sleek vs TaskPaper

sleek

• People who keep their tasks in a plain todo.txt file
• Using one task file from several todo.txt apps
• Desktop users who want a free graphical todo.txt app
• Keyboard users: the app is navigable with shortcuts

TaskPaper

• People who want their to-do list in a plain text file they control
• Keyboard-centered outlining of projects and tasks on a Mac
• Buyers who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription
• Users who like to customize an app with scripts and stylesheets

sleek

• Desktop only: sleek is offered for Windows, macOS and Linux, with no mobile or web version.
• Tasks live in todo.txt files, and the README and wiki describe no built-in sync service, so sharing a file between devices is left to other tools.
• The Flatpak build runs in a sandbox and needs extra file permissions before it can reopen a todo.txt file after a restart.
• The README says the backlog is growing while capacity is limited, and asks for contributors and sponsors.

TaskPaper

• Mac only, requiring macOS 11 or later. There is no iOS, Windows or web version, though other developers' apps can edit TaskPaper files.
• The developer calls it finished software and does not expect to add big new features.
• The user guide describes phone capture and notifications as weak areas and suggests pairing it with Apple Reminders.
• The direct-download version allows three activations and does not support iCloud directly, unlike the Mac App Store version.

sleek

Works on todo.txt files

sleek opens existing todo.txt files or creates new ones and can manage several at once. A file watcher picks up changes made to a file by other todo.txt apps.

todo.txt attributes with pickers

Todos carry priorities, contexts, projects, due dates, recurrence, threshold dates for deferred todos and pomodoro intervals, set by typing the syntax or through built-in pickers.

Filter, sort, group and search

Todos can be filtered, sorted and grouped by any attribute, with the order of each group invertible, and an advanced search accepts filter expressions based on todo.txt syntax.

Recurring todos and notifications

Marking a recurring todo complete creates the next one, and due dates can trigger notifications.

Archiving completed todos

Completed todos can be shown, hidden or archived into a separate done.txt file.

Markdown and human-friendly dates

Descriptions support Markdown, including links with custom protocols such as file://. Due and threshold dates can be typed as spoken dates, and todos can be created multi-line or in bulk.

TaskPaper

Plain text files

Lists are saved as plain text .taskpaper files that can be opened in any text editor or in compatible apps that other developers have written for iOS, Windows and Linux.

Auto-formatted projects, tasks and notes

Each line becomes a project, task or note as you type, and @tags add structure. Tagging a task @done crosses it out, and a command archives finished items.

Fold, focus and filter

Collapse sub-lists, zoom into a single project, or filter by tag, type or content with logical searches such as "not @done". Searches can be saved for reuse.

Dates in plain text

A date palette inserts ISO 8601 dates for tags such as @due and @start, chosen with the arrow keys or typed in TaskPaper's date and time syntax.

Import and export with Apple Reminders

Reminders captured on a phone, for example with Siri, can be imported with their due dates and priorities, and selected items can be exported to the Reminders app.

Stylesheets and scripting

Appearance is set by LESS/CSS stylesheets, and scripts written in JavaScript or AppleScript can automate the app and be run from its command palette.

sleek

• Free$0

  The complete app from the Mac App Store, Microsoft Store, Snap Store, Flathub, Homebrew, the AUR or a direct download.

TaskPaper

• Mac App Store License$24.99

  one-time purchase

  Bought through the Mac App Store and tied to an Apple account. This version is sandboxed and supports iCloud directly.

• Direct Download License$24.99

  one-time purchase

  License key bought through Paddle from taskpaper.com after a 1-week trial. One license allows three activations.