Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Todoist · ✅ tasks
Todoist vs Vikunja
A capable Todoist replacement once you accept becoming its hosting department Here is how Vikunja ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Todoist ($7/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Todoist vs Vikunja Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Todoist (Paid) | Vikunja (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $7 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $84 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $84) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $420 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $420) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $840 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $840) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0+ |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopwebself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 5.0k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Todoist to Vikunja
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Vikunja adds hosting administration and has less polished native mobile, offline, natural-language, and integration support than Todoist.
How to deploy Vikunja
Use the paid hosted service or deploy the free server with Docker Compose, a package, or the standalone binary
What it takes to run
The free path requires a server or Docker, persistent volumes, secrets, and normally a reverse proxy with TLS
Where your data lives
Tasks, projects, users, and settings live in SQLite, MySQL/MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, with attachments in a persistent files directory, on the selected host
Why fork Vikunja instead of vibe-coding a Todoist clone?
A personal task app with projects, recurring due dates, filters, and reminders is a one-sitting/weekend build; collaboration and sync polish are the product moat.
Todoist vs Vikunja FAQ
Is Vikunja a good free alternative to Todoist?+
Yes. Vikunja is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0+) replacement for Todoist. A capable Todoist replacement once you accept becoming its hosting department
What is the catch when switching from Todoist to Vikunja?+
Vikunja adds hosting administration and has less polished native mobile, offline, natural-language, and integration support than Todoist.
How much do you save switching from Todoist to Vikunja?+
Todoist costs $7/mo ($84/yr) per seat, whereas Vikunja is $0/mo. Switching saves $84/yr for a solo user, $420/yr for a 5-person team, and $840/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Vikunja instead of Todoist?+
Install: Use the paid hosted service or deploy the free server with Docker Compose, a package, or the standalone binary. Setup: The free path requires a server or Docker, persistent volumes, secrets, and normally a reverse proxy with TLS
