Microsoft To Do vs TeuxDeux

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

TeuxDeux

• People who want a to-do list that works like a paper planner
• Planning day by day without alerts or notifications
• Phone-only users, since the iOS and Android apps are free

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.

TeuxDeux

• The web app needs a subscription after the 7-day trial; without one the website reverts to read-only.
• To-dos have no alerts or reminders by design; the only notification is the optional Daily Digest email.
• An internet connection is required to use TeuxDeux.
• Shared lists are read-only for viewers, and the App Store listing is for iPhone only.

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.

TeuxDeux

A list for every day

To-dos are written on the list for a calendar day and reordered by drag and drop, in a layout meant to feel like a paper to-do list.

Automatic rollover

To-dos that are not finished today move to tomorrow's list on their own, so nothing has to be rescheduled by hand.

Recurring to-dos in plain words

Adding a phrase such as "every weekday" or "every other week" to the end of a to-do makes it repeat. Recurring to-dos can also be edited and sorted from a sidebar.

Someday lists

Undated lists for goals and bucket lists sit below the daily lists and are grouped in tabs. A someday list can be shared through a link, read-only.

Focus mode

A single-column view that shows only the current day's list, with a choice of backgrounds and a timer for a work session.

Daily Digest email

An optional email with the day's to-dos, sent at a time you choose. Replying to the email adds to-dos to that day's list.

Microsoft To Do

• Free$0

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

TeuxDeux

• Mobile apps$0

  The iOS and Android apps, which the vendor says are free to use without a subscription.

• Yearly$3

  per month, billed annually

  Web app plus mobile apps, with week view, Focus mode, customizable recurring to-dos, custom holidays, search and undo delete.

• Monthly$4

  per month, billed monthly

  The same features as the Yearly plan, paid month to month.

Microsoft To Do

No public discounts listed.

TeuxDeux

• Annual discount

  Yearly billing saves 25%

  The pricing page lists $3 per month billed annually against $4 billed monthly, which it describes as a 25% saving.

• Education

  Discounted rate for students and teachers

  The pricing page asks students and teachers to email the support team for a discounted rate. The size of the discount is not published.