Amazing Marvin vs Pagico (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Amazing Marvin if

• Fits if other to-do apps felt like someone else's system and you'll spend time setting one up
• Works for Linux users who want a desktop app that syncs to their phone

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want a free plan, as there's only a 14-day trial and then you can't add or complete tasks
• Pricey if you want one simple list, at $96 a year, or $12 a month billed monthly
• Skip it if you want to open an app and just type, because there's setting up to do first
• Watch out: there's no iPad app, so tablets get the web version, and time tracking needs an internet connection
• Tight if you rely on Zapier, as the Zapier integration can only create tasks in Marvin

Pick Pagico if

• Fits if you want a one-time purchase with your data stored locally
• Works for a small team sharing workspaces at a flat monthly price

Look elsewhere if

• Watch out: updates after year one need Personal Premium at $3 a month or a team plan
• Skip it if you want a free plan, as only a trial is offered
• Tight if you want email-to-task or public sharing, which are premium cloud features
• Watch out: the pages give the trial as 15 days and as 2 weeks in different places

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.

Pagico

• The desktop app has no free plan, only a trial; the free mobile apps are companions to it.
• Software updates after the first year need a paid Personal Premium or team plan, though licenses do not expire.
• Email-to-task, email workflow features and public sharing are premium cloud features.
• The pages give 15 days and 2 weeks as the trial length in different places.

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.

Pagico

One database for everything

Projects, clients, notes, files, emails and checklists are stored together, so action items can sit next to meeting notes.

Timelines and dashboards

Turns task lists into timelines and offers custom dashboards that show project status.

Rapid Day Planner

A daily planning view based on the Ivy Lee method.

Browser extension

Turn a web page into a task from the Pagico browser extension.

Local data with optional cloud sync

Data stays on the device by default; Personal Cloud syncs across computers and phones, and the vendor says shared data is encrypted with 256-bit AES on its servers.

Team workspaces

Selectively sync projects and contacts with teammates, assign tasks and chat in real time.

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.

Pagico

• Single User License$65

  one-time per user, permanent license

  Pagico 10 for macOS, Windows and Ubuntu, with a complimentary first year of the Personal Premium plan.

• Extra seat$5

  one-time per extra computer

  For additional computers owned by the same person, added to a version 10 license.

• Personal Premium$3

  per month, billed annually ($36 a year)

  Add-on for an existing license: free software updates and a 4GB personal cloud with premium service features.

• Partners Plan$5

  per month for 2 users

  Personal Premium plus one extra license for a partner and unlimited team workspaces. An add-on that requires an existing license.

• Small Team Plan$25

  per month for up to 5 members

  One price for the team: four teammate licenses, unlimited team workspaces and free software updates.

• Large Team Plan$50

  per month for up to 10 members

  One price for the team: nine teammate licenses, unlimited team workspaces and free software updates.

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.

Pagico

• Education

  Student and faculty license at $39

  The store lists the single-user license at $39 instead of $65 for faculty and students; a photo of a valid student ID is required after checkout.