A Todoist alternative for people who work with AI agents

Why people switch from Todoist

Todoist runs on almost any device, is fast for capturing tasks, and has a generous feature set. People who switch anyway usually give one of these reasons:

• Limits in the free plan. The free “Beginner” plan allows five active personal projects and three filter views; the calendar view requires Pro.
• Data at the provider. Todoist is a cloud service with its own account. According to its privacy policy, data is processed in the United States, among other places. If you would rather keep your tasks as your own files, there is no way to do that other than exporting.
• Views. Todoist shows projects as a list, board, or calendar and offers filters. If you need other layouts, such as a table, an agenda, or a dashboard across several projects, you start looking at alternatives.
• Working with AI agents. If you work with Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor every day, you want the agent to see the same projects, take on tasks, and hand back results. Todoist offers an MCP server and an API for this. Some people, however, want the agent to work directly with their data, without a provider account in between.

What matters in a Todoist alternative

Before you switch, consider five questions:

1. Which devices do you use? If you move between a Windows PC and an Android phone, you need a cross-platform app. If you only use Mac, iPad, and iPhone, you have more choice.
2. Where should your data live? On a provider’s servers, in your iCloud, or as files you can open yourself.
3. Do you work alone or with a team? Not every app can do shared projects and permissions.
4. Which method do you want to follow? For GTD you need an Inbox, next actions, and “Waiting For”; for Kanban you need a board.
5. What role does AI play? A built-in AI that helps you capture tasks is something different from an agent that completes tasks in your projects on its own.

TandemLoop and Todoist compared

Pricing and features as of October 2026, according to Todoist’s website. TandemLoop is coming soon to the App Store; prices in other currencies are shown there.

The biggest difference is where your tasks live. Todoist keeps them in its service, which apps, integrations, and agents access through its interface. TandemLoop puts your tasks in a folder in your iCloud Drive that the app and the agent share.

What the agent takes on in TandemLoop

You assign a task to your agent, for example “Write the script for lesson 2” in the project “Online course.” It finds the task where it is, completes it, and attaches the result to the task. If it needs something from you, such as an API key or an approval, it creates a task for you. It processes your Inbox, suggests priorities, and builds new views when you ask. You decide per task how independently it works: do it, prepare a draft first, or ask before starting.

TandemLoop has no AI of its own. You use the agent you already have, and it needs access to your data folder, usually on the Mac. Learn more on the page Share tasks with AI agents; all other features are on the page To-do app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

Microsoft To Do and TickTick as further alternatives

Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do is free with a personal Microsoft account and runs on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, and in the browser. Your tasks are stored in your account’s Exchange Online mailbox, and flagged emails from Outlook show up there as tasks. If you already work with Outlook and Microsoft 365, To Do is an obvious, simple Todoist alternative. Microsoft does not document a board view or a simple CSV export.

TickTick

TickTick runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and in the browser. It comes with list, Kanban, calendar, and timeline views, plus an Eisenhower Matrix, a Pomodoro timer, and a habit tracker. For AI agents there is an official MCP server, and TickTick can import data from Todoist and Microsoft To Do. The free plan is limited (about nine lists); according to the provider, Premium costs $49.99 per year (as of October 2026). Data is stored with Amazon Web Services in the United States.

If you only use Apple devices, the comparison Things 3 alternative also covers Things, OmniFocus, and Apple Reminders.

Who is better off with Todoist

• If you don’t only use Apple devices. Todoist runs on Windows, Android, Linux, and in the browser; TandemLoop only on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
• If you work with a team. Shared projects and a Business plan are part of Todoist. TandemLoop is not a team tool.
• If you are looking for a free app. The Beginner plan is enough for many personal lists. TandemLoop is only available as a subscription.
• If you want a built-in AI. Todoist Assist comes with features like the “Ramble” voice input and help with building filters, without you setting up an agent of your own.
• If you need many integrations or want chat assistants like ChatGPT in the browser to access your tasks. Todoist’s MCP server is suited for that; TandemLoop requires an agent with file access.

TandemLoop fits if you work on Apple devices, work with an AI agent like Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor, and want to keep your tasks with you.

Switching from Todoist

TandemLoop has no import tool. Todoist exports each project as a CSV file; the Pro plan also offers backups with one CSV file per project. Completed tasks are not included in the export.

During the free trial month, you can use both apps side by side and switch only once a real project is running in TandemLoop.