TickTick alternatives: where to go, and how to take your tasks with you
Nine apps broken down by reason for leaving, plus an eight-step exit plan.
The short answer: Todoist if you're leaving for steadier sync and more integrations, Things 3 if you live on Apple devices and you're done with subscriptions, Microsoft To Do if you want free with no list caps in your face, Super Productivity if you want your data to stay on your own machine, and Sunsama or Akiflow if you want to plan your day on your calendar. One thing to know before you pick: TickTick only exports a CSV file, only from the web app, and almost nothing reads that file as is. We compared all nine destinations in this guide, and the real path your tasks take to each one, in 2026.
The ranking is editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
Why people leave TickTick, even when they liked it
TickTick has loyal fans, and they have a point: a generous free plan, a built-in Pomodoro timer and habit tracker, and reminders that keep nagging until you act. Plenty of people who quit end up coming back. The ones who leave for good tend to cite six reasons, the same ones that show up in forum threads, App Store reviews and comments on Apple-focused sites.
Sync that doesn't always keep up
This is the complaint you hear most from Mac and iPhone users: lists reordered on the phone that stay put on the desktop, small differences from one platform to another. One reader on a long-running Apple site summed it up for a lot of people: it's all great until you hit the sync problem. When your task app is your memory, one doubt about sync is enough to stop trusting it.
Too many features, not enough clarity
Tasks, calendar, habits, Pomodoro, an Eisenhower matrix, countdowns, location reminders: TickTick does all of it. The flip side is menus that behave differently from screen to screen and settings buried a few levels down. If all you use is today's list, you're paying in complexity for features you never open.
A rising price, and no one-time purchase
Premium went from $35.99 a year in 2025 to $49.99 a year in 2026 on TickTick's own pricing page, and the site shows no monthly price. A request keeps coming back in reviews: let people buy the app once and be done. TickTick doesn't offer that.
Caps, even when you pay
The free plan stops at 9 lists, 99 tasks per list, 2 reminders per task and 1 attachment a day. Premium goes up to 299 lists and 999 tasks per list. For most people that's plenty. If you keep everything (groceries, ideas, a five-year project archive), you eventually hit the ceiling, and some paying users say so.
Few integrations, no real Apple sync
TickTick connects natively to a handful of services, including Google Calendar, Gmail and Notion. There's no two-way sync with Apple Reminders and Calendar: when TickTick imports your Reminders, it removes them from Apple's app, so it's a one-way move. To wire TickTick into the rest of your tools, you go through Make or Zapier.
Questions about the publisher and your data
The publisher listed on the App Store is Appest Limited. Its privacy label declares data linked to your identity: contact info, user content, identifiers and diagnostics. Some users raise questions about links to China; we found no official source that settles it. If that bothers you, the cleanest fix is an app where you control where the data lives.
You're leaving because… go to…
The right TickTick alternative depends on what's pushing you out. Usually only one card applies. Each one jumps to the full write-up below.
80+ integrations and a CSV import, once you prep the file.
You're on Apple and done with subscriptionsThings 3One-time purchase per device. No web, Android or Windows app.
You want free without counting listsMicrosoft To DoFree, no paid tier. Simpler than TickTick, no Pomodoro or habits.
You want your data to stay with youSuper ProductivityOpen source, free, local data, optional WebDAV sync.
You want tasks blocked out on your calendarSunsama or AkiflowDaily planning on the calendar. Paid only.
You want notes and tasks in one placeNotionA task database you build yourself, fillable from a CSV.
TickTick alternatives, app by app
For each app: why you'd move there, who it fits, its catch, how to get your TickTick tasks in, and what it costs. Prices are the ones the publishers list in 2026, in US dollars.
Todoist: the sync and integrations TickTick lacks
The steadiest daily driverWhy move to Todoist. If you're leaving over sync or integrations, it's the most direct destination. Todoist connects to more than 80 services, and Sunsama can pull your tasks from it. Pro costs $5 a month billed yearly or $7 month to month; Business is $8 per member a month, billed yearly. Our full Todoist review scores it 3.9 out of 5.
Who it's for. Anyone who wants a dependable list on every device, wired into their calendar, inbox and team tools.
Who it's not for. People who live in TickTick's calendar view or rely on its habit tracker: Todoist's calendar only shows dated tasks, and habits need an add-on.
The catch. The free plan caps you at 5 projects, so if you had 9 lists in TickTick you'll be looking at Pro quickly. CSV import tops out at 300 tasks per project, and it can't be undone.
How to move from TickTick. There's no direct TickTick import (TickTick can import Todoist, not the other way around). The route: in the web app, open a project, hit the ⋯ menu, then Import & export, then Import from CSV. The file has to follow Todoist's own CSV template in UTF-8, so you'll reshape the TickTick export list by list and stay under 300 tasks per file. Run a dry import with ten tasks first. To weigh Todoist against its neighbors, see our Todoist alternatives and the breakdown of Todoist pricing.
- Free
- 5 projects
- Paid
- Pro $5/mo yearly, $7 monthly
- Best for
- sync and integrations
- Catch
- 300 tasks per CSV import
Things 3: a polished list you pay for once
No subscription, Apple onlyWhy move to Things 3. Things answers the request that keeps showing up in TickTick reviews: pay once and stop thinking about it. It's sold as a one-time purchase per device, with no subscription: $49.99 on Mac (App Store), iPhone and iPad sold separately. It does less than TickTick on purpose: no Pomodoro, no habits, just Today and Upcoming lists, projects, areas and a very readable layout.
Who it's for. Mac, iPhone and iPad users who want a clear personal list and found TickTick too busy.
Who it's not for. Anyone who uses Android, Windows or a browser at work: Things only runs on Apple devices, with no web app. It's also not built for sharing lists with a team.
The catch. Each device is bought separately (Mac, iPad, iPhone), so your upfront cost depends on your hardware. And there's no TickTick import.
How to move from TickTick. Cultured Code, the developer, doesn't offer a TickTick importer. Its advice for moving in from another app is to go through Apple Reminders, then File, Import, From Reminders. List groups don't carry over, and tasks with a location, attachment or subtasks are skipped. For large volumes, Things accepts bulk imports through its JSON URL scheme: a script can convert TickTick's CSV, if you can write one. For most people, retyping active tasks is faster.
- Price
- $49.99 on Mac, one-time
- Platforms
- Mac, iPhone, iPad
- Best for
- personal list on Apple
- Catch
- no web, Android or Windows
Microsoft To Do: free, simple, no list cap in sight
Free, no meter runningWhy move to Microsoft To Do. If TickTick's free caps get in your way (9 lists, 99 tasks per list), Microsoft To Do solves it for zero dollars: the app is free and has no paid tier. It runs on your Microsoft account.
Who it's for. People who already have a Microsoft account, and anyone who wants a simple list shared with family, no subscription.
Who it's not for. People who use TickTick's Pomodoro, habits or Eisenhower matrix: none of that here.
The catch. Fewer views and settings than TickTick, and no advanced planning. It's a list app, not a calendar.
How to move from TickTick. To Do doesn't import TickTick. Its old import tool targeted Wunderlist and Todoist; check your settings to see if it's still offered before you plan around it. Otherwise, count on retyping active tasks from your CSV, one list at a time.
- Price
- free, no paid tier
- Best for
- Microsoft account, simple list
- TickTick import
- none, retype
- Catch
- no habits or Pomodoro
Super Productivity: free, open source, and your data stays local
Open source, your dataWhy move to Super Productivity. This is the answer to the publisher and data worries. Super Productivity is free, open source (MIT license) and keeps your data on your device. Sync is optional: you pick WebDAV (your own server or cloud) or the SuperSync service. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and in the browser.
Who it's for. Developers, freelancers, and anyone who wants an open-source app that stays usable even if its developer stops.
Who it's not for. People who want an app that works with zero setup: WebDAV sync takes a bit of configuration.
The catch. The interface is built for work more than for personal life lists. No TickTick import.
How to move from TickTick. The developer says so on its own comparison page: keep the TickTick CSV as a reference copy and re-enter your tasks. Use it as a chance to bring over only what's still alive. If you want an automatic import into an open-source app, Vikunja has a TickTick importer, but users have reported tasks skipped in bulk (20 out of 1,400 in one case), so count your tasks afterward.
- Price
- free, open source (MIT)
- Sync
- WebDAV or SuperSync, your choice
- Best for
- local data
- Catch
- retyping, sync setup
Any.do: list, calendar and reminders, with a recurring-task trap
Closest in spiritWhy move to Any.do. Any.do makes a similar promise to TickTick: a list, a calendar and reminders in one app, on phone and desktop. The free plan doesn't cap the number of tasks. Premium is $4.99 a month billed yearly or $7.99 month to month. A Family plan at $8.33 a month covers four people, and Teams is $4.99 per member.
Who it's for. Families and small groups who share groceries, chores and reminders.
Who it's not for. Anyone with lots of recurring tasks who doesn't want to pay: in Any.do, recurrence is Premium only. That's the classic trap for a TickTick user, where it's free.
The catch. No habits, no Pomodoro, and paid recurrence. The free plan will feel thinner than TickTick's on that front.
How to move from TickTick. We found no TickTick import in Any.do. Plan to retype: start with your recurring tasks, since those are what need Premium, and see whether their number justifies the subscription.
- Free
- unlimited tasks, no recurrence
- Paid
- Premium $4.99/mo yearly, $7.99 monthly
- Best for
- family, shared lists
- Catch
- recurrence is paid
Sunsama: a morning ritual for tasks and calendar
Plan your dayWhy move to Sunsama. TickTick hands you a list; Sunsama asks you every morning what you'll actually do today, then puts it on your calendar. If you're drowning in a 300-task list, that daily framing changes everything. Pro is $17 a month billed yearly ($204) or $22 month to month, after a 14-day trial with no card.
Who it's for. Managers and freelancers whose days are packed with meetings and who want to see the time they really have.
Who it's not for. Tight budgets: there's no free plan, and the company says it isn't planning one.
The catch. Price, roughly four times TickTick Premium. And no TickTick integration.
How to move from TickTick. Here's the workaround: Sunsama pulls tasks from Todoist, Microsoft To Do, Google Tasks and Asana, not from TickTick. Import your CSV into Todoist first (or retype into To Do), then connect that to Sunsama. You keep a backlog list underneath, and Sunsama becomes the planner on top.
- Trial
- 14 days, no card
- Paid
- Pro $17/mo yearly, $22 monthly
- Best for
- meeting-heavy days
- Catch
- no free plan
Akiflow: one inbox for every task you get
One inbox for everythingWhy move to Akiflow. Akiflow gathers tasks that pop up everywhere (email, chat, project tools) into a single inbox, then lets you drag them onto your calendar. It targets the same need as Sunsama. Pro is $19 a month billed yearly ($228) or $34 month to month.
Who it's for. People whose tasks arrive from ten places and who want to triage them in one spot before planning.
Who it's not for. Anyone who just wants a list: Akiflow is a planning tool, and the bill reflects it.
The catch. The trial lasts 7 days and asks for a card. At $34, the monthly plan is one of the priciest in this guide. TickTick isn't among its connections.
How to move from TickTick. No TickTick import. Retype your active tasks into Akiflow's inbox and leave the rest in your archive CSV.
- Trial
- 7 days, card required
- Paid
- Pro $19/mo yearly, $34 monthly
- Best for
- tasks from everywhere
- Catch
- monthly price
Amazing Marvin: the app that bends to how you work
The most customizableWhy move to Amazing Marvin. Marvin starts as a very plain list, then lets you switch on "strategies" one by one: goals, time tracking, rewards, planning. If you liked TickTick's depth but not its fixed layout, this is the app that lets you build your own. It costs $8 a month or $96 a year, after a 14-day trial with no card.
Who it's for. People who've tried everything and want to tune their tool precisely, especially those who struggle with focus and want motivation levers.
Who it's not for. Anyone who wants something ready to go: the number of options can feel as heavy as TickTick's.
The catch. No free plan, and a longer learning curve than the others.
How to move from TickTick. We found no TickTick import in Marvin. Retype your active lists during the 14-day trial: it's also the best way to find out whether the app suits you before you pay.
- Trial
- 14 days, no card
- Paid
- $8/mo or $96/yr
- Best for
- a custom system
- Catch
- learning curve
Notion: when your tasks live next to your notes
Notes and tasks togetherWhy move to Notion. If you already run your notes, projects or wiki in Notion, keeping tasks there saves you an app. A task database with due date, priority and tags replaces a TickTick list, and a CSV import fills it in one go. Plus is $10 per member a month and Business $20, billed yearly. Our Notion review scores it 4.0 out of 5.
Who it's for. People and small teams who think in projects and docs and want each task linked to its notes page.
Who it's not for. Anyone who wants pushy reminders and fast capture on a phone: that's not where Notion shines.
The catch. You build it yourself: database, views and filters. Reminders and recurrence are lighter than in a dedicated task app.
How to move from TickTick. Create the properties you need in Notion first (due date, priority, tags, source list), then import the TickTick CSV as a database and map the columns. If you want to keep TickTick running for a while, Make or Zapier can create a Notion page for every new task. To choose between the two big ones, read our Todoist vs Notion comparison.
- Free
- yes, for one person
- Paid
- Plus $10/member/mo yearly
- Best for
- linked notes and tasks
- Catch
- lighter reminders
The 9 TickTick alternatives side by side
Our default pick: Todoist if you want a solid list wired into your tools, Microsoft To Do if you want to stay free. For a yardstick, TickTick Premium costs $49.99 a year; Todoist Pro works out to $60 a year, Sunsama to $204 and Akiflow to $228. The table gives one row per app: on the left what you get without paying, on the right the first price and how your tasks get in.
| Without paying | First price and import from TickTick | |
|---|---|---|
| TickTickWhere you're starting | 9 lists, 99 tasks per list, 2 reminders per task | Premium $49.99/yr; CSV export from the web app |
| TodoistThe steadiest | 5 projects | Pro $5/mo yearly; reshaped CSV, 300 tasks per project |
| Things 3No subscription | no free plan | $49.99 on Mac (App Store), iPhone and iPad separate; via Reminders or retype |
| Microsoft To DoFree | everything, no paid tier | no price; retype |
| Super ProductivityOpen source | everything, free | no price; retype from the CSV |
| Any.doFamily | unlimited tasks, no recurrence | Premium $4.99/mo yearly; retype |
| SunsamaDaily planning | 14-day trial | Pro $17/mo yearly; via Todoist or To Do |
| AkiflowOne inbox | 7-day trial with card | Pro $19/mo yearly; retype |
| Amazing MarvinMost customizable | 14-day trial | $8/mo or $96/yr; retype |
| NotionNotes and tasks | yes, for one person | Plus $10/member/mo yearly; CSV into a database |
Starting prices before tax, as listed by publishers in 2026 and subject to change. Always check the publisher's page before you pay.
Getting out of TickTick in eight steps
TickTick's export is the weak spot of any move: one format, one place to trigger it, and a file you have to clean up. Follow the order; each step prevents a loss.
List everything that lives in TickTick
FirstWrite down your lists and folders, smart lists (filters), tags, recurring tasks with their rules, habits, countdowns and any calendars you subscribed to. Note the connections too: Google Calendar, Gmail, Notion, and any Make or Zapier scenario.
Why bother? Because the CSV only carries tasks. Your filters, habits and focus stats don't travel: you rebuild them or let them go. A screenshot of each smart list is enough to recreate it.
- Time
- half an hour
- Risk if rushed
- lost filters and habits
Prune before you export
Time saverComplete or delete what's dead. A 900-task list where 600 haven't moved in two years doesn't need to follow you. The less you export, the less you clean, and the less likely you are to hit an import cap on the other side.
Tip: sort each list by creation date and archive whatever's been sleeping. Archived tasks stay in your backup file if you ever need them.
- Time
- about an hour
- Payoff
- a lighter import
Export from the web app, and only there
You can't export from the mobile app. Open TickTick in a browser, go to Settings, then Backup & Import, then Create Backup. A .csv file lands in your downloads folder. That's the only export option TickTick offers.
Keep that file untouched in an archive folder and work on a copy. It's your only complete record, completed tasks and notes included.
- Where
- web: Settings, Backup & Import
- Format
- CSV only
Clean up the CSV file
Where it breaksTickTick's CSV starts with legend rows sitting above the header row. Many tools read the first line as the header and miss everything else: that's why some imports bring over only a handful of tasks. Open the copy in a spreadsheet, delete those rows, and make sure the first line holds the column names.
Then save as UTF-8 to keep special characters, and split the file by list if your destination has a cap (300 tasks per project in Todoist). Keep only the columns you need: title, content, list, due date, priority, tags.
- Trap
- legend rows above the header
- Encoding
- UTF-8
Rebuild the structure in the new app
Create your projects or lists, your tags and, in Notion, your database properties before you import. Decide up front how TickTick's priorities (none, low, medium, high) map to the destination's system.
If the destination's free plan caps projects (5 in Todoist), merge lists now instead of paying for a structure you no longer use.
- Time
- half an hour
- Decide
- priority mapping
Import one trial list, then the rest
Start with a small list of ten tasks. Check what comes through: dates, priorities, special characters, notes. Fix the file, then import the remaining lists one at a time. In Todoist, imports can't be undone: mistakes get fixed by hand.
For Things, Microsoft To Do, Any.do, Super Productivity and Marvin, there's no TickTick import: retype active tasks, using the spreadsheet sorted by list.
- Rule
- trial list first
- Todoist
- imports can't be undone
Count tasks and rebuild recurrences
Don't skipCount the tasks in each list before and after. On one open-source tool, a user saw only 20 of 1,400 tasks arrive: counting is the only thing that catches that. Then check every recurring task: complex rules (after completion, specific days of the month) rarely come through intact.
Recreate reminders as well, then your habits in a dedicated app if you tracked them in TickTick.
- Count
- tasks per list, before and after
- Redo
- recurrences and reminders
Run both, then cut over
Use the new app on its own for two weeks while keeping TickTick open read-only. If you find yourself going back to TickTick to look something up, a list or detail is missing: add it.
Only then turn off Premium auto-renewal and disconnect Google Calendar and your Make or Zapier scenarios. Keep your original CSV backup: it's the reference if you change your mind again. If you automate, our TickTick on Make page shows what connects.
- Time
- two weeks
- Keep
- the original CSV
Is your tool missing from this page? Email us: hello@hackceleration.com
What makes a TickTick exit go wrong
None of these mistakes is technical. They're oversights, and each one costs more than the five minutes it would have taken to avoid.
Looking for export in the mobile app
It isn't there. Only the web app creates the backup. If all you have is a phone, sign in to TickTick's site from any desktop browser, even a borrowed one.
Importing the raw CSV
The legend rows at the top of the file make imports fail quietly: the tool reports success and brings over a fraction of your tasks. Always delete them before importing.
Assuming everything comes along
Your habits, Pomodoro history, smart lists and countdowns don't travel. On the import side, archived tasks, trash, attached files and tag colors are often lost too. Decide up front what you'll rebuild and what you'll leave behind.
Picking an app that charges for your routine
Any.do puts recurrence behind Premium, Todoist caps free at 5 projects, Sunsama and Marvin have no free plan. Look at what you really use every day, then check the destination offers it at the price you want to pay.
Mistaking an import for a sync
Imports between task apps are one-way copies: when TickTick imports your Apple Reminders, it removes them from Reminders. Always keep a copy of what you move, and don't count on a round trip.
Canceling before you've checked
Cancel Premium only after two weeks in the new app. Back on the free plan, TickTick stays readable, but its caps (9 lists, 99 tasks per list) can get in the way when you dig for an old task. For more rankings, see our pick of the best task management apps, and if your team is also leaving a project board, our guide to switching from Trello.
- CSV backup created from the web app and archived untouched
- Legend rows deleted, file saved as UTF-8
- Files split under the destination's import cap
- One trial list imported and checked before the rest
- Tasks counted before and after, list by list
- Recurrences, reminders and habits rebuilt
- Premium canceled only after two weeks
TickTick alternatives: frequently asked questions
What's the best free alternative to TickTick?
Microsoft To Do if you want a free app with no paid tier and no visible list cap. Super Productivity if you also want open source and local data. Todoist's free plan is solid but stops at 5 projects, and Any.do's free plan has no recurrence. None of them bundles tasks, habits and Pomodoro for free the way TickTick does.
Is there a TickTick alternative without a subscription?
Yes: Things 3, sold as a one-time purchase ($49.99 on Mac on the App Store, iPhone and iPad sold separately), and Super Productivity, free and open source. Microsoft To Do is free too, tied to your Microsoft account. Things only works on Apple, so on Android look at Super Productivity.
Which app is most similar to TickTick?
Any.do for the list-plus-calendar-plus-reminders feel, Todoist for day-to-day reliability. None of them packs in everything TickTick has: habit tracking only exists in Todoist through an add-on, and neither Any.do nor Things has a Pomodoro timer. If those matter, keep a small dedicated app alongside.
Can I export my TickTick tasks from my phone?
No. The backup is created only in the web app, under Settings, then Backup & Import, then Create Backup. Open the site from any desktop browser. The file is a CSV; keep the original untouched and work on a copy.
Can Todoist import directly from TickTick?
No. TickTick can import Todoist, not the reverse. You go through Todoist's CSV import on the web, after deleting the legend rows from the TickTick file and reshaping it to Todoist's CSV template. The limit is 300 tasks per project, and the import can't be undone.
How do I keep my habit tracking when I leave TickTick?
With a separate app: no destination in this guide imports your habits, and most don't have them. Write down your habits and current streaks before you leave, then recreate them. It's often a good moment to keep only three or four.
Is TickTick a Chinese app, and is my data safe?
The publisher on the App Store is Appest Limited, and its privacy label declares data linked to your identity (contact info, content, identifiers, diagnostics). Some users question its ties to China; we found no official source that settles it. If that's a deal-breaker, pick an app where you control storage, like Super Productivity with your own WebDAV sync.
Did TickTick raise its price?
Yes. Premium was $35.99 a year in 2025 and is $49.99 a year in 2026 on TickTick's pricing page. The site doesn't list a monthly price, so if you're staying, the annual plan is the one TickTick puts forward.
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