TickTick:To-Do List & Calendar

What it does

TickTick is a powerful productivity suite designed to be an all-in-one life organizer. It combines a to-do list, task manager, calendar, habit tracker, and Pomodoro timer into a single, cohesive application. The app helps users capture ideas, manage complex projects, build good habits, and focus their time effectively.

Where it shines

TickTick excels in its flexibility and intelligent design. A key strength is its natural language processing for task creation. At 04:00, typing "eat breakfast" automatically suggests a due time of "Tomorrow, 8:00 AM," removing significant friction. The app also offers multiple ways to visualize work. The user effortlessly switches between a standard list, a Kanban board, and a Gantt-style Timeline view (06:02), catering to different project management styles. Finally, its built-in habit tracker (14:04) provides satisfying, gamified feedback that encourages consistency.

UX highlights

Smart Input: The app intelligently parses dates, times, and tags from plain text, making task entry remarkably fast and intuitive (03:32).
Multiple Views: Users can switch between List, Kanban, and Timeline views, allowing them to manage their tasks in the format that best suits their workflow (06:02).
Eisenhower Matrix: A dedicated feature for prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance, helping users focus on what truly matters (10:05).
Integrated Pomodoro Timer: The Focus timer is built directly into the app and can be linked to specific tasks, providing a seamless workflow for deep work (11:15).
Gamified Habit Tracking: Completing habits triggers rewarding, full-screen animations and provides streak data to motivate users (14:36).
Deep Customization: After upgrading, users gain access to extensive appearance settings, including a wide variety of themes and custom app icons (02:19).

Monetization & growth

TickTick uses a freemium model with a prominent premium subscription. After signing up, the user is immediately shown an offer for a 7-day free trial of TickTick Premium (01:39). The offer screen uses social proof like App Store badges and user ratings. The detailed upgrade page (01:44) includes a clear Free vs. Premium feature comparison table and user testimonials to build trust and justify the cost. After subscribing, a welcome screen (02:13) reinforces the purchase decision by listing all the newly unlocked features.

Who it’s for

TickTick is for individuals who need more than a simple to-do list. It's well-suited for students, professionals, and freelancers who manage multiple projects and want to integrate their tasks, calendar, and focus habits in one place. Its power-user features like the Eisenhower Matrix and Timeline view appeal to those serious about optimizing their productivity, while the friendly habit tracker makes it accessible for anyone looking to build better routines.

Notes & opportunities

While the app is feature-rich, the sheer number of options could be overwhelming for a brand new user. The onboarding does a good job of introducing the main pillars, but the initial task list is pre-populated with tutorials. This is helpful, but it could feel like clutter to a user eager to start adding their own tasks. A clearer path to an empty state after onboarding might improve the initial experience. Additionally, the collaboration feature is mentioned but requires email verification (06:51), which adds a small but notable point of friction to sharing a list.