Google Tasks is stupidly simple, which is both its strength and its limitation. You get a basic list, checkboxes, and due dates. That's basically it. No bells, no whistles, no learning curve.
But honestly? After using it for a few months, the simplicity starts feeling like missing features rather than elegant minimalism. The recurring tasks are clunky (you can't even set "every weekday" without workarounds). Reminders exist but they're not as flexible as dedicated task apps. And forget about any kind of planning view or calendar integration that actually helps you schedule when you'll do things.
Maybe you've been using Google Tasks because it's right there in Gmail and seemed good enough. Then one day you tried to set up a task that repeats "every other Wednesday" and realized Google Tasks can't handle it. Or you wanted to see your tasks in a calendar view to actually plan your week, and discovered that's not a thing.
Look, Google Tasks is fine for grocery lists and quick reminders. But if you're trying to actually manage your life or work, you'll hit its limits fast. The good news? There are alternatives that stay simple and intuitive while adding the features Google Tasks should have had from the start.
We picked these task management apps because they're not overwhelming (no project management monsters), they're affordable (most under $5/month), and they won't make you miss Google Tasks' simplicity too much.
Why look beyond Google Tasks?
Google Tasks is free and integrated with Gmail, so why leave? Here's what pushes people away.
Recurring tasks are broken. Seriously. You can set basic repeats like daily or weekly, but anything more complex (every weekday, first Monday of the month, every 3 days) either doesn't work or requires awkward workarounds. When a recurring task is this fundamental and Google can't get it right after years, that's a problem.
No natural language input. You have to click through menus to set dates and details. Other apps like Todoist let you type "call mom next Tuesday at 2pm" and parse it automatically. After you've used natural language input, going back to manual date picking feels like using a flip phone.
The reminder system is basic. You get a notification at the due date time, and that's it. No location-based reminders, no smart reminders based on your schedule, no customizable notification settings. It's 2026 and we can do better.
No calendar integration worth mentioning. Tasks show up in Google Calendar as a tiny sidebar list, not as actual blocks of time. If you're trying to time-block your day or see when you'll actually do tasks, Google Tasks doesn't help.
Subtasks are limited to one level deep. You can't create subtasks of subtasks, which makes complex projects impossible to organize properly. The hierarchy just isn't there.
No labels or tags beyond lists. You can organize tasks into different lists (Work, Personal, etc.) but that's it. No tags for contexts like @home or @errands, no priority levels beyond starring. The organizational tools are minimal.
Collaboration features barely exist. You can share lists, but it's clunky compared to dedicated task apps. No assigning tasks to people, no comments, no real team coordination features.
The mobile experience is okay but limited. The app works fine for checking off tasks, but adding complex tasks or reorganizing your lists feels cramped. Other apps have better mobile interfaces.
No productivity features. Want to track habits? Use a pomodoro timer? See your productivity stats? Google Tasks offers none of that. It's purely a list manager, nothing more.
What makes a good Google Tasks alternative?
If you're leaving Google Tasks, you probably want to keep the simplicity while fixing the frustrations. Here's what to look for.
Recurring tasks that actually work. This is non-negotiable. You should be able to set up tasks that repeat every weekday, every other week, first Monday of the month, or whatever pattern you need. And they should work correctly without manual intervention. Todoist and TickTick both nail this.
Natural language input saves insane amounts of time. Being able to type "team meeting every Thursday at 10am" and have the app parse it automatically makes task capture way faster. Once you have it, you won't want to go back.
Calendar views help you actually plan. Seeing your tasks alongside your calendar events in a unified view makes time blocking and day planning possible. Google Tasks' sidebar approach doesn't cut it.
Subtasks and organization should handle real projects. Multiple levels of subtasks, tags or labels for contexts, priority levels, and flexible list organization. You need enough structure without overwhelming complexity. If you need full project management, check out project management tools, but for most people, enhanced task managers work better.
Reminder flexibility matters. Time-based reminders at minimum, location-based if available, and customizable notifications. Your reminder system should adapt to how you work. Any.do handles location reminders particularly well.
Cross-platform reliability is essential. Your alternative needs to work on Android, iOS, web, and ideally desktop apps too. If it's not available on a platform you use, it's not a real alternative.
The free tier should be functional. Google Tasks is completely free, so any alternative needs a decent free plan or be cheap enough that the upgrade is obviously worth it. We're not suggesting $20/month enterprise tools here.
Simplicity despite added features. This is the balance. You want more capability than Google Tasks, but not so much complexity that you need a training course. The interface should still feel approachable.
Todoist
Best Overall Google Tasks Upgrade
Todoist is probably what Google Tasks would be if Google actually cared about task management. It keeps the clean, simple interface but adds all the features Google Tasks should have had from day one.
The natural language input is genuinely impressive. Type "call dentist next Monday at 9am every 6 months" and Todoist parses the whole thing: date, time, and recurrence. This alone saves ridiculous time compared to Google Tasks' menu clicking. I timed it once and task entry is about 3x faster in Todoist.
Recurring tasks actually work properly. Every weekday? Every 3 days? Second Tuesday of the month? Last day of each month? All of it works. You can create complex patterns like "every 2 weeks on Monday and Thursday" that would be impossible in Google Tasks.
The organization is flexible without being overwhelming. Projects for different areas of your life, labels for contexts (@home, @errands, @waiting), priority levels, and filters to create custom views. But unlike project management tools, it stays focused on tasks rather than trying to be everything.
Integrations with other tools are extensive. Email, calendar apps, voice assistants, browser extensions, and 80+ app integrations. Google Tasks technically integrates with Gmail, but Todoist's ecosystem is on another level.
Calendar view (premium feature) shows tasks alongside your schedule. You can see when tasks are due in the context of your day, not just an abstract list. Makes time blocking actually possible.
Collaboration features let you share projects, assign tasks to people, and comment on items. Useful for household task sharing or small team coordination. Not as robust as project management software, but way better than Google Tasks.
Pricing is $4/month (annual) or $5/month (monthly) for premium features. The free tier is functional with 5 active projects and basic features. For most people coming from Google Tasks, the free tier works fine initially. Upgrade when you need reminders, labels, or collaboration.
The catch is you'll need a day or two to set up your system. Google Tasks requires zero setup because it offers zero features. Todoist needs you to create your projects and labels structure. Not hard, just more than the instant gratification of Google Tasks.
Mobile apps are excellent on both iOS and Android. Widgets, quick capture, and offline mode all work smoothly. Feels more polished than Google Tasks' mobile experience.
People on Reddit's productivity communities consistently call Todoist the "it just works" task manager. Clean enough for beginners, powerful enough for advanced users. If you want one app that fixes everything frustrating about Google Tasks without overwhelming you, this is it.
Best for: Anyone who's outgrown Google Tasks but doesn't want complexity. If you need recurring tasks that work, natural language input, and proper organization without learning a whole new system, Todoist is the obvious upgrade. Try the free tier first and upgrade if you need premium features.
Any.do
Best for Simple Visual Organization
Any.do takes Google Tasks' simplicity and adds visual polish plus smart features. If you want something that feels modern and looks good while still being easy to use, Any.do hits that sweet spot.
The daily planning flow is brilliant. Every morning, Any.do prompts you to review your tasks and plan your day. It's like a gentle nudge to actually think about priorities instead of just staring at an overwhelming list. Google Tasks just shows you everything and expects you to figure it out.
Calendar integration is built in and actually useful. Tasks and calendar events appear together in day view, making it easy to see what you need to do and when you have time to do it. This is what Google Tasks' calendar sidebar wishes it could be.
Natural language input works well for common phrases. "Dinner with Sarah tomorrow at 7pm" parses correctly. It's not as sophisticated as Todoist for complex recurring patterns, but it handles 90% of daily use cases.
The WhatsApp integration is genuinely clever. Someone messages you "can you send that report by Friday?" and you can create a task without leaving WhatsApp. Sounds gimmicky but if you coordinate through messaging apps, this saves mental overhead.
Location-based reminders actually work. Set a reminder to buy milk that triggers when you're near the grocery store. Google Tasks can't do this at all. Super useful for errands.
Recurring tasks are better than Google Tasks but not as flexible as Todoist. You get daily, weekly, monthly, yearly with some customization. Enough for most people but power users might hit limitations.
The grocery list feature with voice input is handy. Say items out loud and they populate your list. Minor feature but nice when you're cooking and realize you need stuff.
Pricing is about $5-6/month for premium features. The free version is pretty limited though: one shared list, basic reminders only. Most useful features (location reminders, recurring tasks, attachments) require premium. Google Tasks is fully free, so this is a real cost increase.
Mobile apps are where Any.do shines. The interface is beautiful and intuitive on both iOS and Android. Widgets look good too. Desktop apps and web interface are solid but the mobile experience is clearly the focus.
The downside is the free tier limitations. Google Tasks gives you everything (limited as it is) for free. Any.do paywalls a lot of functionality. If you're budget-conscious, this might sting.
Also, the heavy focus on daily planning might not fit everyone's workflow. Some people just want a task list they can reference anytime, not a guided planning ritual every morning.
Best for: Visual thinkers who want a pretty task manager, people who coordinate through WhatsApp or messaging apps, and anyone who values daily planning routines. If you want Google Tasks with better design and smart features, and don't mind paying $5/month, Any.do is solid. The mobile apps alone might justify the upgrade.
TickTick
Best for All-in-One Features
TickTick is what happens when you ask "what if we took a task manager and added everything useful we could think of?" The result is surprisingly not overwhelming, just incredibly capable.
You get task management (obviously), but also habit tracking, a pomodoro timer, built-in calendar views, and even white noise for focus. Buying separate apps for all this would cost $15-20/month. TickTick bundles it at $2.99/month (annual billing). The value is honestly absurd.
Calendar views show your tasks in day, week, month, and timeline layouts. You can see when things are due and plan your time accordingly. Connects with Google Calendar and other calendar services too, so everything lives in one view.
The habit tracker is actually good. Track daily habits, build streaks, see your progress over time. Google Tasks can't touch this. You'd need a separate habit app, but TickTick includes it.
Pomodoro timer integration helps you actually work on tasks instead of just managing lists. Set a focus session, TickTick tracks your time and keeps you on track. Another feature you'd otherwise pay separately for.
Natural language input is solid. Not quite as sophisticated as Todoist's, but it handles common phrases well. "Meeting every Tuesday at 2pm" works fine. Complex patterns might need manual setup.
Recurring tasks are comprehensive. Custom intervals, specific days of the week, monthly patterns, yearly schedules. Whatever you need, TickTick handles it properly unlike Google Tasks' broken implementation.
Organization options are extensive. Folders, tags, priority levels, filters, and smart lists. You can structure your tasks however makes sense for your brain.
The free tier is actually generous. 9 lists, 99 tasks per list, 2 reminders per task, and basic calendar view. That's way more functional than most freemium task apps. For simple use cases, you might never need to upgrade.
Kanban board view for visual task management. Drag cards between columns to show progress. Some people think way better visually than in list format.
Collaboration features let you share lists and assign tasks. Not as powerful as dedicated project management tools, but fine for household coordination or small team use.
The catch is the interface can feel busy compared to Google Tasks' minimalism. There are a lot of features and options, which is great for capability but can be overwhelming initially. First week you'll think "this is too much." By week two you'll appreciate having options.
Mobile apps are excellent on iOS and Android. Widgets, quick capture, and all features available. Desktop apps for Windows and Mac are solid too. Web interface works everywhere.
People on r/productivity often mention TickTick as the "best value" task manager. The amount of features for $3/month (annual) is hard to beat. If you're paying for tasks + habits + pomodoro + calendar separately, TickTick consolidates and saves money.
Best for: People who want maximum features for minimum cost, habit trackers who also need task management, visual planners who think in calendar views, and anyone tired of paying for multiple productivity subscriptions. If you're leaving Google Tasks because it's too limited, TickTick gives you everything Google should have included plus way more. The free tier is worth trying even if you're not sure about upgrading.
Microsoft To Do
Best Free Alternative
Microsoft To Do is basically what Google Tasks would be if it was made by a company that cares about productivity software. It's completely free, works everywhere, and includes features Google Tasks should have had from day one.
The My Day feature is genuinely useful. Each morning you build your daily task list by pulling items from your full task list. It's like a planning ritual that helps you focus on what actually matters today instead of staring at 200 tasks and feeling paralyzed.
Recurring tasks work properly. Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, with custom patterns. You can set "every weekday" or "first Monday of each month" without workarounds. Shocking that Google Tasks still can't manage this.
Integration with Outlook and Microsoft 365 is seamless if you're in that ecosystem. Tasks from Outlook emails, calendar integration, and shared lists all work smoothly. For office workers already using Microsoft tools, this is a no-brainer.
List sharing for collaboration works fine. Not as sophisticated as dedicated team tools, but good enough for household task sharing or small project coordination. Better than Google Tasks' limited sharing.
The interface is clean and colorful. More visual than Google Tasks' pure minimalism, but still simple enough that anyone can figure it out immediately. No overwhelming features or complex menus.
Subtasks, notes, attachments, and due dates all work as expected. The organizational basics that Google Tasks either lacks or handles poorly.
Natural language input is basic. You can type "tomorrow" or "next week" and it works, but complex phrases don't parse as well as Todoist or TickTick. Still better than Google Tasks' manual date picking though.
Suggestions feature looks at your tasks and patterns to recommend what you should work on. AI-powered planning that's actually useful rather than gimmicky.
Cross-platform apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and web. Everything syncs instantly. No platform limitations.
The catch is it's very much a Microsoft product. If you're all-in on Google ecosystem (Gmail, Google Calendar, etc.), the Microsoft integration is less valuable. And if you're strongly anti-Microsoft for whatever reason, that might be a dealbreaker.
Also lacks some advanced features power users want. No extensive tag systems, limited filtering compared to Todoist, no habit tracking or pomodoro features like TickTick offers.
Best for: People who want something better than Google Tasks for free, Microsoft 365 users looking for task management, teams already using Outlook who need basic task coordination, and budget-conscious users who don't want another subscription. If you mainly need Google Tasks but functional, Microsoft To Do is the obvious free upgrade.
Microsoft To-Do is a to-do list application that can be used to manage lists & tasks.
Things 3
Best Premium Experience (Apple Only)
Things 3 is what you get when designers who actually care about craft build a task manager. It's the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed task app on the market. The catch? Apple devices only and you pay upfront for each platform.
The design is honestly gorgeous. Every animation is smooth, the typography is perfect, and the whole interface feels intentional. After using Google Tasks' utilitarian lists, Things 3 is like upgrading from a Honda Civic to a Tesla. Functionality matters, but so does enjoying the tool you use every day.
The Today view with This Evening section is clever. Your main tasks for the day, then a separate section for evening tasks or routines. Helps separate work time from personal time in a way that makes day planning more realistic.
Projects and areas let you organize tasks with as much hierarchy as you need. Breaking down big projects into tasks with headings and checkboxes feels natural. Way better than Google Tasks' single-level lists.
Quick entry with natural language parsing works well. Not as extensive as Todoist's, but "meeting tomorrow at 2pm" parses correctly. Good enough for daily use.
Recurring tasks handle common patterns well. Not quite as flexible as Todoist or TickTick for complex recurrence, but covers what most people need.
The keyboard shortcuts are comprehensive if you're a power user. You can navigate and manage tasks entirely from keyboard on Mac. Feels fast and efficient once you learn the shortcuts.
Calendar integration shows your events alongside tasks. Helps with day planning by seeing both your committed time and your task list in one view.
Apple ecosystem integration is deep. Siri, shortcuts, Apple Watch, quick entry from menu bar. If you live in Apple's world, Things 3 feels native in a way cross-platform apps can't match.
Here's the painful part: pricing. $50 for Mac, $10 for iPhone, $20 for iPad. You need to buy each platform separately, and there's no Windows, Android, or web version. For someone with iPhone, iPad, and Mac, that's $80 total. Ouch.
But wait, it's a one-time purchase. No subscription. Buy it once, use it forever. Todoist at $4/month is $48 annually, so Things 3 pays for itself in under 2 years if you're only on one platform. Still, the upfront cost stings.
The lack of collaboration features is intentional. Things 3 is designed for personal task management, not team coordination. You can't share lists or assign tasks to others. If you need collaboration, look elsewhere.
No built-in habit tracking, pomodoro timer, or extra productivity features. Things 3 does task management beautifully and stops there. If you want the all-in-one approach, TickTick is better.
Best for: Apple ecosystem users who value beautiful design, people willing to pay upfront for a premium experience, personal task management focused users who don't need team features, and anyone who appreciates craft and attention to detail. If you're firmly in Apple's world and want the most pleasant task management experience money can buy, Things 3 justifies its cost. But if you need cross-platform or can't stomach the upfront price, stick with Todoist or TickTick.
Google Keep
Best for Ultra-Simple Note + Task Hybrid
Google Keep isn't really a task manager in the traditional sense. It's more of a note-taking app that happens to have checkboxes. But honestly? For some people leaving Google Tasks, this simplicity is perfect.
The post-it note approach works for how a lot of people think. Quick notes, shopping lists, ideas, and simple tasks all live as colorful cards. You can add checkboxes to any note to turn it into a task list. Way more flexible than Google Tasks' rigid structure.
Color coding and labels help organize notes visually. Pin important stuff to the top, archive old notes, search for anything instantly. It's chaotic in a good way, like a digital bulletin board.
Reminder system is better than Google Tasks. Time-based and location-based reminders both work. "Remind me to buy milk when I'm at the grocery store" actually functions properly.
Voice memos and image capture expand what you can track. Snap a photo of something, add a voice note, or just type. All mixed together in one stream. For people who think in multiple formats, this is handy.
Sharing works smoothly. Share individual notes with people for collaboration. Great for shared grocery lists, travel packing lists, or household task coordination.
Google ecosystem integration is seamless. Shows up in Gmail sidebar, Google Docs integration, works across all Google services. If you're already in Google's world, Keep feels native.
Cross-platform apps for Android, iOS, and web all sync instantly. The Android widget is particularly good, making note capture incredibly fast.
Here's what Keep doesn't do: project management, subtasks (you get one level of checkboxes), recurring tasks, due dates, priority levels, or any advanced organization. It's intentionally simple.
No natural language input beyond basic reminders. You're manually setting dates and times if you want reminders.
The lack of structure is either freeing or frustrating depending on your brain. Some people love the flexibility. Others find the chaos overwhelming and need more rigid task management.
Best for: People who think visually and want flexibility over structure, note-takers who need occasional task tracking, ultra-simple use cases like shopping lists and quick reminders, and anyone who wants to stay fully in Google ecosystem. If Google Tasks feels too rigid and basic but you don't want complexity, Keep's note-based approach might click better. Completely free too.
Google Keep is the digital version of Post-it Notes created by the folks at Google.
How to switch from Google Tasks
Moving away from Google Tasks is pretty straightforward since it's such a simple tool. Here's how to make the transition smooth.
Export your tasks from Google Tasks is surprisingly hard because Google doesn't provide a proper export function. You'll need a third-party tool or browser extension to export your tasks to CSV or manually copy them. Pain in the ass, but shouldn't take more than 30 minutes for most people.
Start fresh consideration: honestly, if you have fewer than 50 active tasks, just manually add the important ones to your new app. Migration overhead might not be worth it. Use the transition as an excuse to delete old completed tasks and outdated items.
Set up your organization structure in your new app before importing. Create your projects/lists, set up any tags or labels you want to use, and understand the organizational system. Google Tasks had basically no structure, so you need to think about how you'll organize things now that you have options.
Learn the natural language syntax if your new app has it. Spend 10 minutes playing with how to enter dates and recurring tasks. Todoist's is "every Monday," TickTick's is similar but with slight differences. Once you learn it, task entry becomes way faster.
Enable notifications and reminders in your new app. Google Tasks notifications are basic, so you might not have relied on them heavily. Your new app probably has better reminder options, set them up properly.
Install mobile apps immediately. Don't make the mistake of only setting up desktop first. You need the mobile app ready so you can capture tasks throughout your day without friction.
Keep Google Tasks visible for a week while you transition. Run both apps in parallel briefly. If you forget to check your new app, you'll catch it by seeing Google Tasks. Once you've built the habit of using the new tool, uninstall Google Tasks.
Give yourself two weeks before judging. The first few days will feel weird because you're breaking habits. Google Tasks' simplicity means there was no learning curve. Your new app requires learning new workflows. That's not bad, just different. By day 14, you'll know if it's working.
Integrations might need setup. If you're using Gmail and relied on Google Tasks' sidebar, you'll need to adjust. Most alternatives have Gmail extensions or browser extensions for quick capture. Install them early so you maintain quick task entry from email. Check out our email app recommendations if you're rethinking your whole workflow.
Which Google Tasks alternative is right for you?
The right alternative depends on why Google Tasks stopped working for you and how much complexity you're willing to accept.
Todoist is the best overall upgrade. Natural language input, recurring tasks that work, proper organization, and enough features without overwhelming. Free tier is functional, $4/month unlocks everything. If you just want "Google Tasks but actually good," start here.
Any.do wins for visual thinkers. Beautiful interface, daily planning flow, WhatsApp integration, and location reminders. About $5/month and the mobile apps are genuinely pleasant to use. Best if you want something modern and intuitive.
TickTick gives you maximum features for minimum cost. Tasks, habits, pomodoro, calendar views, all for $3/month. The free tier is generous too. Choose this if you want the all-in-one productivity hub approach and don't mind a slightly busier interface.
Microsoft To Do is the best free alternative. Everything Google Tasks should be with zero cost. My Day feature is great, recurring tasks work properly, and Microsoft 365 integration is seamless. Pick this if you don't want to pay anything and use Microsoft tools.
Things 3 is for Apple users who want the premium experience. Gorgeous design, thoughtful features, one-time purchase. Expensive upfront ($50+ for Mac) but no subscription. Best if you're all-in on Apple ecosystem and appreciate beautiful software.
Google Keep is the weird option. Not really a task manager, more of a note app with checkboxes. Works great for visual thinkers who found Google Tasks too rigid. Completely free and stays in Google ecosystem.
Most people coming from Google Tasks should try Todoist's free tier first. It fixes everything frustrating about Google Tasks while staying approachable. If that feels too structured, try Any.do for visual planning or Keep for ultra-simple flexibility.
All these apps offer free trials or free tiers. Try 2-3 that sound interesting and see what clicks. Your ideal task manager is the one you'll actually use consistently, and that's different for everyone.