Best To-Do App for Developers in 2026
Developers need different things from a to-do app: keyboard shortcuts, minimal UI, Jira integration, dark mode, and the ability to stay in flow without context switching. This guide reviews the best to-do apps for developers in 2026.
What Developers Need in a To-Do App
- Keyboard shortcuts: Navigate and act without touching the mouse
- Jira integration: Import issues as tasks, sync with development workflow
- Minimal UI: No clutter, no distractions, gets out of the way
- Dark mode: Easy on the eyes during long coding sessions
- Fast capture: Add a task in seconds, not minutes
- No feature bloat: Don't want project management—just task tracking
7 Best To-Do Apps for Developers
1. TaskSpot — Best for Simple + Jira + Keyboard
TaskSpot offers keyboard shortcuts (j/k/x/e/f/?), Focus mode for distraction-free work, Jira integration for importing issues, dark mode, sort by priority or date, and a minimal interface. No projects or tags—just Today, Tomorrow, Upcoming, and Backlog. Free forever.
Developer features: j/k to navigate, x to mark done, e to edit, f for Focus mode, ? for help. Jira OAuth to import issues as tasks. Dark mode. Clean, distraction-free UI. Works in browser—no context switch to a separate app.
Best for: Developers who want a simple to-do app with Jira and keyboard support.
2. Super Productivity — Best for Full Dev Workflow
Super Productivity is a free, open-source app with Jira, GitHub, GitLab, and GitLab integration. Keyboard-first, time tracking, local-first. Built for developers.
Developer features: Native Jira/GitHub/GitLab integration, Vim-style shortcuts, time tracking, command palette. Full developer workflow in one app.
Best for: Developers who want deep integration with issue trackers and version control.
3. Todoist — Best for Natural Language + Integrations
Todoist has natural language input ("tomorrow 2pm code review") and extensive integrations. Keyboard shortcuts available. Good for developers who want flexibility.
Developer features: Natural language, filters, integrations with GitHub and others. Power user features. Freemium.
Best for: Developers who want natural language and many integrations.
4. Linear — Best for Software Teams
Linear is built for software teams. Keyboard-first, issues, cycles, roadmaps. GitHub integration. Not a personal to-do app—team-focused.
Developer features: Excellent keyboard shortcuts, GitHub sync, built for engineering workflows.
Best for: Development teams, not solo developers.
5. TickTick — Good Balance
TickTick has keyboard shortcuts, calendar view, and Pomodoro. Good for developers who want tasks + timer. Free tier limited.
Developer features: Keyboard shortcuts, calendar, Pomodoro. Less dev-specific than TaskSpot or Super Productivity.
Best for: Developers who want calendar and timer alongside tasks.
Compare TaskSpot vs TickTick →
6. Things — Best for Apple-Only Developers
Things has excellent keyboard shortcuts and beautiful design. Mac and iOS only. One-time purchase. Popular with Apple-using developers.
Developer features: Great shortcuts, clean design, GTD-inspired. Apple-only.
Best for: Mac/iOS developers who value design.
7. Notion — For Developers Who Want All-in-One
Notion can work for tasks if you build a database. Flexible but complex. Good if you want tasks + docs + wikis in one place.
Developer features: Databases, API, flexible structure. Overkill for simple to-do.
Best for: Developers who want an all-in-one workspace.
TaskSpot's Developer Features
- Focus mode: Mark tasks as focused, press F for full-screen distraction-free view. Perfect for deep work.
- Keyboard shortcuts: j/k navigate, x mark done, e edit, f Focus mode, ? help, n new task, ⌘⇧R clear form, Shift+J/K for bulk move
- Jira integration: OAuth to connect Jira, import issues as tasks
- Dark mode: Full dark theme
- Minimal UI: No clutter, no projects, no tags
- Web-based: Works in browser tab alongside your IDE
- Free forever: No limits, no credit card
Recommendation
For simple to-do + Jira + keyboard shortcuts: TaskSpot. For full dev workflow with GitHub/GitLab: Super Productivity. For natural language + integrations: Todoist. For software teams: Linear.
Get started with TaskSpot—free, keyboard-first, Jira integration.