OmniFocus vs Tasks

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

Tasks

• One task app across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
• Projects whose stages go beyond to do and done
• People who prefer a lifetime purchase to a subscription
• Small shared projects where only the owner pays

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.

Tasks

• Apple devices only: the vendor says Tasks is not available on Windows or Android, and its web app is still in beta testing.
• Custom workflows, advanced fields, Smart Lists, automation and project sharing all need Tasks Plus.
• Connecting an AI assistant is free, but adding it to a project counts as sharing and so needs Tasks Plus.
• The listed prices are for the US storefront; the vendor notes that local App Store prices and tax can differ.

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.

Tasks

Natural-language capture

Typing a sentence such as "Team meeting every Monday at 4pm" sets the date and the repeat. Tasks can also be added with Siri, from the Share Extension or by pasting a whole list.

Custom statuses and kanban boards

A project can have its own statuses, fields and task types, and can be laid out as a board whose columns are created, renamed and rearranged to fit the work.

Focus timer and time tracking

A timer starts from any task and records time task by task. It can block distracting apps while it runs and stays visible on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.

Repeats and location reminders

Recurring reminders follow a fixed schedule or restart after completion, and a location reminder brings a task back on arriving at or leaving a place.

Shared projects and AI assistants

People invited to a project can be assigned tasks and comment on them. ChatGPT, Claude or another MCP assistant can join as a collaborator labelled Agent, with access that can be revoked.

Apple system integration

More than 50 App Intents work with Siri, Shortcuts and Spotlight, alongside widgets, an Apple Watch app, Focus Filters and two-way sync with Apple Reminders.

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.

Tasks

• Free$0

  Capture tasks, organize projects and use Tasks across supported Apple devices.

• Tasks Plus$3.99

  per month, or $24.99 per year

  Custom workflows, fields and Smart Lists, automation, project sharing where only the owner needs Plus, and AI assistants as project collaborators.

• Family Plus$7.99

  per month, or $49.99 per year

  Tasks Plus as a Family Sharing purchase through the App Store, managed with an Apple ID.

• Individual lifetime$69.99

  one-time purchase

  The complete individual Tasks Plus feature set bought once, with no recurring renewal.

• Family lifetime$99.99

  one-time purchase

  The lifetime purchase as a Family Sharing option, with no renewal.

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.

Tasks

• Annual discount

  Yearly Tasks Plus costs about 48% less

  Tasks Plus is $3.99 per month or $24.99 per year, so paying yearly costs about 48% less than twelve monthly payments.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime purchase from $69.99

  A single App Store purchase unlocks the individual Tasks Plus feature set for $69.99 with no renewal; the Family Sharing lifetime option is $99.99.