Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Todo.txt VS EssentialPIM

Compare Todo.txt VS EssentialPIM and see what are their differences

Todo.txt logo Todo.txt

Track your tasks and projects in a plain text file, todo.txt. A todo.

EssentialPIM logo EssentialPIM

EssentialPIM is a free Personal Information Manager that keeps up with the times and lets you manage appointments, tasks, notes, contacts, password entries and email messages across multiple devices and cloud applications.
  • Todo.txt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-15
  • EssentialPIM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-14

Todo.txt features and specs

  • Simplicity
    Todo.txt uses a plain text format that is easy to read, edit, and manage with any text editor.
  • Portability
    Because it is a plain text file, it can be used across different platforms without compatibility issues.
  • Customizability
    The format is flexible, allowing users to create their own conventions for priorities, projects, and contexts.
  • Tool Compatibility
    There are numerous tools, apps, and scripts designed to work specifically with the Todo.txt format.
  • Longevity
    Plain text files are not likely to become obsolete, ensuring long-term access to your data.
  • Low Resource Usage
    Todo.txt requires minimal system resources, making it fast and efficient.

Possible disadvantages of Todo.txt

  • Learning Curve
    New users may need time to understand how to structure their tasks effectively within the plain text format.
  • No Native Cloud Sync
    Todo.txt does not provide built-in cloud sync; users must implement their own solutions for cross-device synchronization.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Todo.txt lacks advanced features found in specialized task management apps, such as reminders, notifications, and integrations.
  • Manual Management
    Users must manually edit and manage their tasks, which can be cumbersome compared to apps with graphical interfaces.
  • No Native UI
    There is no standalone graphical user interface; interaction is typically through text editors or command-line interfaces unless third-party apps are used.
  • Potential for Clutter
    Without a structured approach, the plain text file can become cluttered and harder to manage over time.

EssentialPIM features and specs

  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    EssentialPIM provides a wide range of features including email, calendar, tasks, notes, and contacts, all integrated into a single platform. This makes it a versatile solution for personal information management.
  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    EssentialPIM is available on multiple platforms including Windows, Android, and iOS, facilitating seamless synchronization and access to your data across various devices.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application features an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for users with different levels of technical expertise.
  • Security Features
    EssentialPIM offers strong security measures, including encryption for sensitive data, ensuring that your personal information remains protected.
  • Customizability
    The software allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to tailor the interface and functionality to suit their personal needs and preferences.
  • Affordable Pricing
    EssentialPIM offers a free version with essential features, and its paid versions are reasonably priced, providing good value for the range of functionalities offered.

Possible disadvantages of EssentialPIM

  • Limited Email Functionality
    While EssentialPIM includes an email client, it may not be as robust as standalone email applications, lacking some advanced features that power users might expect.
  • Windows-Focused
    Although cross-platform, EssentialPIM's most comprehensive feature set is available on Windows, potentially limiting the experience for users on other operating systems.
  • Occasional Sync Issues
    Some users have reported occasional synchronization issues between devices, which can affect the reliability of data being up-to-date across platforms.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, the wide array of features may present a learning curve for new users who need time to explore and become comfortable with all functionalities.
  • Limited Integration
    EssentialPIM offers limited integration with third-party applications and services compared to some other personal information management tools, possibly restricting its utility for users relying on a broader ecosystem of apps.

Todo.txt videos

My Todo.txt Workflow

More videos:

  • Review - Todo.txt - Todo List Manager - Linux CLI
  • Review - Todo.txt Workflow

EssentialPIM videos

EssentialPIM Video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Todo.txt and EssentialPIM)
Task Management
61 61%
39% 39
Project Management
69 69%
31% 31
Office & Productivity
49 49%
51% 51
Todos
72 72%
28% 28

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Todo.txt and EssentialPIM

Todo.txt Reviews

16 Best To Do List Apps for Linux Desktop [2021]
Todo.txt is a simple plain text file for writing tasks. Using the simple motto, “if you want to get it done, first write it down“, the free and open-source Todo.txt has simplicity at its core as it offers users a handful of applications that are minimal, todo-txt focused apps for managing tasks using the least possible keystrokes and taps.

EssentialPIM Reviews

We have no reviews of EssentialPIM yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Todo.txt seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 40 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Todo.txt mentions (40)

  • Calendar.txt
    A very similar idea and philosophy - http://todotxt.org. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Calendar.txt
    For a few years, I evolved a slightly-modified Todo.txt format for this purpose, to represent both tasks and appointments. http://todotxt.org/ https://www.neilvandyke.org/todotxt/ In some ways it worked well, but there were a few drawbacks, and eventually I switched to native calendar programs on desktop and mobile. Drawbacks I personally felt: * In the text file, recurring tasks didn't show up when I looked into... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Show HN: My Command Line Todo List
    Reminds me of how I started my foray into plaintext task management: - http://todotxt.org - https://taskwarrior.org - https://www.taskpaper.com - https://notational.net Eventually, I decided multi-platform sync and mobile access were more important than the CLI. (Also I have the browser open more than the CLI.) In addition, I found a single line per task was not enough (that's why I started looking into TaskPaper... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: What products other than Obsidian share the file over app philosophy?
    FSNotes for macOS and iOS is one I used for a little while. https://fsnot.es/ todo.txt is another thing that comes to mind. http://todotxt.org/ And of course pretty much all of *nix. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • My productivity app is a never-ending .txt file
    Since at least 2012 I've also been using a text file format from http://todotxt.org/ and more recently I wrote a program that takes a crontab-like list to pre-generate entries on a daily, by-day-name (every Sunday for example), and I also pull in a list of holidays from gov.uk, so they are also populated. [^1]: ( - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

EssentialPIM mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of EssentialPIM yet. Tracking of EssentialPIM recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Todo.txt and EssentialPIM, you can also consider the following products

Todoist - Todoist is a to-do list that helps you get organized, at work and in life.

Task Coach - Task Coach is a simple open source todo manager to keep track of personal tasks and todo lists.

CherryTree - A hierarchical note taking application, featuring rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.

Taskwarrior - Taskwarrior is an ambitious project bringing sophisticated capabilities to a simple and elegant...

Strikethru - Strikethru is a kind of to-do list notebook for managing work lists and staying updated with the important tasks.

TickTick - TickTickis a cross-platform to-do list app & task manager helps you to get all things done and make life well organized.