The Nirvana Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Nirvana in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Nirvana
The Insider’s Guide
To-do list app built around the Getting Things Done method
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among to-do list apps, read from Nirvana’s own pages.
Made by Nirvanahq, Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Nirvana’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Nirvana’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 27 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade
Nirvana is a to-do list app modeled on the Getting Things Done method, with Inbox, Next, Waiting, Scheduled and Someday lists built in. To-dos can be grouped into projects and areas of focus and filtered by tags, energy and time required. It runs in a browser and as Mac, Windows, iOS and Android apps, with a free Basic account and a paid Pro plan that removes the limits.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Nirvana, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The lists come ready-made, which saves you building them, but the habit is still yours to learn.
- 1
Best for ready-made GTD lists on every device
There's no Pro trial, no refunds, no calendar integration and no Linux app.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $3 per month, billed annually ($36/year).
- 3
There is a free plan
Basic account: unlimited to-dos, up to 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, with sync across devices and email capture. It does not expire.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
- 5
Built-in GTD lists
To-dos move between Inbox, Next, Waiting, Scheduled and Someday lists, and a Focus list collects the ones you star for attention now.
- 6
Projects, areas and reference lists
Projects group related to-dos, areas of focus separate parts of your life, and reference lists hold material that is not actionable. Basic accounts cap all three.
- 7
Tags, contexts and filters
Filter to-dos by tags, areas, contacts, energy and time required to see what is practical for where you are and how much time you have.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 27 of 123
That is against the other to-do list apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A to-do list at its plainest is tasks with dates, repeats and a box to tick.
Nirvana at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $3 per month, billed annually ($36/year)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Nirvanahq, Inc., since 2009
- Category
- To-Do List Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for ready-made GTD lists on every device
Nirvana sets up Getting Things Done for you, with Inbox, Next, Waiting, Scheduled and Someday lists on the web, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. The free account stops at 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, and repeating to-dos need Pro at $36 a year. There's no Pro trial, no refunds, no calendar integration and no Linux app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | $36 a year, $3 a month, which sits in the broad middle of this category's $2.42 to $5.00 range, or $5 if you pay monthly. Be sure before you buy, because there's no trial of Pro, no refunds, and nothing back if you cancel mid-period. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Basic never expires and includes unlimited to-dos, sync across devices and capture by email. But 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas is a tight frame for GTD, and repeating to-dos need Pro, so the weekly shop won't repeat itself. |
| Features | C | The GTD loop itself is complete: Inbox, Next, Waiting, Scheduled, Someday, a starred Focus list, projects, areas, reference lists and filters by tag, energy and time. Around it there are holes the listing admits, with no calendar integration and the AI review assistant still a Pro beta. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and GTD is a method you have to know: Next against Waiting against Someday, energy and time filters, weekly reviews. The lists come ready-made, which saves you building them, but the habit is still yours to learn. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android, with sync on the free account too, plus an MCP server that connects Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code and Gemini CLI to your lists. Only Linux is missing. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Nirvana is for
- Fits if you follow Getting Things Done and want the lists already set up
- Works for one task system across the web, your desktop and your phone
Who it is not for
- Tight if you're staying free and juggle more than 5 projects, 3 reference lists or 2 areas
- Not for you if half your tasks repeat and you won't pay, since repeating to-dos need Pro
- Skip it if you want your tasks beside your calendar, as there's no calendar integration
- Watch out: Pro has no free trial, no refunds and no proration if you cancel mid-period
- Watch out: the AI assistant is a Pro early-access beta, and no Linux app is listed
Good to know
Good for
- People who follow Getting Things Done and want its lists ready-made
- Solo users who want one task system on web, desktop and phone
- Connecting an AI client such as Claude or Cursor to a to-do list
Worth knowing
- Basic accounts are capped at 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, and recurring to-dos need Pro.
- Pro has no free trial, and the vendor gives no refunds and does not prorate a cancelled billing period.
- The AI assistant is a beta for Pro early-access members on the web and desktop apps, and it has no calendar integration.
- No Linux app is listed. The apps page names Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web browser.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Nirvana has a free plan. Paid plans start at $3 per month, billed annually ($36/year).
Be sure before you buy, because there's no trial of Pro, no refunds, and nothing back if you cancel mid-period.
Free
$0
The GTD lists, tags and contexts, notes and checklists, sync and email capture, with up to 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas.
Pro
$3
per month, billed annually ($36); $5 billed monthly
Everything in Free, plus unlimited projects, areas and reference lists, recurring to-dos and priority support.
The free plan
Basic account: unlimited to-dos, up to 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, with sync across devices and email capture. It does not expire.
Read from nirvanahq.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
40% off Pro with yearly billing
Pro costs $5 a month billed monthly or $36 a year, which works out to $3 a month. The pricing page labels the yearly option as 40% off.
Stated on nirvanahq.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Nirvana Pro”, against $4.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺94,99 | $1.93 | 61% less |
| India | ₹ 469 | $4.85 | about the same |
| South Africa | R84.99 | $5.14 | about the same |
| Australia | $7.49 | $5.23 | about the same |
| Indonesia | Rp 599ribu | $33.50 | 571% more |
| Canada | $49.00 | $34.44 | 590% more |
| Brazil | R$ 177,90 | $35.54 | 612% more |
| Mexico | $799.00 | $43.90 | 780% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
To-do list app built around the Getting Things Done method. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, tasks.
Around it there are holes the listing admits, with no calendar integration and the AI review assistant still a Pro beta.
- Built-in GTD lists
- To-dos move between Inbox, Next, Waiting, Scheduled and Someday lists, and a Focus list collects the ones you star for attention now.
- Projects, areas and reference lists
- Projects group related to-dos, areas of focus separate parts of your life, and reference lists hold material that is not actionable. Basic accounts cap all three.
- Tags, contexts and filters
- Filter to-dos by tags, areas, contacts, energy and time required to see what is practical for where you are and how much time you have.
- Capture and Focus by email
- Forwarding an email to your Nirvana address turns it into a to-do, and the Focus list can be emailed to you on chosen days of the week.
- Scheduled and recurring to-dos
- Scheduled to-dos stay out of the actionable lists until their start date, and due dates can be set on to-dos and projects. Recurring to-dos need Pro.
- AI assistant and MCP server
- A built-in assistant, in beta for Pro early-access members, runs guided reviews. An MCP server lets clients such as Claude and ChatGPT read and create tasks; updating them needs Pro.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Claude
- ChatGPT
- Cursor
- VS Code
- Claude Code
- Gemini CLI
Nirvana is made by Nirvanahq, Inc., and has been around since 2009.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
27/123
Other to-do list apps it is graded above
Nirvana's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 27 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 20.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 108 of 123) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 6).
Its paid plans start at $3 a month, against a middle price of $3 for the category: 33 of the 68 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 8 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 124 to-do list apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Nirvana’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 123
- CFree plan and trialAbove 6 of 123
- CFeaturesAbove 8 of 123
- CEase of useAbove 10 of 123
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 108 of 123
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 99 to-do list apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Nirvana is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A to-do list at its plainest is tasks with dates, repeats and a box to tick.
You could make the core of Nirvana for yourself: tasks. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. It costs $36 a year.
What you could make
- Tasks: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Nirvana’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Everdo, FacileThings, OmniFocus, Things 3 and Todoist
The 5 tools Nirvana is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Everdo
Free plan · from $39.99 one-time
Offline-first GTD task manager sold as a one-time purchase.
- Only Nirvana lists a web app.
- Only Everdo lists a Linux app.
- Only Everdo lists a browser extension.
- 2.2GPA
FacileThings
Free trial · from $7/mo
Web-based personal organizer that walks you through GTD.
- Nirvana has a free plan. FacileThings does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Nirvana lists macOS and Windows apps.
- FacileThings also covers calendar and goals.
- 2.4GPA
OmniFocus
Free trial · from $74.99 one-time
Project-based task manager for Apple devices, with a web companion.
- Nirvana has a free plan. OmniFocus does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Nirvana lists Windows and Android apps.
- OmniFocus is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Things 3
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
Personal task manager for Apple devices, sold as a one-time purchase.
- Nirvana has a free plan. Things 3 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Nirvana lists a web app.
- Only Nirvana lists Windows and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
Todoist
Free plan · from $5/mo
Cross-platform to-do list with natural-language task entry.
- Only Todoist lists a Linux app.
- Only Todoist lists a browser extension.
- Todoist also covers templates, natural-language input, calendar and kanban boards.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Nirvana free?
Nirvana has a free plan. Basic account: unlimited to-dos, up to 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, with sync across devices and email capture.
How much does Nirvana cost?
Nirvana lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Nirvana work on?
Nirvana is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Does Nirvana offer any discounts?
Nirvana publicly lists the following: 40% off Pro with yearly billing.
Does Nirvana have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Nirvana is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is Nirvana open source?
Nirvana is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Nirvana integrate with?
Nirvana's listing names Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code and Gemini CLI.
Who makes Nirvana?
Nirvana is made by Nirvanahq, Inc. It dates from 2009.
What are the alternatives to Nirvana?
The closest alternatives to Nirvana in our directory are Everdo, FacileThings, OmniFocus, Things 3 and Todoist.
How does Nirvana compare with other to-do list apps?
Nirvana's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 27 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 20.
Is Nirvana good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Nirvana C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3 a month, against a middle price of $3 for the category: 33 of the 68 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Nirvana?
A to-do list at its plainest is tasks with dates, repeats and a box to tick.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Nirvana’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Nirvana's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-25.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Nirvanahq, Inc. Prices change, so check nirvanahq.com before you buy.
- nirvanahq.com/pricing
- nirvanahq.com/
- nirvanahq.com/features
- nirvanahq.com/apps
- nirvanahq.com/about
- nirvanahq.com/help/how-to/pro-and-basic
- nirvanahq.com/help/how-to/upgrade
- nirvanahq.com/help/how-to/billing
- nirvanahq.com/help/how-to/rapid-entry
- nirvanahq.com/help/how-to/reference-lists
- nirvanahq.com/help/how-to/areas
- nirvanahq.com/help/how-to/focus-list
- nirvanahq.com/help/ai/using-the-chat-panel
- nirvanahq.com/help/ai/mcp-setup
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Nirvana, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/nirvana
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Nirvana: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/nirvana
Know someone choosing between to-do list apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/nirvana/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded to-do list apps after Nirvana, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- To-Do List Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 124 to-do list apps we grade, compared
- Apple Reminders Insider's GuideApple's free to-do app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch3.6 GPA
- Microsoft To Do Insider's GuideFree to-do list from Microsoft that syncs with Outlook tasks3.6 GPA
- Google Tasks Insider's GuideGoogle's to-do list, built into Gmail, Calendar, Chat and Docs3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Nirvana’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Nirvana is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Nirvanahq, Inc. Prices and plans change: check nirvanahq.com before you buy.