OpenTodo vs Todoist
For people who like Todoist's quick add and filters, and want their lists on their own server without a monthly plan per person.
Checked on against OpenTodo v0.6.0
Todoist is one of the best task apps there is, and if you only want a list on your phone, it is hard to beat. People come to OpenTodo for different reasons: they want the whole household on one setup without paying per person, they want their tasks on hardware they control, or they want an app that keeps working when the connection does not.
The table below is honest in both directions. Where Todoist is ahead, it says so.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Todoist | OpenTodo |
|---|---|---|
| Natural-language quick add | Yes | Yes How it works: Natural-language quick add in the OpenTodo docs |
| Recurring tasks with readable rules | Yes | Yes How it works: Recurring tasks with readable rules in the OpenTodo docs |
| Filters and saved viewsTodoist's free plan allows three filter views. | Partly | Yes How it works: Filters and saved views in the OpenTodo docs |
| Boards and sections | Yes | Yes How it works: Boards and sections in the OpenTodo docs |
| Calendar with time blocksTodoist's calendar layout is on paid plans. | Partly | Yes How it works: Calendar with time blocks in the OpenTodo docs |
| Shared projects, comments and assignees | Yes | Yes How it works: Shared projects, comments and assignees in the OpenTodo docs |
| Works fully offline on every device | Partly | Yes How it works: Works fully offline on every device in the OpenTodo docs |
| Your data on your own server | No | Yes How it works: Your data on your own server in the OpenTodo docs |
| Optional end-to-end encryption | No | Yes How it works: Optional end-to-end encryption in the OpenTodo docs |
| Native apps in the app stores, watch and widgetsOpenTodo installs from the browser on phones and computers. | Yes | No |
| Hundreds of ready-made integrationsOpenTodo has an API, webhooks, CalDAV and MCP, but no integration directory. | Yes | Partly How it works: Hundreds of ready-made integrations in the OpenTodo docs |
| Built-in AI assistantIn OpenTodo it uses your provider and key, and is off until you turn it on. | Yes | Yes How it works: Built-in AI assistant in the OpenTodo docs |
Where Todoist is ahead
If any of these matter most to you, Todoist may be the better choice, and that is fine.
Native apps and devices
Todoist has apps in every app store, home screen widgets and watch apps. OpenTodo is an installable web app, with no widgets and no watch app.
Integrations
Todoist connects to a long list of services out of the box. OpenTodo gives you the building blocks (API, webhooks, calendar sync) and leaves the wiring to you.
Nothing to run
Todoist is a service; you sign up and you are done. OpenTodo needs someone to run a small server, even if that takes minutes.
What it costs
Todoist
A free plan with limits (for example five personal projects and three filter views), then a monthly or yearly plan per person for the full app; team features cost per member.
OpenTodo
Free and open source. You pay only for the small server you run it on, whether one person uses it or the whole household.
Your to-do list, on your own server.
Try the demo in your browser. When you like it, install OpenTodo on your server and import your tasks.