PRODUCT REVIEW
Todoist Review - Pros, Cons, and Features
December 14, 2024
Share on
Pros
Easy to use
Works on all devices
Strong features like labels and integrations
Cons
Free version is limited
Subscription cost is high
Advanced features can be hard to learn
Free, Pro at $4/month, Business at $6/user/month (annual billing).
Pricing
.
What is Todoist?
Todoist is a popular task management tool designed to help individuals and teams organize their work and personal lives. It offers a digital platform for creating and managing to-do lists, projects, and tasks.
The app works across multiple devices and operating systems, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This cross-platform functionality allows users to access their tasks and projects from anywhere. Todoist provides features like:
Task creation and organization
Project management
Collaborative tools for teams
Due dates and reminders
Priority levels for tasks
Labels and filters
Users can categorize tasks, set deadlines, and track their progress. The app also offers integrations with other productivity tools and calendar applications.
Todoist caters to both personal and professional use. It can help with managing household chores, work assignments, or complex team projects. The app aims to simplify task management and boost productivity for its users.
Todoist Key Features
Todoist offers a range of tools to help users manage tasks and stay organized. These features aim to boost productivity and streamline workflow for individuals and teams.
Task Organization
Todoist allows users to create and manage tasks easily. The app supports natural language input, making it simple to add tasks quickly. Users can organize tasks into projects and sub-projects, creating a clear structure for their to-do lists.
The app offers different views to display tasks, including a daily agenda, weekly schedule, and custom filters. This flexibility helps users see their tasks in a way that suits their work style.
Labels and Filters
Labels in Todoist help categorize tasks across different projects. Users can add multiple labels to a single task, making it easy to group related items.
Filters allow users to create custom views of their tasks. These can be based on criteria like due date, priority, or label. This feature helps users focus on specific groups of tasks when needed. The app's search function works with labels and filters, allowing users to quickly find tasks even in large to-do lists.
Prioritization
Todoist uses a priority system to help users focus on important tasks. There are four priority levels, represented by colored flags. Users can sort tasks by priority, ensuring high-priority items are always visible. This feature is useful for managing urgent tasks and maintaining focus on critical work.
Recurring Tasks
For tasks that repeat regularly, Todoist offers a recurring task feature. Users can set tasks to repeat daily, weekly, monthly, or on custom schedules.
The app supports complex recurrence patterns. For example, users can set a task to repeat every third Tuesday of the month or every weekday.
Collaboration Tools
Todoist includes features for team collaboration. Users can share projects with others, assign tasks, and set due dates for team members.
The app allows for comments on tasks, facilitating discussion and clarification within the team. File attachments can be added to tasks, making it easy to share relevant documents.
Todoist's communication system keeps team members updated on task progress. Notifications alert users to new assignments, comments, or changes to shared tasks.
Todoist Pros
Todoist offers many benefits for users looking to manage tasks and boost productivity. The app is known for its clean, user-friendly interface that makes task organization simple.
One of Todoist's strengths is its cross-platform support. Users can access their tasks on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This ensures seamless syncing across all platforms.
The app provides flexible task organization options. Users can create projects, add labels, and set priorities for their tasks. This helps in sorting and filtering tasks efficiently.
Todoist's natural language input feature is a standout. It allows users to quickly add tasks by typing phrases like "submit report tomorrow at 3 pm." The app interprets these commands and sets due dates automatically.
Collaboration features are another plus. Users can share projects and assign tasks to team members, making it useful for both personal and professional use.
The app offers productivity tracking tools. Users can set daily and weekly goals, and then monitor their progress through visual charts and stats. This helps in maintaining motivation and improving time management skills.
Todoist Cons
While Todoist offers many helpful features, it has some drawbacks. One issue is that some important functions are not available to free users. This can limit the app's usefulness for those who don't want to pay.
The Windows app for Todoist isn't as polished as the Mac version. This may disappoint Windows users who expect the same quality across platforms.
Basic subtasks are another weak point. Users who need more complex task breakdowns might find Todoist's subtask system too simple for their needs.
Some users may find the interface too minimalist. While many appreciate the clean design, others might prefer more visual customization options.
Todoist can get expensive for teams. The pricing structure may not be cost-effective for larger groups or organizations with many members.
Learning all of Todoist's features can take time. New users might feel overwhelmed by the various options and shortcuts available.
Getting Started with Todoist
Todoist makes it easy to start organizing your tasks and projects. The setup process is quick, allowing you to begin using the app right away.
Account Creation
To begin using Todoist, you'll need to create an account. Visit the Todoist website and click the "Sign Up" button. You can sign up using your email address or link your Google or Apple account for faster access.
Once you've entered your details, you'll be asked to choose a password. It's a good idea to use a strong, unique password to keep your account secure. After confirming your email address, you're ready to start using Todoist.
Setting Up Your First Project
Projects in Todoist help you group related tasks together. To create your first project, click the "Add Project" button in the sidebar. Give your project a name and choose a color to help you identify it easily.
You can also set up sections within your project to further organize your tasks. For example, if you're planning a vacation, you might have sections for "Accommodation," "Transportation," and "Activities."
Adding Tasks and Deadlines
Adding tasks to your projects is simple. Click the "Add Task" button or use the quick-add feature by typing "q" on your keyboard. Enter your task description and press enter.
Todoist uses natural language processing for setting due dates. You can type phrases like "tomorrow at 3pm" or "every Monday" and the app will understand. This feature makes it quick to add deadlines to your tasks.
You can also add priority levels to your tasks. Todoist uses a four-level system, with priority 1 being the most important. This helps you focus on what's most urgent. To add more details to a task, click on it to open the task view. Here you can add comments, attachments, or subtasks.
Todoist User Interface and Usability
Todoist offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes task management easy. The app's design and navigation support efficient workflow across mobile and desktop platforms.
Design and Layout
Todoist's interface is simple and organized, with a minimalist design that reduces distractions. The main screen displays tasks in a clear list format. Users can quickly add new tasks using the prominent "+" button.
Color-coding helps categorize projects and priorities. The app uses a pleasing color palette that's easy on the eyes during extended use.
Customization options allow users to adjust the layout to their preferences. This includes changing themes, rearranging sections, and hiding unnecessary elements.
Navigation
Todoist's navigation is straightforward and user-friendly. The left sidebar provides quick access to different views like Inbox, Today, and Upcoming. Users can easily switch between projects and filters.
The search function is powerful, enabling users to find tasks quickly. Keyboard shortcuts speed up common actions for power users.
Smart features like natural language input make adding tasks with dates and priorities effortless. For example, typing "Buy milk tomorrow at 9am #Shopping p1" creates a high-priority task in the Shopping project for the next day at 9 AM.
Mobile and Desktop Experience
Todoist offers a consistent experience across all major platforms and devices. The mobile app retains most desktop features while optimizing for smaller screens.
On mobile, gestures like swiping to complete tasks enhance usability. The widget feature allows quick task viewing and addition from the home screen.
The desktop version takes advantage of larger screens with expanded views and more visible information. It integrates well with operating systems, offering features like calendar sync and browser extensions. Offline mode ensures users can access and edit tasks without an internet connection, syncing changes when back online.
Todoist Pricing and Subscription Plans
Todoist offers different pricing tiers to suit various needs. The plans range from free to paid options with additional features.
Free vs. Premium Features
Todoist provides a free plan with basic task management features. Users can create tasks, organize them into projects, and set due dates. The free version allows up to 5 active projects and 5 collaborators per project. Premium users get more. For about $5 per month, they unlock:
Unlimited active projects
300 project collaborators
File uploads (up to 100MB per file)
Project templates
Reminders
Labels and filters
Task comments
Business Plans
For teams and companies, Todoist offers Business plans with custom pricing. These include all Premium features plus:
Team inbox
Admin and member roles
Team billing
Centralized team management
Priority support
Business users can create shared team projects, assign tasks to coworkers, and track progress across the organization. The plan supports unlimited team members and provides advanced collaboration tools.
Integrations and Add-Ons
Todoist offers many ways to connect with other apps and services. This helps users work more smoothly across different tools. Some popular integrations include:
Calendar apps (Google Calendar, Apple Calendar)
Email services (Gmail, Outlook)
Cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive)
Productivity tools (Slack, Zapier)
These connections let users sync tasks, create new items from emails, and share files easily. Todoist also works with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This allows for hands-free task management and quick additions to your to-do list.
For developers, Todoist provides an API. This enables custom integrations and automation tailored to specific needs. The range of add-ons extends Todoist's capabilities. These extras can boost productivity and streamline workflows.
Some standout features of Todoist integrations:
Two-way syncing with many apps
Automatic task creation from emails
File attachment support through cloud storage links
Real-time updates across connected platforms
Customer Support and Resources
Todoist offers various ways for users to get help and learn about the app. Users can find answers to questions, improve their skills, and connect with others.
Support Channels
Todoist provides email support for all users. Free plan users might see slower response times. Paid users get faster replies. The support team answers questions about features, bugs, and account issues.
There's no phone support. Live chat is not available. Some users might find this limiting. But the email support is generally good quality.
Todoist has a help center on their website. It has articles and guides. These cover common issues and how to use features. The help center is searchable and well-organized.
Learning Materials
Todoist offers a range of resources to help users learn the app. There are video tutorials on their YouTube channel. These show how to use different features step-by-step.
There's also a getting started guide for new users. It walks through the basics of setting up tasks and projects. Advanced users can find guides on more complex features.
Community Forums
Todoist has an active user community. The forums let users ask questions and share tips. Other users and sometimes staff members answer questions.
There are sections for different topics. These include app features, integrations, and workflows. Users can search old posts for answers too.
The forums are a good place to suggest new features. Todoist staff often respond to these ideas. It's also where users can find out about upcoming changes to the app.
Final Thoughts
Todoist stands out as a solid task management tool for both personal and professional use. Its clean interface and cross-platform support make it easy to stay organized across devices.
The app's natural language input saves time when adding tasks. This feature lets users quickly jot down to-dos without navigating complex menus.
Todoist's free plan offers good value, but some useful features are locked behind a paywall. Upgrading to Premium unlocks extras like reminders and labels.
One drawback is the learning curve for some advanced features. New users may need time to fully grasp all of Todoist's capabilities. The collaborative features shine for team projects.
Todoist integrates well with many other apps and services. This flexibility allows it to fit into various workflows and productivity systems. While not perfect, Todoist delivers on its core promise of helping users manage tasks effectively. Its strengths outweigh its minor shortcomings for most people seeking a reliable to-do list app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key differences between Todoist and Microsoft To Do?
Todoist and Microsoft To Do have some notable distinctions. Todoist provides more advanced project management features like subtasks and task priorities. It also offers better third-party integrations. Microsoft To Do, on the other hand, integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products and has a simpler interface that some users prefer.
How does Todoist's pricing structure compare with other task management tools?
Todoist's pricing is competitive in the task management market. The free plan offers basic features, while the Pro and Business plans provide more advanced options. Compared to similar tools, Todoist's paid plans are reasonably priced and offer good value for the features provided.
Can you outline the new features added to Todoist?
Todoist introduced several new features to enhance user experience. These include improved natural language processing for task creation, expanded integration options with popular productivity apps, and enhanced collaboration tools for team projects.
What are the major strengths and weaknesses of Todoist based on recent reviews?
Recent reviews highlight Todoist's strengths in its user-friendly interface and cross-device syncing. Users appreciate its natural language input and robust task management features. Weaknesses include limited reporting capabilities in the free version and occasional syncing delays on some platforms.
Is the premium version of Todoist considered worth the investment by users?
Many users find the premium version of Todoist worth the investment. It unlocks features like reminders, comments, and file uploads. The Pro plan is particularly valued for its advanced labeling and filtering options, which help users manage complex projects more effectively.
How does Todoist's 1/3/5 rule enhance productivity and task management?
Todoist's 1/3/5 rule is a productivity technique that helps users prioritize tasks. Users select one big task, three medium tasks, and five small tasks to focus on each day. This approach helps prevent overwhelm and ensures a balance between important projects and smaller daily responsibilities.
Disclosure: We may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links on our website if you decide to purchase a paid plan or service. You can read our affiliate disclosure, terms of use, and our privacy policy. This blog shares informational resources and opinions only for entertainment purposes, users are responsible for the actions they take and the decisions they make.
This blog may share reviews and opinions on products, services, and other digital assets. The consumer review section on this website is for consumer reviews only by real users, and information on this blog may conflict with these consumer reviews and opinions.
We may also use information from consumer reviews for articles on this blog. Information seen in this blog may be outdated or inaccurate at times. We use AI tools to help write our content. Please make an informed decision on your own regarding the information and data presented here.
Featured Reviews
Table of Contents
Disclosure: We may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links on our website if you decide to purchase a paid plan or service. You can read our affiliate disclosure, terms of use, and privacy policy. Information seen in this blog may be outdated or inaccurate at times. We use AI tools to help write our content. This blog shares informational resources and opinions only for entertainment purposes, users are responsible for the actions they take and the decisions they make.