The TaskPaper Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about TaskPaper 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.
TaskPaper
The Insider’s Guide
Plain-text to-do lists with an outliner, for Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among to-do list apps, read from TaskPaper’s own pages.
Made by Hog Bay Software · checked Oct 6, 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 TaskPaper’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on TaskPaper’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 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
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about TaskPaper, taken from its own pages and our grades.
If you can type, you can start: the formatting happens as you write, with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for plain-text to-do lists on a Mac, bought once
TaskPaper keeps your to-do list as a plain text file on your Mac and lays an outliner over it, so you can fold, focus and filter a list from the keyboard.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $24.99 one-time purchase.
- 3
You can try it first
1-week trial of the direct download from taskpaper.com
- 4
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 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.
TaskPaper at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $24.99 one-time purchase
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 1-week trial of the direct download from taskpaper.com
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Hog Bay Software, since 2006
- Category
- To-Do List Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for plain-text to-do lists on a Mac, bought once
TaskPaper keeps your to-do list as a plain text file on your Mac and lays an outliner over it, so you can fold, focus and filter a list from the keyboard. It's $24.99 once, with only a 1-week trial on the direct download. Its developer calls it finished software, so no big new features are coming, it's Mac only, and its own guide calls phone capture and notifications weak.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $24.99 once, from the Mac App Store or straight from taskpaper.com. That's about half a year of this category's $3.99 a month middle plan, and then it's yours for good. A direct-download license covers three activations. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan. The direct download from taskpaper.com has a 1-week trial, which asks for no card but doesn't give you long. The listing mentions no trial for the Mac App Store version, so start with the direct one. |
| Features | C | Type a line and it becomes a project, task or note. Tags like @due and @done add structure, and you can fold a list or save a search such as not @done. It does that outlining job fully, and it's a smaller job: its own guide calls phone capture and notifications weak and says to pair it with Apple Reminders. |
| Ease of use | B | If you can type, you can start: the formatting happens as you write, with nothing to set up. The power stuff, like the search syntax, stylesheets and scripts, takes some reading. There's no rating on record to go by, so it stops at a B. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Mac only, on macOS 11 or later. There's no iOS, Windows or web version from Hog Bay. The files are plain text, so other developers' apps can open them elsewhere, and it trades tasks with Apple Reminders. Still, the app itself lives on one system. |
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 TaskPaper is for
- Fits if you want your to-do list in a plain text file that any editor can open
- Works for people who'd rather pay $24.99 once and script it with JavaScript or AppleScript
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want the same app on your phone, as it's Mac only, on macOS 11 or later
- Not for you if you rely on reminders that buzz, because its own guide calls notifications a weak area
- Not for you if you want new features, as the developer calls it finished software
- Tight if you want a long look first, since the trial is 1 week and only on the direct download
- Watch out: the direct-download license allows three activations and doesn't support iCloud directly
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$24.99 one-time
To start
TaskPaper is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $24.99 one-time purchase.
A direct-download license covers three activations.
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.
Trying it first
1-week trial of the direct download from taskpaper.com
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 6, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for the app, against $24.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 1,490.00 | $23.72 | 5% less |
| Canada | $34.99 | $24.60 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 2,499 | $25.83 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺1.299,99 | $26.44 | 6% more |
| Brazil | R$ 149,90 | $29.95 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R499.99 | $30.24 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £24.99 | $33.04 | 32% more |
| Germany | 29,99 € | $33.61 | 34% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Plain-text to-do lists with an outliner, for Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: local-first, one-time purchase, keyboard-first, tasks.
Type a line and it becomes a project, task or note.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Apple Reminders
- iCloud Drive
- MindNode
- OmniFocus
- Tinderbox
TaskPaper is made by Hog Bay Software, and has been around since 2006.
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
TaskPaper'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 value for money (A, above 69 of 123) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 124 to-do list apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. TaskPaper’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 69 of 123
- CFree plan and trialAbove 6 of 123
- CFeaturesAbove 8 of 123
- BEase of useAbove 56 of 123
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 123
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 TaskPaper for yourself: tasks. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $24.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Tasks: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Apple Reminders, iCloud Drive and MindNode among them.
- Hooks into the device itself: Siri.
What this rests on. TaskPaper’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
Todo.txt, Things 3, OmniFocus, Checkvist and Godspeed
The 5 tools TaskPaper is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Todo.txt
Free
Plain-text to-do list format with an open-source command-line tool.
- Todo.txt has a free plan. TaskPaper does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Todo.txt lists Linux and Windows apps.
- TaskPaper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Things 3
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
Personal task manager for Apple devices, sold as a one-time purchase.
- Only Things 3 lists an iOS app.
- Things 3 also covers Markdown, natural-language input and calendar.
- 2.4GPA
OmniFocus
Free trial · from $74.99 one-time
Project-based task manager for Apple devices, with a web companion.
- Only OmniFocus lists a web app.
- Only OmniFocus lists an iOS app.
- OmniFocus is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Checkvist
Free plan · from $3.9/mo
Keyboard-driven online outliner and task list.
- Checkvist has a free plan. TaskPaper does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only TaskPaper lists a macOS app.
- Only Checkvist lists a web app.
- 2.4GPA
Godspeed
Free trial · from $48/yr
Keyboard-driven to-do manager for Mac, iOS and the web.
- Only Godspeed lists a web app.
- Only Godspeed lists an iOS app.
- TaskPaper can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
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 TaskPaper free?
No, TaskPaper is a paid product, but you can try it first. 1-week trial of the direct download from taskpaper.com.
How much does TaskPaper cost?
TaskPaper lists 2 plans. Mac App Store License: $24.99 one-time purchase.
What platforms does TaskPaper work on?
TaskPaper is available on macOS.
Does TaskPaper have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. TaskPaper is listed for macOS.
Does TaskPaper have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. TaskPaper is listed for macOS.
Is TaskPaper open source?
TaskPaper is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does TaskPaper integrate with?
TaskPaper's listing names Apple Reminders, iCloud Drive, MindNode, OmniFocus and Tinderbox.
Who makes TaskPaper?
TaskPaper is made by Hog Bay Software. It dates from 2006.
What are the alternatives to TaskPaper?
The closest alternatives to TaskPaper in our directory are Todo.txt, Things 3, OmniFocus, Checkvist and Godspeed.
How does TaskPaper compare with other to-do list apps?
TaskPaper's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 27 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 20.
Could I make my own version of TaskPaper?
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 TaskPaper’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Hog Bay Software's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-23.
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 Hog Bay Software. Prices change, so check taskpaper.com before you buy.
- apps.apple.com/us/app/taskpaper-plain-text-to-dos/id1090940630?mt=12
- taskpaper.com/
- taskpaper.com/releases/
- taskpaper.com/guide/
- taskpaper.com/guide/using-taskpaper/using-dates-and-reminders.html
- taskpaper.com/guide/using-taskpaper/fold-focus-and-filter.html
- taskpaper.com/guide/using-taskpaper/making-lists.html
- taskpaper.com/guide/using-taskpaper/using-scripts.html
- support.hogbaysoftware.com/t/how-does-my-license-work/2665
- support.hogbaysoftware.com/t/what-s-the-difference-between-taskpaper-com-and-mac-app-store-versions/1692
- support.hogbaysoftware.com/t/what-other-apps-support-taskpapers-file-format/1114
- checkout.paddle.com/api/2.0/prices?product_ids=501879&customer_country=US
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
- TaskPaper, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/taskpaper
- 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, "TaskPaper: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/taskpaper
Know someone choosing between to-do list apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/taskpaper/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded to-do list apps after TaskPaper, 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 TaskPaper’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. TaskPaper is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Hog Bay Software. Prices and plans change: check taskpaper.com before you buy.