The best to-do list apps for iPhone in 2026
The best iPhone to-do app depends on what you need. Apple Reminders is free and built in, Things 3 is the most polished ($9.99 on iPhone), Todoist and TickTick work on every platform and can ring alarm reminders on iOS 26, Microsoft To Do is free everywhere, and Alcove adds a Mac menu bar app, boards and notes for $29.99 once across iPhone, iPad and Mac.
On an iPhone a to-do app lives or dies by three things: how fast you can add a task, whether you see it without opening the app, and whether the reminder actually gets your attention. Here's how the main apps compare on those and on price. I make Alcove, one of the apps here; prices and features were checked on each app's App Store page or website in October 2026.
iPhone to-do apps at a glance
| App | Price on iPhone | Also on | Alarm-style reminders | Home Screen widgets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Reminders | Free | Apple devices | Urgent reminders, iOS 26.2 | Yes |
| Things 3 | $9.99 once | Mac ($49.99), iPad ($19.99), Watch, Vision Pro | Notifications | Yes |
| Todoist | Free plan, or Pro at $5 a month billed yearly | Every platform | Urgent reminders, iOS 26 | Yes |
| TickTick | Free plan, or Premium at $49.99 a year | Every platform | Alarm reminders, iOS 26 | Yes |
| Microsoft To Do | Free | Every platform | Notifications | Yes |
| Alcove | Free for 14 days, then $29.99 once for iPhone, iPad and Mac | iPad, Mac | Alarm type, iOS 26 | Yes |
The apps
Apple Reminders is the default for good reason: free, built in, shared lists, location reminders, smart lists and Siri. From iOS 26.2, mark a reminder urgent and it rings like an alarm.
Things 3 is the most polished to-do app on iPhone, with a calm design, projects with headings and an Apple Watch app. You buy it once per device.
Todoist is fast, runs everywhere and is built for sharing, with natural-language quick add and, on iOS 26, urgent reminders that ring. The free plan allows five projects.
TickTick packs tasks, calendar views, habits and a Pomodoro timer into one app, with alarm reminders on iOS 26. Premium unlocks more lists, calendar views and reminders.
Microsoft To Do is free on every platform, with My Day and Outlook tasks.
Alcove is for people who also use a Mac: the same tasks are in a Mac menu bar app, with boards, a calendar with an hour grid, notes that do the maths, Speak tasks, and reminders you can set to quiet, a notification or an alarm. One purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac. See Alcove for iPhone and iPad.
How to choose
- Free and simple: Apple Reminders.
- Android or Windows too: Todoist, TickTick or Microsoft To Do.
- The nicest design, Apple only: Things 3.
- iPhone plus a Mac, paid once: Alcove.
Sources
Checked in October 2026:
- Things 3 for iPhone on the App Store
- Todoist pricing and Todoist urgent reminders on iOS
- TickTick Premium and TickTick constant reminders
- iOS 26.2 adds reminder alarms, TidBITS
- Microsoft To Do on the App Store
Questions people ask
What is the best free to-do list app for iPhone?
Apple Reminders. It's free, built in, syncs through iCloud, has widgets and Siri, and from iOS 26.2 urgent reminders ring like alarms. Microsoft To Do is free too and also runs on Android and Windows.
Which iPhone to-do apps can ring like an alarm?
On iOS 26 and later, Alcove (choose Alarm as the reminder type), Todoist (urgent reminders) and TickTick (alarm reminders) can ring through silent mode and Focus. Apple Reminders does it for urgent reminders from iOS 26.2.
Which iPhone to-do app has the best widgets?
All of these apps have Home Screen widgets. Alcove's let you tick tasks off without opening the app, and it also has Lock Screen widgets and Control Center controls.
Is there an iPhone to-do app with no subscription?
Yes. Things 3 is $9.99 once on iPhone (iPad and Mac are separate), Alcove is $29.99 once for iPhone, iPad and Mac, and Apple Reminders and Microsoft To Do are free.