Why Wunderlist is still missed in #year#
Wunderlist was much loved. A moment of silence for it as we zoom forward almost a decade since Microsoft acquired it for (allegedly) over $100M back in 2015.
Even now, in 2026, people are still seeking that same feel, that same look, and that same vibe they miss from the good old Wunderlist days. The app was simple, beautiful, and just worked without getting in your way.
Here are some of the things that drew people to Wunderlist back in the day:
Easy to Use: It was never complicated. Wunderlist was so intuitive that millions used it without needing tutorials or onboarding. You could share lists with family, set reminders, and organize your life without overthinking it.
Relaxing Themes: The ones that people loved were the relaxed backgrounds of scenery and cities. You could change your list view to show a beach, mountains, or cityscapes. It made task management feel less sterile and more personal.
Cross-Platform Excellence: Wunderlist worked flawlessly everywhere. Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, web, even Apple Watch. The sync was reliable, and the experience was consistent across devices. This seems basic now, but it wasn't common back then.
In our recommendations, we'll aim to meet these criteria, but bear in mind: the world of task management has evolved significantly. There's much more focus on AI, power features, and integration with other tools. A straightforward project management tool might not solve your desire to replace Wunderlist. You need something with personal features and personalized functions that capture that Wunderlist spirit.
What made Wunderlist special?
Understanding what you're looking for
Before diving into alternatives, let's talk about what made Wunderlist special. Understanding this helps identify what you're actually looking for in a replacement:
Simplicity Without Sacrifice: Wunderlist nailed the balance between simple and capable. You could create a grocery list in 10 seconds, but also manage complex work projects with subtasks, files, and collaboration. Most apps lean too far one way or the other.
Beautiful Design That Aged Well: Even years later, Wunderlist's design holds up. The typography, the spacing, the subtle animations - everything felt considered. It proved productivity apps don't have to be ugly or overwhelming.
The Social Aspect: Sharing lists with family and friends felt natural in Wunderlist. Planning a trip? Share a list. Running errands? Share with your partner. The social features weren't an afterthought, they were core to how people used it.
Reliable Without Being Boring: Wunderlist just worked. The sync was fast, the apps rarely crashed, and your data was always there when you needed it. Boring, maybe, but that reliability built deep trust.
No Subscription Pressure: Wunderlist had a great free tier and reasonable premium pricing. You never felt nickel-and-dimed or pushed to upgrade constantly. This feels rare in 2026 where everything is a subscription.
The Microsoft Acquisition Pain: Microsoft bought Wunderlist, slowly let it decay while building Microsoft To Do, then shut Wunderlist down. This betrayal still stings for long-time users. It's why people are cautious about trusting big companies with their productivity tools.
The alternatives we're recommending try to capture different aspects of what made Wunderlist great. Some focus on simplicity, others on beautiful design, and some on recreating that exact vibe.
What makes a good Wunderlist alternative?
Key criteria to evaluate
So what should a good Wunderlist alternative actually offer? Here's what matters based on what people loved about the original:
Clean, Minimal Interface: Wunderlist wasn't cluttered with features you'd never use. Look for alternatives that prioritize clarity and simplicity. Superlist and TickTick do this well. Avoid tools that throw 50 features at you on day one.
Themes and Personalization: Those background images weren't just decoration, they made the app feel personal and less corporate. TickTick has the best theme selection among current apps. Zenkit To Do also offers Wunderlist-style backgrounds.
Easy Sharing and Collaboration: If you used Wunderlist with family or roommates, you need an alternative with simple sharing. Not complex project management features, just "here's a list, let's both add to it." This is harder to find than you'd think.
Cross-Platform Reliability: Wunderlist worked everywhere and synced perfectly. Make sure your alternative supports all your devices. Don't assume this is standard, some popular apps are still Apple-only or have mediocre Android apps.
Subtasks and Organization: Wunderlist let you break tasks into subtasks, add notes, attach files, and set due dates. These aren't advanced features, but they're essential for anything beyond basic lists.
Natural Reminders: Setting reminders in Wunderlist was effortless. Some modern apps make this weirdly complicated. Test this before committing.
Affordable or Free: Wunderlist's free tier was generous. If you're looking for a free Wunderlist alternative, you have options. Microsoft To Do, TickTick's free plan, and Zenkit To Do all work without paying.
Independently Owned (Maybe): Given what happened with Microsoft, some people specifically want an alternative NOT owned by a big tech company. Superlist (from the original Wunderlist team) and smaller independent apps address this concern.
The perfect Wunderlist replacement probably doesn't exist because Wunderlist existed in a different era. But you can find something that captures the spirit while offering modern features.
1. Superlist
Best Like for Like Alternative (Same Team)
There's no better like-for-like alternative to Wunderlist than Superlist. From the same creators, with a lot of the same original team, and 10 years of lessons learned. Wunderlist is basically reborn with this.
Many of the features and the overall feel still match Wunderlist, but the focus has evolved. Superlist is all about handling your tasks, managing projects with teams, and note-taking alongside your to-do list.
Inside Superlist, you can add tasks to an inbox, organize them for upcoming items, or use the notes area to build anything from a simple checklist to a meeting agenda. The flexibility is there without overwhelming you.
The AI features are where Superlist goes beyond what Wunderlist ever offered. You can use AI to help form lists, import tasks from apps like Microsoft To Do (great if you were forced to migrate there but hate it), and even use an AI-powered meeting note taker.
The team behind Superlist thought: "What if we built Wunderlist 2.0 but went bigger, bolder, and more team-facing?" That's exactly what they did.
Features worth highlighting:
Add, manage, and share tasks with others (up to 5 people free, which is perfect for small teams or families). Note-taking area for your own notes, checklists, and tasks all in one place. Import tasks from apps like Microsoft To Do, making the switch from Microsoft's offering painless. Email import and AI summary for those emails that contain tasks or action items.
The themes are great too. Not quite the exact Wunderlist backgrounds, but they captured that same aesthetic of making your task manager feel personal rather than corporate.
What's missing compared to Wunderlist?
No calendar mode for turning your to-do's into a schedule (this is coming, but not here yet). The free tier has limits on features, whereas Wunderlist's free plan was more generous.
Pricing starts from $15 per user per month for the full feature set. There's a free tier that works well for individuals and small teams.
Available on Mac, Android, iOS, and web. Windows app is coming but not here yet as of 2026.
Why choose Superlist?
If you want the OG Wunderlist team building your to-do app, this is it. They've taken everything they learned from Wunderlist and built something more modern and capable. The interface is familiar but updated, the features are thoughtful, and the team sharing works smoothly.
The only real downside is it's more expensive than Wunderlist was, and the free tier is more limited. But if you're willing to pay for a well-crafted task manager from people who understand what made Wunderlist special, Superlist is the obvious choice.
Verdict: Choose Superlist if you want Wunderlist's spiritual successor made by the same team. It's evolved beyond what Wunderlist was, but the DNA is clearly there. Skip it only if you need a completely free solution or require Windows desktop support right now.
2. Zenkit To-Do
Wunderlist's Time Capsule Twin
Let's zoom back to October 2016, a year after Microsoft announced they'd acquired Wunderlist. Zenkit To-Do arrived on the scene, bringing many of the features Wunderlist offered, even the themes it was well-known for.
Zenkit scooped up a lot of users who were scared that what happened to Sunrise Calendar (Microsoft acquired and killed it) would happen to Wunderlist. Turns out, they were right to be worried.
Zenkit To-Do is part of the broader Zenkit ecosystem, which includes project management tools, note-taking apps, and more. But the To-Do app itself is focused and straightforward.
You can add tasks, manage progress, share lists with others, and use smart lists to organize everything. On paper, Zenkit To-Do is one of the closest alternatives to classic Wunderlist.
But here's the thing: it feels like it's stuck in 2017. The design hasn't evolved much, which is either a feature or a bug depending on your perspective. If you want that authentic Wunderlist feel frozen in time, this delivers exactly that.
Features:
Create and share lists easily with family, friends, or teams. Handle up to 10,000 tasks in the free plan (way more than most people need). Collaborative features are simple and work well. Customizable themes similar to Wunderlist's scenic backgrounds. Connects with the broader Zenkit ecosystem if you need more power.
The free plan is genuinely usable for personal users. For sharing and more advanced features, it's 4 EUR per month, which is very reasonable.
Honestly, if you want to be trapped in time and experience something as close to 2015-era Wunderlist as possible, Zenkit To-Do is it. The team hasn't changed the design much, and it works exactly how you'd expect if you remember Wunderlist.
Downsides?
It lacks the polish and modern features of newer apps. No AI, limited integrations, and the interface feels dated compared to Superlist or TickTick. The mobile apps work but aren't as smooth as competitors.
But for some people, this is perfect. If you don't want new features or AI or modern design trends, just a simple task manager that works like Wunderlist did, Zenkit delivers.
Verdict: Choose Zenkit To-Do if you want the most authentic Wunderlist experience possible, frozen in time. It's basically Wunderlist's long-lost brother who never changed after 2017. Skip it if you want modern features or a more polished experience.
3. TickTick
Best All-Round Modern Alternative
TickTick is probably the best all-round to-do app for people looking to replace Wunderlist. To be honest, it doesn't have the exact Wunderlist vibes, but it does something arguably better: it builds on what Wunderlist offered and adds a ton of useful features.
You can manage tasks, create smart lists, share with others, and change themes (so many fun themes, very Wunderlist-esque). The premium version adds calendar modes, Kanban boards, habit tracking, and pomodoro timers.
Let's just say, if Wunderlist was still around and kept evolving, this is probably the direction they would have gone. TickTick has that same fun, approachable energy that Wunderlist had, but with way more functionality.
Features:
Good for managing tasks and lists with a clean interface. Lots of customizable themes, including some interactive ones that change based on time of day. Calendar and Kanban modes for visualizing your tasks different ways. Track habits and set pomodoro timers all in one app. They pack a lot into this tool without it feeling overwhelming.
The free tier is usable, and premium is $3 per month (annual), which is incredibly reasonable and approachable for most people.
What makes TickTick special for former Wunderlist users?
The themes really capture that personal, fun vibe that Wunderlist had. You're not stuck with a boring gray interface. The sharing features are simple and work well for families and small teams, just like Wunderlist. The apps work great on all platforms with reliable sync.
What's different from Wunderlist?
TickTick has way more features. Some people love this, others find it overwhelming compared to Wunderlist's simplicity. The interface is busier, with more buttons and options visible. If you loved Wunderlist's minimal approach, TickTick might feel cluttered at first.
But give it a week and most people adjust. The extra features (especially calendar view and habit tracking) end up being really useful.
Verdict: Choose TickTick if you want an evolved version of what Wunderlist could have become. It's affordable, works everywhere, and has that same approachable, personal feel. Skip it if you specifically want minimal simplicity and find extra features distracting.
4. Griply
Best for Life Planning Beyond Tasks
Many people have been seeking a planner that lets them see tasks and goals in one place. Wunderlist let you create lists, but there was never a dedicated goals area. Griply could be your answer if you like planning goals, life areas, and habits alongside your tasks.
This app is becoming popular for exactly that reason: it handles goals alongside tasks, which helps you stay focused on what matters beyond just completing today's to-do list.
Griply feels well-built with a relaxed, thoughtful design. It has a good set of features that we think former Wunderlist users will enjoy, especially those who wanted more life planning capabilities.
Features:
Good for task management with a clean, approachable layout. Perfect for tracking goals and habits alongside your daily tasks. Much-loved by users, with reasonable pricing plans. Helps you organize around life areas (health, career, relationships, etc.).
It's free to use with basic features. Premium is $29.99 per year, cheaper than many alternatives. Lifetime pricing is also available (subject to change).
Why would a Wunderlist user like Griply?
It has that same approachable, personal feel that Wunderlist had. The design is clean without being corporate. It's great for personal productivity and life planning, not just work tasks. The habit tracking and goal setting add depth that Wunderlist lacked.
What's different?
Griply is more focused on long-term planning and life organization than Wunderlist was. Wunderlist was better for quick, simple lists. Griply asks you to think about goals and life areas, which is more involved but also more meaningful.
Verdict: Choose Griply if you want Wunderlist's approachable vibe but with deeper life planning capabilities. It's great for people who want to connect daily tasks to bigger goals. Skip it if you just need simple lists without the life planning framework.
5. Any.do
Best for Mobile-First Users
Any.do is one of the popular mobile-friendly Wunderlist alternatives. This one really shines on the go, with Android and iOS apps that handle calendar and to-do list management beautifully.
Yes, it was available around the time Wunderlist was popular (they were competitors back in the day), but in the last few years, it's been growing steadily and adding more team functionality.
You can now manage lists, share Kanban boards, access a web calendar experience, and much more. It's evolved from being just a mobile task app to a full ecosystem.
It has millions of users and is regarded as very good for list management, especially on mobile. The interface is clean and minimal, which a lot of people appreciate.
Features:
Excellent mobile apps (iOS and Android) that feel native and fast. Clean, minimal interface similar to Wunderlist's aesthetic. Good sharing features for lists and collaboration. Calendar integration and views. Kanban boards for visual task organization.
There is a free tier, and premium starts around $3-5/month depending on billing.
What makes Any.do good for Wunderlist users?
The mobile experience is arguably better than Wunderlist's was. If you primarily used Wunderlist on your phone, Any.do is a natural fit. The clean design philosophy matches what Wunderlist offered. List sharing is simple and works well for families and small teams.
What's different?
Any.do has evolved to include calendar features more prominently than Wunderlist did. The focus has shifted a bit toward being an all-in-one productivity tool rather than pure task management. No scenic background themes like Wunderlist had (there are color schemes, but not city/nature backgrounds).
Verdict: Choose Any.do if you primarily used Wunderlist on mobile and want a clean, modern task manager with great apps. It's evolved beyond simple lists but maintains that minimalist aesthetic. Skip it if the theme backgrounds were important to you or if you primarily work on desktop.
What about Microsoft To Do?
The official but unloved successor
We need to talk about the elephant in the room: Microsoft To Do.
Microsoft bought Wunderlist, built Microsoft To Do as a replacement, and eventually shut Wunderlist down. Many former Wunderlist users were automatically migrated to To Do and... didn't love it.
But here's the thing: Microsoft To Do has actually improved significantly since those early days. If you tried it in 2018 and hated it, it's worth another look in 2026.
Features:
Completely free, no premium tier needed. Works across all platforms (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, web). Integrates deeply with Microsoft 365 (Outlook tasks, Teams, etc.). My Day feature for daily planning. List sharing and collaboration work well.
What's better than it used to be?
The interface is cleaner and less clunky. Sync is reliable now. The mobile apps are actually good. Integration with Outlook is useful if you use Microsoft 365 for work.
What's still not Wunderlist?
No scenic background themes (you can change colors, but it's not the same). The interface feels more corporate and less personal than Wunderlist's did. Some features from Wunderlist never made it to To Do.
Why even consider it?
It's completely free, which matters if you're on a budget. If you use Microsoft 365 for work, the integration is genuinely useful. Your Wunderlist data might already be here if you were auto-migrated years ago.
Verdict: Microsoft To Do is worth reconsidering if you need a free alternative and especially if you use Microsoft 365. It's not Wunderlist, but it's better than it used to be. The betrayal still stings for many former Wunderlist users, though.
How to migrate from Wunderlist
Making the switch after all these years
If you're finally moving on from Wunderlist (or from the Microsoft To Do migration you never wanted), here's how to do it smoothly:
Export Your Data: If you somehow still have Wunderlist data or it's in Microsoft To Do, export everything first. Most modern task managers can import from CSV or their own formats. Don't lose years of lists.
Start Fresh (Maybe): This is actually a good opportunity to clean house. Do you really need that packing list from a trip in 2016? Review what's actually active before migrating everything.
Recreate Your System: Don't try to replicate your exact Wunderlist setup in the new tool. Each app has its own strengths. Embrace the new tool's way of doing things rather than fighting it.
Sharing Lists: If you shared lists with family or friends in Wunderlist, coordinate the migration together. Make sure everyone gets set up on the same new tool. The person who invited everyone to lists should probably lead the migration.
Themes and Personalization: Set up your new tool to feel personal from day one. Add themes, customize views, make it yours. This helps the new tool feel less foreign.
Mobile Setup First: Most people use task managers on their phone more than desktop. Set up the mobile apps first and make sure they work well before worrying about desktop.
Give It Two Weeks: Your muscle memory will fight the new tool for a while. Stick with it for at least two weeks before deciding it doesn't work. Most people adjust faster than they expect.
The migration might feel sad (Wunderlist was special), but the good news is there are legitimately great alternatives now that do things Wunderlist never could.
Other alternatives worth considering
Additional options beyond the main five
These are also good Wunderlist alternatives worth exploring if the main five didn't quite fit:
Todoist: More professional-looking than Wunderlist but very capable. Great natural language input and powerful features. Good if you outgrew Wunderlist's simplicity.
Things 3: Mac/iOS only, but absolutely beautiful. One-time purchase instead of subscription. Perfect if you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and want premium quality.
Structured: Mobile-first task manager with a unique timeline approach. Great if you loved Wunderlist on mobile and want something different.
Microsoft Lists: Different from Microsoft To Do, this is more for structured data and team collaboration. Worth checking if you're in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Google Tasks: Super simple, integrated with Gmail and Google Calendar. Probably too simple for most former Wunderlist users, but it's free and works everywhere.
The task management space has evolved a lot since Wunderlist's heyday. There are more options now, but also more complexity. The good news is you can find something that captures what you loved about Wunderlist while offering modern capabilities.
Final thoughts on Wunderlist alternatives
Moving forward after all these years
Look, nothing will be exactly like Wunderlist. It existed in a specific time, with a specific team, and a specific vision that Microsoft ultimately killed. That still sucks.
But the alternatives available in 2026 are honestly really good. Superlist, made by the original team, is probably the closest you'll get to Wunderlist's spirit in a modern package. Zenkit To-Do is like a time capsule preserving Wunderlist's exact vibe. TickTick is what Wunderlist might have evolved into if it had survived.
My recommendation: try Superlist first if you're willing to pay and want that authentic Wunderlist DNA. If you want free, try TickTick's free tier or Microsoft To Do (give it another chance, seriously). If you want the time capsule experience, Zenkit To-Do is waiting.
The good news is most of these have free tiers or trials. Download 2-3, use them for a week each, and see what feels right. Your workflow will tell you more than any review.
Wunderlist may be gone, but its influence lives on in every modern task manager that prioritizes simplicity, beauty, and making productivity tools that people actually enjoy using.
Rest in peace, Wunderlist. You deserved better than what Microsoft did to you.