Any.do alternatives: 4 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
A serious Android task list with recurrence and reminders; desktop and CalDAV sync are paid
licenseGPL-3.0
runson your machine
installInstall the Android app from Google Play or F-Droid; an early desktop app is optional
dataTasks are local and offline-first on Android; optional synchronization targets Google Tasks, Microsoft To Do, Tasks.org Cloud, CalDAV/DAVx5, EteSync, or DecSync
vs Any.doTasks.org is Android-first, with no mature iOS or web client and a much less polished calendar and daily-planning experience than Any.do.
setupLocal Android use is straightforward, but most non-Google/Microsoft synchronization options require an in-app subscription or separately configured sync service, and desktop support is still early
facts verified 2026-08-10
A capable Todoist replacement once you accept becoming its hosting department
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installUse the paid hosted service or deploy the free server with Docker Compose, a package, or the standalone binary
dataTasks, projects, users, and settings live in SQLite, MySQL/MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, with attachments in a persistent files directory, on the selected host
vs Any.doVikunja lacks Any.do’s polished guided daily planner, consumer-grade reminders, calendar experience, and low-friction mobile setup.
setupThe free path requires a server or Docker, persistent volumes, secrets, and normally a reverse proxy with TLS
facts verified 2026-08-10
A polished free task manager, paid for with a Microsoft account rather than money
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installInstall the Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android app, or use the web app, and sign in with a Microsoft account
dataTasks are stored as structured records on Microsoft's Exchange Online servers and surface in Outlook Tasks across synchronized clients
vs Any.doMicrosoft To Do does not combine tasks and calendar in Any.do’s broad cross-platform daily-planning flow or reproduce its family and smart-grocery features.
setupRequires a Microsoft account
facts verified 2026-08-10
Things minus the polish tax, provided every device in sight has an Apple logo
licenseproprietary, free
runson your machine
installPreinstalled on iPhone, iPad, and Mac; enable iCloud or another supported reminders account for synchronization
enginesOptional Apple Intelligence can suggest or auto-categorize reminders on supported devices; ordinary task management does not require AI
dataStructured reminder records live in iCloud or another configured reminders account and are cached on Apple devices; iCloud provides account-level restore rather than user-visible task files
vs Any.doApple Reminders lacks Any.do’s guided My Day flow and broad Windows, Android, and web support.
setupno real blockers; verified to install clean
facts verified 2026-08-10
last updated 2026-08-10 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tasks.org | GPL-3.0 | one-click install | android | 5,500 | 2026-07 |
| Vikunja | AGPL-3.0+ | docker to self-host | web, macos, windows, linux, self-hosted | 5,000 | 2026-08 |
| Microsoft To Do | proprietary, free | they host it | web, macos, windows, ios, android | — | — |
| Apple Reminders | proprietary, free | one-click install | macos, ios | — | — |
People still pay for Any.do because task software is sticky because trust, speed, and ubiquitous capture matter more than the database schema. The recurring cost buys recurrence edge cases, notifications, sync conflicts, calendar APIs, mobile capture, and backups, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $95.88 a year.
Is there a free alternative to Any.do?
Yes: Tasks.org, Vikunja, Microsoft To Do and 1 more. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own Any.do?
Our verdict is YES. The core loop is small enough for a capable coding agent to produce a useful local version in one sitting. For Any.do, manage personal tasks, lists, reminders, recurring items, and a daily planning flow. The hard boundary is mobile capture, widgets, family features, calendar integration, and sync, plus cross-device reliability and workflow polish. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at canivibecodeit.com/anydo.
