The monthly ranking · September 2026
The to-do apps we would recommend this month.
Every app in the Top 10 has a full independent review. Each row includes the drawback most likely to change your mind.
September 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.
Since last time
What moved, and why
A new app version is not enough reason to rearrange the list. We move an app when the change is noticeable in normal use or alters who we would recommend it to.
Things 3
Things 3 moves to number one for September. Its calm Today view, excellent interaction design and low maintenance make it the app we most enjoy living in. It is still the wrong choice if you need Android, a browser or shared projects.
Todoist
Todoist moves to number two without becoming a worse app. It remains the safer recommendation for mixed devices and collaboration, while Things 3 wins this month on the quality of the personal planning experience.
TickTick
TickTick now sits just below Structured. It still offers more built-in tools, but Structured is easier to read at a glance and asks less of somebody who mainly wants to see the shape of a day.
A word about the order
Number one will not be right for everybody
Higher means a stronger overall recommendation, not universal fit. A specialist app may be much better for you even if it sits further down the table.
App Store ratings are shown separately. They are useful context, especially with a large sample, but they do not decide our order.
Read the drawback column. It tells you the reason a highly ranked app may still be the wrong one for you.
Read the full independence and testing policy Previous issue: August 2026Other useful views
Reviews and discussions worth reading too
These helped us question our own conclusions. Community posts describe one person's experience, so we do not treat them as proof or a vote.
Best To-Do List Apps for 2026
Useful for seeing several products discussed in one sitting; we do not inherit its ranking.
Tool Finder on YouTube 02 · Workflow perspectiveWhich Are the Best To-Do List Apps?
A practical second opinion on how different task managers feel in normal use.
Peter Akkies on YouTube 03 · Long-term switching storyTodoist and TickTick after living with both
One person’s account, not a representative survey; valuable because the trade-off is concrete.
r/todoist community thread