Apple Reminders vs Todoist
Verdict: Apple Reminders wins on zero cost and Siri depth — for iPhone-only personal task management it's unbeatable at $0. Todoist wins on cross-platform, natural language input, and power-user filters — worth $48/year for anyone with an Android, Windows, or Linux device or anyone running a GTD system. The decisive question is whether you'll ever need tasks on a non-Apple device.
Winner: Todoist
Apple Reminders: 8/10
Todoist: 9/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Apple Reminders | Todoist | |
|---|---|---|
| platform | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS — Apple ecosystem only | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Web, Linux — all platforms |
| price | Free — included with all Apple devices | Free tier (5 projects), Pro at $4/month, Business at $6/user/month |
| grocery_lists | Smart grocery lists auto-sort items by store section | — |
| siri_integration | Deep Siri integration — 'Remind me when I get home' uses geofence natively | — |
| subtasks | Unlimited subtasks with collapsible hierarchy | — |
| collaboration | Shared lists with iCloud — family and team list sharing | — |
Apple Reminders
What works
- Zero cost and zero account setup — opens on first iPhone launch with no friction; Todoist requires account creation and subscription for core features
- Siri integration triggers reminders by location, time, or when messaging a specific person — no third-party app achieves this depth natively
- Smart grocery lists auto-categorize items by store aisle — a practical feature Todoist's $5/month plan doesn't offer
What doesn't
- No Android, Windows, or web client — tasks are invisible outside Apple hardware; Todoist works on every platform
- No native Kanban board, calendar view, or recurring task templates — advanced productivity workflows require Todoist's Pro tier features
- Task prioritization is binary (flagged/unflagged) — Todoist's 4-level priority system is more nuanced for complex project management
Todoist
What works
- Natural language task entry parses date, time, recurrence, and priority from plain text — fastest inbox capture of any task manager
- Cross-platform: identical feature set on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and web — tasks sync regardless of what device is in hand
- Custom filter views with Boolean logic let power users build GTD inboxes, energy-level boards, and context views Apple Reminders can't replicate
What doesn't
- Pro tier at $48/year is required for reminders, labels, filters, and calendar sync — core productivity features gated behind paywall
- No Siri deep integration on iOS — Todoist's Siri shortcut triggers generic task creation without the location-aware and person-aware smarts Apple Reminders has
- Karma gamification and productivity score tracking creates psychological pressure that some users find counterproductive
Bottom line
Our pick: Todoist. It edges out the alternative on natural language task entry parses date, time, recurrence, and priority from plain text — fastest inbox capture of any task manager. That said, Apple Reminders still wins on zero cost and zero account setup — opens on first iphone launch with no friction; todoist requires account creation and subscription for core features — consider it if that single trade matters most for your use.
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