What is Zanshin?
Zanshin is a free, open-source task manager from the KDE community that follows the Getting Things Done method. Tasks are collected in an inbox, then filed into projects and contexts by drag and drop or from the keyboard. It is built on Akonadi and ties into other KDE software: tasks can be created from KMail, shown in KOrganizer and captured through KRunner on the Plasma desktop.
Zanshin is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- KDE Plasma users who follow Getting Things Done
- People who already use KMail and KOrganizer
- Adding and filing tasks without leaving the keyboard
Worth knowing
- KDE's app listing offers it for Linux only. The project's install page says there is no Mac version and that the team never tested the Windows build.
- The project pages list no mobile or web app.
- It depends on Akonadi and other KDE libraries, and the KMail, KOrganizer and KRunner features need those KDE applications.
- The project site's last announcement is version 0.5.71 from January 2020; later versions arrive with KDE's regular app releases, most recently 26.08.2 on October 8, 2026.
Key features
- Inbox for collecting tasks
- New tasks land in an inbox so they are written down first and sorted later, which is the collect step of Getting Things Done.
- Projects and contexts
- Tasks are filed into projects and contexts by drag and drop. Focusing on one project or context, such as phone calls, shows only the tasks that belong to it.
- Keyboard control
- The app can be driven entirely from the keyboard, with shortcuts to add tasks, move them to a project or a context, and navigate.
- Due dates and recurring tasks
- A due date makes a task stand out from the rest. Version 0.5.0 added recurring tasks, with a simple recurrence model, and a filter that hides tasks scheduled in the future.
- KMail, KOrganizer and KRunner
- A task can be created from an email in KMail, overdue and upcoming tasks appear in KOrganizer's calendar view, and typing "todo:" in KRunner adds a task even when Zanshin is closed.
- Running task overlay and attachments
- One task can be marked as currently running, which puts an overlay at the top of the screen as a reminder of what to focus on. Tasks can also carry attachments.
Zanshin pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source under the GPL-3.0-or-later license, with no paid version. It is installed from a Linux distribution's packages or an app store such as Discover. KDE accepts optional donations.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The complete desktop app, installed from Linux distribution repositories or AppStream app stores such as Discover. |
Read from apps.kde.org on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Zanshin before you buy.
Works with
- KMail
- KOrganizer
- KRunner
- Akonadi
Zanshin alternatives
- Zanshin vs Everdo
Free plan · from $39.99 one-time
Common questions
Is Zanshin free?
Yes. Zanshin is free to use. Free and open source under the GPL-3.0-or-later license, with no paid version. It is installed from a Linux distribution's packages or an app store such as Discover. KDE accepts optional donations.
How much does Zanshin cost?
Zanshin lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from apps.kde.org on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does Zanshin work on?
Zanshin is available on Linux.
Does Zanshin have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Zanshin is listed for Linux.
Does Zanshin have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Zanshin is listed for Linux.
Is Zanshin open source?
Yes. Zanshin is open source, according to its own site.
What does Zanshin integrate with?
Zanshin's listing names KMail, KOrganizer, KRunner and Akonadi. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Zanshin?
Zanshin is made by KDE.
What are the alternatives to Zanshin?
The closest alternatives to Zanshin in our directory are KomoDo, Planify, Errands, Everdo and Super Productivity. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Zanshin.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.