# Mindwtr Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Local-first GTD productivity tool Category: Productivity · Free · Replaces OmniFocus ($10/month) · [Official website](https://github.com/dongdongbh/Mindwtr) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask mindwtr` ## Quick take Mindwtr in August 2026 is a free, actively maintained GTD system that finally matches how people actually work: Mac plus phone, optional sync, optional AI, still local-first. It will not dethrone OmniFocus for every Apple power user, but for FOSS-minded practitioners it is one of the best open options available. Best for: GTD practitioners who want local-first data with optional sync, Users who need Mac plus mobile without a SaaS account, Developers who want MCP/REST automation over tasks ## What is Mindwtr? August 2026 status: Mindwtr is actively developed as a free, open-source, local-first GTD app that is no longer Mac-only. Desktop clients target Windows, macOS and Linux (Tauri v2); mobile apps cover iOS and Android; a PWA works offline. Install on Mac via the Mac App Store, Homebrew (`brew install --cask mindwtr`), TestFlight, or GitHub Releases. Optional sync includes iCloud (CloudKit on Apple builds), Dropbox on store builds, folders/WebDAV, or self-hosting. Optional AI assist uses your own OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, or local OpenAI-compatible endpoint (off by default) and mindwtr-mcp exposes tasks to coding agents. There is still no paid tier. Older claims that Mindwtr has no mobile app and no sync path are outdated. Mindwtr began as a local-first GTD application and in 2026 is a multi-platform GTD system with strong macOS support. It implements David Allen's productivity methodology,capture, clarify, organize, reflect, engage,in a clean native interface where all your data stays on your Mac. No cloud accounts, no sync servers, no data leaving your machine. GTD is a productivity system built around one principle: your brain is for having ideas, not holding them. You capture every task, thought and commitment into a trusted system (the Inbox). You clarify each item (is it you can act on? what's the next step?). You organize it (into projects, contexts, or reference). You reflect weekly (the Weekly Review). And you engage,do the work, confident that nothing is slipping through the cracks. Many GTD apps,Todoist, OmniFocus, Things,store your data in the cloud or a vendor sync service. That's convenient for sync but problematic for privacy. Your task list reveals what you're working on, what's stressing you and what your priorities are. Mindwtr's local-first approach means this data never leaves your Mac. There's no account creation, no terms of service, no third-party data access. The quick capture feature is the most important workflow element. A global keyboard shortcut opens a capture window from any app,type your thought, hit Enter and it lands in your Inbox. The friction between 'I just thought of something' and 'it's captured in my system' is under two seconds. This low-friction capture is what makes GTD actually work in practice,if capturing is annoying, you stop capturing and the system falls apart. Mindwtr includes a guided Weekly Review that walks you through each GTD step: process the Inbox, review active projects, check waiting-for items, update next actions and clear your head. The review takes 30-60 minutes depending on volume. Most GTD practitioners agree that the Weekly Review is the single most important GTD habit,it's what keeps the system trustworthy. Mindwtr makes it structured enough that you don't skip steps. Context lists (@computer, @phone, @errands, @office, @home) organize your next actions by what tools or location you need. When you sit down at your Mac, filter by @computer and see everything you can do right now. When you're running errands, filter by @errands. Contexts answer 'what should I do next?' based on where you are and what's available. ## Features - **Cross-Platform Clients (2026).** Mindwtr now ships Tauri desktop apps for macOS, Windows and Linux plus React Native mobile apps for iOS and Android and an offline PWA. Mac users can install from the App Store or Homebrew. This removes the historical Mac-only limitation while keeping local-first defaults. - **GTD Workflow Implementation.** Mindwtr implements the five phases of GTD: Capture (get everything into the Inbox), Clarify (process each item,is it you can act on?), Organize (assign to projects, contexts and reference), Reflect (Weekly Review) and Engage (work from context lists). The app's structure maps to the methodology,Inbox, Projects, Next Actions, Waiting For, Someday/Maybe and Reference. If you've read David Allen's book, Mindwtr's interface will feel immediately familiar. - **Quick Capture.** A global keyboard shortcut (configurable) opens a capture window from any application. Type your thought, press Enter and it's in your Inbox. The window disappears and you're back to what you were doing. Capture supports text, URLs (paste from clipboard) and multi-line notes. The speed of capture is critical,GTD only works if you actually capture everything and that requires near-zero friction. - **Context Lists.** Organize next actions by context: @computer, @phone, @errands, @office, @home, @calls, or any custom context you create. When you process an Inbox item and determine the next action, assign a context based on where/how you'll do it. Later, when you're ready to work, filter by your current context to see only relevant actions. This prevents the paralysis of seeing your entire task list,you only see what's doable right now. - **Guided Weekly Review.** A structured walkthrough of the GTD Weekly Review process. Mindwtr presents each step in sequence: empty the Inbox, review active projects (are they still relevant? what's the next action?), check Waiting For items (follow up needed?), review Someday/Maybe (promote or remove?) and do a brain dump (capture anything new). The guided review takes 30-60 minutes and ensures you don't skip steps,the most common failure mode for GTD practitioners. - **Local-First Storage.** All data is stored locally on your Mac in a portable format (typically JSON or SQLite in your home directory). No cloud sync, no account required, no internet connection needed. You own your data completely,back it up with Time Machine, version control it with git, or copy the directory to another Mac. The trade-off: no automatic sync between devices. The benefit: complete privacy and data sovereignty. - **Project Management.** GTD defines a 'project' as any outcome requiring more than one action step. Mindwtr's project view lists all active projects with their next actions, completion status and deadlines (optional). Each project can have notes, reference materials and a list of supporting actions. The project view answers 'what am I committed to?' at a glance,a question that's hard to answer when tasks are scattered across apps and notebooks. - **Optional AI Assist and MCP Automation.** Optional AI helpers can clarify and break down tasks using your own OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, or local OpenAI-compatible endpoint,never a forced vendor model. The mindwtr-mcp package and optional localhost REST API let coding agents read and update tasks safely on 127.0.0.1. - **Optional Multi-Backend Sync.** Stay fully offline, or enable iCloud CloudKit on Apple store builds, Dropbox private folders on store builds, folder/WebDAV sync, or self-hosted Docker deployment. Export/restore and validated backups protect recovery without mandating a Mindwtr account. ## How to Install Mindwtr on Mac Mindwtr is free on macOS via the Mac App Store, Homebrew cask, TestFlight beta, or GitHub Releases. Desktop is Tauri v2. 1. **Install via Homebrew.** Run `brew install --cask mindwtr`, install Mindwtr - GTD Task Manager from the Mac App Store, or download a GitHub release. The app installs to Applications. 2. **Set Up Quick Capture Shortcut.** Open Mindwtr Preferences and configure the global capture shortcut. Choose a key combination you don't use in other apps (e.g., Ctrl+Space, Hyper+C). This is the most important configuration step. 3. **Create Your Context Lists.** Set up contexts that match your real-world environments: @computer, @phone, @office, @home, @errands, @calls. Custom contexts are fine,create whatever matches how you work. 4. **Do a Full Brain Dump.** Spend 30-60 minutes capturing everything on your mind into the Inbox. Every task, idea, concern, project and someday-maybe. Then process each item through GTD's clarify and organize steps. ## Pros - True local-first storage with optional user-controlled sync - Proper GTD methodology with guided Weekly Review - Cross-platform in 2026: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, PWA - Free and open source with no subscription tier - Imports from Todoist, TickTick, OmniFocus and more - MCP server and REST API for automation and agents - Quick capture via global hotkey, widgets and share sheets ## Cons - Younger project than OmniFocus or Things; edge-case polish still catching up - Sync options and store vs FOSS build differences can confuse newcomers - Optional AI quality depends entirely on the models and API keys you supply - Full GTD still has a learning curve if you are new to the methodology - No native team collaboration features comparable to Todoist Business ## Closer look: Why Local-First GTD Matters The case for keeping your task management system off the cloud. ## FAQ ### Is Mindwtr still Mac-only? No. In 2026 it runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and as a PWA. Mac remains first-class via App Store and Homebrew. ### Can I sync Mac and iPhone? Yes on supported Apple builds using built-in iCloud (CloudKit). You can also use Dropbox (store builds), folder/WebDAV, or self-hosted sync. Pure offline local-only use is still supported. ### Do I need to know GTD to use Mindwtr? Mindwtr is designed around GTD. If you are new to the methodology, read a short GTD primer first,the Inbox, contexts and Weekly Review make more sense with that model. ### Is Mindwtr free? Yes. There is no premium subscription. Optional donations support the project. ### Does Mindwtr include AI features? Optional only and off by default. You bring your own OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, or local OpenAI-compatible endpoint. ### How does Mindwtr compare to OmniFocus? OmniFocus is deeper for Apple-only GTD power features and paid support. Mindwtr is free, multi-platform, local-first and easier to automate via MCP/REST. ### Can I import from Todoist or TickTick? Yes. Documented importers cover Todoist, TickTick, OmniFocus, DGT GTD, incomplete Apple Reminders and generic CSV. ### Where is my data stored? Locally on each device by default. Optional sync backends you configure may replicate that data; there is no mandatory Mindwtr cloud account. ## Sources - [dongdongbh/Mindwtr](https://github.com/dongdongbh/mindwtr) - [Mindwtr multi-platform overview](https://dongdongbh.tech/blog/mindwtr/) - [Mindwtr on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mindwtr-gtd-task-manager/id6758597144) - [Mindwtr docs](https://docs.mindwtr.app/) - [mindwtr.app](https://mindwtr.app/) - [Korben on Mindwtr](https://korben.info/en/mindwtr-free-gtd-app-runs-everywhere.html) - [Mindwtr on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tech.dongdongbh.mindwtr) ## Related - [Raycast](https://bundl.run/apps/raycast) - [Notion](https://bundl.run/apps/notion) - [Obsidian](https://bundl.run/apps/obsidian) - [Loom](https://bundl.run/apps/loom) - [Linear](https://bundl.run/apps/linear-linear) - [Grammarly](https://bundl.run/apps/grammarly-desktop) - [Free alternative to OmniFocus](https://github.com/dongdongbh) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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