Ellie Planner vs TickTick: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Ellie Planner and TickTick comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: TickTick is our overall pick for task management workflows. Pick Ellie Planner if you need productivity.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Ellie Planner
Organize your thoughts and plan your day with a beautiful and simple daily planner app.
Best for you if:
- • You need productivity features specifically
- • Organize tasks with a brain dump and daily Kanban board.
- • Timebox your day with calendar integrations and time tracking.
TickTick
Task manager, calendar, habits, and Pomo timer in one app
Best for you if:
- • You need task management features specifically
- • TickTick is a to-do list and task management app with calendar
- • It combines tasks, habits, and calendar in one productivity app
| At a Glance |  Ellie Planner |  TickTick |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Productivity | Task Management |
Rating | - | 4.7/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Ellie Planner or TickTick?
Choose Ellie Planner if
Organize your thoughts and plan your day with a beautiful and simple daily planner app.
- Specifically built for daily planning and brain dumping, offering unique UI and features not easily replicated in generic tools.
- Offers a free plan with unlimited task creation and brain dump functionality.
- Provides native iOS, Mac, and Windows apps for a seamless experience across devices.
- Your work is productivity-shaped, not task management-shaped
Choose TickTick if
Task manager, calendar, habits, and Pomo timer in one app
- All-in-one
- Calendar view
- Habit tracking
- Your work is task management-shaped, not productivity-shaped
| Feature | Ellie Planner | TickTick |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.7/5 234 reviews |
| Categories | ProductivityTask Management | Task ManagementHabit Tracking |
In-Depth Analysis
Ellie Planner
Organize your thoughts and plan your day with a beautiful and simple daily planner app.
Strengths
- +Specifically built for daily planning and brain dumping, offering unique UI and features not easily replicated in generic tools.
- +Offers a free plan with unlimited task creation and brain dump functionality.
- +Provides native iOS, Mac, and Windows apps for a seamless experience across devices.
- +Includes integrations with popular calendar services (Google, Apple, Outlook) and productivity tools (Notion, Zapier).
- +Developed by a single person with a commitment to long-term maintenance and no plans for investor-driven changes.
Weaknesses
- -No Android app is currently available.
- -Advanced features like timeboxing, unlimited labels, and recurring tasks are locked behind a paid subscription.
- -Being a one-person operation might raise concerns for some about future development pace or support, though the creator addresses this directly.
Key features
TickTick
Task manager, calendar, habits, and Pomo timer in one app
Strengths
- +All-in-one
- +Calendar view
- +Habit tracking
Weaknesses
- -Some features require a paid plan
Key features
Pricing: Ellie Planner vs TickTick
| Plan | Ellie Planner | TickTick |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $9.99/mo Ellie Pro | $2.79 month Premium |
| Tier 3 | $299.99 once Ellie Pro (One-time purchase) | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Ellie Planner pricing and TickTick pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Ellie Planner
Want the highest-rated option?
TickTick is rated 4.7/5. Ellie Planner has no ratings yet.
Go with: TickTick
Value user reviews?
Ellie Planner: no ratings yet. TickTick: 234 reviews (4.7/5).
Go with: TickTick
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Ellie Planner is a productivity tool. TickTick is in task management. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
TickTick is rated 4.7/5; Ellie Planner has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
TickTick
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Ellie Planner
- Better fit for productivity
The Bottom Line
TickTick is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellie Planner or TickTick better?
TickTick is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Ellie Planner and TickTick used for?
Ellie Planner: Organize your thoughts and plan your day with a beautiful and simple daily planner app.. TickTick: Task manager, calendar, habits, and Pomo timer in one app.
What does Ellie Planner cost vs TickTick?
Ellie Planner is freemium (free tier + paid plans). TickTick is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.