The Zanshin Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Zanshin 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.
Zanshin
The Insider’s Guide
KDE desktop task manager built around Getting Things Done
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among to-do list apps, read from Zanshin’s own pages.
Made by KDE · 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 Zanshin’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Zanshin’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
2.6
GPA, above 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Zanshin, taken from its own pages and our grades.
If you're not on a KDE Plasma desktop, look elsewhere.
- 1
Best for Getting Things Done on the KDE desktop
It's Linux only, with no phone or web app, and its email, calendar and quick-capture features need KMail, KOrganizer and KRunner.
- 2
It is free
Zanshin has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on Linux
Linux.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 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
Zanshin is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Zanshin at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Linux
- Made by
- KDE
- Category
- To-Do List Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for Getting Things Done on the KDE desktop
Zanshin is a free, open-source Getting Things Done app from the KDE community: tasks land in an inbox, then you file them into projects and contexts from the keyboard. It's Linux only, with no phone or web app, and its email, calendar and quick-capture features need KMail, KOrganizer and KRunner. If you're not on a KDE Plasma desktop, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | It costs nothing, ever. Zanshin is free and open source under the GPL-3.0-or-later license, installed from your distribution's packages, with no paid version and nothing held back. KDE takes donations if you fancy saying thanks. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete desktop app is the free one, so there's no cap to walk into and no trial to run out. Grab it from your Linux distribution's packages or an app store such as Discover and that's the whole product. |
| Features | C | The basics: an inbox, projects, contexts, due dates, attachments and an overlay showing the task you're on. The gaps are in the listing itself, though. Recurring tasks follow a simple model, and the email, calendar and quick-capture features only work if you also run KMail, KOrganizer and KRunner. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record. Installing is easy enough from Discover or your package manager, but you're picking up Getting Things Done as well as an app, and it leans on Akonadi and other KDE libraries, so it's really only at home on a Plasma desktop. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Linux only. The install page says there's no Mac version and that the team never tested the Windows build. No phone app, no web app, and the integrations it does have are all other KDE programs. |
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 Zanshin is for
- Fits if you run KDE Plasma and follow Getting Things Done
- Works for people whose email lives in KMail and who want to turn messages into tasks
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac or Windows: the install page says there's no Mac version and the Windows build was never tested
- Not for you if you check your list on your phone, since no mobile or web app is listed
- Too light for complex repeat schedules, because recurring tasks follow a simple model
- Watch out: it depends on Akonadi and other KDE libraries, and the email, calendar and capture features need KDE's own apps
- Watch out: the project site's last announcement is from January 2020; later versions come with KDE's app releases instead
Good to know
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.
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
Zanshin is free to use.
KDE takes donations if you fancy saying thanks.
Free
$0
The complete desktop app, installed from Linux distribution repositories or AppStream app stores such as Discover.
The 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.
Read from apps.kde.org 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: Linux
KDE desktop task manager built around Getting Things Done. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, tasks.
The basics: an inbox, projects, contexts, due dates, attachments and an overlay showing the task you're on.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Linux
What it works with
- KMail
- KOrganizer
- KRunner
- Akonadi
Zanshin is made by KDE.
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
Zanshin'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 platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Zanshin 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. Zanshin’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 69 of 123
- AFree plan and trialAbove 87 of 123
- CFeaturesAbove 8 of 123
- CEase of useAbove 10 of 123
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Zanshin 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
Zanshin 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
- A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Zanshin’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
KomoDo, Planify, Errands, Everdo and Super Productivity
The 5 tools Zanshin is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
KomoDo
Free
- 3.0GPA
Planify
Free
Free, open-source task manager for the Linux desktop.
- Planify also covers Markdown, natural-language input and kanban boards.
- 2.6GPA
Errands
Free
- 2.2GPA
Everdo
Free plan · from $39.99 one-time
Offline-first GTD task manager sold as a one-time purchase.
- Only Everdo lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Everdo lists a browser extension.
- Zanshin is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.4GPA
Super Productivity
Free
Free, open-source to-do app with time tracking and a Pomodoro timer.
- Only Super Productivity lists a web app.
- Only Super Productivity lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Super Productivity also covers kanban boards, Pomodoro timer and time tracking.
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 Zanshin free?
Yes. Zanshin is free to use.
How much does Zanshin cost?
Zanshin lists one plan. Free: $0.
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.
How does Zanshin compare with other to-do list apps?
Zanshin's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 48 of the 123 other to-do list apps we grade, and level with 43.
Is Zanshin good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Zanshin A for value for money. Zanshin has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Zanshin?
Zanshin is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A real app for Linux.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Zanshin’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 KDE's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-02.
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 KDE. Prices change, so check zanshin.kde.org 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
- Zanshin, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/zanshin
- 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, "Zanshin: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/zanshin
Know someone choosing between to-do list apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/zanshin/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded to-do list apps after Zanshin, 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 Zanshin’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. Zanshin is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by KDE. Prices and plans change: check zanshin.kde.org before you buy.