Softwr

Software · head to head

Todoist vs Gusto

Todoist logo

Todoist

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Gusto logo

Gusto

Software

The people platform for small businesses

From
$49/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; Gusto customer service can be slow and unresponsive to issues
  • They diverge on capability: Todoist covers Natural language input, Gusto covers Automated payroll.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Todoist and Gusto actually diverge.

Attributes where Todoist and Gusto differ
AttributeTodoistGusto
Starting priceFree$49/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsWeb
Founded20072011

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 Gusto

  • Automated payroll
  • Tax filing
  • Benefits administration
  • Time tracking
  • Employee onboarding
  • HR compliance
  • Workers' comp
  • 401(k) management

Both cover

  • Google Calendar
  • Slack
  • 2FA

What people use each for

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

Todoist

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

Gusto

  • Payroll processingnot Todoist
  • Benefits administrationnot Todoist
  • Tax compliancenot Todoist
  • Employee onboardingnot Todoist
  • Time trackingnot 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

Gusto

  • Customer service can be slow and unresponsive to issues
  • Weak reporting capabilities, cannot export data to spreadsheets for analysis
  • Support staff lacks deep payroll expertise and knowledge
  • Rehired employees do not have settings reset, causing manual cleanup work
  • City tax handling requires additional monitoring and monitoring
  • Onboarding can have issues with bank account verification and tax registration

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

Gusto

$49/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Gusto 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 Gusto if

  • You need automated payroll.
  • You also want tax filing.
Gusto review

Questions people ask

Is Todoist or Gusto better?
Neither clearly leads. Todoist starts at Free and Gusto at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Todoist or Gusto?
Todoist has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Todoist and $49/month for Gusto.
Does Todoist or Gusto run on more platforms?
Todoist runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Gusto runs on Web.
Can I use Todoist for free?
Yes. Todoist has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Gusto starts at $49/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 Gusto is typically brought in for.
What can Todoist do that Gusto cannot?
Todoist covers Natural language input, Recurring tasks, Projects and sub-tasks, Labels and filters. Gusto covers Automated payroll, Tax filing, Benefits administration, Time tracking. Both handle Google Calendar, Slack, 2FA.

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
Gusto: What is Gusto's starting price?

Gusto starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person. The company also offers a Contractor-only plan for $35 per month plus $6 per contractor.

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
Gusto: Does Gusto include unlimited payroll runs?

Yes, all Gusto plans include unlimited payroll runs at no extra charge, including off-cycle payrolls.

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
Gusto: What core features are included in Gusto?

All plans include payroll processing, tax administration, digital onboarding, benefits enrollment, time tracking, performance management, and next-day direct deposit for most plans.

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
Gusto: Does Gusto support integrations?

Yes, Gusto integrates with accounting software, applicant tracking systems, benefits providers, time-tracking tools, and other business platforms to reduce data entry.

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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Todoist

More on Gusto

Keep looking

Other head to heads