Vikunja vs Todoist: Self-Hosted Task Management
Quick Verdict
Vikunja is the best self-hosted replacement for Todoist. It covers lists, kanban boards, Gantt charts, and CalDAV sync — all running on your own server. If you want full control over your task data and don’t mind losing Todoist’s polish, Vikunja is a strong pick.
Overview
Todoist is a cloud-based task manager with 30+ million users, known for its natural language input, cross-platform apps, and clean design. The free tier is limited; the Pro plan runs $5/month.
Vikunja is an open-source, self-hosted task management app written in Go with a Vue.js frontend. It supports lists, kanban boards, Gantt views, labels, priorities, assignees, reminders, and CalDAV integration. It’s a single binary with minimal resource requirements.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Vikunja | Todoist |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Yes | No |
| Open source | Yes (AGPL-3.0) | No |
| Task lists | Yes | Yes |
| Kanban boards | Yes | Yes |
| Gantt chart | Yes | No (requires integration) |
| Natural language input | No | Yes |
| Recurring tasks | Yes | Yes |
| Labels/tags | Yes | Yes |
| Priorities | Yes (1-5) | Yes (1-4) |
| Assignees | Yes | Yes (Pro) |
| Comments | Yes | Yes |
| File attachments | Yes | Yes (Pro) |
| CalDAV sync | Yes | No |
| API | REST API | REST API |
| Mobile app | PWA | Native iOS/Android |
| Integrations | Limited (CalDAV, API) | 80+ native integrations |
| Collaboration | Yes | Yes |
Installation Complexity
Vikunja is straightforward to self-host. A single Docker container handles both the API and frontend. It uses SQLite by default (no database container needed) or PostgreSQL/MySQL for larger deployments. You can be up and running in under 5 minutes.
Todoist requires zero installation — it’s a cloud service. Sign up and start using it.
Winner: Todoist for convenience, Vikunja for control.
Performance and Resource Usage
Vikunja is exceptionally lightweight. The Go backend uses roughly 30-50 MB of RAM with SQLite. Even with PostgreSQL, total stack RAM stays under 200 MB. CPU usage is negligible for personal use.
Todoist runs on their infrastructure, so resource usage isn’t your concern. Performance depends on your internet connection.
Community and Support
Todoist has a large user base, extensive documentation, a help center, and paid support. The ecosystem of integrations and templates is mature.
Vikunja has a smaller but active community. Documentation is solid, covering Docker deployment, API reference, and configuration. Development is active with regular releases. Community support via Vikunja Community forums and Matrix.
Use Cases
Choose Vikunja If…
- You want full ownership of your task data
- CalDAV sync with your calendar is important
- You need Gantt chart views without third-party integrations
- You’re privacy-conscious about productivity data
- You want to avoid recurring subscription costs
- You already run Docker containers on a home server
Choose Todoist If…
- You need polished native mobile apps
- Natural language task input is essential to your workflow
- You rely on third-party integrations (Slack, Gmail, Zapier)
- You want zero maintenance
- You collaborate with people who won’t self-host
- You need offline sync across all devices
Final Verdict
Vikunja is the strongest self-hosted Todoist alternative available. It covers the core task management features — lists, kanban, labels, priorities, assignees, and reminders — plus Gantt charts and CalDAV that Todoist lacks. What you give up is Todoist’s natural language input, native mobile apps (Vikunja uses a PWA), and the extensive integration ecosystem.
For individual users or small teams who value data ownership, Vikunja is the clear choice. For teams embedded in a cloud-first workflow with heavy integration needs, Todoist’s ecosystem is hard to replace.
FAQ
Can Vikunja import tasks from Todoist?
Yes. Vikunja supports importing from Todoist via its migration feature. Export your Todoist data and import it into Vikunja through the web UI.
Does Vikunja have mobile apps?
Vikunja offers a Progressive Web App (PWA) that works on iOS and Android. It’s not a native app, so push notifications may be limited depending on your browser.
Is Vikunja free?
Yes. Vikunja is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. There are no paid tiers or feature restrictions.
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