The Task Coach Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Task Coach 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.
Task Coach
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source desktop to-do manager for composite tasks
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among to-do list apps, read from Task Coach’s own pages.
Made by Task Coach developers · checked Nov 12, 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 Task Coach’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Task Coach’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 106 of the 127 other to-do list apps we grade
Task Coach is a free, open-source desktop to-do manager built around tasks that contain subtasks. It adds effort tracking with budgets, categories and notes. Data is kept in an XML file on your own computer.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Task Coach, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for a free desktop to-do list with effort tracking
Task Coach is a free, open-source desktop to-do list with subtasks and effort tracking.
- 2
It is free
Task Coach has no paid plan at all. Everything is free: the site says Task Coach is completely free and it is released under the GNU GPL version 3.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
Tasks and subtasks
Tasks have a subject, description, priority, start and due dates, completion date and an optional reminder, and can recur daily, weekly or monthly.
- 5
List and tree views
View tasks as a flat list or a tree, sort by any attribute, and filter out completed tasks or show only those due today.
- 6
Effort tracking
Track time spent on tasks, set budgets, and view time by effort period, day, week or month.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 106 of 127
That is against the other to-do list apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Task Coach is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Task Coach at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Task Coach developers
- Category
- To-Do List Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free desktop to-do list with effort tracking
Task Coach is a free, open-source desktop to-do list with subtasks and effort tracking. Its latest release on the site is from April 2019, and it has no cloud sync or phone app of its own.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free under the GPL, the whole application, against a to-do middle of $3.99 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with donations accepted and no paid plans. |
| Features | C | Tasks, subtasks, categories, effort tracking and export do the job; there is no built-in sharing. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but it is a program you install and start using with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, Mac and Linux programs only; the Android version is separate and not supported by the project. |
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 Task Coach is for
- Fits if you want a free desktop to-do list that also tracks effort
- Works for people who like nested tasks and categories
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want phone apps or sync, as only a Funambol server option is listed
- Watch out: the site names version 1.4.6, released April 2019, as the latest
- Not for you if you work in a team, as no built-in sharing is described
- Skip it if you want a web version, as it is a desktop program only
Good to know
Good for
- People who break work into nested subtasks on a desktop
- Anyone who wants to log time against tasks without paying
- Users who want data in a local file rather than an account
Worth knowing
- Desktop only: the site lists Windows, Mac, Linux and BSD downloads, and says the Android version is developed separately and not supported by the project.
- The site names version 1.4.6, released April 27, 2019, as the latest release.
- The site's sync option is a Funambol server, rather than a built-in cloud service.
- No built-in team sharing is described on the features page.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Task Coach is free to use.
Free outright, with donations accepted and no paid plans.
Free
$0
The full application, open source under the GPL; the site accepts donations.
The free plan
Everything is free: the site says Task Coach is completely free and it is released under the GNU GPL version 3.
Read from taskcoach.org on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free open-source desktop to-do manager for composite tasks. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, tasks, time tracking.
Tasks, subtasks, categories, effort tracking and export do the job; there is no built-in sharing.
- Tasks and subtasks
- Tasks have a subject, description, priority, start and due dates, completion date and an optional reminder, and can recur daily, weekly or monthly.
- List and tree views
- View tasks as a flat list or a tree, sort by any attribute, and filter out completed tasks or show only those due today.
- Effort tracking
- Track time spent on tasks, set budgets, and view time by effort period, day, week or month.
- Categories and notes
- Assign tasks and notes to user-defined categories.
- Attachments and email drag-in
- Attach files, URLs or email messages by dragging them onto a task; dragging an email from Outlook, Thunderbird, Claws Mail or Apple Mail creates a task.
- Export and print
- Export tasks, notes, effort and categories to HTML and CSV, effort to iCalendar, and print the current view.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Outlook
- Thunderbird
- Claws Mail
- Apple Mail
- iCalendar
Task Coach is made by Task Coach developers.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
106/127
Other to-do list apps it is graded above
Task Coach's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 106 of the 127 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 89 of 127) and worst on features (C, above 8).
Task Coach has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 128 to-do list apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Task Coach’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 70 of 127
- AFree plan and trialAbove 89 of 127
- CFeaturesAbove 8 of 127
- BEase of useAbove 59 of 127
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 19 of 127
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 101 to-do list apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Task Coach 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.
Keep it
Task Coach is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 106 of the 127 other to-do list apps we grade.
What you could make
- Tasks and time tracking: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Outlook, Thunderbird and Claws Mail among them.
- People on the other end: coaches. No app builder makes those.
What this rests on. Task Coach’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
ToDoList, Taskwarrior, Super Productivity, Todo.txt and MyLifeOrganized
The 5 tools Task Coach is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
ToDoList
Free
Free, open-source task outliner for Windows with Gantt and kanban.
- Only Task Coach lists macOS and Linux apps.
- ToDoList also covers kanban boards and Gantt & timelines.
- 2.8GPA
Taskwarrior
Free
Free, open-source to-do list manager for the command line.
- Only Task Coach lists a Windows app.
- Task Coach also covers time tracking.
- 3.4GPA
Super Productivity
Free
Free, open-source to-do app with time tracking and a Pomodoro timer.
- Only Super Productivity lists a web app.
- Only Super Productivity lists iOS and Android apps.
- Super Productivity also covers kanban boards and Pomodoro timer.
- 2.6GPA
Todo.txt
Free
Plain-text to-do list format with an open-source command-line tool.
- Task Coach also covers time tracking.
- 2.4GPA
MyLifeOrganized
Free plan · from $29.99
Outline-based task manager that builds a next-actions list.
- Only Task Coach lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Only MyLifeOrganized lists iOS and Android apps.
- Task Coach is open source, according to its own site.
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 Task Coach free?
Yes. Task Coach is free to use.
How much does Task Coach cost?
Task Coach lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Task Coach work on?
Task Coach is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Task Coach have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Task Coach is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Task Coach have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Task Coach is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Task Coach open source?
Yes. Task Coach is open source, according to its own site.
What does Task Coach integrate with?
Task Coach's listing names Outlook, Thunderbird, Claws Mail, Apple Mail and iCalendar.
Who makes Task Coach?
Task Coach is made by Task Coach developers.
What are the alternatives to Task Coach?
The closest alternatives to Task Coach in our directory are ToDoList, Taskwarrior, Super Productivity, Todo.txt and MyLifeOrganized.
How does Task Coach compare with other to-do list apps?
Task Coach's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 106 of the 127 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 10.
Is Task Coach good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Task Coach A for value for money. Task Coach has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Task Coach?
Task Coach is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Task Coach’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Task Coach's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Task Coach developers. Prices change, so check taskcoach.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Task Coach, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/task-coach
- 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, "Task Coach: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/task-coach
Know someone choosing between to-do list apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/task-coach/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded to-do list apps after Task Coach, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- To-Do List Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 128 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 Task Coach’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. Task Coach is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Task Coach developers. Prices and plans change: check taskcoach.org before you buy.