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Microsoft To Do comparison
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Comparison

Microsoft To Do is the easy Outlook-side choice. TapTidy is the better fit once you need open sync and a deeper task system.

This is not a contest about which product is cheaper. Microsoft To Do is already free. The real question is different. Do you want to stay close to the Microsoft account and Outlook? Or do you want a task tool with more independent sync and privacy controls?

Free access on both Closeness to Outlook versus open sync Routines and Pomodoro only on TapTidy
Start free Jump to the table

Microsoft To Do product references were checked against official Microsoft product materials on July 9, 2026.

Illustration showing TapTidy at the center of an open sync hub connecting multiple clients.
TapTidy is better when tasks should move through open calendar paths instead of staying inside a single ecosystem.
Microsoft To Do wins on closeness to Outlook TapTidy wins on deeper task workflow Only TapTidy exposes CalDAV paths

Choose TapTidy if:

  • You want open calendar paths instead of a Microsoft-account-centered task stack.
  • You want routines, streaks, Focus Mode, and Pomodoro in the same product.
  • You want the end-to-end encryption (E2EE) option on the paid tier.
  • You want the No-Google Android build and more explicit privacy controls.

Stay with Microsoft To Do if:

  • You already live inside Outlook and Microsoft 365 and want the easiest adjacent task tool.
  • You want a free default with current iPhone and Windows coverage.
  • You do not need CalDAV, the E2EE option, or richer personal productivity layers.
  • You want the product that sits closest to the rest of your Microsoft workflow.

Feature table

Microsoft To Do is strongest for full Microsoft users. Outside that dependency, TapTidy has the advantage.

The deciding rows here are about closeness to Outlook, openness, and whether the task tool should stay lightweight or grow into a fuller personal workflow system.

TapTidy compared with Microsoft To Do
Category TapTidy Microsoft To Do
Free access Free tier with 400 tasks, 5 projects, and manual sync. Free product tied to a Microsoft account.
Account model Independent email signup. Microsoft account and Microsoft ecosystem identity.
Open calendar path CalDAV server, CalDAV client support, and Google Calendar integration. No public CalDAV server path is documented.
Closeness to Outlook Not the product's center of gravity. Natural fit if Outlook and Microsoft 365 already run your day.
Offline task capture Offline-first writes and background sync. Works offline, but still lives in a Microsoft-account-centered sync model.
E2EE option Available on Pro. No public customer-managed end-to-end encryption option documented.
Focus workflow Focus Mode, Top 3 surfacing, and built-in Pomodoro. My Day is useful, but it does not include Top 3 planning or a Pomodoro timer.
Routines and streaks It is built in. Not a core part of the product.
Current Apple and Windows apps No native Apple or Windows apps yet. Current Microsoft platform coverage is broader.

The real tradeoff here is less about cost and more about whether you want the task system to remain inside or outside the Microsoft stack.

FAQ

The hard part is justifying a switch away from a free product.

That usually only makes sense when the new tool solves a structural problem the free one does not.

Pay only if the extra capabilities matter to you: open sync, the E2EE option, routines, deeper focus tools, or a more independent task system. If those are irrelevant, the free option may remain the correct one.

Compare with Todoist

Better if the next alternative is another mainstream task app rather than a Microsoft-adjacent default.

Open Todoist comparison

Inspect open sync

Better if CalDAV and calendar interoperability are the whole reason this comparison matters.

Open the CalDAV feature page

Read the switching guide

Better if you are trying to identify the real pain point before choosing a replacement.

Open the alternatives guide

A free task tool can still be the wrong foundation.

Switch only when the gain is clear. You must value openness, workflow depth, and privacy controls more than close Microsoft alignment.

See the open-sync angle If that part does not matter, the switch may not either.