Keyboard Shortcuts in To-Do Apps: Why They Matter and Who Does It Best
Power users and developers know: the mouse is slow. Keyboard shortcuts turn a to-do app from point-and-click into a flow state tool. Add task, navigate, mark done, edit—all without leaving the keyboard. This article compares keyboard shortcuts across popular to-do apps and explains why they matter.
Why Keyboard Shortcuts Boost Productivity
- Speed: Keys are faster than mouse. Navigate with j/k, mark done with x—seconds saved per action add up.
- Flow: No context switch to the mouse. Hands stay on keyboard. Flow state preserved.
- Accessibility: For some users, keyboard is easier than mouse. Shortcuts make apps more accessible.
- Power user appeal: Developers and power users expect shortcuts. Apps without them feel underpowered.
Keyboard Shortcuts Comparison
TaskSpot
Navigation: j (next task), k (previous task), 1–5 (switch views), Shift+J/K (move task)
Actions: n (new task), x (mark done), e (edit), f (Focus mode), ? (help), ⌘⇧R (clear form)
Philosophy: Minimal, Vim-inspired. j/k for navigation like Vim. Few keys, high impact. Create with Enter or ⌘+Enter from the description field.
Todoist
Navigation: j/k or arrow keys
Actions: q (quick add), e (edit), x or Enter (complete)
Philosophy: Broad shortcut set. Many actions have shortcuts. Steeper learning curve.
Full list: Extensive. Todoist has one of the largest shortcut sets. Good for power users who want to learn them.
TickTick
Navigation: j/k, arrow keys
Actions: n (new task), e (edit), x (complete)
Philosophy: Similar to Todoist. Good coverage. Some overlap with TaskSpot.
Full list: Good coverage. Calendar, habits have their own shortcuts.
Compare TaskSpot vs TickTick →
Things
Navigation: Arrow keys, j/k in some views
Actions: Space (complete), Enter (new), e (edit)
Philosophy: Apple-native. Shortcuts follow Mac conventions. Elegant.
Full list: Mac-focused. Excellent for Apple users. Limited on web.
Linear
Navigation: j/k, arrow keys, command palette
Actions: c (create), e (edit), x (complete), / (search)
Philosophy: Developer-focused. Vim-style. One of the best keyboard experiences.
Full list: Extensive. Built for keyboard-first users. Team/product-focused, not personal to-do.
TaskSpot's Full Shortcut Reference
| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| 1–5 | Switch views (Today, Tomorrow, Upcoming, Backlog, Done) |
| n | New task (focus input) |
| j | Next task |
| k | Previous task |
| x | Mark task done |
| e | Edit task |
| f | Focus mode (full-screen view of focused tasks) |
| . | Open feedback modal |
| ? | Show help (all shortcuts) |
| Shift+J | Move task down |
| Shift+K | Move task up |
| ⌘⇧R / Ctrl+Shift+R | Clear task form |
| Enter / ⌘+Enter | Create task |
That's it. Easy to learn. Covers daily use. No modifier combos for basics.
Who Does It Best?
For simplicity: TaskSpot. Minimal shortcuts, no learning curve. j/k/x/e covers navigation and actions. f for Focus mode, ⌘⇧R to clear the form.
For breadth: Todoist. Most shortcuts. Most features. Steeper learning curve.
For developers: Linear. Best keyboard experience. Built for dev teams. Not a personal to-do app.
For Apple users: Things. Native Mac shortcuts. Elegant. Apple-only.
For balance: TickTick. Good shortcuts, good features. Middle ground.
Recommendation
If you want a simple to-do app with excellent keyboard shortcuts: TaskSpot. j/k/x/e gets you through the day. If you need more power and are willing to learn: Todoist or Linear.
Get started with TaskSpot—free, keyboard-first, minimal.