The Best To-Do List Apps for 2026: Which Ones Keep Your Data Safe?

Intro

Staying organized is easier than ever with to-do list apps, but most of them collect a surprising amount of personal information—your tasks, deadlines, even location data if you allow it. As data breaches become more common, it’s worth asking whether the app you depend on is protecting your privacy as well as it manages your tasks.

Wirecutter, the product recommendation arm of The New York Times, published its latest roundup of the best to-do list apps in December 2025. Their picks are solid for functionality, but what about security? We looked at each app’s privacy settings, encryption practices, and data-sharing policies so you can choose a tool that keeps your to-dos safe.

What Happened

Wirecutter’s review named three top to-do list apps for 2026: Todoist, Things 3, and Microsoft To Do. Each was chosen for its balance of features, ease of use, and cross-platform support. But the review focused primarily on productivity—it didn’t dig deeply into how each app handles your data. That’s where we step in.

Why It Matters

Your to-do list often contains sensitive information: project deadlines, meeting notes, personal errands, even health reminders. If an app stores this data on servers without strong encryption, it could be exposed in a breach or sold to third parties. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, data compromises in the U.S. hit an all-time high in 2024, and the trend hasn’t slowed. Choosing an app with solid privacy practices reduces your risk.

Additionally, many free apps rely on collecting user data to generate revenue. Understanding the trade-offs helps you make an informed decision.

What Readers Can Do

Here’s a privacy-focused look at each of Wirecutter’s three recommendations, plus a few steps you can take right now.

Todoist (Wirecutter’s #1 pick)

Todoist is a popular cross-platform app with strong task management features. For privacy, it offers optional end-to-end encryption—but only on paid plans. Free users’ data is encrypted in transit and at rest on Todoist’s servers, but the company holds the encryption keys. This means Todoist could technically access your tasks if required. If you opt for a Pro or Business plan, you can enable E2E encryption through a setting, which prevents even Todoist from reading your data. Before subscribing, check if that feature meets your needs.

Things 3 (Wirecutter’s #2 pick)

Things 3 is exclusive to Apple devices and stores your task data locally by default. It doesn’t rely on cloud sync unless you manually enable it via iCloud. Because iCloud uses its own encryption (Apple holds the keys), your tasks are relatively safe from third parties, but not from Apple itself. The upside: Things 3 never sees your data unless you choose to back up to its own cloud service, which is also encrypted. For users who want control, this local-first approach is strong.

Microsoft To Do (Wirecutter’s #3 pick)

Microsoft To Do syncs everything through your Microsoft account. The company uses encryption in transit and at rest, but its privacy policy allows data collection for improving services and targeted advertising unless you opt out. Microsoft also processes your tasks on its servers. For most people, this is acceptable, but if you’re concerned about a corporation having access to your to-do list, consider disabling optional data-sharing settings in your account dashboard.

General Steps to Protect Your Task Data

  • Check whether an app offers end-to-end encryption and, if so, whether it’s on by default or requires manual activation.
  • Review the app’s privacy policy for phrases like “third-party sharing” or “anonymized data” used for analytics.
  • Limit permissions. Most to-do apps don’t need access to your contacts, location, or camera.
  • Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication where available.
  • If you’re extra cautious, consider offline-first apps like Things 3 or a plain-text task manager.

Sources

  • Wirecutter’s “The 3 Best To-Do List Apps of 2026” (December 2025)
  • Todoist’s privacy policy and encryption documentation
  • Microsoft To Do privacy overview
  • Things 3 security FAQ
  • Identity Theft Resource Center 2024 data breach report

Staying organized doesn’t have to mean giving up your privacy. By taking a few minutes to understand how your chosen app handles your data, you can keep your tasks—and your peace of mind—safe.