The Tasks.md Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Tasks.md 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.
Tasks.md
The Insider’s Guide
Self-hosted kanban board that stores cards as Markdown files
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among to-do list apps, read from Tasks.md’s own pages.
Made by Matheus Baldissara (BaldissaraMatheus) · checked Oct 9, 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 Tasks.md’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Tasks.md’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 6 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade
Tasks.md is an open-source, self-hosted task board that keeps its data as plain files. Every lane on the board is a directory and every card is a Markdown file, so the same tasks can be read in a text editor or in a notes app such as Obsidian. It installs from a single Docker image, runs in the browser and can be added to a device as a PWA.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Tasks.md, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There's no hosted version to sign up for.
- 1
Best for a kanban board made of Markdown files
Tasks.md is a kanban board where every lane is a folder and every card is a Markdown file, so your tasks also open in a text editor or Obsidian.
- 2
It is free
Tasks.md has no paid plan at all. Tasks.md is free, open-source software under the MIT license with no paid plans. The user supplies the server, and the maintainer accepts one-time sponsorship donations.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Board of lanes, cards and tags
Cards, lanes and tags are created in a responsive web interface, and the color settings cover tag colors and highlights for due dates that are today or past.
- 5
Cards are Markdown files
Every lane added in the app is a directory on disk and every task is a Markdown file inside it, so tasks can be edited outside the app.
- 6
Single Docker image
One docker run command or a short docker-compose file starts the app on port 8080, with one volume for tasks and one for configuration.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 6 of 123
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
Tasks.md is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Tasks.md at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Matheus Baldissara (BaldissaraMatheus)
- Category
- To-Do List Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a kanban board made of Markdown files
Tasks.md is a kanban board where every lane is a folder and every card is a Markdown file, so your tasks also open in a text editor or Obsidian. It's free and open source, but there's no hosted version: you run it yourself with Docker, there's no sign-in, so keeping strangers out is your job, and the maintainer keeps the scope narrow on purpose. Skip it if you've never run a server.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Free and open source under the MIT license with no paid plans, but the only way to have it is to run it on a server yourself. Software that's free only if you host it isn't free in practice, so it lands mid-table. The maintainer accepts one-time sponsorship donations. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full board is free, because there's nothing else to sell. No paid tier, no limits, no trial clock. You do need somewhere to run it. |
| Features | C | Lanes, cards, tags, colors that flag a due date that's today or past, three themes and custom CSS. It does the board job fully, and a board is a smaller job than a to-do app's: the maintainer keeps the scope narrow on purpose, and the README mentions no user accounts or sign-in. |
| Ease of use | D | You have to host it yourself. One docker run command starts it on port 8080, which is light as these things go, but it's still a server for you to run and guard. There's no hosted version to sign up for. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A browser and nothing else. It runs from your own server and installs as a PWA, there are no native apps, and the only thing to connect it to is a text editor or Obsidian reading the Markdown files. The PWA install also breaks if BASE_PATH isn't the root path. |
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 Tasks.md is for
- Fits if you already run a homelab and deploy things with Docker
- Works for Obsidian users who want tasks as Markdown files beside their notes
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you've never run a server, as there's no hosted version to sign up for
- Not for you if several people need their own logins, because the README mentions no user accounts or sign-in
- Too light for anyone wanting a board that keeps growing, since the maintainer keeps the scope narrow on purpose
- Watch out: installing it as a PWA breaks if BASE_PATH is set to anything but the root path
- Skip it if you want a phone app, as it runs in a browser only, with no native apps
Good to know
Good for
- Self-hosters who want a task board on their own server
- People who keep tasks as plain Markdown files
- Homelab users who deploy apps with Docker
Worth knowing
- There is no hosted version: someone has to run the Docker image or the source code on a server.
- The README mentions no user accounts or sign-in, so restricting access is left to the host.
- The maintainer calls it a low-maintenance project and keeps the scope of features narrow on purpose.
- Installing as a PWA does not work when BASE_PATH is set to anything other than the root path.
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
Tasks.md is free to use.
Free and open source under the MIT license with no paid plans, but the only way to have it is to run it on a server yourself.
Free
$0
The full board, self-hosted from the project's Docker image or run from the source code.
The free plan
Tasks.md is free, open-source software under the MIT license with no paid plans. The user supplies the server, and the maintainer accepts one-time sponsorship donations.
Read from github.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Self-hosted kanban board that stores cards as Markdown files. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, Markdown, tasks, kanban boards.
Lanes, cards, tags, colors that flag a due date that's today or past, three themes and custom CSS.
- Board of lanes, cards and tags
- Cards, lanes and tags are created in a responsive web interface, and the color settings cover tag colors and highlights for due dates that are today or past.
- Cards are Markdown files
- Every lane added in the app is a directory on disk and every task is a Markdown file inside it, so tasks can be edited outside the app.
- Single Docker image
- One docker run command or a short docker-compose file starts the app on port 8080, with one volume for tasks and one for configuration.
- Sub-directories as projects
- Opening the app under a sub-path, such as /backlog, treats that directory as a separate project with its own lanes and tasks.
- Themes and custom CSS
- Light and dark modes follow the operating system, three color themes ship by default (Adwaita, Nord and Catppuccin), and a custom.css file overrides the colors.
- PWA, languages and reverse proxy
- The app can be installed as a PWA, picks its language from the browser, and takes a BASE_PATH variable for running behind a sub-path reverse proxy.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Obsidian
Tasks.md is made by Matheus Baldissara (BaldissaraMatheus).
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
6/123
Other to-do list apps it is graded above
Tasks.md's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 6 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 20.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 87 of 123) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Tasks.md has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 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 124 to-do list apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Tasks.md’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 123
- AFree plan and trialAbove 87 of 123
- CFeaturesAbove 8 of 123
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 123
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 19 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. Tasks.md 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
Tasks.md is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 97 of the 123 other to-do list apps grade higher.
What you could make
- Tasks, kanban boards and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What this rests on. Tasks.md’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
Vikunja, Kanri, myTinyTodo, tududi and TaskTrove
The 5 tools Tasks.md is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Vikunja
Free plan · from €4/mo
Open-source task manager to self-host or use as a paid cloud.
- Only Vikunja lists macOS, Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Tasks.md also covers Markdown.
- Vikunja also covers natural-language input and Gantt & timelines.
- 2.8GPA
Kanri
Free
Offline kanban board app for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Only Tasks.md lists a web app.
- Only Kanri lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Tasks.md is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
myTinyTodo
Free
Small open-source to-do list script for your own web server.
- Tasks.md also covers kanban boards.
- 2.6GPA
tududi
Free plan · from €5/mo
Open-source task and life organizer to self-host or use hosted.
- Tasks.md also covers Markdown and kanban boards.
- tududi also covers natural-language input and habit tracking.
- 2.2GPA
TaskTrove
Free plan · from $129 one-time
Self-hosted task manager with list, kanban and calendar views.
- Tasks.md is open source, according to its own site.
- Tasks.md also covers Markdown.
- TaskTrove also covers natural-language input and calendar.
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 Tasks.md free?
Yes. Tasks.md is free to use.
How much does Tasks.md cost?
Tasks.md lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Tasks.md work on?
Tasks.md is available on Web.
Does Tasks.md have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Tasks.md is listed for Web.
Does Tasks.md have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Tasks.md is listed for Web.
Is Tasks.md open source?
Yes. Tasks.md is open source, according to its own site.
What does Tasks.md integrate with?
Tasks.md's listing names Obsidian. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Tasks.md?
Tasks.md is made by Matheus Baldissara (BaldissaraMatheus).
What are the alternatives to Tasks.md?
The closest alternatives to Tasks.md in our directory are Vikunja, Kanri, myTinyTodo, tududi and TaskTrove.
How does Tasks.md compare with other to-do list apps?
Tasks.md's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 6 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 20.
Is Tasks.md good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Tasks.md C for value for money. Tasks.md has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Tasks.md?
Tasks.md is free, so making your own would save you nothing. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 97 of the 123 other to-do list apps grade higher.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Tasks.md’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Tasks.md's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-20.
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 Matheus Baldissara (BaldissaraMatheus). Prices change, so check github.com before you buy.
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
- Tasks.md, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/tasks-md
- 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, "Tasks.md: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/tasks-md
Know someone choosing between to-do list apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/tasks-md/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded to-do list apps after Tasks.md, 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 Tasks.md’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. Tasks.md is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Matheus Baldissara (BaldissaraMatheus). Prices and plans change: check github.com before you buy.