Todo.txt
Plain-text to-do list format with an open-source command-line tool
Todo.txt report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 9, 2026
Best for a to-do list that's just a text file
Todo.txt is less an app than an idea: keep your tasks in a plain text file, one per line, and you'll never be locked into anyone's software. The official tool is a free command-line script, todo.sh, and the community has built apps that read the same file. The project's own phone apps are archived, though, and there's no sync unless you put the file on a cloud drive yourself.
Who Todo.txt is for
- Great if you want your task list in a file you fully control and can open in any editor
- Handy when you work in a shell all day and want to add a task without leaving it
- Good for mixing tools, since community apps and editor plugins all read the same file
Who Todo.txt is not for
- Skip it if you want an official phone app, as the project's Android and iOS apps are archived
- Not for you if you expect sync built in, because the README just suggests a cloud drive
- Too light for people who plan by due date, since due dates depend on each tool's own convention
Why Todo.txt gets a 3.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyThe todo.sh script and the format are free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0. There's no paid version of either. Your whole outlay is a text file.
- AFree plan and trialAll of it is free: the full command-line script and the open format. With no paid version, nothing is fenced off. And since the list is a plain file, you can walk away with it any time.
- BFeaturesOne task per line, with (A) for priority, +Project and @context. The script adds, completes, sorts and archives to done.txt, and takes custom actions and add-ons. Small, and it does that fully. But the core format has no due dates of its own: they rely on key:value conventions set by each tool.
- CEase of useThe official tool is a shell script, so you add and finish tasks by typing commands like add and do. The README gives install steps only for macOS and Linux. You can also just edit the file in any text editor, which is easy, but then you're doing it all by hand.
- BPlatforms and integrationsThe script runs on Mac and Linux, and on Windows under Cygwin, and there are editor plugins for Vim, Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text. The project's own Android and iOS apps were archived in December 2020, so phone and web apps come from the community.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Todo.txt's own pages on 5 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/todo-txt#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/todo-txt.svg" alt="Todo.txt: 3.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>What is Todo.txt?
Todo.txt is a plain-text format for task lists, plus an official shell script, todo.sh, for working with the file from the command line. Each line is one task, with optional notation for priority, +projects and @contexts, so the list stays readable in any text editor. The project's own Android and iOS apps are archived; apps for other platforms come from the community.
Todo.txt is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- People who want their task list in a file they fully control
- Command-line users who add and complete tasks from a shell
- Using several apps and editors against one shared text file
Worth knowing
- The official tool is a command-line script. The project's own Android and iOS apps were archived on GitHub in December 2020.
- The core format covers priority, dates, projects and contexts only. Due dates and other fields rely on key:value conventions set by each tool.
- No sync is built in; the README suggests placing the todo.txt directory on a cloud drive.
- On Windows the script is listed as tested under Cygwin, and the README gives install steps only for macOS and Linux.
Key features
- One task per line of plain text
- A todo.txt file holds a single task on each line, so it can be read, searched, sorted and edited in any text editor on any operating system.
- Priorities, projects and contexts
- A leading (A) to (Z) sets priority, and +Project and @context markers can sit anywhere in the line. Tools may add key:value pairs such as due:2010-01-02.
- todo.sh command-line script
- Actions such as add, do, pri, append and replace change the file from a shell, and list shows the tasks matching your terms sorted by priority.
- Archiving and reports
- The archive action moves completed tasks from todo.txt to done.txt, and report records the number of open and done tasks in report.txt.
- Add-ons and custom actions
- The script loads custom actions from an actions directory, and the project wiki keeps a directory of add-ons and filters written by community members.
- Community apps and editor plugins
- The project site lists community-built apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and the web, plus editor plugins, that all read the same file.
Todo.txt pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The todo.sh script and the todo.txt format are free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0, with no paid version.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full todo.sh command-line script and the open todo.txt format, under the GNU General Public License v3.0. |
Read from github.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Todo.txt before you buy.
Works with
- Vim
- Visual Studio Code
- Sublime Text
- Thunderbird
Todo.txt alternatives
- Todo.txt vs TaskPaper
Free trial · from $24.99 one-time
Common questions
Is Todo.txt free?
Yes. Todo.txt is free to use. The todo.sh script and the todo.txt format are free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0, with no paid version.
How much does Todo.txt cost?
Todo.txt lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from github.com on Oct 5, 2026.
What platforms does Todo.txt work on?
Todo.txt is available on macOS, Linux and Windows.
Does Todo.txt have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Todo.txt is listed for macOS, Linux and Windows.
Does Todo.txt have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Todo.txt is listed for macOS, Linux and Windows.
Is Todo.txt open source?
Yes. Todo.txt is open source, according to its own site.
Does Todo.txt work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Todo.txt integrate with?
Todo.txt's listing names Vim, Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text and Thunderbird. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Todo.txt?
Todo.txt is made by Gina Trapani and the Todo.txt community. It dates from 2006.
What are the alternatives to Todo.txt?
The closest alternatives to Todo.txt in our directory are Taskwarrior, sleek, topydo, dstask and TaskPaper. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Todo.txt.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.