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Software · head to head

Google Calendar vs Todoist

Google Calendar logo

Google Calendar

Software

Smart scheduling for the modern workforce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Todoist logo

Todoist

Software

The world's #1 task manager and to-do list app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Calendar no AI-driven scheduling assistance or automatic meeting time optimization; Todoist no built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl
  • They diverge on capability: Google Calendar covers Event scheduling, Todoist covers Natural language input.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Calendar and Todoist actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Calendar and Todoist differ
AttributeGoogle CalendarTodoist
Founded19982007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows), 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 Google Calendar

  • Event scheduling
  • Multiple calendars
  • Reminders and notifications
  • Event sharing
  • Video conferencing integration
  • Google Meet
  • Google Tasks
  • Zoom

Only in Todoist

  • Natural language input
  • Recurring tasks
  • Projects and sub-tasks
  • Labels and filters
  • Priority levels
  • Productivity tracking
  • Templates
  • Notifications

Both cover

  • Gmail
  • Slack

What people use each for

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

Google Calendar

  • Schedulingnot Todoist
  • Appointment bookingnot Todoist
  • Time trackingnot Todoist
  • Resource managementnot Todoist
  • Team coordinationnot Todoist

Todoist

  • Personal task managementnot Google Calendar
  • Team project coordinationnot Google Calendar
  • Goal trackingnot Google Calendar
  • Habit buildingnot Google Calendar
  • Daily planningnot Google Calendar

Where each one falls short

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

Google Calendar

  • No AI-driven scheduling assistance or automatic meeting time optimization
  • Lacks built-in appointment booking pages or payment integrations for scheduling
  • Limited mobile support for shared calendars and unreliable push notifications on phones
  • No native task management or project tracking features within the calendar interface
  • Limited offline functionality on the web (read-only mode only)
  • Strict usage limits (maximum 60 calendars, 750 shares per time period)

Todoist

  • No built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl
  • Free plan limited to 5 personal projects only
  • No Gantt charts, resource allocation, or advanced project management features for large enterprises
  • Phone support not available; email and help center only
  • Calendar view and advanced filtering only available on paid plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Calendar

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Event scheduling
    • Sharing
    • Notifications
  • Google Workspace Business Starter$7/month
    • All personal features
    • Team collaboration
    • 30GB storage

Todoist

Free
  • BeginnerFree
    • 5 personal projects
    • Smart Quick Add
    • Task reminders
  • Pro$5/month
    • 300 personal projects
    • Calendar layout
    • Custom task reminders
  • Business$8/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Shared team workspace
    • Up to 500 team projects

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Calendar if

  • You need event scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want multiple calendars.
Google Calendar review

Choose Todoist if

  • You need natural language input.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want recurring tasks.
Todoist review

Questions people ask

Is Google Calendar or Todoist better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Calendar starts at Free and Todoist at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Calendar or Todoist?
Google Calendar starts at Free and Todoist at Free.
Does Google Calendar or Todoist run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Google Calendar for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Calendar best used for?
Google Calendar is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Todoist is typically brought in for.
What can Google Calendar do that Todoist cannot?
Google Calendar covers Event scheduling, Multiple calendars, Reminders and notifications, Event sharing. Todoist covers Natural language input, Recurring tasks, Projects and sub-tasks, Labels and filters. Both handle Gmail, Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Calendar: Can I use Google Calendar offline?

Yes. On the web, Google Calendar works in read-only mode offline for cached events. On iOS and Android, the Google Calendar app automatically caches recent events and lets you create, edit, and respond to events offline. Changes sync automatically when you reconnect to the internet.

Source
Todoist: Does Todoist work offline?

Basic editing and task management work offline, but advanced features like syncing reminders and shared updates require internet connectivity.

Source
Google Calendar: Can I export my calendar data?

Yes. Google Calendar exports as ICS files through Settings > Import & export > Export. ICS files are readable by Outlook, Apple Calendar, Thunderbird, and most other calendar applications.

Source
Todoist: Does Todoist have a free plan and what does it include?

Yes, Todoist offers a free Beginner plan with 5 personal projects, Smart Quick Add, task reminders, flexible layouts, 3 filter views, and 1 week activity history. More advanced features require the Pro or Business plans.

Source
Google Calendar: Does Google Calendar integrate with video conferencing?

Yes. Google Calendar integrates natively with Google Meet and Zoom. When you create an event, you can add a video conference link directly. Other platforms like Webex and GoTo Meeting can be integrated via Zapier or third-party automation.

Source
Todoist: Can I use Todoist on mobile devices?

Yes, Todoist offers native apps for both iOS and Android with over 30 million downloads. Mobile apps provide full task management functionality across devices.

Source
Google Calendar: Can I share my calendar with teams?

Yes. You can share individual calendars with specific people or make them publicly viewable. However, accessing shared calendars on mobile devices has limitations, and push notifications for shared calendars may not work reliably on phones.

Source
Todoist: What integrations does Todoist support?

Todoist integrates with over 100 apps including Slack, Google Calendar, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, and Toggl Track. Additional integrations are available through Zapier, Make, and IFTTT automation platforms.

Source
Google Calendar: Does Google Calendar work with Outlook?

No direct integration. You can manually import/export using ICS files or use third-party tools like Zapier to sync events. This is different from Outlook, which integrates seamlessly within Microsoft 365.

Source
Todoist: How much does Todoist cost?

Free plan is $0. Pro plan costs $5/month (billed annually) or $7/month (monthly billing). Business plan costs $8/month per user (annual) or $10/month per user (monthly), as of December 2025.

Source
Google Calendar: Is there a cost to use Google Calendar?

Google Calendar is free for personal use. Google Workspace plans (which include Calendar) start at $7 per user per month for business use.

Source
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Related pages

More on Google Calendar

More on Todoist

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