News · head to head
Microsoft Start vs Microsoft To Do
The short version
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Start covers Personalized news, Microsoft To Do covers My Day suggestions.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Start and Microsoft To Do actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Start | Microsoft To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Windows | Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos |
| Category | News | Calendars |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), founded (1975).
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 Microsoft Start
- Personalized news
- Topic following
- Weather updates
- Sports scores
- Finance news
- Microsoft Edge
- Windows 11
- Microsoft Account
Only in Microsoft To Do
- My Day suggestions
- List sharing
- Steps
- Due dates
- Reminders
- Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Teams
- Cortana
Both cover
- Outlook
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Start
- Daily newsnot Microsoft To Do
- Topic trackingnot Microsoft To Do
- Weather updatesnot Microsoft To Do
- Quick informationnot Microsoft To Do
Microsoft To Do
- Schedulingnot Microsoft Start
- Appointment bookingnot Microsoft Start
- Time trackingnot Microsoft Start
- Resource managementnot Microsoft Start
- Team coordinationnot Microsoft Start
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft Start
- No pricing information available
- Service appears to be consumer-facing rather than commercial product
- No pricing model published
Microsoft To Do
Nothing recorded yet. See the Microsoft To Do review.
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Start
Free- FreeFree
- Personalized news feed
- Topic following
- Cross-device sync
Microsoft To Do
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited tasks
- My Day
- List sharing
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Start if
- You need personalized news.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows.
- You also want topic following.
Choose Microsoft To Do if
- You need my day suggestions.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
- You also want list sharing.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Start or Microsoft To Do better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Start starts at Free and Microsoft To Do at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Start or Microsoft To Do?
- Microsoft Start starts at Free and Microsoft To Do at Free.
- Does Microsoft Start or Microsoft To Do run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Start runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows. Microsoft To Do runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
- Can I use Microsoft Start for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Microsoft Start best used for?
- Microsoft Start is most often used for daily news, topic tracking, weather updates, quick information. Of those, daily news and topic tracking are not what Microsoft To Do is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Start do that Microsoft To Do cannot?
- Microsoft Start covers Personalized news, Topic following, Weather updates, Sports scores. Microsoft To Do covers My Day suggestions, List sharing, Steps, Due dates. Both handle Outlook, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft Start: How much does Microsoft Start (MSN) cost?
Microsoft Start (formerly MSN.com) is a free service with no subscription required. The platform provides news, weather, and personalized content at no cost to users.
SourceMicrosoft Start: Does Microsoft Start offer any paid services or premium features?
Microsoft Start does not publish any paid tiers or premium features. The service is entirely free to access and use without any payment or subscription.
SourceMicrosoft Start: Are there ads on Microsoft Start?
Microsoft Start provides personalized news and content free of charge. Any advertising present on the service helps support the free platform offering.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft Start
More on Microsoft To Do
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- Microsoft To Do vs Feedly
- Microsoft To Do vs Beehiiv
- Microsoft To Do vs Inoreader
- Microsoft To Do vs Chartbeat
- Microsoft To Do vs Google News
- Microsoft To Do vs News Break
- Microsoft To Do vs SmartNews
- Microsoft To Do vs Apple News
- Microsoft To Do vs Flipboard
- Microsoft To Do vs HARO
- Microsoft To Do vs Revue
- Microsoft To Do vs TinyLetter
- Microsoft To Do vs Readwise Reader
- Microsoft To Do vs Steno
- Microsoft To Do vs The Old Reader
- Microsoft To Do vs Google Tasks
- Microsoft To Do vs Apple Calendar
- Microsoft To Do vs Clockify
- Microsoft To Do vs Fantastical
- Microsoft To Do vs OmniFocus
- Microsoft To Do vs Morgen
- Microsoft To Do vs Woven
- Microsoft To Do vs BusyCal
- Microsoft To Do vs Vimcal
- Microsoft To Do vs SavvyCal
- Microsoft To Do vs Amie
- Microsoft To Do vs Jibble
- Microsoft To Do vs Kronologic
- Microsoft To Do vs Rise Calendar
- Microsoft To Do vs Teamup
- Microsoft To Do vs TidyCal
- Microsoft To Do vs Google Calendar