Focus5 vs Microsoft To Do: a Microsoft To Do alternative

Microsoft To Do is free and syncs with Outlook. Focus5 costs $29 once and adds a Focus mode that queues your tasks and times them.

The Focus5 mark and the Microsoft To Do mark side by side, divided by VS

Microsoft To Do is free with any Microsoft account. It syncs with Outlook tasks and flagged emails, it runs on every platform, and its My Day list resets each morning. If you already live in Microsoft 365, it is right there and it costs nothing.

Focus5 costs $29 once, so it has to be worth paying for something free.

The difference is who chooses. My Day holds whatever you drag into it and then waits for you to pick. Focus5 hands you the next task itself, with the clock already running.

	Microsoft To Do	Focus5
Price	Free with a Microsoft account	$29 once, lifetime
Choosing what to do	You decide, every time you open it	Focus queues them for you, 5 on screen at a time
Focus timer	No	Yes, one task on screen with a timer
Capture	Typed, or flag an email in Outlook	Talk, and it writes it down and files it
Works with	Outlook, Microsoft 365, Planner	Nothing, by design
Platforms	Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android	Android and desktop web today, iPhone next

Why people pick Focus5 over Microsoft To Do

My Day still asks you to choose

My Day is a good idea: a list that empties each morning so you start clean. You still have to fill it, and then pick something out of it, every single morning.

Focus5 skips both steps. Open Focus and the next task is on screen with the timer running, taken from your existing tasks in order.

Add a task by talking

Microsoft To Do is quick to type into, and typing is still typing. You pick the list and set the date as you go.

In Focus5 you talk about your day and it writes the tasks down, dates them and files them into the right book.

A timer, not just a checklist

Microsoft To Do has no focus timer. It tells you what to do and then leaves you to it, which is the moment most days come apart.

Focus5 puts one task on screen with the clock running and the other four out of sight. Finish it and the next one appears.

Where Microsoft To Do is the better fit

It is free and it is genuinely good, so this section is short and honest.

You work in Microsoft 365 all day. Flagged emails become tasks, Outlook and Planner stay in sync, and your work account already covers it.

You want it free. Focus5 has a free tier, but Microsoft To Do is free with no limits at all. If price is the deciding factor, this is not a close call.

You share lists with family or a team. Microsoft To Do has shared lists. Focus5 is single player.

You need it on an iPhone. It runs everywhere. Focus5 is on Google Play for Android and runs in a desktop browser, so on iPhone you are waiting.

If Microsoft To Do is working for you, keep it. The reason to switch is the choosing, and only you know whether that is your problem.

Who Focus5 is for

Choose Focus5 over Microsoft To Do if:

You fill My Day every morning and then stall on which one to start.
You want the app to hand you the next task instead of showing you a list.
You want a timer running while you work, not just a checkbox.
You would rather talk your tasks in than type them.
You do not need Outlook or Planner in your task app.

See Focus5 in action

See how it works

Frequently asked questions

Is Focus5 a good Microsoft To Do alternative?

It is if the choosing is what stops you. Microsoft To Do stores tasks well and is free. Focus5 shows 5 at a time, one on screen with a timer, and picks the order. If you mostly need somewhere free to keep tasks, stay where you are.

How much does Microsoft To Do cost?

Nothing. It is free with any Microsoft account and syncs across web, Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

Why pay $29 when Microsoft To Do is free?

You are paying to stop choosing, plus the focus timer and voice capture. If none of those three solve a problem you actually have, free is the better deal and we would rather say so.

Does Focus5 connect to Outlook?

No. Focus5 has no integrations with anything, on purpose. If your tasks arrive as flagged Outlook emails, Microsoft To Do picks them up and Focus5 would mean retyping them.

Can you import Microsoft To Do tasks into Focus5?

No, there is no importer. Most people switching start fresh with today’s five.

Can you try Focus5 without paying?

Every feature is unlocked for your first 7 days, with no card. After that, Today, Agenda, Calendar and 2 books stay free with no time limit.

Compare Focus5 with another app

The Focus5 mark and the Sunsama mark side by side, divided by VS

Focus5 vs Sunsama

Sunsama costs $204 a year and connects to 21 other tools. Focus5 costs $29 once and shows you 5 tasks at a time, one at a time, in the right order.

Compare them

The Focus5 mark and the Todoist mark side by side, divided by VS

Focus5 vs Todoist

Todoist organises your whole list from $5 a month. Focus5 costs $29 once and shows you 5 tasks at a time so you never decide what to do next.

Compare them

The Focus5 mark and the TickTick mark side by side, divided by VS

Focus5 vs TickTick

Both apps have a focus timer. TickTick costs $35.99 a year and leaves you to choose what to work on. Focus5 costs $29 once and chooses for you.

Compare them

The Focus5 mark and the Motion mark side by side, divided by VS

Focus5 vs Motion

Motion uses AI to build your calendar, from $19 per person a month. Focus5 costs $29 once and just queues your tasks in order, 5 on screen at a time.

Compare them

The Focus5 mark and the Things 3 mark side by side, divided by VS

Focus5 vs Things 3

Neither app charges a subscription. Things 3 is Apple only and costs up to $79.97 across devices. Focus5 is $29 once for every device, with a focus queue Things does not have.

Compare them