To-do apps without a subscription: one-time purchase options for Mac and iPhone

Why subscriptions wear people out

The problem is rarely one app. It is the pile: music, video, storage, passwords, notes, and then a task list on top. Each fee looks small; together they become a bill you have to audit.

• You never finish paying. A $4 monthly plan overtakes the price of most paid apps within a year.
• Your data feels rented. Stop paying and many apps lock features. For the list of things you need to do, that is stressful.
• The app must keep justifying the fee, which usually means more screens and settings: the opposite of what a simple list needs.

One-time purchase to-do apps compared

These are very different tools. Things 3, 2Do and OmniFocus are full task managers; Kan Do is a kanban board; Due is built around persistent reminders; SideList is a deliberately small list in your menu bar. Choose by what you will actually use.

What to watch for before you buy

• Purchases per platform. Things 3 and 2Do sell separate Mac, iPhone and iPad apps; add the prices up if you want all three. A universal purchase, like SideList or OmniFocus, covers several devices at once.
• Licences per version or period. OmniFocus covers 4.x; 2Do for Mac includes 18 months of updates; Due includes a year of new features. Fair models, but not “every update forever”.
• Mandatory accounts. Some apps need an account with the developer to unlock or sync. SideList, 2Do, Due and Kan Do sync through iCloud instead. Check the App Store privacy label too: SideList’s says Data Not Collected.

Where SideList fits

Most task apps are built to manage everything. SideList is built for what matters now. It lives in your Mac menu bar, with native apps for iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision. You keep a few focused lists, drag tasks around, add reminders or emoji, and tick things off; completed tasks go to a searchable archive.

• $5.99 once for Mac, iPhone and iPad, updates included.
• No account, ads or analytics. Syncs through your own iCloud; the developer has no servers. Works offline.
• Native Swift/SwiftUI, about 4.4 MB.

It has no projects, tags, subtasks, repeating tasks or collaboration, and no Windows, Android or web version. If you need those, a bigger app will serve you better. More on the SideList home page, or compare it with Things 3 and the free Apple Reminders.

When a subscription is worth it

Some needs cost the developer money every month, so a subscription is fair:

• Collaboration: shared projects, assignments and comments need servers.
• Every platform: if you use Windows or Android, a cross-platform service with a web app is usually the practical answer.
• Hosted extras: web access, integrations and team administration.

If your tasks are personal and live on Apple devices, a one-time purchase is very likely enough. If you want less clutter rather than more features, see our guide to a to-do list for focus.