Todoist alternatives: 4 free & open-source picks
Compare recorded free and open-source options, their capabilities and operating requirements. Source dates are shown below; licenses, hosted limits and project activity can change.
A local task manager with timeboxing, Pomodoro, and no account begging to be created
licenseMIT
runson your machine
installUse the browser/PWA or install a packaged desktop or mobile build
dataTasks, projects, time records, and settings are local-first in browser or app storage; optional synchronization and backups use the user's chosen WebDAV or Dropbox account
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs TodoistSuper Productivity is primarily a local personal tool and is weaker than Todoist for shared projects, mobile capture, recurring-date language, and integrations.
facts verified 2026-08-10
A capable Todoist replacement once you accept becoming its hosting department
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installUse the paid hosted service or deploy the free server with Docker Compose, a package, or the standalone binary
dataTasks, projects, users, and settings live in SQLite, MySQL/MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, with attachments in a persistent files directory, on the selected host
the catch vs TodoistVikunja adds hosting administration and has less polished native mobile, offline, natural-language, and integration support than Todoist.
setupThe free path requires a server or Docker, persistent volumes, secrets, and normally a reverse proxy with TLS
facts verified 2026-08-10
A polished free task manager, paid for with a Microsoft account rather than money
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installInstall the Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android app, or use the web app, and sign in with a Microsoft account
dataTasks are stored as structured records on Microsoft's Exchange Online servers and surface in Outlook Tasks across synchronized clients
the catch vs TodoistMicrosoft To Do is weaker than Todoist on labels, custom filters, natural-language recurrence, integrations, and collaborative project workflows.
setupRequires a Microsoft account
facts verified 2026-08-10
Things minus the polish tax, provided every device in sight has an Apple logo
licenseproprietary, free
runson your machine
installPreinstalled on iPhone, iPad, and Mac; enable iCloud or another supported reminders account for synchronization
enginesOptional Apple Intelligence can suggest or auto-categorize reminders on supported devices; ordinary task management does not require AI
dataStructured reminder records live in iCloud or another configured reminders account and are cached on Apple devices; iCloud provides account-level restore rather than user-visible task files
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs TodoistApple Reminders is confined to Apple’s ecosystem and is less capable than Todoist for cross-platform collaboration, integrations, and complex filters.
facts verified 2026-08-10
latest recorded source check 2026-08-10 · check current terms at the source
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Productivity | MIT | one-click install | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android | 21,156 | 2026-08 |
| Vikunja | AGPL-3.0+ | docker to self-host | web, macos, windows, linux, self-hosted | 5,000 | 2026-08 |
| Microsoft To Do | proprietary, free | they host it | web, macos, windows, ios, android | — | — |
| Apple Reminders | proprietary, free | one-click install | macos, ios | — | — |
They pay because task capture must be fast everywhere and reminders cannot miss. The recorded subscription totals $84 a year before any costs of an alternative.
Questions about these alternatives
Is there a free alternative to Todoist?
Yes: Super Productivity, Vikunja, Microsoft To Do and 1 more. These are recorded free or open-source options. Compare their feature limits, licenses, hosting costs and current availability before choosing.
Should I just build my own Todoist?
Our verdict is YES. A personal task app with projects, recurring due dates, filters, and reminders is a one-sitting/weekend build; collaboration and sync polish are the product moat. Review the scope, implementation prompt and trade-offs in the Todoist build guide.
