ToDowl vs. Microsoft To Do: free task apps
Microsoft To Do is a free task list built into Microsoft 365 and Outlook, with a simple My Day view. Google Tasks is the same idea inside Gmail and Google Calendar. ToDowl adds a calendar, notes and a habit tracker that neither has, without needing a Microsoft or Google account.
| Feature |  ToDowl |  Microsoft To Do |  Google Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task list | Kanban and list views per project, with priorities and due dates. | Simple lists with steps, due dates and a My Day view. | Basic list with due dates, nested as subtasks; no priorities. |
| Calendar view | Weekly and monthly calendar built in. | No calendar view in the app; tasks with dates sync to Outlook Calendar separately. | No calendar view of its own; tasks appear as a sidebar inside Google Calendar. |
| Notes and habit tracker | Project-based notes editor and a monthly habit grid, both built in. | Neither notes nor a habit tracker. | Neither notes nor a habit tracker. |
| Account needed | Works with its own account; no Microsoft or Google sign-in required. | Requires a Microsoft account. | Requires a Google account. |
| Price | Free, with an optional paid Pro tier. | Free. | Free. |
Where Microsoft To Do does better
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Already sitting inside Outlook and Microsoft 365
If your calendar, email and files already live in Microsoft 365, To Do's My Day view is one click away with no separate account or setup - a real advantage for anyone already inside that ecosystem.
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Completely free, with no upgrade decision to make
To Do has no paid tier at all, so there is never a plan to compare or a feature locked behind a subscription - one less decision than most task apps ask you to make.
FAQ
Microsoft To Do users: questions before switching
Does Microsoft To Do have a calendar view?
No, not inside the app itself. Tasks with dates sync out to Outlook Calendar separately, but there is no built-in weekly or monthly view - one of the main gaps ToDowl fills.
Is ToDowl free like Microsoft To Do?
ToDowl has a free plan too, but with limits (fewer projects and lists, shorter history) that a paid Pro tier removes. To Do has no paid tier and no limits to compare against.
Do I need a Microsoft account to keep using To Do-style features in ToDowl?
No. ToDowl runs on its own account system - useful if you want to move away from a Microsoft-tied workflow entirely rather than just switching apps within it.
Does ToDowl have notes or habits like To Do?
To Do has neither. ToDowl adds a notes editor and a habit tracker, which is one of the bigger functional gaps between the two.
Why would someone leave a free, built-in tool like To Do?
Usually for the calendar, notes and habit tracking in one place, or to stop being tied to a Microsoft account for task management specifically.
Other comparisons
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See the full comparisonToDowl vs. Todoist: tasks plus calendar and habits
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See the full comparisonToDowl vs. TickTick: what each one covers
TickTick already bundles tasks, calendar and habits, more than Todoist offers alone. See where ToDowl matches that and where it adds notes and money tracking.
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