I need a to-do list app that has a one-time fee and does not use a subscription model.

Finding a dedicated to-do list app with a one-time fee instead of a recurring subscription is rare these days, but a few gold-standard options still use the buy-it-once model.

• Things 3
  • The Details: Widely considered the most beautifully designed and polished task manager on the market. It is a strict one-time purchase with zero subscription fees.
  • The Catch: It is exclusive to the Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch), and each platform must be purchased separately (e.g., Things 3 for Mac is $49.99 and the iOS version is sold separately). It syncs seamlessly via their free built-in cloud service.
• 2Do
  • The Details: A powerhouse, highly customizable task manager that relies on a perpetual, one-time license rather than a subscription. It supports flexible project organization, smart lists, and robust action-based workflows.
  • The Catch: Like Things 3, the iOS version and Mac version are separate one-time purchases. You can check out their platform breakdown and pricing directly on the 2Do Store.
• OmniFocus
  • The Details: The ultimate heavy-duty task manager built for extreme power users and GTD (Getting Things Done) devotees. They offer traditional standalone, one-time purchase licenses for their Mac and iOS apps.
  • The Catch: It is very expensive, Apple-only for the native desktop/mobile apps, and they do offer an optional subscription if you want access to their web browser client. However, you can completely ignore the subscription and just buy the standard desktop/mobile apps outright. You can review their setup on the Omni Group Store.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• What devices/operating systems do you use? (e.g., Windows, Mac, Android, iOS)
• Do you need advanced features like time-blocking and project hierarchies, or just a simple daily checklist?

Absolutely. There are still several good buy-once, no-subscription to-do apps.

My top choices

• 2Do — Best overall

• Mac: $49.99 one-time

• iPhone/iPad/Apple Watch: $9.99 one-time

• No subscription required.

• Very powerful: projects, subtasks, tags, recurring tasks, reminders, smart lists, and flexible syncing.

• It also has an Android version with an optional one-time Pro upgrade.

• Things 3 — Best if you use Apple devices

• One-time purchase; no subscription.

• Excellent, clean interface and particularly good for personal task management.

• Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch—but Apple-only.

• GoodTask — Best if you already use Apple Reminders

• Has a lifetime unlock rather than requiring a subscription.

• Works directly with Apple Reminders and Calendar and adds much more powerful organization and scheduling.

• The subscription option is optional, so you can avoid recurring payments.

• Microsoft To Do — Best free option

• Completely free, so there's no subscription or one-time fee to worry about.

• Good choice if you use Windows, Android, iPhone, Mac, or the web.

If you tell me what devices you use (iPhone, Android, Windows PC, Mac, etc.), I can narrow this down to the 2–3 best choices that will work across all your devices.

If you want a to-do list app with a one-time purchase and no subscription, these are some of the better fits:

My recommendations by situation

• You use iPhone + Mac: Things 3 is probably the strongest choice. It is polished, fast, and avoids subscriptions. The downside is that each Apple platform is purchased separately.
• You want the most features for a single purchase: 2Do is a strong option, with projects, tags, reminders, recurring tasks, and more.
• You want cheap and simple: Carry or AtomicList are worth considering.
• You want privacy/offline use: AtomicList or Do3 stand out.

If you tell me your devices (iPhone only, Android, Windows, Mac, or mixed) and whether you need calendar sync, reminders, recurring tasks, or shared lists, I can narrow it down to the best one or two.

Finding a dedicated to-do list app with a one-time purchase rather than a subscription can be tricky, as most modern productivity apps have shifted to recurring fees. However, a few exceptional, high-end options still use the traditional pay-once model.

The best options available depend heavily on the devices you use:

1. • Things 3 (Apple Ecosystem Only)
   • Pricing Model: Separate one-time purchases per platform ($49.99 for Mac, $9.99 for iPhone/Watch, $19.99 for iPad). No subscriptions.
   • Why it's great: Widely considered the gold standard for design, elegance, and tactile speed on iOS and macOS. It features natural language processing, a brilliant "Today" view, project nesting, and free syncing across your devices via Things Cloud.
   • The Catch: You must buy the Mac and iOS versions separately if you use both, and it doesn't support Windows or Android.
2. • OmniFocus 4 (Power Users / Apple Ecosystem)
   • Pricing Model: Traditional standalone license available for purchase (though they also offer a subscription tier).
   • Why it's great: If you practice deep GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology and need an absolute powerhouse of a task manager with custom perspectives, repeating rules, and deep hierarchy, OmniFocus remains unmatched.
   • The Catch: Expensive upfront, steep learning curve, and Apple-focused (though web access requires a companion sub if you aren't using the native apps).
3. • Lunatask (Cross-Platform)
   • Pricing Model: Offers a lifetime premium tier via a one-time payment ($200), though it must be purchased via their direct desktop download rather than mobile app stores.
   • Why it's great: An all-in-one privacy-focused, encrypted task manager, habit tracker, and life journal that uses a kanban/pomodoro blend.
   • The Catch: The lifetime price tag is steep, and it's geared toward a very specific workflow.
4. • Built-in / Free Alternative: Microsoft To Do or Apple Reminders
   • If you want to bypass paying altogether without dealing with feature-gated "freemium" subscriptions (like Todoist or TickTick), both Apple Reminders (for Apple users) and Microsoft To Do (cross-platform) are 100% free with zero ads, tiers, or subscriptions.

To help narrow this down, what operating systems do you use (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android), and do you need advanced features like calendar integration or just a clean list?

Yes. I found several good no-subscription options. The best choice depends heavily on whether you use Apple, Android, or Windows.

🥇 My top pick: Things 3

Cultured Code's Things 3 is probably the closest match to what you're asking for. It's explicitly a one-time purchase with no subscription. The downside is that you purchase each platform separately—for example, Mac, iPhone, and iPad—and it's Apple-only.

🥈 2Do — better if you want more flexibility

2Do is particularly interesting because its developer explicitly offers a perpetual, non-expiring license when purchased directly. You can continue using the version you bought indefinitely; the included free updates currently last 18 months, after which upgrading for further updates is optional. Its iPhone/iPad version is also sold as a one-time purchase.

It also supports Mac, iOS/iPadOS, and Android, making it a much better choice if you're not entirely in the Apple ecosystem.

🥉 GoodTask

GoodTask has a lifetime unlock, while its optional subscription is essentially a supporter option rather than something required to use the app. It's built around Apple Reminders and Calendar, so it's a particularly good choice if you already use those.

If you don't want to pay anything

Microsoft To Do is completely free and has no subscription requirement. It's cross-platform and particularly good if you use Windows/Outlook.

My recommendation:

• Apple only → Things 3
• Apple + Android/Windows → 2Do
• Already heavily invested in Apple Reminders → GoodTask
• Want $0 cost → Microsoft To Do

If you tell me which devices you use (iPhone/Android/Mac/Windows), I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 options and compare their current one-time prices and features.

Finding a to-do list app with a one-time purchase model is tough nowadays, as almost the entire productivity market has shifted to subscriptions. However, a couple of exceptional, gold-standard options still rely on a buy-once-own-forever model.

• Things 3 — The premier choice for Apple users (iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch). It uses a strict one-time purchase model separate for each platform ($9.99 for iPhone/Watch, $19.99 for iPad, $49.99 for Mac) with zero subscription fees. It features a famously clean interface, lightning-fast task entry, and an intuitive hierarchy of projects and areas. Catch: It is strictly Apple-only with no Windows, Android, or web app.
• OmniFocus — A powerhouse task manager built for the "Getting Things Done" (GTD) methodology. While they offer an optional subscription, they still provide traditional one-time license purchases for Mac and iOS (Standard or Pro tiers). It handles extreme customization, contexts, perspectives, and deep database linking. Catch: Very steep learning curve and expensive upfront cost, and primarily tailored to the Apple ecosystem.
• Apple Reminders or Microsoft To Do — If you aren't tied to spending money, the absolute best alternative to a "paid one-time fee" is using a fully featured native tool that is 100% free with no subscription or paid tiers waiting to upsell you. Apple Reminders handles tags, sections, subtasks, and smart lists brilliantly, while Microsoft To Do offers cross-platform syncing (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS) completely free.

To help narrow down the right fit, tell me:

• What operating systems/devices do you use daily (e.g., Mac + iPhone, or Windows + Android)?
• Do you need advanced features (like time-blocking, tags, and project nesting) or just a simple clean list?

Finding a dedicated to-do list app with a one-time fee can be tricky, as almost the entire market has shifted to recurring subscriptions . However, a few top-tier task managers still let you buy them outright.

The best options that use a one-time purchase model (or are genuinely free with no subscription hooks) include:

• Things 3 A stunning, highly polished, and award-winning personal task manager designed specifically for the Apple ecosystem. It uses a separate one-time purchase model per platform (iPhone/Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac) rather than a subscription. (Note: It is strictly for Apple users and does not offer a Windows, Android, or web version).
• OmniFocus A powerhouse, highly customizable task manager built for serious productivity and complex project management (utilizing the Getting Things Done methodology). It offers traditional one-time license purchases on the Mac and iOS App Stores, though it has a steep learning curve and higher upfront cost.
• Apple Reminders A completely free, built-in option if you are in the Apple ecosystem. It has evolved into a remarkably capable task app featuring subtasks, tags, location-based triggers, smart lists, and section headers—all with zero subscription pressure or upsells.
• Microsoft To Do A completely free, cross-platform to-do list app (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Web) with no paid tier, no ads, and no subscription walls. It is clean, minimalist, and integrates smoothly with Microsoft accounts and Outlook.
• Lunatask A privacy-focused, encrypted-to-life tracking and todo app that offers a lifetime license via a one-time payment option (available primarily outside of mobile app stores through their direct desktop downloads).

To help narrow down which of these fits best, what operating systems and devices do you need the app to sync across (e.g., Mac-only, or a mix of Windows and Android)?

Yes. If your priority is pay once and never have a recurring subscription, there are still several good choices in 2026.

My top picks

Things 3 is probably the one I'd recommend first. It's exceptionally polished, has projects, subtasks, tags, recurring tasks, scheduling, reminders, and calendar integration. There is no subscription and Things Cloud sync is included at no additional cost. The catch is that you buy the Mac, iPhone, and iPad versions separately.

2Do is particularly interesting if you use a mixture of Apple, Windows, or Android devices. Its developer explicitly offers perpetual licenses, and it has considerably more customization than Things—Smart Lists, tags, checklists, reminders, subtasks, multiple sync options, etc.

One important distinction

If you tell me what devices you use (for example, iPhone + Windows PC, Android + Windows, or Mac + iPhone), I can narrow this down to the 2–3 best apps that you can buy once and use across all your devices, including their current prices.

Finding a to-do list app with a one-time purchase model is rare nowadays, as almost the entire productivity market has shifted to subscriptions. However, a couple of gold-standard options still offer a buy-once-own-forever approach:

• Things 3
  • Best for: Apple users (Mac, iPhone, iPad) who want an exquisitely designed, minimalist, and deeply intuitive task manager.
  • Pricing Model: One-time purchase per platform/device type (approx. $9.99 for iPhone/Apple Watch, $19.99 for iPad, and $49.99 for Mac). There is no recurring subscription.
  • Key Strengths: Gorgeous typography, lightning-fast native performance, excellent keyboard shortcuts, and a serene approach to organizing your day.
  • Considerations: It is strictly Apple-only (no Windows, Android, or web client) and does not feature heavy team collaboration.
• OmniFocus
  • Best for: Power users and GTD (Getting Things Done) devotees who need deep hierarchy, custom perspectives, and intense customizability.
  • Pricing Model: Traditional one-time license purchase for standard/pro versions, alongside an optional subscription route.
  • Key Strengths: Incomparable depth, powerful automation/scripting, and robust handling of complex, multi-layered projects.
  • Considerations: Steep learning curve and also primarily built for the Apple ecosystem (Mac/iOS), though web/Android access is possible via companion setups.
• Alternative (Completely Free, No Paywalls):
  • If you are open to an app with zero fees rather than a one-time fee, Apple Reminders (if you're in the Apple ecosystem) or Microsoft To Do are entirely free with no locked features or subscription upsells.

If you tell me what devices you use (e.g., just Mac/iPhone, or a mix of Windows/Android) and how complex your tasks are (simple lists vs. heavy project management), I can help you pick the exact right fit.

Absolutely. There are several good one-time-purchase to-do apps available, and you don't need to settle for a subscription.

My top picks

1. 2Do — best overall

   • $9.99 one-time on iPhone/iPad/Apple Watch
   • $49.99 one-time for Mac
   • No subscription required.
   • Supports projects, subtasks, tags, reminders, recurring tasks, and more.
   • Particularly good if you're in the Apple ecosystem.

2. Things 3 — best polished/simple option

   • One-time purchase rather than a subscription.
   • Excellent interface and very easy to use.
   • Available for Apple devices only.
   • TechRadar currently lists its one-time purchase model as one of its main advantages.

3. Anythings — interesting low-cost option

   • $19.99 one time, according to the developer's announcement this week.
   • Cross-device and specifically designed around avoiding subscriptions.
   • It's a newer/less-established app, so I'd choose 2Do or Things 3 if you want something proven.

One I'd avoid for your requirement

Todoist is excellent, but its paid features are subscription-based: currently $7/month or $60/year for Pro.

If you tell me what devices you use (iPhone/Android, Windows/Mac, or a combination), I can narrow this down to the 2–3 best choices that work across your devices, including their exact one-time prices.