TaskPaper vs Todo.txt

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

Todo.txt

• People who want their task list in a file they fully control
• Command-line users who add and complete tasks from a shell
• Using several apps and editors against one shared text file

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.

Todo.txt

• The official tool is a command-line script. The project's own Android and iOS apps were archived on GitHub in December 2020.
• The core format covers priority, dates, projects and contexts only. Due dates and other fields rely on key:value conventions set by each tool.
• No sync is built in; the README suggests placing the todo.txt directory on a cloud drive.
• On Windows the script is listed as tested under Cygwin, and the README gives install steps only for macOS and Linux.

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.

Todo.txt

One task per line of plain text

A todo.txt file holds a single task on each line, so it can be read, searched, sorted and edited in any text editor on any operating system.

Priorities, projects and contexts

A leading (A) to (Z) sets priority, and +Project and @context markers can sit anywhere in the line. Tools may add key:value pairs such as due:2010-01-02.

todo.sh command-line script

Actions such as add, do, pri, append and replace change the file from a shell, and list shows the tasks matching your terms sorted by priority.

Archiving and reports

The archive action moves completed tasks from todo.txt to done.txt, and report records the number of open and done tasks in report.txt.

Add-ons and custom actions

The script loads custom actions from an actions directory, and the project wiki keeps a directory of add-ons and filters written by community members.

Community apps and editor plugins

The project site lists community-built apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and the web, plus editor plugins, that all read the same file.

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.

Todo.txt

• Free$0

  The full todo.sh command-line script and the open todo.txt format, under the GNU General Public License v3.0.