Remember the Milk vs Todo.txt

Smart lists are configured using Remember the Milk's syntax, making it very customizable.

Remember The Milk has a list of semantic shortcuts that allow adding tasks and task options faster.

The majority of commonly used features are available for free. The pro version adds increased functionality such as advanced sorting, mobile push notifications and sharing permissions.

Whether you depend on an iOS, Windows or Android phone; Google Calendar or Outlook; Evernote or Twitter: RTM has an app or extension for you.

Query language can be used to build your own GTD-based system, with tags and lists and queries. Such as system can be used for private life and work alongside several simple lists without things getting mixed up.

You can set locations for each task (for example a specific store, or a general location like 'near the beach' for shell collectors), and RTM will remind you when you are near or in that location. This can help keep your daily list uncluttered and remind you of errands you might have forgotten.

Extra options such as how often it repeats, the due date, and the location.

A start date can be set which can be used with smartlists or to set a reminder.

Share lists with other Remember The Milk users, or with iCal and more. Shared lists can be collaboratively updated. This makes it great for teams or just to share progress with others.

Remember The Milk offers Smart Add – shortcuts that allow you to quickly add advanced information to a task. For example, you can quickly add a due date, set the priority level, add a tag, set repeat times, add URLs, and add notes to your tasks. For the full list, check out How Do I Use Smart Add?

Manual sorting is available on both the web app and android, allowing prioritization of tasks. This can be particularly useful for shopping lists, where you can put all the meat together, and all the cheese together etc. to make it easier to skim through when you're in the store.

Compared to competitors like todoist, the widget doesn't use too much space.

They react within hours, and they actually keep track of your issue.

There are special characters which open a box so the user can select predefined values or a calendar picker.

Syncs quickly across all your devices and platforms.

Not only syncing, it's more of a "linking" with a two-way synchronization. Changing the title of a note in Evernote will update the title in Remember the Milk. So far, Remember The Milk is the only to-do app with a feature like this.

You can add tasks to Remember the Milk via email easily once you get the hang of formatting the messages.

The Twitter integration is excellent and allows for many types of automation.

Todo.txt can be edited in plain text and then displayed with neat styles.

Because todo.txt is just a todo standard with various compatible apps to edit it, you can update it from any device as long as it can edit text and you can access your todo.txt file

It's convenient to be able to access your todo list quickly via your programming environment so you don't have to switch contexts, and to have a separate todo.txt file per project.

Todo.txt lists can be edited in virtually every text editor ever made and accessed on devices that support Dropbox. The user community has also created a number of apps for dozens of platforms.

You can edit your lists using the command line (e.g., Terminal) via a supplied bash script.

You have full access to the underlying programming rules, and therefore total control over your task lists.

Has been extended to include most things people want, including a multiple of interfaces and app for all platforms.

Todo.txt automatically and seamlessly syncs through Dropbox.

The community has developed a wide range of apps that interface with the basic file structure. These apps vary in how much they accomplish, how much hand-holding they do, their level of glitz, etc. They range from plugins for an editing app like vim to stand-alone, platform-specific GUI's. So YMMV depending on what you use. (todopy is particularly nice, a Python program that has a "console" mode which provides a keyboard-driven GUI.)

Does one thing: to do lists

It runs on MacOS, Android, and Python (in the Mac's Unix CLI) -- all for free.

At a bare minimum you just need to be able to edit text, but there are many apps and advanced interfaces you can install on many devices to supplement your to-do list editing.