Mac to-do apps compared: Alcove, Things 3, Todoist, TickTick and Reminders
Choose Alcove if you want your day in the Mac menu bar, notes that calculate and one purchase for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Choose Things 3 for a polished Apple-only planner, Todoist or TickTick if you need Windows, Android or shared lists, and Apple Reminders if you want something free and built in.
I make Alcove, so read this knowing that. I've tried to be fair: each of these apps is good at something, and the right one depends on what you need. Prices and features were checked on the apps' own websites and App Store pages on 28 September 2026. The sources are at the end.
The short version
| Alcove | Things 3 | Todoist | TickTick | Apple Reminders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 once for Mac, iPhone and iPad, after a 14-day free trial | $49.99 Mac, $9.99 iPhone, $19.99 iPad, each once | Free plan, or Pro at $5 a month billed yearly | Free plan, or Premium at $35.99 a year | Free, built in |
| Runs on | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and more | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and more | Apple devices |
| Menu bar | Popup with today, lists, the month and notes; lists can float | Quick Entry with a shortcut | Quick Add from a menu bar icon or shortcut | Mini window with your tasks | None |
| Boards | Yes | No | Board layout | Kanban view | Columns on Mac |
| Notes | Notes that calculate, with tables and budgets | Markdown notes on tasks and projects | Task descriptions and comments | Markdown notes | Separate Notes app |
| Sharing | No | No | Shared projects, comments, assigning | Shared lists, assigning | Shared lists, assigning |
Which one should you choose?
Alcove if your Mac is where your day happens and you want the list in the menu bar, one click from any app. It suits people who keep notes and tasks together, like to plan in a note with numbers in it, and want one purchase for all their Apple devices.
Things 3 if you want a mature, beautifully designed planner for Apple devices and don't mind paying for each platform. It's especially good at projects with headings, and it has an Apple Watch app.
Todoist if you use more than Apple devices, work with other people, or want lots of integrations. Its free plan is generous for a handful of projects.
TickTick if you want everything in one app, including habits, a Pomodoro timer and an Eisenhower matrix, on almost every platform, for a modest yearly price. It also has a menu bar mini window on the Mac.
Apple Reminders if you want something free that's already on your devices, with shared family lists and location reminders.
Where Alcove is different
- The menu bar is the app. The popup shows today with its count, every list, the month and your notes. Lists can float above your other apps, even full-screen ones.
- Notes do the maths. End a line with
=for the answer. Tables total their columns and rows, and a budget row shows what's left. See notes that do the maths. - One price covers everything. Mac, iPhone and iPad for $29.99 once, with no subscription.
- Private by design. No account and no analytics. Your data stays on your devices and in your own iCloud.
- Built for AI assistants. A local MCP server lets assistants like Claude work with your tasks, with your approval. See connecting an AI assistant.
Where Alcove isn't the right fit
- You need Windows, Android or the web. Alcove is only for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- You share lists with other people. Alcove is built for one person.
- You want habits, a focus timer or an Apple Watch app. Alcove doesn't have them.
Head-to-head comparisons
Sources
Checked on 28 September 2026:
- Things 3 for Mac on the App Store, for iPhone and for iPad
- Things Quick Entry, Cultured Code support
- Todoist pricing and Todoist Pro pricing update
- Todoist Quick Add
- TickTick features, TickTick Premium and TickTick desktop shortcuts
- Reminders on Mac: lists and columns and organizing reminders on iPhone
Questions people ask
Which to-do app is best for the Mac menu bar?
Alcove and TickTick both show your tasks from the menu bar. Alcove is built around it: the popup shows today's tasks with their count, every list, the month and your notes, and any list can float above other apps. Todoist adds tasks from its menu bar icon.
Which of these apps has no subscription?
Alcove and Things 3 are one-time purchases. Apple Reminders is free. Todoist and TickTick sell their full features as subscriptions, with free plans that have limits.
Which one should I use if I have an Android phone or a Windows PC?
Todoist or TickTick. Alcove, Things 3 and Apple Reminders run on Apple devices only.
Can I share a list with someone?
Todoist, TickTick and Apple Reminders let you share lists and assign tasks. Alcove and Things 3 are built for one person.