7 Best Todoist Alternatives for People Who Want Something Simpler
Todoist is powerful—natural language, projects, filters, integrations. But that power comes with complexity. If you're searching for Todoist alternatives because you want something simpler, you're in the right place. This guide covers 7 Todoist alternatives ranked by simplicity, with TaskSpot as the top pick for people who want less.
Why People Leave Todoist
Common reasons people search for Todoist alternatives:
- Complexity: Projects, labels, filters—too many decisions before adding a task
- Pricing: Premium features (reminders, filters) require a subscription
- Overwhelm: The interface shows everything at once; hard to focus on today
- Learning curve: Natural language and filters take time to master
- Feature fatigue: You just want a list, not a productivity system
7 Best Todoist Alternatives (Ranked by Simplicity)
1. TaskSpot — Simplest Todoist Alternative
TaskSpot is built for people who find Todoist too much. No projects, no tags, no filters—just Today, Tomorrow, Upcoming, Backlog, Done, and Deleted. Free forever with no limits.
Why switch: Zero learning curve. Add a task, see it in Today or Tomorrow. No organization decisions. Keyboard shortcuts (j/k/x/e) for power users. Daily streaks and morning briefing for habit building.
Migration tip: Move your "Today" tasks first, then Tomorrow, then everything else to Backlog. No import tool needed—manual is fast when you're not organizing into projects.
Read TaskSpot vs Todoist comparison →
2. Google Tasks — Free and Minimal
Google Tasks is the simplest free alternative. Built into Gmail and Calendar. No projects, no complexity. Convert emails to tasks, drag tasks to your calendar.
Why switch: Completely free. Zero setup. Impossible to overcomplicate. Good if you're in the Google ecosystem.
Migration tip: Manual copy. Google Tasks has no import from Todoist.
Compare TaskSpot vs Google Tasks →
3. Microsoft To Do — Good for Microsoft Users
Microsoft To Do offers "My Day" for daily focus. Free with Microsoft account. Integrates with Outlook and Teams.
Why switch: My Day view gives daily focus. Free. Simpler than Todoist's project structure.
Migration tip: Manual or use third-party tools. Microsoft To Do has limited import options.
Compare TaskSpot vs Microsoft To Do →
4. Superlist — Modern and Minimal
Superlist is a clean, modern list app. Fast capture, minimal UI. Newer than Todoist but gaining traction in the minimalist space.
Why switch: Cleaner interface. Less feature creep. Modern design.
Migration tip: Manual. No direct Todoist import.
Compare TaskSpot vs Superlist →
5. TickTick — Similar Power, Different Feel
TickTick has similar features to Todoist (projects, calendar, habits) but some find the interface less cluttered. Free tier is limited.
Why switch: Different UX. Calendar integration. Habit tracking. If you want similar features but a different feel.
Migration tip: TickTick has Todoist import in premium.
Compare TaskSpot vs TickTick →
6. TeuxDeux — Daily Checklist Focus
TeuxDeux is built around daily checklists. No projects—just days and tasks. Rollover for unfinished items.
Why switch: Radically different. No project structure at all. Daily checklist philosophy.
Migration tip: Manual. Focus on migrating recurring daily tasks.
7. Apple Reminders — For Apple Users
Apple Reminders is free on Apple devices. Simple lists, Siri, location reminders. No projects required.
Why switch: Built-in. Free. Simple if you don't over-organize. Apple-only.
Compare TaskSpot vs Apple Reminders →
Comparison Table
| Alternative | Simplicity | Free Tier | Daily Focus | Cross-Platform |
|-------------|------------|-----------|-------------|----------------|
| TaskSpot | Excellent | Full | Excellent | Yes (web; add to home screen) |
| Google Tasks | Excellent | Full | Basic | Yes |
| Microsoft To Do | Good | Full | Good | Yes |
| Superlist | Good | Freemium | Good | Yes |
| TickTick | Moderate | Limited | Good | Yes |
| TeuxDeux | Excellent | Paid | Excellent | Yes |
| Apple Reminders | Good | Full | Good | Apple only |
Migration Tips: Todoist to TaskSpot
- Export from Todoist: Todoist allows export (Settings > Export). You'll get a CSV.
- Start fresh with Today: Add only what you need to do today. Don't migrate everything at once.
- Add Tomorrow: Move tomorrow's tasks next.
- Use Backlog for the rest: Everything else goes to Backlog. You can move items to Today/Tomorrow as needed.
- Let go of projects: TaskSpot doesn't have projects. Use Backlog as your "someday" list. Most people find they don't miss project structure for daily tasks.
Recommendation
For the simplest Todoist alternative: TaskSpot. For Google users: Google Tasks. For Microsoft users: Microsoft To Do. For similar features, different UX: TickTick.
Get started with TaskSpot—free, no credit card, simpler than Todoist.