Todoist
Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent.
A cross-platform task manager: projects, labels and filters, with a quick-add field that reads dates and priorities out of ordinary typing.
Build me a task manager with sync I control and quick entry that parses a sentence. STACK - Astro with a Node adapter for the server, SQLite via better-sqlite3 - A small progressive web app so it installs on a phone without an app store THE MODEL - Project, section, task, subtask; labels crossing projects; priority one to four - Recurring rules stored as a text expression, evaluated on completion QUICK ADD, THE FEATURE THAT MATTERS - One field parsing: #project, @label, p1 to p4, and dates in natural language - Show the parse result live above the field before it is committed, so it is never a surprise - Anything unparsed stays in the title rather than being dropped FILTERS - A small query language: due, overdue, project, label, priority, combined with and, or and not - Saved filters shareable as a URL SYNC AND OFFLINE - The client writes to IndexedDB first and posts a change log - Every change carries a client id and a timestamp; last write wins per field, not per task - Conflicts on the same field within a second are logged, not silently resolved SHARING - A project can be shared with another account; comments per task - Permissions are per project, not per task Include a README on the parser grammar, the sync conflict rule and how to export everything as JSON.
What you lose
- Apps on every platform, including watches and browsers, all in sync within a second
- Natural language entry that parses dates, projects, labels and priorities from one line
- Shared projects with comments, which is where family and small teams live
- Offline behaviour that reconciles cleanly when the connection returns
- Integrations that create tasks from mail, chat and calendar
If you would rather not build
- TickTick — paid, similar scope, calendar included
The escape hatch
open source · no votes, no paid placement
Vikunja
$0Task and project management with list, kanban and gantt views.
go-vikunja/vikunjafree · open source
Super Productivity
$0Local-first task manager with time tracking, on desktop and web.
super-productivity/super-productivityfree · open source
Why this verdict
our own opinion · changed only by a person
74/100
Verdict yes at 74: tasks with a parser and a change log is a genuine single-session build, and the field-level sync rule is the one design decision that keeps it honest. Apps on every platform is what you are giving up, and a progressive web app covers more of that than it used to.
History
tracked since 9 Aug 2026 · nothing is ever overwritten
Questions about Todoist
answered from the record above
Is Todoist free?
No — the plan we track is $5 a month. Pro at $5/month billed annually, $6 monthly; a free tier covers five personal projects.
Can you replace Todoist by building your own?
YES. Replaceable in one session with an AI coding agent. Replacement score 74 out of 100, build time one session. Read what you lose before you decide.
How much does Todoist cost?
$5 a month on Pro — $60 a year. Recorded 9 Aug 2026.
What do you lose by replacing Todoist?
Apps on every platform, including watches and browsers, all in sync within a second; Natural language entry that parses dates, projects, labels and priorities from one line; Shared projects with comments, which is where family and small teams live; Offline behaviour that reconciles cleanly when the connection returns; Integrations that create tasks from mail, chat and calendar. If any of those carry weight for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Todoist?
Yes: Vikunja, Super Productivity. The prompt on this page is for when you want it your way instead.
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