DayCaptain vs Ellie

DayCaptain

• Keyboard-oriented people who time-box their tasks each day
• Developers who want a REST API for their tasks and schedule
• Planning at a desk, then checking the plan from a phone browser

Ellie

• People who plan by timeboxing tasks next to calendar events
• Emptying your head into a brain dump list before scheduling
• Buyers who prefer a one-time payment to a subscription

DayCaptain

• There is no native mobile app; phones and tablets use the browser, and the vendor recommends planning on a computer with a keyboard.
• There is no free plan: after the 14-day trial a subscription of at least €10 / $12 per month is required.
• Google and Outlook calendars are imported one way, so time slots planned in DayCaptain are not sent back to them.

Ellie

• The Free plan leaves out timeboxing, calendar integrations, recurring tasks, labels, subtasks and due dates.
• There is no Android app. Ellie runs on Mac, Windows, the web, iPhone and iPad.
• The AI Assistant requires Pro and is described as being in beta.
• Ellie is built and supported by one developer, according to its About page.

DayCaptain

Keyboard usability concept

Every action can be triggered from the keyboard with mnemonic keys on the home row; pressing T, for example, focuses the task list.

Task list and calendar side by side

Each day has its own task list, ordered by importance, and tasks are assigned time slots on the calendar shown next to it.

Guided day and week planning

Step-by-step planning processes lead through setting up the day and reviewing the coming week, after which the plan acts as a guide through the day.

Backlogs

Tasks, to-dos and ideas that are not yet scheduled are kept in backlog lists, with filters to narrow what a view shows.

Google and Outlook calendar import

Events created in Google or Outlook calendars are imported automatically. Data flows into DayCaptain only, not back to the calendar.

REST API

A REST API lets developers build their own tools and extensions for managing tasks and time in DayCaptain.

Ellie

Brain Dump

A holding list for getting tasks out of your head before deciding when to do them. It is included in the Free plan.

Timebox

Drag tasks onto a calendar next to your Google, Apple or Outlook events to plan the day hour by hour. Timebox mode is part of Pro.

Recurring tasks and rituals

Repeating tasks for routines, plus daily planning and daily shutdown rituals and roll-over of unfinished tasks.

Time tracking and analytics

A task timer with Pomodoro, estimated and actual time on tasks, and analytics that show how time was spent.

AI Assistant

Creates and updates tasks in bulk, estimates time and schedules work through conversation. It is a Pro feature and is described as being in beta.

Capture and integrations

Forward an email to turn it into a task, and connect Notion, Todoist, Slack, Zapier and Siri. The iOS app includes widgets.

DayCaptain

• Monthly subscriptionFrom $12 (€10)

  per month; you choose the amount above the minimum

  One subscription with every feature. The vendor suggests paying the equivalent of one hour at your hourly rate.

Ellie

• Free$0

  Unlimited tasks and Brain Dump, with access on iPhone, iPad and the web.

• Pro$9.99

  per month, billed monthly

  Adds Timebox mode, Google and Apple Calendar, recurring tasks, labels, subtasks, due dates, reminders and the AI Assistant. Yearly billing saves 20%.

• Lifetime$299.99

  one-time purchase

  The same current features as Pro for a single payment, with no recurring subscription.

DayCaptain

No public discounts listed.

Ellie

• Annual discount

  Save 20% with yearly billing

  Ellie's pricing page lists a 20% saving on Pro when it is billed yearly instead of monthly.

• Education

  50% off for students and teachers

  Students and teachers can get 50% off the yearly plan by emailing the developer to request a discount.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime plan for $299.99

  A one-time $299.99 purchase includes the same current features as Pro, with no recurring subscription.