Due vs Microsoft To Do: Comprehensive Comparison
2
Overview
In today's fast-paced world, choosing the right productivity tool can make all the difference. This comprehensive comparison between Due and Microsoft To Do will help you understand which tool best fits your workflow and productivity needs.
⚡ Quick Summary
Aspect | Due | Microsoft To Do |
|---|---|---|
Best For | Productivity app with persistent reminders and timers that nag until tasks are completed | Microsoft To Do is a free task management app integrated with Microsoft 365. It helps organize daily tasks, set reminders, and sync across devices. Ideal for personal use and light collaboration, it features "My Day" planning and seamless Outlook integration. |
Pricing | Paid app + $4.99/year | Free |
Platforms | iOS, Mac | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac |
What is Due?
Due is a productivity app focused on reminders and task management, emphasizing persistent notifications until tasks are completed. It helps users set reliable reminders for tasks and events, with a 'magic timer' for scheduling and persistent alerts that nag until marked done, ideal for time-sensitive productivity.
🌟 Key Features of Due
✦Persistent reminders that continue until acknowledged
✦Magic timer for starting, pausing, and resuming countdowns
✦Natural language input for quick task entry
✦Smart conflict detection to avoid double-booking
✦Visual dashboard showing tasks, events, and conflicts
✦Native WhatsApp reminders and event sharing
What is Microsoft To Do?
Microsoft To Do is a simple, intelligent to-do list app that helps users manage tasks in one place, with features like daily planning via "My Day" and integration across Microsoft apps. It's designed primarily for individual task management with basic collaboration features through shared lists. The app is completely free and works best for users already in the Microsoft 365/Outlook ecosystem.
🌟 Key Features of Microsoft To Do
✦My Day Planning: Daily task focus with intelligent suggestions from your lists.
✦Task Details: Add due dates, reminders, subtasks (Steps), file attachments up to 25MB, and notes.
✦Task Prioritization: Star tasks for importance and organize with hashtags/categories.
✦List Sharing and Collaboration: Share lists with others and assign tasks with "Assigned to me" view.
✦Microsoft Ecosystem Integration: Seamlessly works with Outlook, Teams, Planner, and flagged emails.
✦Cross-Device Sync: Available on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac with reliable synchronization.
📊 Feature Comparison
Feature | Due | Microsoft To Do |
|---|---|---|
📅 Calendar Integration | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
✅ Task Management | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
⏰ Time Blocking | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
🗣️ Natural Language Processing | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
🔔 Notifications | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
🌍 Time Zones Support | — | ✓ Yes |
📆 Scheduler | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
📈 Analytics | ◐ Limited | ✗ No |
🔗 Integrations
Due
iCloud, Dropbox sync, Siri Shortcuts
Microsoft To Do
Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Planner, Cortana, Outlook flagged emails, third-party apps via Zapier and Power Automate (Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, Todoist)
💰 Pricing Comparison
Due
Paid app + $4.99/year
Paid app with optional $4.99/year Annual Upgrade Pass subscription. No free tier available.
Microsoft To Do
Free
Free
💡 Things to Consider
When Choosing Due
→Ideal for quick, forgettable time-based alerts but should be paired with other apps for complex project management
→Only available on iOS/Mac platforms with no Android, Web, Windows, or Linux support
→Persistent nagging notifications may annoy some users rather than motivate them - test if this approach fits your workflow
When Choosing Microsoft To Do
→You're in the Microsoft Ecosystem: Excellent integration with Office 365, Outlook, Teams, and Planner, but limited native integrations outside Microsoft services.
→You Value Simplicity Over Advanced Features: Perfect for basic task lists and personal productivity, but lacks project management, custom fields, advanced views, and extensive customization options.
→You Need Basic Task Management: Completely free with solid core features, but may feel limiting if you need advanced collaboration, time tracking, detailed reporting, or complex project workflows.
⭐ User Reviews
Due
"Due is praised for its persistent nagging alerts, quick setup, and clean design, ideal for time-based tasks. Users love its reliability for critical reminders like medications or bills, with some using it daily for 8-10+ years. However, it has limited advanced repeat options and sync can be inconsistent (~80% reliability). Best for simple, forgettable time-based alerts rather than complex project management."
Microsoft To Do
"Microsoft To Do is a simple, free task management app that works best within the Microsoft ecosystem. Users appreciate its clean interface, reliable cross-device sync, tight Outlook integration, and features like "My Day" planning. However, it lacks advanced customization, project management capabilities, and has limitations like no undo function, basic recurring task options (minimum 1-day intervals), and limited team collaboration features compared to competitors."
🎯 Conclusion
Both Due and Microsoft To Do are excellent productivity tools with their own strengths.
Due excels in Persistent reminders that continue until acknowledged, while Microsoft To Do shines with My Day Planning: Daily task focus with intelligent suggestions from your lists.. The best choice depends on your specific needs, workflow preferences, and budget.
We recommend trying both tools to see which one fits better with your productivity style.
