Todoist vs Microsoft To Do
A detailed comparison of Todoist and Microsoft To Do to help you choose the best tool for your needs in 2026. Microsoft To Do is a 100% free task manager from Microsoft. It syncs with Outlook tasks. There are no premium features —...
Todoist
Todoist is the world's most popular task manager. It's known for its natural language date parsing (type 'tomorrow at 3pm' and it understands). The free tier is generous (5 active projects, 5 collaborators). The Pro plan is $4/month (billed annually). Users who want free alternatives with more features look for options.
PRICING
Free (generous); Pro $4/month (billed annually); Business $6/month
Microsoft To Do
Microsoft To Do is a 100% free task manager from Microsoft. It syncs with Outlook tasks. There are no premium features — everything is free. It's great for users already in the Microsoft ecosystem (Office 365, Outlook).
RATING
4.5Live Data
Todoist
Microsoft To Do
💡 Data sourced from FMHY (Free Media Heck Yeah) and updated regularly. GitHub stars reflect real-time community adoption.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Detailed breakdown of features, pricing, and capabilities
| Feature | Todoist | Microsoft To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid Free (generous) | Free |
| Open Source | ||
| Self-Hosted | — | |
| User Rating | — | 4.5 |
| Migration Difficulty | N/A | Easy |
| Best For | General use | Microsoft ecosystem users who want a free, simple task manager |
Why Choose Microsoft To Do Over Todoist?
100% free task manager from Microsoft, syncs with Outlook
KEY FEATURES
Best For
Microsoft ecosystem users who want a free, simple task manager
Pros & Cons
Todoist
KNOWN FOR
Todoist is the world's most popular task manager. It's known for its natural language date parsing (type 'tomorrow at 3pm' and it understands). The fr...
PAIN POINTS
- Free tier limits: 5 active projects, 5 collaborators
- No built-in time tracking
- Recurring tasks can be clunky to set up
Microsoft To Do
PROS
- Completely free — no paywall
- Syncs with Outlook (Office 365)
- Simple, clean interface
- Great for personal use
- No ads
CONS
- Fewer features than Todoist Pro
- No calendar view (use Outlook calendar)
- Not ideal for team collaboration
Why Consider Switching from Todoist?
Get unlimited projects and collaborators for free
Get built-in time tracking for free
Get calendar view and more features for free
No file size limits on free tier alternatives
Self-host your task manager for 100% privacy
Common Todoist Pain Points
Free tier limits: 5 active projects, 5 collaborators
Impact: Power users hit limits quickly
No built-in time tracking
Impact: Users need a separate app for time tracking
Recurring tasks can be clunky to set up
Impact: Users struggle with complex recurring schedules
No built-in calendar view (Pro only)
Impact: Users need to switch to a calendar app
Attachments limited to 5MB (free)
Impact: Users can't attach large files
How to Migrate from Todoist to Microsoft To Do
- 1
Export your Todoist projects (Todoist Settings → Backups → Download)
- 2
Import into TickTick or Any.do (both support Todoist import)
- 3
Set up natural language date parsing in the new app
- 4
Invite team members to the new app
- 5
Cancel Todoist Pro after confirming the alternative meets your needs
Pro Tips
- TickTick is the best free alternative with calendar view + Pomodoro
- Any.do is best if you also need meeting scheduling
- Microsoft To Do is 100% free — no paywall at all
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free alternative to Todoist?
Yes. TickTick has a generous free tier with calendar view and Pomodoro. Any.do is also free with meeting scheduling. Microsoft To Do is 100% free.
Which Todoist alternative has the best free tier?
TickTick has the most generous free tier — calendar view, Pomodoro timer, and habit tracker are all included for free.
Can I migrate my Todoist tasks to another app?
Yes. Export your Todoist projects as a backup (Settings → Backups), then import into TickTick or Any.do. Both support Todoist import.
Other Todoist Alternatives
Not sure Microsoft To Do is right for you? Check these other options: