Open Source Alternatives to Todoist
Transparent & Community-Driven
Replace Todoist with open-source software you can inspect, modify, and self-host. No vendor lock-in, no hidden costs, full control over your data.
Todoist is a popular task management app, but at $5/month ($60/year) for the Pro plan, it competes with free alternatives that offer similar functionality. Super Productivity is a free, open-source task manager with time tracking, pomodoro timer, and project organization. Microsoft To Do is free with Microsoft accounts and handles personal task management well. For more complex project management, Trello's free tier or open-source alternatives like Planka offer kanban boards. The core task management features — due dates, priorities, labels, and recurring tasks — are available in every serious alternative. Todoist's natural language input is nice but not worth $60/year.
Open-source alternatives give you something subscription software never can: the ability to inspect, modify, and self-host the code. This means full transparency, no vendor lock-in, and the freedom to run the software on your own terms. The following open-source alternatives have been evaluated for features, community health, and long-term viability.
Why Open Source?
Transparent Code
Audit the code yourself. No hidden trackers or data collection.
Save Per Year
$60
3-Year Savings
$180
Open Source Alternatives Comparison
Free / Open Source
| Tool | Match | Pricing | Platform | Offline | OSS | Ownership | Migration | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Super Productivity Best free alternative | 65% | Open Source | WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSWeb | ✓ | ✓ | Full ownership | Medium | |
Vikunja Best self-hosted alternative | 60% | Open Source | WindowsLinuxWebSelf-hosted | ✓ | ✓ | Full ownership | Medium |
Best free alternative
Best self-hosted alternative
Detailed Alternatives
Best free alternative
An open-source to-do list and time tracker for developers and power users.
Editor's Note
Super Productivity is great for developers who want time tracking and integrations with development tools.
What you gain
- +Free and open source
- +Time tracking built-in
- +Jira/GitHub integration
- +Pomodoro timer
What you lose
- −Natural language processing
- −Mobile app polish
- −Collaboration features
Vikunja
60% MatchBest self-hosted alternative
An open-source to-do and project management app.
Editor's Note
Vikunja is a good choice for users who want to self-host their task management.
What you gain
- +Free and open source
- +Self-hostable
- +Multiple views
- +API-first
What you lose
- −Natural language processing
- −Mobile app polish
- −Integrations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best open-source alternative to Todoist?
Super Productivity is the most popular open-source alternative to Todoist. It has an active community, transparent codebase, and is free to use.
Is open-source software as good as Todoist?
Open-source software has matured significantly. Super Productivity now match Todoist in core functionality. The main differences are usually in polish and enterprise integrations, not fundamental capability.
Can I self-host open-source alternatives to Todoist?
Many open-source alternatives can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Several options listed above support self-hosting.
Is open-source software secure?
Open-source software is often more secure than proprietary alternatives because the code is publicly auditable. Security researchers and the community can review and report vulnerabilities, leading to faster fixes.
What about support for open-source alternatives?
Open-source projects typically have community forums, documentation, and chat channels. Some also offer commercial support tiers. The community support is often faster and more helpful than vendor support.
Related Open Source Alternatives
Take control with open source
Replace Todoist with software you own and control. No subscriptions, no lock-in.