Ellie Planner vs Todoist: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Ellie Planner and Todoist comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Todoist wins this matchup. Google Calendar is our overall Task Management pick. Google Calendar is our free Task Management pick. Pick Ellie Planner if you need productivity.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Ellie Planner
Organize your thoughts and plan your day with a beautiful and simple daily planner app.
Best for you if:
- • You want specifically built for daily planning and brain dumping, offering unique UI and features not easily replicated in generic tools
- • You want offers a free plan with unlimited task creation and brain dump functionality
Todoist
Organize work and life with natural language task capture
Best for you if:
- • You want exceptionally clean and fast interface with near-zero learning curve
- • You want generous free tier with 5 projects and core features included
| At a Glance | Ellie Planner | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Productivity | Task Management |
Rating | - | 4.6/5Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Pro tier requires annual commitment for $5/mo price. |
Choose Ellie Planner or Todoist?
Choose Ellie Planner if
Organize your thoughts and plan your day with a beautiful and simple daily planner app.
- You want specifically built for daily planning and brain dumping, offering unique UI and features not easily replicated in generic tools
- You want offers a free plan with unlimited task creation and brain dump functionality
- Your work is productivity-shaped, not task management-shaped
Choose Todoist if
Organize work and life with natural language task capture
- You want exceptionally clean and fast interface with near-zero learning curve
- You want generous free tier with 5 projects and core features included
- Your work is task management-shaped, not productivity-shaped
| Feature | Ellie Planner | Todoist |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.6/5 3,494 reviews |
| Categories | ProductivityTask Management | Task ManagementProductivity |
In-Depth Analysis
Ellie Planner
Organize your thoughts and plan your day with a beautiful and simple daily planner app.
Ellie Planner's pricing is fair, offering a robust free tier and a Pro subscription at $9.99/month.
Strengths
- +Specifically built for daily planning and brain dumping, offering unique UI and features not easily replicated in generic tools.
- +Offers a free plan with unlimited task creation and brain dump functionality.
- +Provides native iOS, Mac, and Windows apps for a seamless experience across devices.
- +Includes integrations with popular calendar services (Google, Apple, Outlook) and productivity tools (Notion, Zapier).
- +Developed by a single person with a commitment to long-term maintenance and no plans for investor-driven changes.
Weaknesses
- -No Android app is currently available.
- -Advanced features like timeboxing, unlimited labels, and recurring tasks are locked behind a paid subscription.
- -Being a one-person operation might raise concerns for some about future development pace or support, though the creator addresses this directly.
Key features
Todoist
Organize work and life with natural language task capture
Todoist's pricing is quite generous, especially with its robust free tier offering significant functionality.
Watch out
Pro tier requires annual commitment for $5/mo price.
Strengths
- +Exceptionally clean and fast interface with near-zero learning curve
- +Generous free tier with 5 projects and core features included
- +Natural language input makes adding tasks faster than any competitor
- +Available on every major platform with reliable real-time sync
- +Karma system and streak tracking provide built-in motivation
Weaknesses
- -No built-in time tracking or Gantt chart views
- -Limited project hierarchy depth compared to tools like Asana or ClickUp
- -Calendar view and task durations locked behind paid plans
- -No native document or wiki features for project context
- -Reporting and analytics are minimal even on paid plans
Key features
Pricing: Ellie Planner vs Todoist
| Plan | Ellie Planner | Todoist |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Beginner |
| Tier 2 | $9.99/mo Ellie Pro | $5/mo (billed yearly) Pro |
| Tier 3 | $299.99 once Ellie Pro (One-time purchase) | $8/user/mo (billed yearly) Business |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Ellie Planner pricing and Todoist pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Ellie Planner
Want the highest-rated option?
Todoist is rated 4.6/5. Ellie Planner has no ratings yet.
Go with: Todoist
Value user reviews?
Ellie Planner: no ratings yet. Todoist: 3,494 reviews (4.6/5).
Go with: Todoist
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Ellie Planner is a productivity tool. Todoist is in task management. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Todoist is rated 4.6/5; Ellie Planner has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Todoist
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Ellie Planner
- Better fit for productivity
The Bottom Line
Todoist wins this matchup. Google Calendar is our overall Task Management pick. Google Calendar is our free Task Management pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellie Planner or Todoist better?
Todoist is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Ellie Planner and Todoist used for?
Ellie Planner: Organize your thoughts and plan your day with a beautiful and simple daily planner app.. Todoist: Organize work and life with natural language task capture.
What does Ellie Planner cost vs Todoist?
Ellie Planner is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Todoist is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.