TickTick vs Microsoft To Do
A genuinely free list app against a low-cost app that keeps going once lists are not enough.
Short answer
Microsoft To Do is completely free and integrates tightly with Outlook and Microsoft 365, but it stops at lists, due dates and reminders. TickTick is free at the basic level and $35.99/year for Premium, which adds a calendar view, habit tracking, a Pomodoro timer and advanced filters. If you only need lists, To Do is enough; if you want planning features, TickTick Premium is the cheapest way to get them.
TickTick vs Microsoft To Do: side by side
| Feature | TickTick | Microsoft To Do | LemTask |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier, Premium $35.99/year | Completely free | $0 (free plan) |
| Calendar view | Premium | No | Free |
| Habit tracking | Premium | No | Free |
| Pomodoro / focus timer | Yes | No | Yes |
| Outlook / Microsoft 365 integration | Limited | Deep | Limited |
| Gamification | No | No | Yes — XP, levels, streaks |
Pricing reflects each vendor's published plans at the time of writing. Check their site before buying — plans change.
Which should you pick?
Pick TickTick if
You want a calendar view, habits, a Pomodoro timer and smart filters in one place for less than $3/month.
$35.99/year (Premium) · Yes, with limits
Pick Microsoft To Do if
You live in Outlook and Microsoft 365, need flagged emails to become tasks, and never want a bill. Microsoft To Do is free forever with no upsell.
Free · Yes — completely free
Pick LemTask if
You want TickTick's feature set on a free plan and stronger follow-through. LemTask includes habits, streaks, XP, calendar and a focus timer without a Premium tier gate.
Free plan · no card
Which one for your situation
The right answer changes with team size, industry and which single feature you are actually buying. Find the line closest to your situation.
- If you are inside Microsoft 365 all day
- Microsoft To Do. Outlook flagged email becomes tasks and it is already paid for.
- If you want habits and a focus timer too
- TickTick. Habit tracking and a Pomodoro timer are built in, which is the main reason people leave To Do.
- TickTick premium vs free
- The free plan covers tasks, basic habits and up to nine lists. Premium is around $36 a year and mainly buys calendar view, smart lists and more views. If calendar view is the only reason to upgrade, compare against free plans that include it.
Try the free option before you pay for either
LemTask covers daily planning, time blocking, habits and a focus timer on a free plan — so you can test the workflow before committing to a subscription.
- Free forever plan, no card required
- Time blocking with Google Calendar sync
- Habits, streaks and XP for follow-through
- Import your existing lists in a couple of clicks
Frequently asked questions
- Is TickTick better than Microsoft To Do?
- TickTick does more — calendar view, habits, Pomodoro timer, advanced filters — but the useful parts sit in Premium at $35.99/year. Microsoft To Do is completely free and better if you live in Outlook and only need simple lists with reminders.
- Is Microsoft To Do really free?
- Yes. Microsoft To Do is free with a Microsoft account and has no paid tier.
- Is TickTick Premium worth $35.99 a year?
- It is worth it if you will actually use the calendar view, habit tracker and custom filters. If you only track simple lists and reminders, the free tier or Microsoft To Do covers it.
- Is there a free app with TickTick Premium features?
- LemTask includes calendar, habits, time blocking and a focus timer on its free plan, plus XP and streaks for motivation.
- Is TickTick Premium worth it over the free plan?
- Premium is around $36 a year and its headline additions are calendar view, custom smart lists and extra views. If you already plan in a calendar and only want tasks and habits, the free plan is enough.