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5 Best Free Eisenhower Matrix Apps Compared (2026)
May 16, 2026•9 min read
K
Kevin Mun
Creator of Quartask
Meta Description: Looking for the best free Eisenhower Matrix app? We compare Quartask vs Todoist vs Trello vs Notion vs TickTick. Find out which tool helps you prioritise better — for free.
Published: May 16, 2026
Using the Eisenhower Matrix on paper is a great start. But paper doesn't send reminders, sync across devices, or let you share a board with your team. That's where a good app comes in.
In 2026, there are dozens of tools that claim to support the Urgent-Important Matrix. But most are general-purpose task managers that sort of let you tag tasks by quadrant — not true matrix-first apps. This comparison will help you find the best free Eisenhower Matrix app for your needs.
We evaluated each tool on seven criteria:
| App | Best For | Price | Native Matrix? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartask | Eisenhower Matrix purists | Free (100%) | ✅ Yes |
| Todoist | General task management | Freemium | ❌ No (labels only) |
| Trello | Visual project management | Freemium | ❌ No (Power-Ups) |
| Notion | All-in-one workspace | Freemium | ❌ No (templates) |
| TickTick | Habit + task management | Freemium | ❌ No (folders only) |
Quartask is the only app on this list built from the ground up as a native Eisenhower Matrix. It's 100% free — no premium upsells, no hidden limits.
Native 2×2 Matrix View Quartask's entire interface is the matrix. Tasks live in their quadrants by default. You drag and drop between quadrants as priorities shift. There's no setup, no power-up, no template required.
Completely Free No paywall, no "upgrade to Pro" nag screens, no task limits. You get unlimited tasks, unlimited boards, shared boards, smart reminders, and sticky notes — all free.
Multi-Language Support Quartask supports 7 languages out of the box: English, Chinese, French, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Malay. Switch languages in one click.
No Signup Required You can start using the matrix immediately without creating an account. Sign up later only if you want cross-device sync and sharing.
Sharing & Collaboration Create a board, add tasks to quadrants, and share it with anyone via a link. Perfect for team sprints or family planning.
Cross-Platform Works on web (desktop + mobile browser) and Flutter mobile app (iOS + Android).
Smart Reminders Set per-task reminders that push notifications to your device or email.
If you want a tool that is an Eisenhower Matrix — not one that requires you to hack it into one — Quartask is the best free Eisenhower Matrix app available in 2026.
Todoist is one of the most popular task management apps globally. It has a beautiful UI, natural language input, and powerful filters. But it does not have a native Eisenhower Matrix view.
You can create a label called @Q1, @Q2, etc., then filter tasks by label. Some users create separate projects for each quadrant. Neither approach gives you a true 2×2 grid.
Great app for general task management. Poor choice for Eisenhower Matrix users because it lacks a native quadrant view.
Trello's board-and-card system is incredibly flexible. You can create a board with four lists named "Q1: Do", "Q2: Schedule", "Q3: Delegate", "Q4: Delete" and drag cards between lists.
Set up four lists per board. Use labels for urgency/importance colours. It works, but it's not a true quadrant — it's a linear list view that represents the concept.
A clever workaround, but not a native matrix. The free tier is restrictive for serious users.
Notion can do almost anything with enough setup. You can build a beautiful Eisenhower Matrix database with linked databases, formulas, rollups, gallery views, and automation.
If you already live in Notion and love building custom systems, it works. For everyone else, the setup cost is too high.
TickTick is an underrated task manager with built-in Pomodoro timer, habit tracking, and a calendar view. It does not have a native Eisenhower Matrix, but it has a "Priority Matrix" widget on mobile.
The mobile widget shows a 2×2 grid, but it's limited:
The matrix widget is a nice touch, but it's a secondary feature. Not suitable if the matrix is your primary workflow.
| Feature | Quartask | Todoist | Trello | Notion | TickTick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native matrix view | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ⚠️ Widget only |
| Free | ✅ 100% free | ⚠️ Limited free | ⚠️ Limited free | ⚠️ Limited free | ⚠️ Limited free |
| Multi-language (7+) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ 4 languages |
| No signup required | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Shared boards | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ Not free |
| Reminders | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Pro only | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mobile app | ✅ Flutter (native) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Setup time | Under 1 minute | Under 5 mins | Under 10 mins | 20-45 mins | Under 5 mins |
| Real quadrant drag-and-drop | ✅ Yes | ❌ Labels only | ⚠️ List reorder | ❌ Database only | ❌ No |
| If you... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Want a native Eisenhower Matrix that just works | Quartask |
| Already use Todoist and don't mind labels | Todoist |
| Prefer Kanban-style workflows | Trello |
| Live in Notion and love building custom systems | Notion |
| Want Pomodoro + tasks + habits in one app | TickTick |
The Eisenhower Matrix is a powerful framework — but its effectiveness depends on how consistently you use it. A good app removes friction so you actually stick with the practice.
For most people, the best free Eisenhower Matrix app in 2026 is Quartask: native, free, multi-language, and usable in under 5 seconds with no signup.
Try Quartask - the free digital Eisenhower Matrix app with unlimited tasks, smart reminders, and 7 language support.
Start Free - No Signup →Join thousands of professionals using Quartask to prioritize tasks and boost productivity.