What Makes a To-Do List Truly ADHD-Friendly? TickTick Might Be the Answer

There are thousands of to-do list apps out there, but only a handful of them are actually ADHD-friendly. After testing and using many of them over time, I realized that a good ADHD-friendly app should meet the following criteria:

1. It must be simple and distraction-free. If the app isn’t easy to use, I’ll quickly get distracted and forget what I was even trying to do. Some apps have cute animations or flashy effects, which are fun — but also extremely distracting. Others pop up full-screen achievements when I complete tasks. I get why that might be motivating for some, but for me, it breaks focus. What I really need is a clean, straightforward interface where every function is easy to reach. That doesn’t mean the app has to be basic — just that features should be logically organized and easy to navigate without extra mental effort.
2. It should be flexible enough to work with me, not against me. A good to-do app should help me build habits naturally, not force me into its own workflow. I want to be able to track everything in one place — work, personal stuff, errands — without jumping through hoops. Personally, I love being able to add subtasks, set up all kinds of recurring tasks (especially those that repeat based on when I complete them), and avoid cluttering my list with overdue items. With the right setup, even if I miss something, I just see one overdue task — finish it, and I’m back on track. That gives me peace of mind.
3. It should give me a sense of progress — but quietly. This might sound like it contradicts point #1, but it’s actually different. I don’t want loud, disruptive notifications, but I do appreciate a sense of achievement. Features like badges, streaks, and progress stats release a bit of dopamine and help keep me going. These things shouldn’t jump in my face — they should just quietly be there, ready when I want to check on my progress.

After testing many to-do apps, I landed on TickTick. It’s not that other apps are bad — TickTick just suits me better.

• Its UI is clean and intuitive, and it uses lists, tasks, and tags to organize everything. The system is flexible but doesn’t require extra mental effort to manage.
• It includes badges and stats to help me visualize progress, without interrupting my workflow.
• It supports the Eisenhower Matrix (important vs urgent). As long as I set due dates and priorities properly, I can view my tasks exactly how I need — which is super helpful, since prioritizing is hard for my ADHD brain.
• The built-in timer is great. I use it almost like a reverse Pomodoro: I work during high-focus moments, then use the timer to remind myself to rest. I know traditional Pomodoro works for many, but frequent breaks annoy me. Sometimes I still use it, but I stretch the intervals (e.g. 50:10 works better for me).

Lastly — and this might be the real ADHD catch — using a to-do app at all can be a burden. Just remembering to write things down takes effort. It took time and practice to make it a habit, and the only reason I stuck with it is that I found ways to reduce the friction.

That’s actually why I created Beaver Flow — it helps me break down rough thoughts into actionable steps, and then I can easily import them into TickTick. That removes the biggest obstacle for me. And honestly, I love that feeling — of being in control, without being overwhelmed.

So if you’re ADHD and still searching for a to-do list that actually helps instead of hurting — TickTick might be worth a try.