Quick verdict
TickTick combines tasks with calendar, habit and productivity tools across platforms. Tasks focuses on custom project workflows and deep Apple integration.
TickTick combines tasks, calendar planning, reminders, habits and focus tools across several platforms. It suits someone who wants those modes gathered into one broader productivity suite.
Tasks stays focused on projects and the workflows inside them. Its differentiators are per-project statuses and fields, Kanban, collaboration and Apple-first automation.
Both apps offer an official MCP server for ChatGPT, Claude and other assistants. The difference is identity. TickTick’s server acts as you, while in Tasks an assistant joins a project as its own collaborator, labelled Agent, so its tasks, comments and access stay separate from yours. Here is how it works.
Neither product wins every category. The useful question is whether your system is calendar-and-habit led or project-workflow led.
Sources checked: TickTick features, TickTick upgrade and Tasks on the App Store.
Feature by feature
The questions that usually decide which app fits. For more detail, browse all 201 Tasks features.
Scroll sideways to compare both apps
| Question | Tasks | TickTick |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | ||
| Quick and natural-language capture | Typed, shared, spoken and automated | Quick Add, parsing and voice input |
| Structure | ||
| Projects, lists and subtasks | Folders, projects and nested tasks | Folders, lists, sections and subtasks |
| Custom workflow statuses | Defined per project | Sections and Kanban columns |
| Project-specific custom fields | Field layout varies by project | No equivalent custom-field system |
| Views | ||
| List and Kanban views | Both views per project | List and Kanban layouts |
| Calendar and timeline planning | Date filters, not a full calendar | Calendar and timeline views |
| Saved filters | Smart Lists with grouping | Smart filters |
| Reminders | ||
| Recurring tasks | Fixed and completion-based | Recurring rules |
| Location reminders | Arrival and departure | Location reminders |
| Task detail | ||
| Notes and attachments | Text, images, PDFs and files | Notes, images and attachments |
| Collaboration | ||
| Shared lists and assignments | Shared projects and assignees | Sharing and task assignment |
| Focus | ||
| Task timer and focus tools | Time sessions and app blocking | Pomodoro timer and focus statistics |
| Automation | ||
| Siri and Shortcuts | More than 50 App Intents | Siri and platform integrations |
| AI assistants as collaborators | Invite, assign and revoke per project | MCP works as your account |
| Official MCP connector | Hosted server for ChatGPT and Claude | Official hosted MCP server |
| Product scope | ||
| Habit tracking | Not a habit tracker | Built-in habits |
| Eisenhower Matrix | Use Smart Lists instead | Built-in matrix view |
| Platforms | ||
| Apple devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch and Vision Pro | Supported Apple apps |
| Web, Windows and Android | Apple platforms only | Broad cross-platform support |
| Price | ||
| Lifetime purchase | Tasks Plus lifetime option | Free and subscription plans |
Which should you choose?
Choose Tasks if…
- You want an AI assistant working in a project as its own teammate
- Custom statuses and fields define your projects
- You want Apple-first interaction and automation
- You prefer a simpler product boundary
- A lifetime option matters
Choose TickTick if…
- You need Android, Windows or Web
- Habit tracking is part of your daily system
- A calendar-led planning experience is central
- You want a broader all-in-one productivity suite
Limitations worth knowing
Tasks does not try to include TickTick's wider calendar, habit and cross-platform suite.
Switching over
Test with one list and verify recurring rules carefully. Rebuild only the views that answer a recurring planning question.