Compare · Papertray vs TickTick

TickTick is a toolbox.
Papertray is a to-do list.

TickTick packs in habits, a focus timer and an Eisenhower matrix. Papertray sticks to one job and does it calmly: your list, the lists you share, and a clear view of when.

At a glance.

FeaturePapertrayTickTick
Free planUnlimited projects and areas, every view, the calendarLimits on lists, tasks per list and members per shared list
Calendar viewsYes: Month calendar on every planYes: Full calendar views on Premium
Share lists and assign to-dosYesYes
Share a whole area of projects at onceYesPartly: Lists are shared one at a time
Areas, projects and headingsYesPartly: Folders, lists and sections
Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday, LogbookYesPartly: Smart lists for Today, Tomorrow and Next 7 Days
Habit tracker and focus timerNoYes
Reminders with notificationsYesYes
Works on every deviceYesYes

Checked on 4 November 2026 from TickTick's own pages (sources below). Apps change; if something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.

Why people choose Papertray

What you get with Papertray.

Less to look at.

No habit grid, no timer, no matrix. Papertray shows what's on today and who it's for, so there is less to manage and more to finish.

The calendar is free.

See the month, drag to-dos between days and give them a time, on the free plan.

Share in bigger pieces.

Share one project or a whole area holding several, and everyone sees the same rings fill up as things get done.

In fairness

Where TickTick is the better choice.

  • TickTick has a habit tracker, a Pomodoro focus timer and an Eisenhower matrix built in.
  • It understands dates as you type.
  • Its native apps cover every platform, including watches, and work offline.
  • If you want one app for habits, focus and tasks, TickTick does more.

Moving over

Bring your lists with you.

In TickTick, open Settings → Account → Generate backup, which saves your tasks as a CSV file, and import that file in Papertray's Settings → Import. Folders become areas and lists become projects.

Questions.

Is Papertray simpler than TickTick?

Yes, on purpose. Papertray is a to-do list with areas, projects, a calendar and sharing. It has no habit tracker or focus timer, so there is less to set up and less to look at.

Can I import my TickTick tasks into Papertray?

Yes. Export a backup from TickTick and import the CSV in Papertray's Settings → Import. Each list becomes a project.

Is the Papertray calendar free?

Yes. The month calendar, with to-dos you can drag between days and give a time, is on every plan, including Free.

Sources: TickTick · TickTick on the App Store

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Try it with your own list.

Free to start. Every new account gets 14 days of Pro, no card needed.