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2Do vs Todoist

Truthfully? This is the one comparison where you don't have to pick a side: 2Do syncs with Todoist, two-way. Todoist is a cloud service with apps on everything and collaboration built in; 2Do is a deep, native, local-first task manager for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android. Connect the two and they stay in step, so the honest answer to "which one?" can simply be "both."

Last reviewed: July 16, 2026.

At a Glance

Criteria2DoTodoist
Primary modelFlexible lists, projects, and checklists, stored locally and synced where you chooseA cloud service with apps and a web client everywhere
Best fitPower users on Apple platforms who want depth and data controlCross-platform users and teams who share projects
StrengthFeature depth, scheduling, alarms, and sync choiceUbiquity, collaboration, and natural-language capture
Trade-offNo web clientDepth of scheduling; several staples need a paid plan
You can have both

Connect 2Do to your Todoist account (Settings > Sync > Setup → Todoist) and your projects, tasks, sub-task hierarchy, tags, due dates, durations, and stars flow both ways. Keep Todoist on the web and at work; come back to 2Do for the Mac-native depth. See Sync with Todoist.

Task Management & Sync Comparison

Capability2DoTodoist
Projects with fully dated, taggable sub-tasks
Checklists
Sub-tasks on any plain task
Sections inside projects
Natural-language dates typed inline in the task titlein date fields
Tags
Tag groups and pausable tags
Saved Smart Lists with a full search syntax (filters)
Typo-tolerant Soundex search, plus exact wildcard matching
Sort any list your way — a dozen sort options, remembered per listbasic
Expressive tag filtering — combine tags with AND / OR / NOT (in filter queries)
One-click Focus Filter per list
Filter by List Group on demand, combinable with search
Exclude any list from All, Today, or Done
Hide any list from the sidebar, even built-in onesarchive only
Jump Bars — find-as-you-type task, list, and tag jumping
Quick Look any task with the Spacebar, and run its action right from the preview
One key to act: P performs a task's action, U opens every link in its notes
Quick Open — jump to any task or list from anywhere
Section heat bars — see dense sections and jump to them
Stars in addition to prioritiespriorities only
Hover any task to set priority or star without editing
Numbered picker presets, set dates, alarms, or recurrence with Option and a digitbasic
Single-key commands: defer, schedule, star, tag, move, and prioritise without modifiers
Jump to any editor field from the keyboard (dates, alerts, tags, action, recurrence, list)basic
Start dates and times in addition to due datessingle date field; deadlines are date-only
Task durations (estimated time, with a lead-up window)
Repeat from due date or from completion (every!)
Custom repeat rules — every N days/weeks/months/years, chosen weekdays, the 15th, the last day, the second Tuesday (typed as text)
Recurrence end conditions — stop after N occurrences or on a date (until / for)
Repeats keep start and due as a pair — same gap, same times, every cyclesingle date only
Repeating projects and checklists start fresh — sub-tasks reset each cyclebasic
Edit one occurrence or all future onesbasic
Smart Scheduling — future-start tasks stay hidden until they begin, revealable any time
Multiple alarms per task (paid plans)
Repeating (nagging) alarm sounds until dismissed
2Do's own alarm window — snooze menu and the task's action right on the card
Silence alarms one list at a time
Silence 2Do alarms automatically with macOS Focus
Assign locations to tasks (Nearby view)location reminders, paid plans
Location-based alerts (iPhone / iPad) (paid plans)
Task actions — call, message, email, visit, or open a link right from the task
Picture and audio attachments (via comments)
Markdown notes
Type-to-link related tasks in notes
Batch editing — tag, defer, schedule, or re-prioritise many tasks at once
System-wide Quick Entry on Mac
Calendar events shown alongside tasksbasic
Interactive Mini Calendar — filter by day or range, ribbons for busy days and future repeats, drag to defercalendar view, paid plans
Email tasks to the app
Real-time cloud collaboration — shared projects, assignees, comments
Windows, web, and Linux apps
Free plan available
Bring your own sync service — Dropbox, iCloud CalDAV, CalDAV, Reminders, Todoist, or Toodledo
Keep chosen lists off sync entirely
Capture defaults you control (default list, GTD Inbox, default due date and time, clipboard prefill)basic
Automatic reminders for dated tasks, at the deadline or a chosen offset (paid plans)
Completed tasks age out on your schedule (visibility window, auto-delete)basic
Sidebar counts and Dock badge tuned to what matters (a dozen badge scopes)basic
Separate themes for Light and Dark mode
Two-way Apple Reminders sync
Share a list with others over the local network
Claude / AI integration (MCP)
AppleScript automation
Shortcuts app supportiPhone / iPad only
Password protection with Touch ID (lists or whole app)
Print neatly formatted lists, choosing the fields and level of detailbasic
Export lists as .ics calendar or .csv spreadsheet files, or just the selected tasksCSV per project
Import to-dos from any .ics calendar file, hierarchy and alarms included
Automatic local backups, on a schedule you choosecloud backups, paid plans
Restore individual lists from automatic backups
Works fully offline, no account required
Truly native Mac app, built for the Maccross-platform app
Android app
One-time purchase availablesubscription

Where Todoist May Be Better

  • You collaborate: shared projects, assignees, and comment threads are Todoist's home turf. (2Do shares individual lists over Wi-Fi, which suits households more than teams.)
  • You live across platforms (web, Windows, Linux, Android, wearables) and want the same app on all of them.
  • Typing every 3rd friday until dec straight into a task title is your favorite way to schedule. Todoist's natural-language capture is genuinely excellent.
  • You want a capable free plan before paying anything.
  • Its integration ecosystem is huge: calendar feeds, Gmail and Slack add-ons, a public API, and a large template gallery.
  • Karma points, streaks, and productivity trends keep you motivated.

Where 2Do May Be Better

Ready to pair them instead of picking? See Sync with Todoist for setup and exactly what flows both ways.

Want to compare a few more options before deciding? Browse all 2Do comparison guides.