TL;DR
OmniFocus vs Todoist: For most Mac users in 2026, Todoist is the better choice for Task managers because it is free while OmniFocus charges for full use. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose OmniFocus instead if tasks support is your priority.
Which is better: OmniFocus or Todoist?
Todoist is the top pick for most Mac users looking at Task managers — it is free and installs in one Homebrew command. OmniFocus is the stronger choice if you prefer its Task managers ecosystem. Both are worth trying.
OmniFocus vs Todoist
Which is the better Task managers for Mac in 2026?
We compared OmniFocus and Todoist across 6 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Read our full breakdown below.
OmniFocus
Scheduling application focusing on organisation
Todoist
To-do list and task manager
Visual Comparison
Todoist
Todoist — Official Website
Our Verdict
For most Mac users in 2026, Todoist is the better choice for Task managers because it is free while OmniFocus charges for full use. Both install with a single Homebrew command, so the switching cost is low. Choose OmniFocus instead if tasks support is your priority.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | OmniFocus | Todoist |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid | Free |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | — | Things 3 ($49.99) |
| Best for | tasks, gtd, project management | tasks, todo, productivity |
| Install | brew install --cask omnifocus | brew install --cask todoist |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
Quick Install
brew install --cask omnifocusbrew install --cask todoistLearn More
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
CriticalQuick Entry panel and Quick Open with keyboard shortcuts; defer/due and tags add rigour but require more fields than Todoist.
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
CriticalDefer vs due, sequential projects, flagged, custom perspectives and Review mode enshrine weekly reviews and stalled-project hygiene.
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
HighCustom perspectives slice by project, tag, status, availability and date into persistent. Pro-grade dashboards.
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
HighSwift-native Mac/iPad/iPhone/watch apps with Shortcuts, widgets. Focus integration and local automation.
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
HighSingle-owner tool with no native multi-user tasks or role permissions; collaboration relies on separate lists or external web sharing.
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
HighForecast combines due tasks and calendar events; calendar integration is improved in OmniFocus 4 but not a full board/calendar suite.
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
MediumURL schemes. Shortcuts. AppleScript. Omni Automation plug-ins and local Focus automation; cloud API surface is small.
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
MediumOne-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.
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)
Reviews, defer dates and perspectives keep a high-trust solo system without team overhead.
2Distributed Team of 8
Shared projects, assignments and Business admin beat single-player OmniFocus.
3PhD Juggling Defer/Due Complexity
Sequential dissertation steps with true defer logic fit OmniFocus semantics.
4Marketer Living in Gmail and Calendar
Gmail and Calendar integrations plus filters keep tasks beside comms.
5Privacy-Conscious Mac User
Local database plus optional Omni Sync encryption keeps tasks on device.
6Mixed-OS Household
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
tie
Winner
Runner-up
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)
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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.[cite-omnifocus-pricing]
- OmniFocus 4 ships Apple Silicon-native with Tahoe 26.x support and sync via Omni Sync Server.[cite-omnifocus4]
- Todoist Free allows 5 active projects and Pro is $4 per month billed annually while Business is $6 per user per month billed annually.[cite-todoist-pricing]
- Todoist's natural-language input parses dates, priorities, projects and labels in a single entry.[cite-todoist-vs-ticktick]
- Todoist Business team workspaces provide roles, shared projects and admin controls.[cite-g2-todoist]
- 1
- 2Introducing Optional OmniFocus Subscriptions. The Omni Group
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Introducing Optional OmniFocus Subscriptions. The Omni Group"
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- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7Introducing OmniFocus 4. The Omni Group
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
"Introducing OmniFocus 4. The Omni Group"
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
GTD task management
How defer logic, perspectives, filters and review rituals shape high-trust systems.