Clear vs Microsoft To Do

Clear

• People who want a list app with as little interface as possible
• Shared grocery or packing lists with people who do not have the app
• Users motivated by sounds, themes and unlockable rewards

Microsoft To Do

• People who already use Outlook or Microsoft 365
• Anyone who wants a to-do list with no paid tier
• Sharing simple lists with family or coworkers

Clear

• Reminders, repeating tasks, archiving, widgets and the Apple Watch app all require Clear Pro.
• Cloud sync between devices and Clear Web are Pro features that are still labeled beta.
• Clear Pro's billing terms are not on the vendor's site; the App Store lists it at $3.99 and Google Play shows in-app purchases from $3.99 to $29.99.
• Some shared-list controls, such as member limits and removing people, are marked as iPhone first.

Microsoft To Do

• Signing in requires a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account.
• Lists can be shared only between personal Microsoft accounts or between accounts in the same workplace or school.
• No Linux app is listed; the vendor names Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the web.

Clear

Gesture controls

Every action is a gesture: swipe right to complete, swipe left to delete, pull down to create, pinch apart to insert between two rows, and shake to undo.

Heat-map lists

Each list is colored as a heat map that highlights the most important tasks. A long press picks up an item so it can be dragged to a new position.

Shared lists

A list is shared with a link that opens in the iPhone app, the Android app or a browser with nothing to install. Edits reach every device at once, and sharing does not need Pro.

Themes, sounds and collectibles

There are 398 themes, about 150 app icons, more than 80 fonts and 20 sound packs. Completing tasks drops collectibles at random; 9 themes are free and the rest come with Pro.

Reminders and repeating tasks

Clear Pro adds reminders and deadlines with Complete, Reschedule and Snooze actions, along with repeating tasks and list archiving.

Widgets, Apple Watch and sync

Pro members get interactive Home and Lock Screen widgets, the Apple Watch app, and Clear Cloud sync with Clear Web, which the vendor labels beta.

Microsoft To Do

My Day

A daily list that resets every night. Tasks left unfinished go back to the Tasks list and appear among the next day's suggestions.

Lists, steps and notes

Tasks sit in lists and can have due dates, reminders, notes, a breakdown into steps and up to 25MB of attached files.

Shared lists

A list is shared by sending an invitation link, and it stays in sync as members make changes. Access can later be limited to current members or switched off.

Outlook and Planner

Tasks are stored in Exchange Online, so they show up in both To Do and Outlook Tasks. Flagged email can be handled as tasks, and Planner tasks can be seen in To Do.

Sync across devices

Signing in with the same account on each device keeps lists in step; the vendor says the app updates every 5 seconds.

Tasks API

Microsoft points developers to the public Outlook Tasks REST API for reading and updating the tasks that To Do stores.

Clear

• Free$0

  All 10 signature gestures, 9 themes, every icon and font, 20 sound packs, shared lists with real-time collaboration and iCloud backup.

• Clear Pro$3.99

  billing period not shown on the App Store listing

  389 more themes with per-list theming, reminders, repeating tasks, archiving, widgets, the Apple Watch app, and Clear Cloud sync with Clear Web in beta.

Microsoft To Do

• Free$0

  Every feature of the app, signed in with a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account.