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Software · head to head

Google Tasks vs Harvest Forecast

Google Tasks logo

Google Tasks

Software

Simple task management from Google

From
Free
Rated
-
Harvest Forecast logo

Harvest Forecast

Software

Simple visual resource planning

From
$5/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Google Tasks has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Tasks no team collaboration or task assignment features; cannot share task lists; Harvest Forecast the free plan allows a single seat and 2 projects
  • They diverge on capability: Google Tasks covers Task creation, Harvest Forecast covers Visual scheduling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Tasks and Harvest Forecast actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Tasks and Harvest Forecast differ
AttributeGoogle TasksHarvest Forecast
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, GmailWeb
Founded19982006

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 Google Tasks

  • Task creation
  • Subtasks
  • Due dates
  • Multiple lists
  • Gmail integration
  • Gmail
  • Google Workspace
  • Ios support

Only in Harvest Forecast

  • Visual scheduling
  • Capacity planning
  • Project assignments
  • Utilization reports
  • Harvest integration
  • Harvest
  • iCal

Both cover

  • Google Calendar
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Google Tasks

  • Schedulingnot Harvest Forecast
  • Appointment bookingnot Harvest Forecast
  • Time trackingnot Harvest Forecast
  • Resource managementnot Harvest Forecast
  • Team coordinationnot Harvest Forecast

Harvest Forecast

  • Time tracking and invoicing against client projectsnot Google Tasks
  • Forecasting team capacity and scheduling worknot Google Tasks

Where each one falls short

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

Google Tasks

  • No team collaboration or task assignment features; cannot share task lists
  • No priority levels beyond a binary star; cannot rank tasks by priority (P1, P2, P3)
  • No subtasks, task dependencies, or complex hierarchies
  • No file attachments; cannot attach documents, images, or links directly to tasks
  • Lacks work visualization tools like Gantt charts, Kanban boards, or project timelines
  • Limited reminder functionality for task deadlines
  • No third-party service integrations; requires full Google ecosystem dependency

Harvest Forecast

  • The free plan allows a single seat and 2 projects
  • Paid plans bill per seat with usage charged beyond the base rate rather than being purely flat
  • The Enterprise plan is $14 per seat per month against $9 on Teams
  • The 20% saving requires annual payment
  • Enterprise Plus is custom priced

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Tasks

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Tasks review.

Harvest Forecast

$5/month
  • Per seat$5/month
    • Visual planning
    • Harvest integration
    • Team scheduling

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Tasks if

  • You need task creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Gmail.
  • You also want subtasks.

Choose Harvest Forecast if

  • You need visual scheduling.
  • You also want capacity planning.

Questions people ask

Is Google Tasks or Harvest Forecast better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Tasks starts at Free and Harvest Forecast at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Tasks or Harvest Forecast?
Google Tasks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Tasks and $5/month for Harvest Forecast.
Does Google Tasks or Harvest Forecast run on more platforms?
Google Tasks runs on Web, iOS, Android, Gmail. Harvest Forecast runs on Web.
Can I use Google Tasks for free?
Yes. Google Tasks has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Harvest Forecast starts at $5/month.
What is Google Tasks best used for?
Google Tasks is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Harvest Forecast is typically brought in for.
What can Google Tasks do that Harvest Forecast cannot?
Google Tasks covers Task creation, Subtasks, Due dates, Multiple lists. Harvest Forecast covers Visual scheduling, Capacity planning, Project assignments, Utilization reports. Both handle Google Calendar, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Tasks: Is Google Tasks truly free?

Yes, Google Tasks is completely free with no hidden costs or premium version. You get full access to all features with any free Google account, on both web and mobile.

Source
Google Tasks: Does Google Tasks work offline?

Google Tasks on Android and iOS apps support offline reading and editing with automatic sync when back online. However, the desktop web version at tasks.google.com requires an active internet connection.

Source
Google Tasks: How does Google Tasks integrate with Gmail and Google Calendar?

Google Tasks has native integration with Gmail, allowing you to convert emails into tasks with one click. Tasks with due dates automatically appear in Google Calendar as all-day items, and you can manage tasks from within Calendar without opening a separate tab.

Source
Google Tasks: Can I assign tasks to other people in Google Tasks?

No, Google Tasks has no team collaboration features. You cannot assign tasks to others, share task lists, or add comments within Google Tasks itself, making it unsuitable for team-based work.

Source

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