Alcove vs TickTick: focused and calm, or everything in one app?
TickTick puts tasks, calendar views, kanban, habits, a Pomodoro timer and an Eisenhower matrix into one app on almost every platform, with a free plan and Premium at $49.99 a year (up from $35.99 in 2026). Alcove does less on purpose: a calm day in the Mac menu bar, boards and notes that calculate, on Mac, iPhone and iPad, for $29.99 once.
TickTick is the Swiss Army knife of to-do apps: tasks, calendars, habits, a focus timer and more, on almost every device. Alcove is the opposite on purpose. Here's how they compare, checked on 28 September 2026 and updated on 8 October 2026. I make Alcove, so weigh that, but I've tried to be fair about where TickTick is the better choice.
How I compared. This comparison is based on TickTick's Premium page, its features page and help centre, its App Store listings (version 8.2) and Wayback Machine copies of its Premium page, checked on 8 October 2026, not on a hands-on test of TickTick. The sources are listed at the end. Prices are US.
At a glance
| Feature | Alcove | TickTick |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, or $29.99 once for everything on Mac, iPhone and iPad | Free plan (9 lists, 99 tasks per list), or Premium at $49.99 a year |
| Platforms | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and more |
| Menu bar | Popup with today, lists, the month and notes; lists can float on top | Mini window with your tasks |
| Quick add | ⌥ Space, reads day, time, length, list, tag, priority and repeat | Global add shortcut, smart date parsing |
| Views | Lists, boards, a calendar with Day, Week and Month | Lists, kanban, timeline, several calendar views |
| Extras | Notes that calculate, tables and budget rows | Habit tracker, Pomodoro timer, Eisenhower matrix, countdowns |
| AI assistants | Local MCP server on your Mac, with your approval for each assistant | Official MCP server online, for Claude, ChatGPT and other assistants |
| Sharing | No | Shared lists and assigned tasks |
| Account | None; your own iCloud | TickTick account |
What TickTick costs now
TickTick Premium is $49.99 a year. Until 2026 it was $35.99 a year: TickTick's Premium page showed $35.99 as the normal price in late 2025 and early 2026, as a limited-time offer against $49.99 in July 2026, and $49.99 from late August 2026.
The free plan is generous for a single list-keeper: 9 lists, 99 tasks in each, 2 reminders per task and 5 habits. Over five years, Premium billed yearly comes to $249.95, against $29.99 once for Alcove. For every app's price in one place, see what to-do apps cost.
Where TickTick is stronger
- Everything in one place. Habits, a Pomodoro timer, an Eisenhower matrix and countdowns sit beside your tasks.
- Every platform. Web, Windows, Android and more.
- More views. Kanban, timeline and yearly, monthly, weekly and multi-day calendars.
- Sharing. Shared lists and assigned tasks.
- AI assistants anywhere. TickTick's MCP server is online, so an assistant can reach your tasks without your Mac being on.
Where Alcove is stronger
- Calm by design. Fewer features, one clear place for the day. Progress shows what you finished, with no streaks and no scores.
- Notes that calculate. Sums on any line, tables with totals and budget rows. See notes that do the maths.
- No subscription. $29.99 once for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- No account. Your data stays on your devices and in your own iCloud. Alcove's MCP server runs on your Mac, and you approve each assistant. See to-do apps that work with Claude.
- Floating lists. Pop any list out of the menu bar and keep it above your work. See floating to-do lists.
Which should you choose?
Choose TickTick if you want habits and a focus timer with your tasks, use Android or Windows, or share lists.
Choose Alcove if you'd rather have a calm, focused app on your Apple devices, want notes and tasks together, and prefer to pay once.
For more apps to weigh against TickTick, see TickTick alternatives for Mac and iPhone.
Sources
Checked on 28 September 2026; prices and the MCP server rechecked on 8 October 2026:
- TickTick Premium, for prices and free plan limits
- Wayback Machine copies of TickTick's Premium page: 11 October 2025 ($35.99 a year), 23 July 2026 ($35.99 as a limited-time offer against $49.99) and 24 August 2026 ($49.99 a year)
- TickTick features and TickTick downloads
- TickTick MCP, TickTick help centre
- TickTick desktop shortcuts
- TickTick for Mac on the App Store
Questions people ask
Is Alcove a good TickTick alternative?
If you want fewer features and more calm, one purchase and notes that calculate, yes. If you use habits, the focus timer or Android and Windows, TickTick fits better.
Do both apps work from the Mac menu bar?
Yes. TickTick has a menu bar mini window with your tasks. Alcove is built around its menu bar popup, which shows today, your lists, the month and your notes, and any list can float above other apps.
How much does TickTick cost compared with Alcove?
TickTick has a free plan, and Premium is $49.99 a year. TickTick raised Premium from $35.99 a year in 2026, and its site has listed $49.99 since late August. Alcove is free to use, and $29.99 once unlocks everything.
Does TickTick have a lifetime plan?
No. TickTick sells Premium as a subscription, listed at $49.99 a year on its site, with no one-time option. Alcove is a one-time purchase.
Does Alcove have a habit tracker or Pomodoro timer?
No. Alcove keeps to tasks, notes, boards and the calendar.