Todoing.ly vs Microsoft To Do — honest comparison
Looking for a Microsoft To Do alternative? Here's an honest Todoing.ly vs Microsoft To Do comparison — what each one does well, and where the other one wins. We'll be blunt: Microsoft To Do is free, polished, and tightly integrated with Outlook, Microsoft 365, and your work account. Todoing.ly is a paid app, so the bar is high — its case is that it's a cleaner, account-neutral task manager that doesn't tie you to a Microsoft account, with shared projects and a lifetime option, across web, iPhone, and Android, with a 7-day free trial.
| At a glance | Todoing.ly | Microsoft To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $9.99/mo (7-day free trial) | Free |
| Most popular plan | $95.99/yr | Free |
| Lifetime license | $399 one-time (covers every platform + 9 other Bravely apps) | Free (Microsoft account required) |
| Platforms | Web · iOS · Android · macOS · Windows · Linux | Web · Windows · macOS · iOS · Android |
Pick Microsoft To Do if
- ·It's completely free, with no subscription and no trial to think about — a genuinely strong default for anyone who already has a Microsoft account.
- ·Deep Microsoft 365 / Outlook integration: flagged emails become tasks, it syncs with Outlook tasks, and it fits naturally into a Windows + Office workflow.
- ·Native Windows and macOS apps plus iOS and Android, with a clean My Day planner and Steps (sub-tasks) — a mature, well-supported app from Microsoft.
- ·Shared lists are included for free, and it's backed by Microsoft's infrastructure and longevity.
- ·List grouping, file attachments, and reminders are all available at no cost.
Pick Todoing.ly if
- +Account-neutral: sign in with Google, Apple, or email — no Microsoft account required, and nothing tied to your work tenant. Your tasks aren't living inside Microsoft 365.
- +Real-time shared projects with email invites and roles, plus a clean Inbox / Today / Calendar model that isn't built around Outlook or My Day. (Invite/collaboration UX is still being refined.)
- +A flat lifetime option ($399) that covers every platform and unlocks 9 other Bravely utilities — Microsoft To Do has no lifetime to buy because it's free, but it also can't be owned independently of a Microsoft account.
- +Natural-language date entry ("tomorrow 4pm"), recurring tasks, reminders, and notes — all uncapped — across web, iPhone, and Android.
- +A focused, independent task app from a small studio: no ads, no upsell into a 365 subscription, and your data isn't part of a broader productivity-suite lock-in.
Full feature comparison
Verified 2026-06-01. Source linked at the bottom.
| Feature | Todoing.ly | Microsoft To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99/mo, $95.99/yr, or $399 lifetime (7-day trial) | Free |
| Microsoft account required | No (Google / Apple / email) | Yes |
| Web app | Yes | Yes |
| Windows app | Yes — native | Yes — native |
| macOS app | Yes — native | Yes — native |
| Linux app | Yes — native | No |
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Outlook / Microsoft 365 integration | No | Yes — deep |
| Real-time cross-device sync | Yes — push on native apps; web within seconds | Yes |
| Unlimited tasks / lists | Yes | Yes |
| Natural-language date entry | Yes | Limited |
| Recurring tasks | Yes | Yes |
| Reminders / notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Sub-tasks / steps | Notes | Yes (Steps) |
| Collaboration / shared lists | Shared projects | Yes — shared lists (free) |
| Ads / upsell | None | Promotes Microsoft 365 |
FAQ
Microsoft To Do is free — why pay for Todoing.ly?+
You're paying for independence and a different shape: no Microsoft account, no work-tenant tie-in, real-time shared projects, natural-language dates, and an optional one-time lifetime that also unlocks nine other Bravely apps. If free-and-Outlook-integrated is what you want, Microsoft To Do is the better choice and we'd tell you to use it.
Does Todoing.ly integrate with Outlook or Microsoft 365?+
No. Todoing.ly is deliberately account-neutral and doesn't integrate with Outlook or Microsoft 365. If that integration is the point for you, Microsoft To Do wins.
Does Todoing.ly need a Microsoft account?+
No. Sign in with Google, Apple, or email. Nothing is tied to a Microsoft account or work tenant.
Does Todoing.ly have a desktop app?+
Yes. Todoing.ly has native desktop apps on Mac, Windows, and Linux, plus a full web app that runs in any browser. Microsoft To Do ships mature native Windows and macOS apps.
Can I buy Todoing.ly once?+
Yes — a one-time $399 lifetime covers every platform and unlocks 9 other Bravely utilities, alongside $9.99/mo and $95.99/yr plans. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
More Todoing.ly comparisons
Pricing verified 2026-06-01. Microsoft To Do pricing source. Subject to change.