The Todo.txt Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Todo.txt 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.
Todo.txt
The Insider’s Guide
Plain-text to-do list format with an open-source command-line tool
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among to-do list apps, read from Todo.txt’s own pages.
Made by Gina Trapani and the Todo.txt community · checked Oct 5, 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 Todo.txt’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Todo.txt’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Todo.txt, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The README gives install steps only for macOS and Linux.
- 1
Best for a to-do list that's just a text file
Todo.txt is a format more than an app: tasks in a plain text file, one per line, with a free command-line script, todo.sh, and community apps that read the same file.
- 2
It is free
Todo.txt has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Linux and Windows.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 48 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
Todo.txt is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Todo.txt at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Gina Trapani and the Todo.txt community, since 2006
- Category
- To-Do List Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a to-do list that's just a text file
Todo.txt is a format more than an app: tasks in a plain text file, one per line, with a free command-line script, todo.sh, and community apps that read the same file. But the project's own phone apps were archived in 2020, there's no sync unless you put the file on a cloud drive, due dates rest on each tool's own convention, and install steps cover only macOS and Linux.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The todo.sh script and the format are free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0, downloadable by anyone. There's no paid version of either. Your whole outlay is a text file. |
| Free plan and trial | A | All 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. |
| Features | C | One task per line, with (A) for priority, +Project and @context. The script adds, completes, sorts and archives to done.txt, and takes add-ons. The basics, and the listing names the gaps: the format has no due dates of its own, they rest on conventions each tool sets, and no sync is built in. |
| Ease of use | D | The official tool is a shell script, so you add and finish tasks by typing commands like add and do, and anything needing a command line sits at a D here. The README gives install steps only for macOS and Linux. You can edit the file by hand instead, but then you do all the work. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | The script runs on Mac and Linux, and on Windows under Cygwin, so computers only. Editor plugins cover 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 other people. |
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 Todo.txt is for
- Fits if you want your task list in a file you control and can open in any editor
- Works for people in a shell all day who want to add a task without leaving it
Who it 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
- Skip it if you've never used a command line, as the official tool is a shell script
- Watch out: on Windows it's only listed as tested under Cygwin, and install steps cover macOS and Linux
Good to know
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.
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
Todo.txt is free to use.
All of it is free: the full command-line script and the open format.
Free
$0
The full todo.sh command-line script and the open todo.txt format, under the GNU General Public License v3.0.
The 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.
Read from github.com on Oct 5, 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
Plain-text to-do list format with an open-source command-line tool. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, keyboard-first, tasks.
One task per line, with (A) for priority, +Project and @context.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Vim
- Visual Studio Code
- Sublime Text
- Thunderbird
Todo.txt is made by Gina Trapani and the Todo.txt community, 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
48/123
Other to-do list apps it is graded above
Todo.txt's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 43.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 87 of 123) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Todo.txt 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. Todo.txt’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 69 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. Todo.txt 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
Todo.txt is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Tasks: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Todo.txt’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
Taskwarrior, sleek, topydo, dstask and TaskPaper
The 5 tools Todo.txt is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Taskwarrior
Free
Free, open-source to-do list manager for the command line.
- Only Todo.txt lists a Windows app.
- 3.0GPA
sleek
Free
Free, open-source todo.txt manager for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- sleek also covers Markdown and natural-language input.
- 2.6GPA
topydo
Free
- 2.6GPA
dstask
Free
Terminal task tracker with git sync and a markdown note per task.
- dstask also covers Markdown.
- 2.4GPA
TaskPaper
Free trial · from $24.99 one-time
Plain-text to-do lists with an outliner, for Mac.
- Todo.txt has a free plan. TaskPaper does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Todo.txt lists Linux and Windows apps.
- Todo.txt 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
13
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 Todo.txt free?
Yes. Todo.txt is free to use.
How much does Todo.txt cost?
Todo.txt lists one plan. Free: $0.
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.
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.
How does Todo.txt compare with other to-do list apps?
Todo.txt's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 43.
Is Todo.txt good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Todo.txt A for value for money. Todo.txt has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Todo.txt?
Todo.txt is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Todo.txt’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Todo.txt's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-14.
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 Gina Trapani and the Todo.txt community. 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
- Todo.txt, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/todo-txt
- 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, "Todo.txt: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/todo-txt
Know someone choosing between to-do list apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/todo-txt/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded to-do list apps after Todo.txt, 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 Todo.txt’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. Todo.txt is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Gina Trapani and the Todo.txt community. Prices and plans change: check github.com before you buy.