Mobile appBusiness software & SaaSOriginal by Doist
Todoist's success comes from making the to-do list frictionless. When a user types "send the report every Monday at 9", the app works out the date and the repeat by itself. A clean interface, instant sync on every platform and powerful but unobtrusive features such as priorities, labels and filters make for a balanced product that appeals both to people seeking personal order and to small teams.
To build something similar you need mobile apps, a web client and a fast sync backend. Set up a natural-language date parser (which has to be built separately for each supported language), a recurrence rule engine, a project and section structure, filter queries, a reminder and push service, calendar integrations, team sharing and subscription infrastructure. Quick entry points such as widgets and watch apps matter as well.
How Todoist works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Mobile app
The iOS and Android app where daily tasks are managed with widgets, quick add and reminders.
Web and desktop client
The working environment where projects are planned, filters are built and the weekly view is reviewed.
Admin panel
The operations screen that monitors subscriptions, user support requests and system metrics.
Critical features of a product like Todoist
Natural-language task entry
Phrases such as "tomorrow 3pm" or "last Friday of every month" are converted into a date and a recurrence rule, with each supported language handled on its own.
Recurrence rule engine
Tasks that repeat from the completion date or on a fixed calendar are generated correctly despite time zone differences.
Filter and label queries
Personal views are built from priority, date, label and project conditions.
Instant sync
A change on one device reaches the others within seconds, and tasks added offline are never lost.
Calendar integration
Dated tasks are mapped two ways with Google or Outlook calendars.
Productivity statistics
Daily and weekly goals, completion streaks and history charts keep the user motivated.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Task, project and sub-task management
- Dates, priorities and recurring tasks
- Push reminders
- Sync between mobile and web
- Today and Upcoming views
Later releases
- Natural-language parsers for additional languages
- Shared projects, task assignment and comments
- Calendar integrations and filter queries
- Widgets, smartwatch and voice assistant integration
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 18 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 126 person-days for the full scope and 78 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Subscriptions and recurring billing | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| Email / SMS notifications | First version |
| Offline mode and sync | Later release |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
| Third-party API integration | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €450 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Natural-language parsing
Capturing date expressions correctly across languages with different grammar and word forms takes language work that off-the-shelf libraries rarely provide.
Time zones and recurrence
Travelling users and daylight saving changes make recurring tasks highly prone to producing wrong dates.
Reminder reliability
Getting a notification to arrive exactly on time despite the background restrictions of mobile operating systems takes careful design.
Business model
A freemium model fits best: the free plan limits the number of projects and reminders, while a Pro subscription offers unlimited projects, reminders, filters and history. A team plan is charged per user per month. On mobile you use in-app store subscriptions, on the web a payment provider such as Stripe, and an annual plan discount improves revenue predictability.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like Todoist
Most people searching “build an app like todoist” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the Todoist name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like Todoist?
A mobile and web first release with tasks, projects, reminders and sync arrives in a relatively short time. Natural-language entry and team features are added in the second phase.
There are many task apps out there, so how do we stand out?
Focusing on a specific audience (students, field teams, agencies) and offering local advantages such as natural-language input in your market's language makes a difference.
Will there be copyright or trademark problems?
The idea and features of a task list are generally free to use; the name, logo, interface design and code cannot be copied. This is not legal advice.
What should I look for when choosing a company to build an app like Todoist?
Look for a mobile team that knows offline sync, notification reliability and time zone logic well. In this category, how smooth the app feels is the biggest selling point.
