Todoist vs Microsoft To-Do: Comparison & Breakdown (2024)

Todoist and Microsoft To-Do can be used for better task management and both are fairly similar. Let's compare them, breakdown and help you choose.

If you’re considering Microsoft To-Do and Todoist, you’re likely looking for a new to-do list application that will help you organize tasks, manage lists, and plan your day.

Microsoft To-Do and Todoist are popular applications with solid features, even in their free versions. On the other hand, you’re probably not interested in more advanced options like Akiflow and Motion, which are geared toward more complex task management needs.

In this article, we’ll compare Microsoft To-Do and Todoist to help you decide which suits you better. We’ll look at Microsoft’s robust task management system with its decent free offering versus Todoist, a more comprehensive task management system with newly added Google Calendar integration. We’ll break down the differences in features to help you make an informed choice.

Table of Contents

• Basics & what they do
• Best features for Todoist & Microsoft To-Do
• Pricing breakdown
• Which one is the most suitable for you?

Basics

Understanding Todoist & Microsoft To-Do

Let's commence with some of the outlines of what both of these applications do for your task management and how you can use them:

What is Microsoft To-Do?

Microsoft builds Microsoft To-Do as a task management app for Microsoft 365. It is a free to-do list app that many people use to manage tasks and share with others; notable features include "My Day" and project lists.

Microsoft To-Do used to be Wunderlist. In 2017, Wunderlist was acquired and turned into Microsoft To-Do, which offers this as a free app. It is available on iOS, Android, web, Windows & macOS.

What is Todoist?

Todoist is a task management app for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. Millions use it to manage tasks and reminders, add calendar events, and organize daily schedules.

Todoist allows you to organize tasks in Kanban boards and calendar view and includes quick capture abilities for on-the-go capture of tasks, links, and ideas. Teams use it with a dedicated team workspace experience for small-to-medium-sized teams.

Deal: Todoist

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Todoist

Todoist is one of the best to-do list applications with all-round natured features.

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Pros & Cons

Strengths & Weaknesses

Todoist and Microsoft To-Do come with good and bad bits, here are some of those:

Pros:

• Todoist is fast and reliable, allowing you to manage and use it on a wide range of devices. Its mobile application and desktop one perform reliably, so you don’t have any speed issues.
• Reasonably priced: Todoist's pricing is reasonably fair compared to some of the daily planner applications on the market. It will soon add calendar abilities, which will make it a lot more attractive in terms of pricing and value for money.
• Comes with a range of views that provide good functionality for both basic users and pro users who want to push the envelope a little bit further with the task application.

Cons:

• Has a reasonable development cycle. It isn’t as fast as some other to-do applications like Motion and Akiflow on the market in adding new features, but they tend to have a much slower development cycle, with good quality features that come out and that make sense to the general use of the Todoist application.
• It is quite basic in terms of its design and function. Some other applications offer much more wide-ranging views and abilities when it comes to customizing the look.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Free for all access
• Perfect for MS365 users
• You can share lists with others
• Connects with Outlook for email

Cons:

• Not as lovely UI and design
• It doesn't come with many features

Pricing:

Microsoft To-Do is a free application if you have a personal Microsoft account.

Feature Breakdown

Comparison: Todoist vs Microsoft To-Do

Microsoft To-Do: My Day & Suggestions

When comparing the features of Microsoft To-Do and Todoist, let's begin with what Microsoft To-Do offers. One standout feature is "My Day," which allows you to plan your day using personalized suggestions. This feature pulls from your existing tasks and projects to help you focus on what needs to be done today.

Microsoft To-Do: Outlook Flagged Emails

Microsoft To-Do integrates well with Outlook, especially with its flagged emails feature. Any emails you tag as important in Outlook automatically show up in your task list, linking directly back to the original email for context.

General features in Microsoft To-Do

The app provides some basic views, such as My Day and Planned, which are the most advanced in Microsoft To-Do. Tasks are grouped under the "Tasks" section, where you can view all tasks across different projects. You can also create subtasks, add notes, and set recurring tasks, making it easy to manage ongoing projects. Collections (which are essentially folders) help you organize tasks further.

You can share tasks and projects with others via Microsoft, making collaboration straightforward. Microsoft To-Do is available across multiple platforms, including iPhone, Android, web, and Mac, offering good flexibility and integration, particularly within the Microsoft ecosystem.

While the features are essential, they are robust enough for day-to-day task management.

Todoist: Boards

On the other hand, Todoist offers a much more extensive feature set. It includes an Inbox for quickly capturing tasks, which can then be organized into projects. Projects in Todoist can be managed using Kanban boards—a feature not available in Microsoft To-Do. This allows for better visual collaboration and organization. Todoist also lets you break down tasks into sections within projects, apply custom views, and set priority levels, due dates, and more.

Todoist: Customizations

Todoist excels in customization and team collaboration, offering features like templates to save time on setup and detailed analytics for team accounts.

You can organize tasks into three priority levels, and the Premium version even allows you to integrate with Google Calendar. This integration enables time blocking, a popular method among those who prefer visual task management. The "Upcoming" view provides a week-ahead look at your tasks, allowing you to adjust and manage your workload effectively.

General features in Todoist

Todoist also offers more customization options, including themes and features like "Karma," which gamifies productivity by awarding points for completed tasks. The Command Bar Search function and various capture abilities, including voice commands with Siri, add to its efficiency in quickly capturing tasks.

Which features are best for who?

Todoist offers a far more advanced and customizable experience than Microsoft To-Do, particularly with features like Kanban boards, calendar integration, and detailed project management tools.

While Microsoft To-Do is a solid choice for essential task management, especially if you're within the Microsoft ecosystem, Todoist's broader and deeper feature set makes it a more powerful tool for those who need more flexibility and advanced task management options. If you're looking for a more feature-rich experience, especially with premium capabilities like calendar integration and Kanban boards, Todoist is the clear winner.

Getting Started

Video Tutorials

Video Tutorial: How does Microsoft To-Do work?

Pricing Breakdown

Microsoft To-Do vs Todoist: Pricing

When comparing the pricing of Microsoft To-Do and Todoist, it's crucial to recognize that Microsoft To-Do is entirely free, which is a significant advantage, especially if you have no budget for a task management tool. On the other hand, Todoist offers a premium plan at $4 per user per month, billed annually. This cost difference is significant, but it doesn't mean Todoist should be dismissed outright.

Is Microsoft best even though it is free?

Microsoft To-Do's free offering is highly appealing, particularly if your budget is zero. However, Todoist also provides a free plan that includes up to five personal projects. While some features, like calendar integration and certain modes, are locked behind the premium plan, the free version still offers a solid set of features that can be sufficient for many users. This makes Todoist's free plan worth considering, even though it's more limited than the premium version.

Why should you consider Todoist pricing?

Microsoft To-Do's integration with the broader Microsoft ecosystem adds further value, making it a natural choice if you're already using Microsoft products. This integration allows Microsoft to offer the tool for free as part of a larger suite of services. In contrast, Todoist's premium pricing is competitive within the task management market, offering a decent range of features at a lower cost than other premium options.

In summary, while Microsoft To-Do's free pricing is unbeatable, it's important not to overlook Todoist, especially since its free plan offers valuable functionality, and its premium pricing remains affordable compared to other task management apps.

How much does Microsoft To-Do cost?

Microsoft To-Do is free - all you need is an active Microsoft account.

How much does Todoist cost per month?

Todoist has a few pricing options for individuals and teams:

Is Todoist free?

Todoist offers a free plan with five personal projects & unlimited tasks.

Verdict

Is Todoist better than Microsoft To-Do?

To determine which to-do list app is right for you, focus on the features that align with your daily needs. For instance, Microsoft To-Do could be a great fit if you are deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem and regularly use Microsoft 365 products. However, if you're not heavily invested in Microsoft, Todoist might be a better option.

It's crucial to define your needs before making a decision. Microsoft To-Do and Todoist are solid applications that cater to different audiences. Todoist is more of a generalist app with powerful features like calendar integration and board views, ideal for those who want more detailed project management.

On the other hand, Microsoft To-Do is a simple yet effective tool that integrates well with other Microsoft products. It is a good choice if you're looking for a free, reliable option that connects with Outlook and similar apps.

Should I go with Microsoft To-Do?

While Microsoft To-Do may not offer a high level of depth or frequent updates, it still offers a robust, straightforward experience. It's not the most visually appealing app, but its integration and ease of use compensate. Microsoft To-Do is a strong candidate if you prioritize finding a free tool that helps you manage basic tasks and lists.

Should I go with Todoist?

Todoist, however, is designed for those who need more advanced features. It allows you to connect with Google Calendar, manage projects using boards, and collaborate with your team without switching to a tool like Microsoft Planner. Although Todoist has a broader range of features, including filters, labels, and team collaboration tools, it does come with a cost if you opt for the Pro version.

Our Recommendation

In summary, we'd recommend Todoist over Microsoft To-Do, especially if you seek a comprehensive, feature-rich experience. However, if your budget is tight and you don't need anything beyond essential task management, Microsoft To-Do could be the better choice. Todoist offers a more versatile and well-rounded experience for those not tied to the Microsoft ecosystem.

More Alternatives for Task Management

Here are some more recommendations if Microsoft To-Do & Todoist don't fit the bill.