Todoist vs Trello

Todoist and Trello are both low-complexity, freemium tools aimed at individuals and small teams, but they organize work differently. Todoist is built around fast personal task capture with natural language dates, while Trello visualizes work as boards and cards - a better fit once more than one person needs to see the same plan.

Add a third tool and compare side by side →

TodoistTrello
CategoryTime TrackingProject Management
Best forIndividuals and small teams who need lightweight personal task trackingSmall teams, freelancers, and individuals who want a lightweight visual board without setup
Free planYes (free for individuals)Yes
Paid plans from$5 per user / month (Pro)$5 per user / month (Standard)
Platform
DeploymentCloudCloud
Team sizeSolo / Freelancer, Small teamSolo / Freelancer, Small team
ApproachPersonal task lists with labels, filters, and natural-language datesKanban boards with cards and columns
Learning curveLowLow
AI featuresYesYes
IntegrationsSlack, Google Workspace, ZapierSlack, Google Workspace, Zapier
Strengths
  • Excellent mobile apps
  • Natural language dates
  • Karma productivity system
  • Extremely easy to start
  • Free plan available
  • Power-Ups extend functionality

Todoist vs Trello pricing

Todoist

  • Beginner$0Free for individuals
  • Pro$5 per user / month$60 billed yearly
  • Business$8 per user / month$96 billed yearly, plus local tax

Prices in USD, checked October 2026. Prices exclude VAT and local taxes unless stated. See current Todoist pricing →

Trello

  • Free$0
  • Standard$5 per user / monthBilled annually, or $6 billed monthly
  • Premium$10 per user / monthBilled annually, or $12.50 billed monthly
  • Enterprise$17.50 per user / monthBilled annually ($210 per user per year)

Prices in USD, checked October 2026. Prices exclude VAT and local taxes unless stated. See current Trello pricing →

Strengths and trade-offs

Todoist

Where it stands out

Its natural language date input and excellent mobile apps make it attractive for people who want to capture tasks the moment they think of them.

Trade-off to know

It isn't built for complex, multi-person projects, and collaboration features are limited on the free plan.

Trello

Where it stands out

Its simplicity makes it attractive for people who want to start organizing work in minutes, with Power-Ups available when they need a bit more.

Trade-off to know

That same simplicity means advanced views like Timeline are reserved for the Premium plan, and it can start to feel limited once projects get more complex.

Which one fits your team?

Choose Todoist if…

  • You want to capture tasks the moment you think of them, with natural language dates and strong mobile apps
  • Your work is mostly personal or individual, not a shared project multiple people need to visualize together
See full Todoist review →

Choose Trello if…

  • You want a visual board that a small team can look at together to see what's in progress
  • You're willing to trade Todoist's fast personal capture for Power-Ups that extend the board as needs grow
See full Trello review →

FAQ

What is the main difference between Todoist and Trello?

Todoist and Trello are both low-complexity, freemium tools aimed at individuals and small teams, but they organize work differently. Todoist is built around fast personal task capture with natural language dates, while Trello visualizes work as boards and cards - a better fit once more than one person needs to see the same plan.

Do Todoist and Trello have a free plan?

Yes, both offer a free plan. Todoist: free for individuals.

How much do Todoist and Trello cost?

Todoist's paid plans start at $5 per user / month (Pro), while Trello's start at $5 per user / month (Standard). Billing period, team size, and taxes affect the final price, so check each vendor's pricing page before deciding.

Who is each tool best suited for?

Todoist fits individuals and small teams who need lightweight personal task tracking. Trello fits small teams, freelancers, and individuals who want a lightweight visual board without setup.

Reviewed by the PM Help Tools team · Last updated · How we review tools