Microsoft To Do vs OneTask

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

OneTask

• People with tasks split across Google and Microsoft accounts
• Users of Nextcloud, Synology or another CalDAV server
• Anyone who also uses Code Spark's OneCalendar app

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.

OneTask

• There is no web version; the site lists apps for Android 6 and higher, iPhone, iPad, Mac and Windows 10 and 11 only.
• It has no task service of its own: tasks live in a connected Google, Microsoft, iCloud or CalDAV account.
• Google Play and the Microsoft Store label the app as having in-app purchases, but no listing or vendor page shows a price for one.
• The app is titled One Task on Google Play and the Microsoft Store and One Tasks on the App Store, not OneTask.

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.

OneTask

Several task providers in one app

Accounts from Google Tasks, Outlook, Office 365 and iCloud Reminders can be added side by side, so task lists from each appear in one place.

CalDAV task lists

Any third-party CalDAV server can be added with a username, password and server address. Nextcloud, Synology and Mailbox.org have dedicated account types.

Subtasks, due dates and reminders

Tasks can carry subtasks, due dates and reminders, and widgets show tasks outside the app.

Offline use

The site and the Microsoft Store listing both list working offline, without an internet connection, as a feature.

Views, search and theming

The app offers multiple views of task lists, task search and personalized color themes.

Direct sync with no vendor server

The privacy policy says task data is not stored on Code Spark's servers. Google and Microsoft accounts sign in with OAuth 2.0, and the token is stored encrypted on the device.

Microsoft To Do

• Free$0

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

OneTask

• Free$0

  The full app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and Windows, connected to the user's own task accounts.