Amazing Marvin vs Lunatask

Amazing Marvin

• People who want to shape a task manager around their own workflow
• People who struggle with procrastination or feel overwhelmed by long lists
• Planning a day with time estimates and time blocks
• Linux users who want a desktop app

Lunatask

• Keeping tasks, habits, mood and a journal in one private app
• People with ADHD, whom the vendor says the app was designed for
• Students and teachers, who can request a 50% discount

Amazing Marvin

• There is no free plan; when the 14-day trial ends, tasks cannot be added or completed until you subscribe.
• Monthly billing is $12; the $8 price applies only when paying $96 for a year.
• There are no dedicated iPad apps; the vendor says tablets can use the web app.
• Time tracking needs an internet connection, and the Zapier integration can only create tasks in Marvin.

Lunatask

• The Free plan stops at 2 areas of life, 7 daily habits and 30 relationships, and calendar integrations and weekly habits need Premium.
• There is no web app and no official browser extension; saving web pages relies on a bookmarklet or community-built extensions.
• Task metadata such as status, priority and dates is stored unencrypted, and the API cannot read end-to-end encrypted content.
• Premium has no free trial and a no-refund policy. The lifetime purchase is not sold in the mobile apps, and discount coupons do not work in the Mac App Store version.

Amazing Marvin

Switchable features and workflows

More than 100 features can be turned on or off, and the vendor describes workflows for day planning, list-based work, spontaneous work and GTD.

Day planning and time blocking

Plan a day or week with time estimates, a calendar view and time blocks. A capacity estimator gives feedback on whether the plan is realistic.

Focus tools

Super Focus Mode shows a single task at a time, Spotlight runs focus sessions of 1 to 3 hours, and a built-in timer supports Pomodoro intervals.

Calendar sync

External calendars such as Google Calendar sync one-way into Marvin or two-way, and events can be imported as events, tasks or time blocks.

Habits and gamification

Track habits and streaks, and earn points, levels and rewards for completed work.

Offline use and API

Tasks are saved on the device first and synced when online, so the desktop and mobile apps keep working without a connection. An API is documented on GitHub.

Lunatask

Task lists that prioritize themselves

Tasks are prioritized automatically, with a work-in-progress limit, timers and time estimates. The Eisenhower Matrix and Must/Should/Want workflows need Premium.

Daily calendar and time blocking

Planned tasks and habits can be dragged onto a daily calendar to block time. Connecting Google, Outlook or iCloud calendars to see events alongside is a Premium feature.

Habit tracker

Habits have customizable recurrence, current and record streaks and reminder notifications. Free covers 7 daily habits; weekly habits need Premium.

Mood tracking and journal

A mood and emotion tracker sits alongside a journal with a customizable entry template and PIN protection. Energy and stress trackers are Premium.

Notes and relationships

Notes and notebooks support Markdown, sharing and PIN protection. A personal CRM keeps details about friends and family with reminders to get back in touch.

End-to-end encryption and API

Text is encrypted on your device before it syncs, and encryption is always on. A public API and Zapier can create and update items but cannot read encrypted data.

Amazing Marvin

• Marvin Pro$8

  per month, billed annually ($96); $12 billed monthly

  Every feature, unlimited tasks and projects, custom workflows and views, analytics, all apps and personal email support.

Lunatask

• Free$0

  2 areas of life, 7 daily habits and 30 relationships, with time blocking, timers, a work-in-progress limit, notes, journaling and Zapier.

• Premium$6

  per month, paid annually; $8 paid monthly

  Unlimited areas, habits and relationships, calendar integrations, Eisenhower Matrix, Must/Should/Want, weekly habits and note templates.

• Lifetime Premium$300

  one-time payment

  Premium for a single payment. Sold in the Windows, Linux and Mac DMG apps, not in the mobile apps or the Mac App Store version.

Amazing Marvin

• Annual discount

  Save 33% with annual billing

  The pricing page lists a 33% saving on the annual plan: $96 a year, equal to $8 a month, against $12 when billed monthly.

• Education

  50% off for students

  Students get 50% off the monthly or the yearly plan. The discount is claimed by emailing the vendor.

• Other savings

  Reduced price on request for financial hardship

  The vendor says it does not want finances to prevent anyone from using Marvin and invites people who cannot afford the regular price to email for a price that works.

Lunatask

• Annual discount

  25% off Premium when paid annually

  Premium costs $8 a month when paid monthly or $6 a month when paid annually, which is 25% less.

• Education

  50% off for students and teachers

  A 50% discount coupon for the monthly and yearly plans is sent on request to a school-issued email. It does not apply to the lifetime purchase or the Mac App Store version.

• Nonprofit

  Discount extended to selected nonprofits

  Lunatask says it extends the 50% discount on request to selected nonprofit organizations supporting charitable causes and to emergency workers.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Premium for a one-time $300

  A lifetime Premium license costs a single payment of $300, bought in the Windows, Linux or Mac DMG apps. It is not offered in the mobile apps or the Mac App Store version.