Time for me to do a review of Tick Tick! This is one that I’ve heard a lot about, so I wanted to get a look at it for myself. Is it ADHD-friendly? The short answer is: sure. But we all know it’s a little more nuanced than that. So let’s get into it.
As always, you can go here to watch me talk about it, or listen below or on your favorite podcast platform.
What, exactly, is Tick Tick?
TickTick is a task management tool that aims to be a “Calendar, Pomodoro Timer, [and] Habit, [in] one functional app.” It’s basically ToDoist, but with a few more features.
Why is Tick Tick great?
You can tell that Tick Tick was made with a great amount of love.
Even at its most basic, Tick Tick allows you to keep track of tasks on a pretty granular level. You’re able to make lists and sublists, to use tags, filters, and smart lists in order to get as specific as you need to. You also are able to track habits, use a Pomodoro timer, and use an Eisenhower Matrix, so there are some great options available for staying on top of what you’re doing, and it’s very possible to run many departments of your life in one spot.
I also love the fact that Tick Tick has a “won’t do” option for tasks, which leaves the door open for those low-energy days wherein you find that you won’t be able to do quite as much as you thought. The “won’t do” option leaves you a place to review tasks that you’re not getting done TODAY but that you might be able to move to another time. Y’all know I’m all about reminding ADHD brains that there is a tomorrow, and this is a wonderful way to do that.
There’s also a bit of gamification here, with available achievements and stats that you can view, so there’s a chance to add a bit of challenge to things so that you don’t get bored easily.
The mobile app is also fully functional with cool things like voice input, which makes it a great way to keep track of what needs doing while you’re on the go.
How could Tick Tick improve?
I have beef with productivity apps who don’t automatically integrate with your calendar. What do you think we want to use your software for? What do you think we’re checking our tasks up against? The sun? The position of the stars? OBVIOUSLY I need to see what my day looks like in order to match it up with my tasks. Why would I use something that isn’t going to keep me on top of that? Why would I choose to have to look at two things?
You wouldn’t. And app devs know this. Which is why some of them hide calendar integration behind a paywall. It’s a pet peeve of mine, and it always makes me look at the app a little more critically (only exception goes to the app Tusk, which had so much going on for free that I barely noticed the inability to integrate). So yeah…don’t appreciate that about Tick Tick at all. The price isn’t horribly steep, but it’s the principle of the thing to me.
Also, while Tick Tick does have some project management capabilities, it isn’t a very robust tool for it. You can definitely keep track of files, links, and so forth, but you won’t be able to keep track of project stage, and, for me anyway, the UI also don’t make for an easy overview.
In conclusion…
Tick Tick is a good app for people who like Todoist but want a little bit of an easier time tracking habits and time. It’s definitely ADHD-friendly in its ability to help you break lists down even further, its color coding, and its “won’t do” option. If you upgrade to premium, you also get some sweet options for filtering and changing the appearance to keep things fresh. The price also makes this fantastic for people who are looking for a central place to run your life on a budget.
Details
Platforms: MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Cost: Free trial option, or upgrade to Premium for 3.99/month or 35.99/year
BEST FOR: Students and stay-at-home-parents
NOT GREAT FOR: People who need robust project management
