BetterKeeper vs Microsoft To Do: a complete Apple task manager vs. a free Microsoft list
BetterKeeper
A native Apple task manager with projects, rich-text notes, and built-in time tracking — all synced through your personal iCloud. No account, no servers, no compromises.
Microsoft To Do
A free list-making app built into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Great for simple checklists and Outlook task flags, but it stops at lists — no projects, notes, time tracking, or native Mac app.
Feature comparison
| BetterKeeper | Microsoft To Do | |
|---|---|---|
| Task management | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Built-in notes | ✓ Rich text notes on tasks & projects | ✗ Plain text notes only |
| Project management | ✓ Yes, with progress tracking | ✗ Lists and steps only, no progress |
| Time tracking | ✓ Built-in timers per task | ✗ Not available |
| Native Apple app | ✓ SwiftUI + AppKit | ✗ No native Mac app at all |
| Data storage | Your iCloud only | Microsoft cloud (Microsoft 365 account) |
| No account needed | ✓ Apple ID only | ✗ Microsoft account required |
| Offline access | ✓ Full offline | Limited, requires sync to refresh |
| Home screen widgets | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing | $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr | Free |
Where they really differ
BetterKeeper is built around projects, rich notes, recurring tasks, templates, and time tracking — a complete system for planning and reviewing your work, not just listing it.
Microsoft To Do is, at its core, a list app: lists, steps (sub-tasks), due dates, and "My Day" for daily planning. It's free and clean, but there's no concept of a project with progress, no rich notes, and nothing to track time.
BetterKeeper is built natively in SwiftUI and AppKit for iPhone, iPad, and Mac — with its own native Mac sidebar app, CarPlay support, and deep iOS integrations like widgets, Siri, and Focus filters.
Microsoft To Do has iOS, Android, and Windows apps, plus a web version — but there is no native Mac app. Mac users are left opening it in a browser tab or as a pinned web page, which feels disconnected from the rest of macOS.
Everything lives in your personal iCloud account. BetterKeeper has no backend server — there is no BetterKeeper database, no company that could be breached, and no one who can read your tasks.
Microsoft To Do requires a Microsoft account, and your tasks live alongside the rest of your Microsoft 365 data on Microsoft's servers. Convenient if you're already deep in Outlook and Office, but it's one more account tied to a much larger ecosystem.
Every task has a built-in timer. Start working, tap start. Stop working, tap stop. Time rolls up to the project automatically — useful for freelancers, students tracking study time, or anyone who wants to see where their hours go.
Microsoft To Do has no time tracking feature, and no built-in way to add one. If you need to track time against a task, you're managing a completely separate tool and matching entries manually.
Which one is right for you?
You want one app that covers tasks, projects with progress, rich notes, and time tracking — and you want it to feel like a real Mac and iPhone app, not a browser tab. Worth the subscription if lists alone aren't enough anymore.
You're already living in Outlook and Microsoft 365, you just need simple checklists and flagged-email tasks, and you don't need projects, notes, or time tracking. It's free, and free is hard to beat for basic lists.