01Number one this month
Things 3
The calmest personal planner for Apple devices
Curated by anApple award-winningdeveloper.
Top 10 appsSeptember 2026
01Things 3
Things 302
Todoist
Todoist03
Apple Reminders
Apple Reminders04
Structured
Structured05
TickTick
TickTick06
OmniFocus
OmniFocus07
Microsoft To Do
Microsoft To Do08
Tiimo
Tiimo09
Sorted³
Sorted³10
Obsidian
ObsidianSeptember 2026 · Issue 02
Our top 10 for September
Every app in the Top 10 has a full independent review. The order reflects our overall recommendation, but the best fit matters more than the number beside it.
Read the full editionOur top three
The apps we would try first
Read the verdict
02Broadest fit
Todoist
The safer pick for mixed devices and shared work
03Best free on Apple
Apple Reminders
Excellent everyday lists without another subscription
No paid positionsAn app cannot buy its way up the list
Different picks for different jobsA shared list is not a project manager
Prices checkedWe link back to the product source
Conflicts shown clearlyNo important disclosure buried in the footer
Our guides
The right app depends
on how you work.
A great Mac app can be useless on Windows. A brilliant personal planner can fall apart the moment you share a list. We tell you who each pick suits, what it costs and the reason you may hate it.
Quick answers
The questions we hear most often
Here is the short version. Each answer links to the longer review if you want the reasoning.
What is the best to-do app for most people?
Things 3 is our top September pick for personal planning on Apple devices. Todoist remains the safer recommendation when we do not know which devices you use or whether you need to share projects.
See the six-app shortlistWhat is the best free to-do app?
If you use Apple devices, try Reminders before downloading anything else. Microsoft To Do makes more sense if your day already revolves around Outlook.
Compare free picksIs Things 3 worth buying?
It is worth it if you plan alone, use only Apple devices and like its Today view. It is an immediate no if you need shared projects, Android or a browser app.
Read the iPhone guideWhich to-do app is best for ADHD?
There is no single ADHD pick. Tiimo is good for routines, Structured makes time easier to see, TickTick includes a focus timer and Todoist is very quick to capture into.
Find the right kind of helpWorth watching
Prefer to see the apps in motion?
Good video walkthroughs show things a screenshot cannot. We pick the ones that explain the app clearly and disclose their sources.
YouTubeTool Finder
Best To-Do List Apps for 2026
2026 field guide · 40+ apps
YouTubePeter Akkies
Which Are the Best To-Do List Apps?
Clear, use-case-led comparison
YouTubePeter Akkies
How to Organize Your To-Dos with Todoist
2026 Todoist tutorial
YouTubeJohn Lenaghan
The Ultimate Apple Reminders Setup 2026
A practical Apple workflowA common toss-up
Todoist
versus
TickTick
Todoist is cleaner and better for shared work. TickTick puts your calendar, habits and focus timer in the same app.
See the side-by-sidePick Todoist for
A cleaner task list
- Fast capture
- Clear projects
- Better collaboration
Pick TickTick for
More tools in one app
- Calendar planning
- Habit tracking
- Focus timer
How we test
The real test starts after setup day
We look at capture, daily planning, recurring tasks, reliability, exports and price. More importantly, we see what happens after a missed day leaves the list in a mess.
See exactly how we test- 01Open a new account
We note the defaults and how much setup it demands.
- 02Add awkward tasks
Recurrence, reminders, sharing, notes and search.
- 03Let a day go wrong
Then we see how painful it is to recover.
- 04Check the details again
Prices, platforms and important limitations.
Why the editor's background matters
Building apps changes what you notice.
Apple's App Store editors featured the developer's work and later published a founder profile. That does not make every verdict right. It gives readers a directly checkable record of the product experience behind these reviews.
