Mindwtr vs Nirvana
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Nirvana
To-do list app built around the Getting Things Done method
Free plan · from $3/mo
Where they differ
- Mindwtr is free. Nirvana starts at $3 per month, billed annually ($36/year).
- Only Mindwtr lists a Linux app.
- Only Nirvana lists a web app.
- Mindwtr is open source, according to its own site.
- Mindwtr also covers natural-language input, kanban boards and Pomodoro timer.
In commonFree planmacOSWindowsiOSAndroidTasks
At a glance
| Mindwtr | Nirvana | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $3 per month, billed annually ($36/year) |
| Free plan | Every feature is free under the AGPL-3.0 license with no account, ads or subscription, and the docs state there is no paid tier. Development is funded by optional donations and sponsorships. | Basic account: unlimited to-dos, up to 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, with sync across devices and email capture. It does not expire. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Dongda Li | Nirvanahq, Inc. |
| Price read from | mindwtr.app | nirvanahq.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Mindwtr
- People who follow Getting Things Done and want the method built in
- Keeping tasks on your own devices with no account
- Linux users who want the same app on desktop and phone
- Syncing through Dropbox, WebDAV, iCloud or a server you run
Nirvana
- People who follow Getting Things Done and want its lists ready-made
- Solo users who want one task system on web, desktop and phone
- Connecting an AI client such as Claude or Cursor to a to-do list
Worth knowing
Mindwtr
- It is built for one person: the site says it is not designed for shared workspaces, task assignments or team discussion.
- There is no hosted web app. The browser version (PWA) has to be self-hosted, stores data in localStorage and lacks some desktop features.
- The maker runs no sync service of its own, so syncing depends on iCloud, Dropbox, WebDAV, a shared folder or a server you host.
- It is maintained by one developer and funded by donations through Ko-fi and GitHub Sponsors.
Nirvana
- Basic accounts are capped at 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, and recurring to-dos need Pro.
- Pro has no free trial, and the vendor gives no refunds and does not prorate a cancelled billing period.
- The AI assistant is a beta for Pro early-access members on the web and desktop apps, and it has no calendar integration.
- No Linux app is listed. The apps page names Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web browser.
Key features
Mindwtr
- Guided GTD workflow
- Inbox, Next, Waiting For and Someday lists with projects, areas and contexts. Inbox processing is guided and applies the two-minute rule, and wizards walk through daily and weekly reviews.
- Focus, calendar and board views
- Focus shows a time-based agenda next to the next actions. A calendar plans dated tasks and subscribes to external calendars and ICS feeds, and a Kanban board moves tasks between status lists.
- Quick capture
- Tasks are added by a global hotkey, the tray, the share sheet, a widget or voice, and the quick-add line reads contexts and due dates as you type. Spoken tasks are transcribed into the Inbox.
- Local data with sync you choose
- Tasks are stored as SQLite and JSON on the device. Sync is optional and runs through iCloud, Dropbox, a folder, WebDAV or a self-hosted server, and a JSON export serves as a backup.
- Import from other task apps
- Importers bring in tasks from Todoist, TickTick, DGT GTD and OmniFocus, and the desktop app can import an Obsidian vault with links back to the source notes.
- Optional AI, local API and MCP
- An AI assistant is off by default and uses your own provider key or a local model. The desktop app has a token-authenticated localhost REST API, and an MCP server lets AI tools manage tasks.
Nirvana
- Built-in GTD lists
- To-dos move between Inbox, Next, Waiting, Scheduled and Someday lists, and a Focus list collects the ones you star for attention now.
- Projects, areas and reference lists
- Projects group related to-dos, areas of focus separate parts of your life, and reference lists hold material that is not actionable. Basic accounts cap all three.
- Tags, contexts and filters
- Filter to-dos by tags, areas, contacts, energy and time required to see what is practical for where you are and how much time you have.
- Capture and Focus by email
- Forwarding an email to your Nirvana address turns it into a to-do, and the Focus list can be emailed to you on chosen days of the week.
- Scheduled and recurring to-dos
- Scheduled to-dos stay out of the actionable lists until their start date, and due dates can be set on to-dos and projects. Recurring to-dos need Pro.
- AI assistant and MCP server
- A built-in assistant, in beta for Pro early-access members, runs guided reviews. An MCP server lets clients such as Claude and ChatGPT read and create tasks; updating them needs Pro.
Plans
Mindwtr
Free$0
All features on every platform, including sync through a service you choose, import, backup, the local API and the MCP server.
Nirvana
Free$0
The GTD lists, tags and contexts, notes and checklists, sync and email capture, with up to 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas.
Pro$3
per month, billed annually ($36); $5 billed monthly
Everything in Free, plus unlimited projects, areas and reference lists, recurring to-dos and priority support.
Ways to pay less
Mindwtr
No public discounts listed.
Nirvana
- Annual discount
40% off Pro with yearly billing
Pro costs $5 a month billed monthly or $36 a year, which works out to $3 a month. The pricing page labels the yearly option as 40% off.
