Microsoft To Do vs MinimaList
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Microsoft To Do
Free to-do list from Microsoft that syncs with Outlook tasks
MinimaList
Pared-back to-do list and reminder app for iPhone and iPad
Where they differ
- Microsoft To Do is free. MinimaList starts at $2.99 per month, or $5.99 as a lifetime purchase (US App Store).
- Only Microsoft To Do lists a web app.
- Only Microsoft To Do lists Windows and Android apps.
- MinimaList also covers natural-language input and Pomodoro timer.
At a glance
| Microsoft To Do | MinimaList | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $2.99 per month, or $5.99 as a lifetime purchase (US App Store) |
| Free plan | The whole app is free: lists, My Day, due dates, reminders, steps, notes, shared lists and up to 25MB of file attachments on a task. | Free to download and use. The App Store listing says Premium gives full access to premium features, but does not say which features those are. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Microsoft Corporation | Inner Grow Limited |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
MinimaList
- iPhone users who want a pared-back list with reminders
- People who like a Pomodoro timer next to their tasks
- Sharing a grocery list with someone else who uses an iPhone
Worth knowing
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.
MinimaList
- Apple only: iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, plus Macs with an M1 chip or later, where it runs as the iPad app. No Android, Windows or web version is listed.
- The listing's description quotes Premium at $0.99 a month or $5.99 a year, but its in-app purchase list shows Pay Monthly at $2.99 and several lifetime options.
- Neither the vendor's site nor the App Store listing says which features are free and which need Premium.
- A link to a shared list must be opened in Safari, according to the App Store listing.
Key features
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.
MinimaList
- Colored lists and custom themes
- Separate lists serve different purposes and can be color-coded. The background, font style and size, and notification sounds can all be changed.
- Reminders
- Reminders can be based on a time or a location and can repeat. A reminder can be set to snooze itself automatically up to three times.
- Smart input
- A time written inside a task phrase is detected automatically and set as the task's reminder. Tasks also take a memo and sub-tasks.
- Focus Timer
- A built-in timer offers Pomodoro, countdown and count-up modes with sound effects.
- Widgets and Siri
- Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets show lists, tasks can be created and completed from the Today widget, and Siri can add a reminder to MinimaList.
- Sync, sharing and calendar
- Lists sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac, a list can be shared with other people through a link, and tasks can sync with Apple Calendar.
Plans
Microsoft To Do
Free$0
Every feature of the app, signed in with a personal Microsoft account or a work or school account.
MinimaList
Free$0
The list and reminder app itself. The listing does not say which features are held back for Premium.
Pay Monthly$2.99
per month
Premium as a monthly subscription, as shown in the in-app purchase list. The app description quotes $0.99 a month instead.
Boost Productivity$5.99
billing period not shown on the App Store listing
Listed among the in-app purchases without a term. The app description quotes a Premium price of $5.99 a year.
Lifetime Premium (best offer)$5.99
one-time purchase
A lifetime Premium purchase. A second item, Lifetime (special offer), is listed at the same $5.99.
Lifetime VIP (50% off)$8.99 to $9.99
one-time purchase; the App Store lists two prices
A lifetime purchase listed twice under the same name, at $8.99 and at $9.99.
Lifetime Family$14.99
one-time purchase
A lifetime purchase labelled for family use.
Ways to pay less
Microsoft To Do
No public discounts listed.
MinimaList
- Lifetime license
Lifetime purchases from $5.99
The US App Store lists Lifetime Premium (best offer) and Lifetime (special offer) at $5.99, Lifetime VIP (50% off) at $8.99 and $9.99, and Lifetime Family at $14.99.
