Todo.txt vs Microsoft To-Do

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.)

Todo.txt automatically and seamlessly syncs through Dropbox.

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.

To-Do syncs between your phone and computer, so you can access your to-dos from school, the office, or the grocery store or even while you're traveling around the world.

With important to-dos that you really shouldn't forget you can add reminders and due dates—we'll remember them for you. And if you have to-dos that you need to tick off on a daily, weekly or yearly basis you can set up recurring due dates to remind you each and every time.

Simple interface and streamlined.

Available on Android, iOS, Windows and web.

What areas of your life do you want to be more productive in? You can have a color-coded list for each. Now you can quickly add your homework to one list, your groceries to another, your packing list, your work projects and your home DIY projects to yet more lists. You can create as many lists as fits your lifestyle.

You can also use To-Do as a note-taking app, adding detailed notes to every to-do—from addresses, to details about that book you want to read, to the website for your favorite café. You can collect all your tasks and notes in one place to help you achieve more.