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Software · head to head

Any.do vs iA Writer

Any.do logo

Any.do

Software

To do list & planner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
iA Writer logo

iA Writer

Software

Distraction-free markdown writer with powerful focus mode

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Any.do has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Any.do bare-bones free plan: lacks recurring tasks and third-party integrations available only in paid plans; iA Writer licences are per platform rather than per person, at $49.99 for Mac, $49.99 for iPhone and iPad and $29.99 for Windows
  • They diverge on capability: Any.do covers Task lists, iA Writer covers Distraction-free writing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Any.do and iA Writer actually diverge.

Attributes where Any.do and iA Writer differ
AttributeAny.doiA Writer
Starting priceFree$4.99/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, AndroidMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web
Founded20112008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Any.do

  • Task lists
  • Calendar integration
  • Reminders
  • Daily planner
  • Voice input
  • Drag and drop
  • Smart suggestions
  • Google Calendar

Only in iA Writer

  • Distraction-free writing
  • Markdown editing
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Dark and light themes
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Typewriter mode
  • Statistics

Both cover

  • Focus mode

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Any.do

  • Personal task managementnot iA Writer
  • Daily planningnot iA Writer
  • Shopping listsnot iA Writer
  • Project managementnot iA Writer
  • Team collaborationnot iA Writer

iA Writer

  • Distraction free markdown writing on desktop and mobilenot Any.do
  • Drafting and exporting long form text with focus modenot Any.do

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Any.do

  • Bare-bones free plan: lacks recurring tasks and third-party integrations available only in paid plans
  • Short planning window: only allows planning up to seven days ahead, limiting long-term project planning
  • Limited desktop performance: web and desktop versions struggle with functionality and responsiveness
  • Slow customer support: email support takes approximately 48 hours to respond
  • Missing drag-and-drop: inability to drag tasks between lists creates workflow friction

iA Writer

  • Licences are per platform rather than per person, at $49.99 for Mac, $49.99 for iPhone and iPad and $29.99 for Windows
  • Writing on a Mac and a PC therefore means buying the software twice

Pricing, plan by plan

Any.do

Free
  • Premium$7.99/month
    • Recurring tasks
    • Location reminders
    • WhatsApp reminders
  • Family$9.99/month
    • All Premium features
    • Family sharing space
    • Up to 4 members

iA Writer

$4.99/month
  • Monthly$4.99/month
    • All platforms
    • Sync
    • All features
  • Annual$39.99/year
    • All platforms
    • Sync
    • All features

Which should you pick?

Choose Any.do if

  • You need task lists.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want calendar integration.
Any.do review

Choose iA Writer if

  • You need distraction-free writing.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want markdown editing.
iA Writer review

Questions people ask

Is Any.do or iA Writer better?
Neither clearly leads. Any.do starts at Free and iA Writer at $4.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Any.do or iA Writer?
Any.do has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Any.do and $4.99/month for iA Writer.
Does Any.do or iA Writer run on more platforms?
Any.do runs on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. iA Writer runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Any.do for free?
Yes. Any.do has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. iA Writer starts at $4.99/month.
What is Any.do best used for?
Any.do is most often used for personal task management, daily planning, shopping lists, project management. Of those, personal task management and daily planning are not what iA Writer is typically brought in for.
What can Any.do do that iA Writer cannot?
Any.do covers Task lists, Calendar integration, Reminders, Daily planner. iA Writer covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown editing, Syntax highlighting, Dark and light themes. Both handle Focus mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Any.do: Does Any.do have a free version?

Yes, Any.do offers a free plan with no time limit or credit card required. The free plan includes basic tasks, lists, calendar sync, and daily planner features. Premium features like recurring tasks, location reminders, and AI features require a paid subscription starting at $4.99/month.

Source
Any.do: Can you share tasks with other users?

Task sharing is limited on Any.do. With a single-user license, you cannot share personal tasks. Team collaboration requires purchasing additional licenses at $5 per user per month on top of your base plan.

Source
Any.do: Does Any.do integrate with Google Calendar?

Yes, Any.do syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud. However, users report some difficulties with the depth of Google Calendar integration compared to competing products.

Source
Any.do: Does Any.do work offline?

Any.do is primarily a cloud-based application and does not have robust offline functionality. The web and desktop versions sometimes struggle with performance when offline.

Source
Any.do: What platforms does Any.do support?

Any.do is available across desktop (Mac and Windows), web browsers, iOS, and Android, providing cross-platform access to your tasks and calendar.

Source
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