someone who works shifts might set a Cycle Reminder for three consecutive days and take the following two days off. You can even receive up to five reminders before the scheduled date, but we’d advise against it for work-related reminders.
Another nice touch is the Gallery. When creating your reminder, you can choose from over 90 graphics sorted into categories like “Medical”, “Sports”, and “Religion”. They’re simple, but effective.
Reminders With Voice doesn’t need an internet connection to fulfill its side of the bargain — the notifications are local, so you can stay on track whether you’re lying in bed or hiking across Antarctica.
The app is easy to navigate, but the design isn’t as sleek or sophisticated as it could be. And to make matters worse, the free version only allows you to add three reminders. To set unlimited reminders, you need to pay a one-off fee of $4.99.
Pros:
- Multiple ways to set reminders: Reminder With Voice takes reminders to a whole new level, allowing you to create them for personalized cycles and recurring events.
- Built-in Gallery: The Gallery is perfect for visual learners who want to add images to their reminders.
- Affordable: The full version costs a flat fee of $4.99. There’s no subscription, hidden fees, or ads, and you get access to unlimited reminders.
Cons:
- Limited free version: So much for a free trial! This app only gives you three reminders before you have to shell out for the full version.
- Visuals: Despite the Gallery, there’s little visual appeal in the app itself.
Do!
Best to-do list app for: minimalists
Pricing: Free to download and use, but $9.99 to remove ads
Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars (24.5K ratings on the App Store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS, iPadOS, and Apple Watch
Account: Not required
Links: App Store
Another minimalist to-do list app is Do! It functions on the principle that simple is better. Simply press the plus symbol in the bottom right-hand corner to create a new task. From there, you can give your task a name, set the due date, set a time to send yourself a reminder notification, and add a tag color. And once you’ve completed your task, a simple double tap will mark it as finished.
The realistic ball-point pen and paper sound effects are nice touches, and there are a bunch of fonts to choose from. There is some sorting functionality, including sorting by time, creation, time modified, alphabetical order, and color tag.
Our favorite feature is the Thumb Tack, which allows you to pin the most important task to the top of your page. This sort of functionality is dwarfed by the sheer amount and complexity of the features in our other best to-do lists apps, but then again, Do! aims to please minimalists, not maximalists. Depending on how you look at it, this is the biggest positive or the biggest negative.
Like Google Task, Do! has a simple, intuitive layout. And the similarities don’t end there; Do! won’t win any awards for visual appeal, instead opting for a user interface that favors functionality over appearances.
Pros:
- Pin important tasks: With the Thumb Tack feature, you can bump key tasks to the top of your to-do list.
- Focuses on tasks: Do! solely focuses on task completion, allowing you to hone in on your goals without getting distracted.
- Simple user interface: Navigation is a breeze, with virtually no learning curve.
Cons:
- Few customization options: There are very few customization options, and the existing ones are basic at best.
- Few visuals: Although the color tags provide some light relief, there’s little else to look at. Some users (including us) might find the interface a bit bland.
TickTick
Best to-do list app for: boosting productivity
Pricing: Free to download and use, but TickTick Premium costs $2.99 per month or $27.99 per year.
Reviews: 4.9 out of 5 stars (35.1K ratings on the App Store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS, iPadOS, and Apple Watch
Account: Required
Links: App Store | Official Site
With an impressive 4.9 out of 5 stars on the App Store, TickTick is a popular app that combines to-do lists with seamless cloud synchronization, collaboration features, and cross-platform functionality.
Creating tasks is super simple, and because TickTick is so well integrated with other apps, there are a dozen ways to do it. You can add a task via Google Calendar Add, Voice Add, Third Party App Add… the list goes on! And once you’ve made your list you can generate a link and share it with friends and family, allowing them to make real-time adjustments.
The seamless integration really sells TickTick as a productivity app. It can even connect to Zapier, which automates boring admin tasks between apps and tools. Once connected, you can easily create triggers and actions. For instance, you could set up email reminders to study for Chemistry 101 every Sunday.
We were really impressed with some of the “extra” features — that is, the features that aren’t exclusively to-do list-related. For example, the Pomodoro Timer is a nifty time management tool that breaks work into 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between. There’s also Habit Tracking, instant calendar syncing, and an AI assistant that breaks your tasks into more manageable subtasks.
💡Good to know: Speaking of habit tracking, we’ve put together a list of the best habit tracker apps for iPhone and iPad.
TickTick Premium gives you access to White Noise, the Calendar View, and more customization options. But thankfully, most of the features are available in the free version. Both the free and Premium plans only offer basic collaboration features, so TickTick might not be ideal for large, remote teams.
Overall, TickTick is one of the best to-do list apps we’ve seen, seamlessly combining to-do list essentials with a wide range of productivity-boosting extras.
Pros:
- Proven techniques: This app comes complete with a Pomodoro Timer, perfect for people who prefer structured work.
- Vast integration: TickTick integrates with plenty of apps that boost productivity, including Microsoft Outlook, Notion, Google Tasks, and Zapier.
- Affordable: At just $2.99 per month, TickTick is one of the most comprehensive and affordable to-do lists on the market.
Cons:
- Lacking project management features: TickTick is designed for personal goal tracking, so teams might feel underwhelmed by the collaboration options.
- Paywall: You don’t necessarily need a subscription to benefit from TickTick, but it will open the door to advanced features.
Actions: To Do List Organizer
Best to-do list app for: colorful lists
Pricing: Free to download, but $2.99 per month or $19.99 per year to access the app
Reviews: 4.9 out of 5 stars (14 ratings on the App Store)
Cross-platform Apple compatibility: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Apple Watch
Account: Required
Links: App Store
Last but not least, we’ve thrown in a wild card. Actions might only have a few reviews on the App Store, but it’s a worthy opponent for the title of best to-do list app, especially for visual learners who appreciate a pop of color.
Actions is set up in a style similar to Trello, complete with Action Cards that act as items on your to-do list. You can assign different colors to different topics, separating tasks connected to your studies, business, and personal life. And there’s even space for freeform notes on the Action cards.
The Schedule gives you a broad overview of all your priority tasks, keeping you laser-focused on your goals.
The AI functionality is really impressive, and it has a genuine impact on our workflow. Natural language processing means you can write “Create a status report and notify me every Sunday at 5 pm” and Actions will make it happen.
Another great feature is Repeat Actions, which, you guessed it, allows you to create repeat alarms for recurring events in your life. It’s a simple enough tool, but when some of the best to-do list apps don’t offer it as standard, it becomes a hot commodity.
It sounds too good to be true — so, what’s the catch? Sadly, the closest Actions comes to a free version is a seven-day free trial, which soon becomes $4.99 per month or $19.99 per year.
Pros:
- Effective AI: Actions’ built-in AI feature saves you time and energy, effortlessly handling draining admin tasks and creating intuitive workflows.
- Automatic syncing: Keep your information safe and secure with Actions’ automatic syncing feature.
- Color coding: Assign colors to Action Cards to create visual cues and make your to-do list look more interesting.
Cons:
- Relatively new: The app isn’t established, which could mean one of two things: either we’ve found a hidden gem, or there’s a bunch of kinks that the dev team still needs to work out.
- Paywall: Most apps offer a free version, but Actions forces you to jump straight into a paid plan.
Final thoughts
Some of the to-do list apps on this list are revolutionary, perfectly combining a set of tools that will boost your productivity and improve your quality of life. Finding the best one for you might take time, but it’ll be worth it in the end.
Rock Paper Pencil for realistic handwriting
One of the biggest problems facing digital-forward students and professionals isn’t the inability to find the best to-do list app, but writing your to-do’s on a slippery glass screen. Transitioning from analog to digital handwriting comes with its challenges, but there is a solution.
Rock Paper Pencil is the only iPad accessory that combines a paper-feel matte screen protector with a ballpoint Apple Pencil replacement tip. Both elements use microscopic textured nodes to replicate the drag, pull, and friction found in traditional pen and paper.
All in all, Rock Paper Pencil creates the most realistic pen-on-paper feeling for iPad.
- NanoCling Screen Protector: Securely bond your screen protector to your iPad using static cling. Easy application, non-adhesive, removable and reusable.
- Matte Texture: Subtle friction mimics the feel of paper (no more slippery glass!)
- Precision Apple Pencil Tips: Smoother, more controlled strokes
