MyLifeOrganized vs OmniFocus

MyLifeOrganized

• People who plan in deep outlines of projects and subtasks
• GTD users who want contexts, reviews and dependencies in one tool
• Syncing a phone with a Windows PC over private Wi-Fi or working offline

OmniFocus

• People managing many projects on Apple devices
• Workflows built around defer dates, tags and regular project reviews
• Buyers who want to choose between a one-time license and a subscription

MyLifeOrganized

• The Windows app is sold separately in Standard and PRO editions after a 45-day trial; its license prices are not shown in the store listings or included here.
• Recurring tasks, custom views, the calendar view, dependencies and project tracking are Pro features that lock when the 21-day trial ends.
• Cloud sync is a separate subscription, from $4.95 for 30 days to $29.95 for 24 months, with tax or VAT added in some countries.
• The vendor lists apps for Windows, Android and iOS only. The iOS app was last updated in April 2022, and a web version announced in December 2024 has no release date.

OmniFocus

• Native apps are for Apple devices only. Web access comes with the subscription or costs $4.99 a month on top of a license.
• Custom perspectives, Focus mode and automation are Pro features and are not in the $74.99 Standard license.
• There is no free plan; after the 14-day trial the app falls back to a viewer mode.
• Education discounts do not apply to subscriptions or to purchases made through the App Store.

MyLifeOrganized

Unlimited task hierarchy

Tasks nest into subtasks without a depth limit, so a project can be broken down until each action is a manageable size. Zoom narrows the view to one branch.

Automatic next-actions list

The app generates a list of only the actions that need attention now, sorted using the priority of each task and of its parents.

Contexts and Nearby view

Actions can be filtered by context. The Pro Nearby view lists actions for your current GPS location, with reminders when you reach or leave a place.

Dependencies and ordered projects

Pro handles sequential and parallel projects, holding back tasks that cannot start until other tasks are finished, and can require tasks to be completed in order.

Custom views, calendar and workspaces

Pro adds custom views with filtering, sorting and grouping, a calendar view of daily workload, project tracking and workspace tabs for switching between views.

Cloud, Wi-Fi or offline

The paid MLO Cloud service syncs mobile devices with the Windows desktop app and lets several people share a task list. Sync over your own Wi-Fi and offline use are also possible.

OmniFocus

Projects, folders and tags

Actions are grouped into projects and folders and labeled with tags, flags, due dates and defer dates. Repeat schedules handle recurring work.

Forecast

Shows upcoming actions together with calendar events. Calendar integration is available in the native apps but not in the web version.

Review

A review mode steps through projects at a regular interval, such as once a week, so that projects and goals stay current.

Custom perspectives and Focus (Pro)

Pro adds custom perspectives, which are saved views built from filtering and grouping rules in a perspective editor, along with Focus mode.

Automation (Pro)

Pro runs Omni Automation plug-ins and, on Mac, AppleScripts.

Encrypted sync

Syncing through the free Omni Sync Server or a server of your own is described by the vendor as end-to-end encrypted. The web version requires Omni Sync Server.

MyLifeOrganized

• Free$0

  Mobile apps with unlimited task hierarchy, automatic next actions, context filters, inbox, starred tasks, zoom, reminders and templates.

• MLO Cloud Sync$19.95

  for 12 months; $4.95 for 30 days up to $29.95 for 24 months

  Subscription that syncs task lists between devices and the Windows app and allows sharing a list. Also sold in 3-month ($7.95) and 6-month ($12.95) terms.

• MLO v3 Pro (iOS)$29.99

  in-app purchase; billing basis not shown on the listing

  Keeps the Pro features after the 21-day trial: calendar view, custom views, recurring tasks, dependencies, workspaces, Nearby view and review.

OmniFocus

• OmniFocus for the Web Subscription$4.99

  per month, or $49.99 per year

  Browser access as an add-on. Requires an existing OmniFocus setup on Mac, iPad, iPhone or Apple Vision Pro.

• v4 Standard License$74.99

  one-time purchase

  Version 4 with all 4.x updates on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, with the standard feature set.

• OmniFocus Subscription$99.99

  per year

  The latest Pro version on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro plus web access, with no charge for major version upgrades.

• v4 Pro License$149.99

  one-time purchase

  Version 4 with all 4.x updates, plus the Pro features: custom perspectives, Focus mode and automation.

MyLifeOrganized

• Other savings

  Lower monthly cost on longer Cloud Sync terms

  MLO Cloud Sync costs $4.95 for 30 days, $19.95 for 12 months (about $1.66 a month) or $29.95 for 24 months (about $1.25 a month).

• Other savings

  Upgrade pricing for iOS version 2 owners

  The App Store listing shows Pro v3 upgrades for owners of version 2 at $19.99, or $9.99 for owners of the v2 HD edition, against $29.99 for a new Pro purchase.

OmniFocus

• Lifetime license

  One-time v4 license instead of a subscription

  A v4 Standard ($74.99) or Pro ($149.99) license is bought once and kept, with all 4.x updates included, as an alternative to the $99.99 yearly subscription.

• Education

  Education pricing on licenses

  Staff, faculty and students of accredited educational organizations can buy discounted licenses from Omni's Educational Store. Subscriptions and App Store purchases are excluded.

• Other savings

  Quantity discount on perpetual licenses

  Each license beyond the first in the same transaction takes a further 5% off the whole order, up to 30%. The discount is not available on subscriptions.

• Other savings

  Family sharing through an Omni Account

  A personal license or subscription can unlock the apps for immediate family members living in the same household. OmniFocus for the Web access cannot be shared.

• Other savings

  Upgrade pricing for owners of versions 1 to 3

  The purchase page says upgrade discounts are available. The App Store listing shows upgrades from v1-v3 at $37.49 for v4 Standard and $74.99 for v4 Pro, half the full license prices.