# TaskPaper

> Plain-text to-do lists with an outliner, for Mac

TaskPaper is a Mac app that keeps to-do lists as plain text files. Each line is formatted as a project, task or note as you type, tags such as @due and @done add structure, and an outliner underneath lets you fold, focus on and filter long lists. Its developer, Hog Bay Software, describes it as finished software that is kept current with macOS, and sells it as a one-time purchase from its own site or the Mac App Store. It is also offered through Setapp.

- **Category:** To-Do List Apps
- **Made by:** Hog Bay Software (since 2006)
- **Website:** https://www.taskpaper.com
- **Runs on:** macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 6, 2026

## Pricing

TaskPaper is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $24.99 one-time purchase.

- **Pricing model:** Free trial
- **Free plan:** None.
- **Free trial:** 1-week trial of the direct download from taskpaper.com.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. |

Read from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/taskpaper-plain-text-to-dos/id1090940630?mt=12 on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with TaskPaper before buying.

## Mac App Store prices by country

"The app", as each country's Mac App Store showed it on Oct 9, 2026. These are the app's prices, not the website's.

| Country | Price | In US dollars |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | $0.99 | |
| United Kingdom | £0.99 | about $33.00 (32% more) |
| Germany | 0,99 € | about $33.55 (34% more) |
| Canada | $0.99 | about $24.53 (about the same) |
| Australia | $1.99 | about $27.77 (11% more) |
| India | ₹ 99 | about $25.82 (about the same) |
| Brazil | R$ 6,90 | about $29.88 (20% more) |
| Mexico | $19.00 | about $27.70 (11% more) |
| Turkey | ₺49,99 | about $26.41 (6% more) |
| Indonesia | Rp 19ribu | about $27.85 (11% more) |
| Philippines | ₱ 49.00 | about $23.65 (5% less) |
| South Africa | R19.99 | about $30.03 (20% more) |

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

## Worth knowing

- 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.

## Works with

Apple Reminders, iCloud Drive, MindNode, OmniFocus, Tinderbox

**Tags:** Tasks, Keyboard-first, Local-first, One-time purchase

## Alternatives

- [Todo.txt](https://toolgpa.com/tools/todo-txt): Plain-text to-do list format with an open-source command-line tool. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/taskpaper-vs-todo-txt)
- [Things 3](https://toolgpa.com/tools/things): Personal task manager for Apple devices, sold as a one-time purchase. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/taskpaper-vs-things)
- [OmniFocus](https://toolgpa.com/tools/omnifocus): Project-based task manager for Apple devices, with a web companion. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/omnifocus-vs-taskpaper)
- [Checkvist](https://toolgpa.com/tools/checkvist): Keyboard-driven online outliner and task list. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/checkvist-vs-taskpaper)
- [Godspeed](https://toolgpa.com/tools/godspeed): Keyboard-driven to-do manager for Mac, iOS and the web. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/godspeed-vs-taskpaper)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026:

- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/taskpaper-plain-text-to-dos/id1090940630?mt=12
- https://www.taskpaper.com/
- https://www.taskpaper.com/releases/
- https://www.taskpaper.com/guide/
- https://www.taskpaper.com/guide/using-taskpaper/using-dates-and-reminders.html
- https://www.taskpaper.com/guide/using-taskpaper/fold-focus-and-filter.html
- https://www.taskpaper.com/guide/using-taskpaper/making-lists.html
- https://www.taskpaper.com/guide/using-taskpaper/using-scripts.html
- https://support.hogbaysoftware.com/t/how-does-my-license-work/2665
- https://support.hogbaysoftware.com/t/what-s-the-difference-between-taskpaper-com-and-mac-app-store-versions/1692
- https://support.hogbaysoftware.com/t/what-other-apps-support-taskpapers-file-format/1114
- https://checkout.paddle.com/api/2.0/prices?product_ids=501879&customer_country=US

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/taskpaper
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).