Amazing Marvin vs Sunsama

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

Sunsama

• Professionals who want a fixed routine for planning each workday
• Pulling tasks from several work tools into one daily list
• Linux users: desktop apps cover macOS, Windows and Linux

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.

Sunsama

• There is no free plan. Workspace access stops when the 14-day trial ends unless you subscribe.
• The $17 rate requires paying $204 per user for the year; monthly billing is $22 per user.
• SSO, SAML, SCIM and audit logs are limited to the Enterprise plan, which has no public price.
• Workspace data is permanently deleted 30 days after a cancelled subscription ends.

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.

Sunsama

Guided daily planning

A step-by-step routine: review yesterday, add today's tasks, check the predicted workload and set the order. Sunsama can prompt you to start at a set time.

Timeboxing

Drag a task to a time slot, or press X to auto-schedule it. The block shows up in Google, Outlook or iCloud calendar, or on Sunsama's internal calendar.

Tasks from other tools

Bring in work from Asana, Trello, Jira, Linear, Notion, Todoist, Gmail, Slack and others, and plan it alongside tasks created in Sunsama.

Focus mode and Pomodoro

Work on one task at a time with a timer, Pomodoro intervals, break reminders and the option to mute other apps.

Weekly planning and review

A weekly prompt to review where time went and what got done, then set objectives for the week ahead.

AI estimates and channels

Suggests a time estimate and a channel for each new task, based on work you have previously added to Sunsama.

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.

Sunsama

• Pro$17

  per user / month, billed yearly ($204)

  The one self-serve plan: unlimited usage and integrations, AI, MCP and Zapier. $22 per user / month when billed monthly.

• EnterpriseCustom

  Adds SSO and SAML, SCIM, audit logs and custom privacy and data requirements.

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.

Sunsama

• Annual discount

  Save $60 per user with yearly billing

  Sunsama charges $204 per user once a year ($17 per month) on the yearly plan, against $22 per user each month ($264 a year) on monthly billing.

• Education

  Student discount on request

  Actively enrolled college students can email support from a student address to get a discount. It lasts until graduation or four years, whichever comes first.

• Nonprofit

  Non-profit pricing on request

  Sunsama's billing guide says it offers non-profit plans. Organizations apply by sending proof of non-profit status to support.