Todo.txt vs ToDoList

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

ToDoList

• Windows users who want a free, detailed task outliner
• People who keep their tasks in local files instead of an online account
• Planners who want Gantt, kanban and workload views in one program
• Small teams sharing a tasklist on a network drive

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.

ToDoList

• It is a Windows program. The vendor's install notes cover running it on Linux through Wine, not a native Linux build.
• Sharing works by check-out: only one person can edit a shared tasklist at any given time.
• The Evidence Board, Logged Time, Mind Map, Week Planner and Word Cloud views need the Visual C++ 2015 runtime and .NET Framework 4.6.2.
• There is no installer: it is unzipped by hand, and the vendor advises against placing it in Program Files (x86).

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.

ToDoList

Nested tasks and subtasks

Any task can hold subtasks, which can hold subtasks of their own, so a large project breaks down into smaller steps. Dragging one task onto another makes it a subtask.

Detailed task attributes

Tasks carry priority, risk, time estimate and time spent, percent done, start and due dates, categories, status, version and the people they are allocated to.

Alternative task views

Besides the task tree there are kanban board, Gantt chart, calendar, workload and burndown views, plus plugin views such as Mind Map, Week Planner, Evidence Board and Word Cloud.

Comments and file links

Each task has plain or rich text comments, which can embed images, and a file link field for local or network files, web and email addresses, Outlook folders or other tasks.

Import and export

Tasks import from Microsoft Outlook, GanttProject, FreeMind, MyLifeOrganized or a plain outline, and export to the same applications as well as HTML, CSV and iCalendar.

Portable install and shared tasklists

It ships as a zip that runs from a hard drive, USB stick, network share or synced cloud folder. A check-out system lets a team share one tasklist, one editor at a time.

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.

ToDoList

• Free$0

  The full Windows program with every task view and plugin. The plugin source code carries the Eclipse Public License 1.0.