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Software · head to head

Todoist vs Expensify

Todoist logo

Todoist

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Expensify logo

Expensify

Software

Expense management for receipts, bills & more

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Todoist has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Todoist no built-in time tracking for tasks; requires third-party integration like Toggl; Expensify minimal offline expense entry capabilities hamper use in areas with unstable internet
  • They diverge on capability: Todoist covers Natural language input, Expensify covers SmartScan receipts.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Todoist and Expensify actually diverge.

Attributes where Todoist and Expensify differ
AttributeTodoistExpensify
Starting priceFree$5/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20072008

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Todoist

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

Only in Expensify

  • SmartScan receipts
  • Expense reports
  • Corporate cards
  • Reimbursements
  • Travel booking
  • Mileage tracking
  • Multi-currency
  • Real-time syncing

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Todoist

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

Expensify

  • Expense reportingnot Todoist
  • Receipt managementnot Todoist
  • Travel expensesnot Todoist
  • Corporate card managementnot Todoist
  • Reimbursementsnot Todoist

Where each one falls short

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

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

Expensify

  • Minimal offline expense entry capabilities hamper use in areas with unstable internet
  • OCR receipt data extraction requires manual review and correction for accuracy
  • Per-user pricing model increases costs for larger organizations

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Expensify

$5/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Expensify review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Expensify if

  • You need smartscan receipts.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want expense reports.
Expensify review

Questions people ask

Is Todoist or Expensify better?
Neither clearly leads. Todoist starts at Free and Expensify at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Todoist or Expensify?
Todoist has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Todoist and $5/month for Expensify.
Does Todoist or Expensify run on more platforms?
Todoist runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Expensify runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Todoist for free?
Yes. Todoist has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Expensify starts at $5/month.
What is Todoist best used for?
Todoist is most often used for personal task management, team project coordination, goal tracking, habit building. Of those, personal task management and team project coordination are not what Expensify is typically brought in for.
What can Todoist do that Expensify cannot?
Todoist covers Natural language input, Recurring tasks, Projects and sub-tasks, Labels and filters. Expensify covers SmartScan receipts, Expense reports, Corporate cards, Reimbursements. Both handle Slack, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Expensify: How does Expensify capture receipts?

Expensify uses SmartScan technology with OCR to automatically extract data from receipt images, reducing manual data entry. Users can photograph receipts with their phone to quickly create expense entries.

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
Expensify: What reimbursement methods does Expensify support?

Expensify supports ACH reimbursement via direct deposit after setting up a direct deposit account. Next-day reimbursement is available, or standard processing takes 3-5 business days.

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
Expensify: How does Expensify offline mode work?

Expensify has limited offline capabilities. Users can capture receipts offline, but data syncs when internet connectivity is restored. Full functionality requires online access.

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
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
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Related pages

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