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App comparison

OmniFocus vs Todoist

Which is the better Task managers for Mac in 2026?

PublishedUpdated
OmniFocus icon

OmniFocus

Scheduling application focusing on organisation

Full review
Todoist icon

Todoist

To-do list and task manager

Full review
Website previewCredit: Todoist

Our verdict

How we compare apps

On Apple-centric personal productivity, OmniFocus 4 still defines GTD rigour: defer semantics, sequential projects, perspectives and Review build trusted high-stakes systems. On cross-platform and team work, Todoist's capture speed, filter language, shared projects and integration breadth make team throughput cheaper and more visible. Pricing reveals the trade: one-time OmniFocus ownership versus Todoist's low Pro seat and per-user Business. The defensible choice is not a universal crown but a workflow split: personal GTD depth versus shared execution breadth.

Read the quick answer

Which is better: OmniFocus or Todoist?

OmniFocus and Todoist are both Task managers on a Mac, so the pick depends on workflow. Choose OmniFocus when your system is personal, Apple-native and review-driven; choose Todoist when it is collaborative, cross-platform and integration-driven. As of October 2026, both install with brew install --cask omnifocus and brew install --cask todoist-app.

TL;DR

OmniFocus vs Todoist: On Apple-centric personal productivity, OmniFocus 4 still defines GTD rigour: defer semantics, sequential projects, perspectives and Review build trusted high-stakes systems. On cross-platform and team work, Todoist's capture speed, filter language, shared projects and integration breadth make team throughput cheaper and more visible. Pricing reveals the trade: one-time OmniFocus ownership versus Todoist's low Pro seat and per-user Business. The defensible choice is not a universal crown but a workflow split: personal GTD depth versus shared execution breadth.

Feature Comparison

Feature comparison between OmniFocus and Todoist
FeatureOmniFocusTodoist
PriceSee developer pricingFree + paid plans
Open SourceNoNo
Replaces—Things 3 ($49.99)
Best fortasks, gtd, project managementtasks, todo, productivity
Installbrew install --cask omnifocusbrew install --cask todoist-app
CategoryProductivityProductivity

Quick Install

OmniFocus
brew install --cask omnifocus
Todoist
brew install --cask todoist-app

Learn More

OmniFocus
OmniFocus Details
Full review, features, and FAQs
Todoist
Todoist Details
Full review, features, and FAQs

In-Depth Overview

What is OmniFocus?

OmniFocus 4 from The Omni Group is a mature Getting Things Done task manager native to macOS, iOS, iPadOS and watchOS, with a complementary OmniFocus for the Web service. The Mac app is Swift-native, Apple Silicon-optimised, notarised for Tahoe 26.x, and supports widgets, Shortcuts, AppleScript and automation. Core concepts include Inbox for capture, Projects with sequential/parallel/stalled states, contexts via Tags, defer and due dates, estimated duration, custom Perspectives that slice projects and tags into durable views, Forecast (today/soon with calendar integration), Flagged and Review cycles for weekly GTD reviews, and end-to-end encrypted sync via Omni Sync Server or WebDAV. Pricing in August 2026 keeps choice: Standard $74.99 one-time, Pro $149.99 one-time, or OmniFocus subscription $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year that unlocks Pro on all platforms plus web access and always-current upgrades. Web companion access alone can be added for $4.99 per month. Data lives natively in a local database with optional encrypted cloud sync; offline is absolute and revisions are reliable.

What is Todoist?

Todoist from Doist is a cloud-native task manager reaching 30-million-plus users, prized for friction-free capture and cross-platform reach. It runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, web, wearables and browser extensions with real-time sync and offline caching. Natural-language input parses dates, times, priorities (P1-P4), projects, labels and assignees in one line ('Submit draft every Friday at 4pm p1 #Writing'). Structure includes projects with Sections, labels, priorities, filters with Boolean query syntax, Boards/Kanban, reminders, comments and file uploads, plus Karma gamification and productivity trends. Integrations exceed 60 native options and hundreds via Zapier/IFTTT: Google Calendar two-way sync, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Gmail and more. Pricing as of August 2026 remains Free (5 active projects), Pro $4 per month billed annually ($48/year, $5 month-to-month) with reminders, filters, AI Assistant and activity history, and Business $6 per user per month billed annually with team workspaces, roles and admin. On Tahoe the Mac app is Electron-based but updated, fast and consistent across OSes; updates ship automatically and search is cloud-powered with a solid offline queue.

Detailed Feature Comparison

Capture Speed

Critical importance

OmniFocus

Good

Quick Entry panel and Quick Open with keyboard shortcuts; defer/due and tags add rigour but require more fields than Todoist.

Todoist

Excellent

Industry-leading natural-language parsing in one keystroke; Quick Add on desktop and system-wide entry keeps latency lowest.

Verdict: Todoist wins pure capture velocity for high-volume triage.

GTD Depth & Review Discipline

Critical importance

OmniFocus

Excellent

Defer vs due, sequential projects, flagged, custom perspectives and Review mode enshrine weekly reviews and stalled-project hygiene.

Todoist

Good

Filters. Boards, priorities and upcoming views approximate GTD but without native Review rituals or true defer semantics.

Verdict: OmniFocus is still the GTD reference implementation.

Perspectives vs Filters

High importance

OmniFocus

Excellent

Custom perspectives slice by project, tag, status, availability and date into persistent. Pro-grade dashboards.

Todoist

Excellent

Filter query language supports Boolean logic (today & #Work | overdue & !@Waiting) and shareable custom views.

Verdict: Both excel; OmniFocus perspectives integrate defer logic more deeply. Todoist filters are faster to author.

Apple-Native Experience

High importance

OmniFocus

Excellent

Swift-native Mac/iPad/iPhone/watch apps with Shortcuts, widgets. Focus integration and local automation.

Todoist

Good

Solid Mac/iOS clients and Apple integrations, but Electron/web core never feels as Tahoe-native as OmniFocus.

Verdict: On an all-Apple kit. OmniFocus feels more at home.

Collaboration & Sharing

High importance

OmniFocus

Fair

Single-owner tool with no native multi-user tasks or role permissions; collaboration relies on separate lists or external web sharing.

Todoist

Excellent

Shared projects with assignees, comments, roles and Business workspaces make team task ownership explicit.

Verdict: Todoist wins for teams; OmniFocus is intentionally single-player.

Calendar & Timeline Views

High importance

OmniFocus

Good

Forecast combines due tasks and calendar events; calendar integration is improved in OmniFocus 4 but not a full board/calendar suite.

Todoist

Good

Upcoming and Board views plus Calendar layout on Pro/Business, with two-way Google Calendar sync keeping schedule adjacent.

Verdict: Different takes: Forecast is canonical for GTD. Todoist Boards/Calendar for lightweight planning.

Automation & Integrals

Medium importance

OmniFocus

Good

URL schemes. Shortcuts. AppleScript. Omni Automation plug-ins and local Focus automation; cloud API surface is small.

Todoist

Excellent

Broad API and Zapier-powered integrations spanning email, calendar. Slack and dev tools; AI Assistant on Pro adds summarisation.

Verdict: Todoist's cloud mesh outweighs OmniFocus's local automation for cross-tool work.

Pricing & Ownership

Medium importance

OmniFocus

Good

One-time Standard $74.99/Pro $149.99 keeps TCO flat if you prefer to own; subscription $9.99/mo wraps Pro + web and future upgrades.

Todoist

Excellent

Free up to 5 projects. Pro $4/mo annual. Business $6/user/mo annual, lower ceiling for individuals, metered for teams.

Verdict: Head-to-head for solo yearly spend is close; teams find Todoist more flexible.

Who Should Choose Which?

1Solo Consultant (Mac/iPhone only)

OmniFocus

Reviews, defer dates and perspectives keep a high-trust solo system without team overhead.

2Distributed Team of 8

Todoist

Shared projects, assignments and Business admin beat single-player OmniFocus.

3PhD Juggling Defer/Due Complexity

OmniFocus

Sequential dissertation steps with true defer logic fit OmniFocus semantics.

4Marketer Living in Gmail and Calendar

Todoist

Gmail and Calendar integrations plus filters keep tasks beside comms.

5Privacy-Conscious Mac User

OmniFocus

Local database plus optional Omni Sync encryption keeps tasks on device.

6Mixed-OS Household

Todoist

Linux companion. Android tablet and Windows work device all run the same Todoist everywhere.

Migration Guide

Omnifocus → Todoist

Export OmniFocus as TaskPaper or CSV, import into Todoist via CSV, then rebuild perspectives as Filters and split defer logic into scheduled tasks and labels.

Todoist → Omnifocus

Export Todoist CSV/JSON, import into OmniFocus, then re-apply defer vs due, sequential project types and Review cadence.

Pro Tips

Many Apple users keep OmniFocus for personal GTD and Todoist Business for shared team projects; route personal vs shared at capture and avoid double-booking Review times.

Final Verdict

Overall Winner

tie

8.8/10

Score

OmniFocus

8.8/10

Score

Todoist

Scores are Bundl.run editorial ratings out of 10 across 8 criteria (the feature comparison above), last reviewed August 2026.

On Apple-centric personal productivity, OmniFocus 4 still defines GTD rigour: defer semantics, sequential projects, perspectives and Review build trusted high-stakes systems. On cross-platform and team work, Todoist's capture speed, filter language, shared projects and integration breadth make team throughput cheaper and more visible. Pricing reveals the trade: one-time OmniFocus ownership versus Todoist's low Pro seat and per-user Business. The defensible choice is not a universal crown but a workflow split: personal GTD depth versus shared execution breadth.

Bottom Line: Choose OmniFocus when your system is personal, Apple-native and review-driven; choose Todoist when it is collaborative, cross-platform and integration-driven. Many Mac users reasonably run both, routing personal versus shared at capture.

Video Tutorials

How to Organize Your To-Dos with Todoist (Tutorial)

Peter Akkies • 142.5K views

Ultimate Todoist Setup For 2025 - Get Organised Now!

Carl Pullein • 77.9K views

How to get thoughts out of your head (and your notes app) and into Todoist

Todoist • 20.7K views

Top 3 free to-do list apps #todolist #todoist #productivity #habits #motivation #inspiration

Andre Nazare • 147.2K views

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OmniFocus still supported on macOS Tahoe 26.x?
Yes. OmniFocus 4 is Apple Silicon-native, notarised and updated for Tahoe 26.x as of August 2026. Both one-time and subscription builds receive the same 4.x feature stream, sync via Omni Sync Server or WebDAV, and support widgets, Shortcuts and Focus. Install via the Mac App Store, direct download or Homebrew and bring the same database to iPhone and iPad.
Which costs less over three years?
Todoist Pro at $48 per year is $144 over three years. OmniFocus Pro one-time at $149.99 is similar but you own that version; keeping upgrades current may suggest the $99.99 per year subscription ($300/3y) if you want web and constant updates. For a single Mac-only user who will not need web, the one-time OmniFocus license can be cheaper; for a team. Todoist Business per-user pricing still undercuts buying OmniFocus for everyone, and Todoist is the only one with true team roles.
Can Todoist do defer dates like OmniFocus?
Not quite. Todoist has due dates and reminders; availability logic like OmniFocus defer-until-sequential is simulated via filters and rescheduling rather than built-in availability states. If your workflow depends on 'show this only after Tuesday and hide it until then,' OmniFocus semantics are more faithful. If you just need due sorting and filter views. Todoist is sufficient and faster to type.
How does collaboration compare?
Todoist Business supports shared projects with assignees, comments and role permissioning; activity history tracks who did what. OmniFocus is single-owner by design, you can delegate by sending task links or using separate lists, but there is no native multi-user ownership or comment stream. Teams that need accountability should default to Todoist for the shared surface.
What about offline?
OmniFocus is fully offline with a local database; edits, reviews and perspective switches work without internet and sync reconciliation is reliable. Todoist caches recently used projects and queues writes offline, then syncs when back online. On a plane or rural commute, OmniFocus remains fully operative; Todoist needs a connection for full search and initial sync of new projects.
Should I use both?
Common among Mac professionals: keep OmniFocus as the private GTD system of record for personal projects and defer-heavy planning, and keep Todoist Business for team-shared execution. Capture personal commitments in OmniFocus Quick Entry, team commitments in Todoist Quick Add, and review both weekly, but do not duplicate a single task in both systems or negotiation overhead will erase the benefit.

About the Author

Alex Chen

Senior Developer Tools Specialist

Code Editors & IDEsTerminal EmulatorsVersion Control Tools
12+ years in software development · Former senior engineer at tech startups
TwitterGitHub

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Sources & References

Key Verified Facts

  • OmniFocus Standard is $74.99 one-time and Pro is $149.99 one-time, with an optional $9.99 per month subscription including Pro and web.[2]
  • OmniFocus 4 ships Apple Silicon-native with Tahoe 26.x support and sync via Omni Sync Server.[7]
  • Todoist Free allows 5 active projects and Pro is $4 per month billed annually while Business is $6 per user per month billed annually.[3]
  • Todoist's natural-language input parses dates, priorities, projects and labels in a single entry.[4]
  • Todoist Business team workspaces provide roles, shared projects and admin controls.[6]
  1. 1
    omnigroup.comOmniFocus. The Omni Group

    Accessed Aug 9, 2026

    Source excerpt
    OmniFocus. The Omni Group
  2. 2
    omnigroup.comIntroducing Optional OmniFocus Subscriptions. The Omni Group

    Accessed Aug 9, 2026

    Source excerpt
    Introducing Optional OmniFocus Subscriptions. The Omni Group
  3. 3
    todoist.comTodoist Pricing

    Accessed Aug 9, 2026

    Source excerpt
    Todoist Pricing
  4. 4
    clickup.comTodoist vs TickTick. ClickUp

    Accessed Aug 9, 2026

    Source excerpt
    Todoist vs TickTick. ClickUp
  5. 5
    work-management.orgOmniFocus Review 2026. Work Management

    Accessed Aug 9, 2026

    Source excerpt
    OmniFocus Review 2026. Work Management
  6. 6
    g2.comTodoist Pricing. G2

    Accessed Aug 9, 2026

    Source excerpt
    Todoist Pricing. G2
  7. 7
    omnigroup.comIntroducing OmniFocus 4. The Omni Group

    Accessed Aug 9, 2026

    Source excerpt
    Introducing OmniFocus 4. The Omni Group

Related Technologies & Concepts

OmniFocusTodoistOmni Sync ServerGetting Things DonemacOS TahoeZapier
OmniFocus (Apple-native GTD task manager with perspectives and Review mode.), Todoist (Cloud task service with natural-language capture and team workspaces.), Omni Sync Server (Encrypted sync backend for OmniFocus databases.), Getting Things Done (Methodology OmniFocus is explicitly designed around.), macOS Tahoe (Current macOS both apps target on Apple Silicon.), Zapier (Integration fabric Todoist uses for cross-tool automation.)

Related Topics

GTD task management

How defer logic, perspectives, filters and review rituals shape high-trust systems.

ticktick vs todoistthings vs omnifocus