What makes a great iPad to-do app?
The iPad's screen real estate changes how you interact with task apps. What works on a cramped iPhone screen often feels wasted on a 10 or 12-inch display. The best iPad to-do apps take advantage of that space, giving you side-by-side views, visual layouts, and interfaces designed for the bigger canvas.
You're not just looking for a task manager that runs on iPad. You want one that was designed with iPad in mind, something that feels natural whether you're using it horizontally on a desk or vertically while watching TV. These apps understand multitasking, Split View, and the fact that iPad users often keep their task list open alongside other apps.
We tested dozens of to-do apps specifically on iPad, focusing on how well they use the available space, whether they support Apple Pencil input, how reliably they sync across devices, and if the interface feels cramped or properly adapted. We also looked at pricing models that make sense for individual users rather than forcing team plans.
This guide covers the best to-do list apps for iPad in 2026, from the beautifully designed indie options to the collaborative powerhouses that work great for solo users too.
How We Evaluated iPad To-Do Apps
Our Testing Criteria
Choosing a to-do app for iPad requires different thinking than picking one for your phone. The bigger screen demands better use of space, and iPad-specific features like Split View and Apple Pencil support separate great apps from phone apps that happen to run on tablets.
We evaluated each app against these criteria:
Screen optimization matters most on iPad. Apps that just blow up their phone interface look ridiculous on a 12-inch screen. We looked for apps that use columns, sidebars, and multi-pane layouts to show more information without requiring constant navigation.
Gesture support and Apple Pencil integration distinguish iPad-native apps. The ability to swipe, drag, and even handwrite tasks feels natural on a touchscreen. Apps that only work with tap-tap-tap interactions miss the point of the iPad interface.
Horizontal and vertical orientations both need to work well. Some apps look great in landscape but feel cramped in portrait, or vice versa. iPad users switch orientations constantly, so the layout needs to adapt gracefully.
Split View and multitasking support became essential as iPadOS improved. If you can't keep your task list visible while working in other apps, you lose one of iPad's biggest advantages.
Widget quality on iPad home screens shows commitment to the platform. Good widgets give you quick task entry and overview without opening the app.
Sync reliability across Apple devices is table stakes. Your tasks from iPad need to appear instantly on iPhone and Mac without manual refreshing or conflicts.
Pricing for individuals matters because many task apps push expensive team plans. We favored apps with reasonable pricing for solo iPad users.
Things 3
Most Beautiful iPad Experience: Things 3
For iPad users specifically, Things 3 nails the interface in a way few apps do. The app costs $19.99 as a one-time purchase for iPad, which feels expensive until you realize you're never paying again.
The iPad version takes full advantage of the screen. In landscape mode, you get your project list on the left, tasks in the middle, and task details on the right. Everything visible at once without switching views. In portrait, it elegantly collapses to a two-column layout that still shows more than most apps.
What sets Things 3 apart is how fast it feels. The animations are smooth without being slow, gestures respond instantly, and there's zero lag between tapping and seeing results.
Best for
iPad users who want the most polished interface available. People who appreciate one-time pricing over subscriptions. Solo task managers who don't need collaboration features. Anyone who values beautiful design and effortless gestures over feature quantity.
Not ideal if
You need to share projects or assign tasks to family/team. Multi-platform use is required and budget is tight (separate $19.99 iPad, $9.99 iPhone, $49.99 Mac purchases total $78.99). Subscription pricing feels more manageable than upfront costs. You want constant feature updates and new capabilities.
Real-world example
A writer uses Things 3 on iPad Pro for project management. Each book project has tasks for chapters, research, and edits. The three-column landscape layout shows all projects, chapter tasks, and notes simultaneously. Apple Pencil Scribble adds quick ideas during reading. Calendar integration shows deadlines alongside scheduled writing blocks.
Team fit
Strictly individual use. Zero collaboration features by design. Perfect for solo professionals, students, writers, and anyone managing personal productivity without team coordination needs.
Onboarding reality
Immediate. The interface is so polished that it feels intuitive from the first tap. Gestures are discoverable through use. Most people are fully productive within 30 minutes. The learning curve is nearly flat.
Pricing friction
iPad costs $19.99 one-time. Add iPhone ($9.99) and Mac ($49.99) for full ecosystem coverage ($78.99 total). No subscription means lifetime access. The upfront cost feels high but becomes incredible value over years of daily use.
Integrations that matter
Apple Calendar (shows events in timeline), Apple Pencil with Scribble (handwriting input), Siri shortcuts for automation, widgets optimized for iPad screen sizes, URL schemes for advanced workflows, Mail.app integration for email-to-task, iCloud sync across Apple devices.
Structured
Best for Routines & Time Blocking: Structured
Structured recently launched on iPad after building a following on iPhone, and the tablet version makes even more sense than the phone one. The visual timeline of your day looks fantastic on a bigger screen.
The app combines tasks with time blocking in a way that feels natural rather than forced. You see your day laid out vertically with time slots and tasks arranged in order. Drag tasks to different times, adjust durations, and watch your schedule take shape visually.
What makes Structured special on iPad is how well it works for routines. Morning routines, evening routines, workout sequences - anything that happens in a specific order benefits from the visual timeline.
Best for
iPad users who love time blocking and visual day planning. People with consistent daily routines that repeat. Visual thinkers who prefer timelines over linear task lists. Anyone who wants to choreograph their day rather than just check off items.
Not ideal if
You prefer simple task lists without time-specific scheduling. Project management features are important since Structured is minimal on that front. You need collaboration or team task assignment. Desktop is your primary platform (though Mac app exists now).
Real-world example
A fitness coach uses Structured on iPad to plan client sessions and personal routines. Morning routine template includes meditation (6:30am, 15min), breakfast (7am, 30min), and client prep (7:30am, 30min). Client sessions get scheduled throughout the day with durations. Voice AI captures ad-hoc tasks between scheduled blocks.
Team fit
Individuals only. No team features or collaboration. Perfect for personal productivity, especially for people managing structured days with routines and appointments.
Onboarding reality
Very easy. The timeline is immediately understandable. Dragging tasks to times feels intuitive on iPad's touchscreen. Most people are productive within minutes. Creating routine templates takes slightly longer but the concept is simple.
Pricing friction
Free tier works but limits future day planning. Premium at $1.99/month or $14.99/year is exceptionally affordable compared to productivity apps like Motion ($29/month) or Akiflow ($19/month). The pricing feels fair for what you get.
Integrations that matter
Calendar sync (shows appointments on timeline), AI voice input for task capture, routine templates for recurring sequences, widgets for iPad home screen, cross-platform sync (iOS, Android, Mac), minimal third-party integrations by design to maintain simplicity.
Todoist
Best for Sharing Tasks: Todoist
Todoist might not be the prettiest iPad app, but it handles the basics extremely well and adds collaboration features that solo-focused apps skip entirely.
The iPad interface uses a three-column layout in landscape: projects sidebar, task list, and task details. It's functional rather than beautiful, but everything you need stays visible. In portrait mode, it collapses gracefully to show the current view with swipeable navigation.
What sets Todoist apart is the combination of powerful features and reasonable free tier. You get natural language input, recurring tasks, basic projects, and solid sync across devices without paying.
Best for
iPad users who need to share tasks with family, roommates, or small teams. People already using Todoist on other platforms who want iPad continuity. Anyone who values extensive integrations (100+ apps) over visual polish. Cross-platform users who need reliable sync between iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows.
Not ideal if
Beautiful design is a priority since it's functional but not gorgeous compared to Things 3. You expect premium features like reminders for free (they require Pro at $5/month). Offline access on iPad without WiFi is critical and you need all features available offline.
Real-world example
A household uses Todoist on iPad in the kitchen for shared task management. Shopping lists are collaborative projects where anyone can add items. Chore assignments notify family members. Board view on iPad's big screen works like a family Kanban board. Natural language input makes quick capture easy: "Buy milk tomorrow at 5pm."
Team fit
Individuals and small teams (families, roommates, small work groups). Free tier supports basic collaboration. Business tier ($8/user/month) adds team admin features. Not designed for large enterprises but scales to small teams well.
Onboarding reality
Easy. The interface is straightforward and familiar if you've used any task app. Natural language input accelerates learning. Most people are productive within 30 minutes. The three-column iPad layout makes sense immediately.
Pricing friction
Free tier is genuinely usable for basic task management and simple collaboration. Pro at $5/month (or $4/month annual) unlocks reminders, labels, and calendar view. Business at $8/user/month adds team features. The pricing feels fair for what you gain.
Integrations that matter
Google Calendar and Outlook (calendar sync), Slack (task creation from messages), email forwarding to create tasks, Zapier (100+ app connections), Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant (voice commands), widgets optimized for iPad, offline mode with sync when reconnected.
Actions by Moleskine
Most Beautiful Design: Actions by Moleskine
Actions by Moleskine brings the aesthetic of Moleskine's physical notebooks to iPad, and honestly, it works better than you'd expect. The app looks gorgeous and uses iPad's screen brilliantly.
The side-by-side view shows your schedule on one side and task lists on the other. This layout makes it easy to see what's happening when and what needs doing, all at a glance. On iPad's big screen, both panels have room to breathe instead of feeling cramped.
Moleskine designed Actions for people who care about how their tools look. The customizable themes let you pick colors that match your style.
Best for
iPad users who value aesthetics and beautiful design. People who combine calendar and tasks in their daily planning. Anyone wanting a gorgeous daily planner over complex project management. Users who appreciate customizable color schemes and themes that match their style.
Not ideal if
You need complex project management with dependencies and Gantt charts. Team collaboration or task sharing is important. You want extensive integrations beyond basic calendar sync. Advanced features matter more than visual design.
Real-world example
A designer uses Actions on iPad Pro for daily planning. The dual-pane layout shows client meetings from Apple Calendar on the left, design tasks on the right. Nested checklists break down projects into steps. Custom theme matches their studio's brand colors. The beautiful interface makes daily planning feel less like work.
Team fit
Individual users only. No collaboration features. Perfect for solo professionals, creatives, and anyone managing personal productivity who wants their tools to look as good as they function.
Onboarding reality
Very easy. The interface is intuitive and visually guided. Dual-pane layout makes sense immediately on iPad. Most people are productive within 15 minutes. Theme customization is straightforward.
Pricing friction
Free tier works for basic use. Pro subscription at $2.99/month or $29.99/year unlocks theme customization, unlimited lists, and full calendar sync. The annual pricing ($29.99) feels fair for a beautifully designed productivity app.
Integrations that matter
Apple Calendar integration (syncs events alongside tasks), widgets optimized for iPad home screen (minimal to full list displays), nested checklist support, theme customization, iCloud sync, minimal third-party integrations by design to maintain simplicity.
OmniFocus
Best for Power Users: OmniFocus
OmniFocus deserves mention for iPad power users who need serious task management capabilities. It's complex, expensive, and absolutely overkill for most people, but if you're managing multiple projects with dependencies and contexts, nothing else comes close.
The iPad version offers perspective customization that lets you create filtered views of your tasks based on any criteria. Show only tasks tagged 'office' that are due this week and assigned to project X. The flexibility is absurd, and iPad's screen makes these custom views actually usable.
OmniFocus built its reputation on GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology implementation.
Best for
Serious productivity enthusiasts who follow GTD methodology. People managing complex multi-project workflows with dependencies. Power users who need custom perspectives and contexts. Anyone who already knows they need OmniFocus-level complexity and control.
Not ideal if
You want simple, beginner-friendly task management. Budget is limited since iPad costs $49.99 (plus iPhone and Mac separately, or $99.99/year subscription). Learning curves frustrate you since OmniFocus takes genuine time investment. Basic task lists would serve your needs fine.
Real-world example
A consultant manages 5 client projects simultaneously in OmniFocus on iPad. Custom perspectives show "Next Actions" filtered by context (calls, computer, office). Sequential projects ensure proposal tasks complete before implementation begins. Weekly review mode prompts project status updates. Forecast view shows client deadlines alongside calendar commitments.
Team fit
Individual power users only. No collaboration features. Perfect for solo professionals with complex workflows: consultants, academics, executives, project managers who need personal task systems separate from team tools.
Onboarding reality
Heavy. OmniFocus overwhelms most new users with options and concepts. Learning perspectives, contexts, defer dates, and project types takes weeks of active use. Budget 3-4 weeks before feeling comfortable with the full feature set.
Pricing friction
iPad costs $49.99 one-time purchase. iPhone and Mac are separate purchases. Alternatively, subscription is $99.99/year for all platforms. This is expensive compared to alternatives. The value is there for power users but hard to justify for casual task management.
Integrations that matter
Apple Calendar (forecast view), Apple Pencil support for quick capture and notes, Siri shortcuts for automation, custom URL schemes for advanced workflows, review mode for GTD weekly reviews, iCloud sync across Apple devices, minimal third-party integrations since it's designed to be comprehensive.
TickTick
Best Value for Features: TickTick
TickTick offers an impressive feature set for its price point. It's not quite as polished as Things 3 on iPad, but it includes built-in time tracking, habit tracking, and a Pomodoro timer that would cost extra in other apps.
The iPad interface uses a clean multi-column layout showing your lists, tasks, and details. It feels responsive and makes good use of the available space without looking cluttered. Calendar view works particularly well on the bigger screen.
What makes TickTick compelling is the all-in-one approach. Instead of using separate apps for tasks, habits, and focus timers, you get everything integrated.
Best for
iPad users who want multiple productivity features in one app. People who use Pomodoro technique for focused work. Budget-conscious users who want premium features without premium pricing ($27.99/year vs competitors at $50-100+). Anyone who combines tasks, habits, and time tracking.
Not ideal if
You want the most polished, refined interface (Things 3 beats it on design). Each individual feature needs to be best-in-class (Pomodoro timer and habit tracking are basic). Simplicity matters more than feature quantity. You prefer specialized apps over all-in-one solutions.
Real-world example
A student uses TickTick on iPad for academics and life management. Study sessions use the built-in Pomodoro timer. Daily habits track exercise and reading streaks. Calendar view time-blocks study sessions around class schedule. Multiple list views organize coursework by subject. Natural language input makes quick task capture easy during lectures.
Team fit
Primarily individual users. Basic sharing exists but collaboration isn't the focus. Best for students, solo professionals, and anyone managing personal productivity without team coordination needs.
Onboarding reality
Easy to moderate. The multi-column iPad layout is intuitive. Learning all features (habits, timers, calendar, views) takes a week of regular use. The interface is approachable enough that most people are productive immediately.
Pricing friction
Free tier is generous with meaningful functionality. Premium at $27.99/year (roughly $2.33/month) is exceptional value. That's cheaper than Todoist Pro, way cheaper than Motion or Akiflow, while including features they charge extra for.
Integrations that matter
Google Calendar, iCloud, and CalDAV (calendar sync), Siri and voice assistants for task entry, Apple Watch app, widgets optimized for iPad, Pomodoro timer built-in, habit tracking integrated, natural language parsing, cross-platform sync (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web).
Other Apps Worth Considering
Additional Options for iPad
Whatting focuses on quick task capture with minimal friction. It's designed for people who want to dump tasks into a list without elaborate organization. The iPad version works but doesn't take special advantage of the screen size.
Sunsama combines task management with calendar integration and daily planning rituals. It works beautifully on iPad's big screen but costs $20/month, which is steep for a task app. Worth considering if you're serious about daily planning and calendar-first workflows.
Sorted³ offers a unique hybrid between task list and calendar. Tasks automatically schedule themselves into your available time slots. The iPad version makes this visual scheduling approach more usable than on iPhone's small screen.
Which iPad To-Do App Should You Choose?
Making Your Decision
Your ideal iPad to-do app depends on how you work, what you're willing to pay, and whether you need collaboration features or just want something beautiful and fast.
If you want the absolute best iPad experience and don't mind paying once per platform, Things 3 delivers unmatched polish. The interface feels like it was designed by people who actually use iPads daily.
If you love time blocking and visual scheduling, Structured makes your day tangible. Seeing tasks arranged in a timeline helps you understand if you're being realistic about what fits in your day.
If you need to share tasks with family, roommates, or team members, Todoist handles collaboration better than solo-focused apps. The free tier is generous enough for many users.
If aesthetics matter and you want your daily planner to look beautiful, Actions by Moleskine combines good looks with solid functionality. The side-by-side calendar and task view works perfectly on iPad.
If you're a productivity power user who needs custom perspectives and complex project management, OmniFocus justifies its complexity and cost. Most people don't need it, but those who do know they do.
If you want multiple productivity features without paying for multiple apps, TickTick bundles tasks, habits, and Pomodoro timer for less than competitors charge for tasks alone.
iPad To-Do Apps FAQ
Common Questions Answered
What's the best free to-do app for iPad?
Todoist's free tier offers the most functionality without payment. You get natural language input, basic projects, recurring tasks, and reliable sync. TickTick's free version is also generous, including some habit tracking and Pomodoro features. Apple Reminders comes pre-installed and works fine for simple lists, though it lacks the advanced features of dedicated apps.
Do these apps work with Apple Pencil for handwriting tasks?
Things 3 and OmniFocus support Apple Pencil through iPadOS Scribble feature - you can handwrite anywhere text input is possible. None of these apps offer dedicated handwriting-to-task conversion like note-taking apps do. If handwriting is your primary input method, consider using a notes app with task management features instead.
Can I use these apps in Split View while working in other apps?
Yes, all the apps listed support Split View and Slide Over on iPad. Things 3, Todoist, and TickTick work particularly well as side panels while you work in other apps. This is one of iPad's best productivity features - keeping your task list visible while working.
Which app has the best iPad widgets?
Things 3 has the most polished widgets designed specifically for iPad's larger home screen. Actions by Moleskine also offers beautiful widgets. Todoist and TickTick provide functional widgets but they're less visually refined.
Do I need to buy these apps separately for iPad and iPhone?
Things 3 requires separate purchases for each platform (iPad $19.99, iPhone $9.99, Mac $49.99). OmniFocus similarly charges per platform unless you get the subscription. Todoist, TickTick, Structured, and Actions all sync across devices with one subscription or purchase. If you use multiple Apple devices, factor this into your decision.
Which app is best for students using iPad for school tasks?
Structured works well for class schedules and assignment tracking thanks to its timeline view. TickTick offers good value with its student-friendly pricing. Things 3 is popular among students who want a clean interface and are willing to pay the upfront cost. Todoist's collaboration features help with group projects.
Final Thoughts on iPad To-Do Apps
Making the Right Choice
The iPad's screen size makes a real difference in how you interact with task apps. Don't settle for an app that just runs on iPad - choose one that actually uses the space well.
Most of these apps offer free trials or free tiers. Download two or three that match your workflow and use them for a few days. Pay attention to which one you naturally reach for when adding tasks or checking what's next. That instinct matters more than feature comparison charts.
Remember that the best to-do app is the one you'll actually use consistently. A simple app you check daily beats a feature-packed powerhouse that sits unopened. Start with something that feels comfortable and upgrade to more complex tools only if you hit actual limitations.