The 3 Best To-Do List Apps of 2026: A Privacy-Focused Look Beyond Wirecutter’s Picks

Wirecutter’s 2026 roundup of the best to-do list apps does a thorough job of comparing features, usability, and cross-platform support. Their top three—Todoist, Things 3, and Microsoft To Do—are solid choices for getting organized. But if you’re the type of person who reads privacy policies before hitting “install,” you probably noticed something missing: a detailed breakdown of how each app handles your data.

That’s the angle we’re covering here. We looked at the same three apps (plus a few honorable mentions) through a privacy and security lens. What data do they collect? Is your task list encrypted? Can the company see what you’re planning for next week? Below is what we found.

What Happened

Wirecutter published their updated guide to to-do list apps in late 2025, naming Todoist, Things 3, and Microsoft To Do as their top picks. Their evaluation criteria included reliability, speed, feature depth, and design. Privacy and data security were mentioned only briefly, if at all, in the context of account requirements or sync.

That’s not a knock on their work—every review has a scope. But given the growing number of data breaches and the increasing monetization of user information, it’s worth taking an extra step to understand what you’re agreeing to when you sign up.

Why It Matters

A to-do list app may seem harmless, but over time it becomes a repository of personal and professional information: project deadlines, recurring medical appointments, grocery lists, travel plans, even passwords or notes you jotted down in a hurry. If that data is poorly protected or sold to third parties, the consequences range from targeted ads (annoying) to identity theft (serious).

Many productivity apps syncing via cloud services store your tasks on company servers. The question is who else has access—and what happens if those servers are compromised.

What Readers Can Do: A Privacy Assessment of Each Pick

Here’s how the three Wirecutter favorites stack up on privacy.

Todoist

  • Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest on servers, but Todoist does not offer end-to-end encryption. That means the company can technically read your task content if compelled or if a rogue employee gains access. They state they do not sell personal data, but they do use it for analytics and product improvement.
  • Data collection: Email, usage patterns, and task content. Sync is required for most features.
  • Verdict: Fine for casual use. Not ideal if you handle sensitive information.

Things 3

  • Encryption: Things 3 stores your task data locally on your Apple device. Sync is handled through Apple’s iCloud, which uses end-to-end encryption by default for most data types. This gives you stronger protection because even Apple can’t decrypt your things. However, Things 3 is Mac- and iOS-only, so no web access.
  • Data collection: Minimal. The app does not have its own servers; data lives on your device and in your iCloud account.
  • Verdict: Best for Apple users who want strong default privacy. The trade-off is limited platform availability.

Microsoft To Do

  • Encryption: Uses standard TLS in transit and at rest on Microsoft’s servers. No end-to-end encryption. Microsoft’s privacy policy notes that they may use your data for analytics and to improve services. They also share data with subprocessors for functions like AI suggestions.
  • Data collection: Task content, usage data, and sync data. Tied to your Microsoft account, which further integrates with other services.
  • Verdict: Convenient for Windows and Office users, but weaker privacy due to data visibility and analytics use.

Honorable Mentions

If privacy is your top priority, consider open-source options like Vikunja (self-hosted) or Taskwarrior (command-line, local only). They require more technical setup but give you full control over your data. TickTick and Any.do offer similar features to the main three but have privacy records similar to Todoist—no end-to-end encryption, and some data sharing.

How to Improve Privacy Regardless of Your Choice

  • Turn off optional syncing if you only use one device.
  • Avoid entering passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive text in task names or notes.
  • Review each app’s privacy policy every few months—they change.
  • Use a dedicated password manager instead of jotting credentials in a to-do list.

Final Recommendation

For most people, Things 3 offers the best balance of privacy and usability, provided you live in the Apple ecosystem. For cross-platform needs, Todoist is acceptable if you avoid storing sensitive details. Microsoft To Do is convenient but the weakest on privacy—consider it only if you’re already deeply tied into Microsoft’s ecosystem and are comfortable with their data practices.

No app is perfect, but being aware of these trade-offs lets you make an informed choice. Wirecutter’s guide helps you pick a good app; we hope this helps you pick one you can trust.

Sources

  • Wirecutter, “The 3 Best To-Do List Apps of 2026,” The New York Times, December 2025. (Original review, privacy coverage minimal.)
  • Todoist Privacy Policy (2026 edition)
  • Microsoft Privacy Statement (latest)
  • Apple iCloud Security Overview (end-to-end encryption documentation)
  • Open-source app documentation: Vikunja, Taskwarrior