Google Tasks vs Microsoft To Do: The Ultimate Ecosystem Battle (2025)
Two tech giants, two free task management solutions, two completely different approaches in 2025. Google Tasks offers ultra-simple list management built into Gmail, while Microsoft To Do provides richer features within the Office 365 ecosystem. But what if you want the best of both worlds without vendor lock-in?
Last Updated: May 2025
12 min read
Understanding the Personal Productivity Landscape
About 35% of people now use a dedicated app to track their tasks, with the global task management software market projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2026. Most users start with personal task apps before moving to team software, making this comparison crucial for millions of productivity-focused individuals.
At a Glance: Google Tasks vs Microsoft To Do in 2025
Google Tasks
Best for Google power users. Ultra-simple list app built into Gmail and Google Calendar. Convert emails into tasks and see due dates on your Google Calendar. Completely free but lacks collaboration features.
Microsoft To Do
Designed for Microsoft power users. Deeply integrated with Office 365, syncs tasks with Outlook and Teams. Free with simple interface, My Day scheduling, and basic sharing capabilities.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Compare Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do across all key areas
| Feature | Google Tasks | Microsoft To Do | TaskGuru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task Creation | Simple lists, unlimited tasks | Custom lists, unlimited tasks | Boards with unlimited tasks |
| Subtasks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Tasks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starred List | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Task Prioritization | No | No | Four priority levels |
| Attachments | No | Yes | Yes |
| Search | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reminders | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email Reminders | No | No | Yes |
| Keyboard Shortcuts | No | No | Yes |
| Natural Language Input | No | No | Yes |
Organization & Task Features
Both Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do excel at basic task creation and management, but they struggle with complex organization needs. Google Tasks keeps things ultra-simple with basic lists, while Microsoft To Do offers more customization but suffers from an over-simplified interface that makes managing multiple projects simultaneously quite challenging.
| Feature | Google Tasks | Microsoft To Do | TaskGuru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task Creation | Simple lists, unlimited tasks | Custom lists, unlimited tasks | Boards with unlimited tasks |
| Subtasks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring Tasks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starred List | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Task Prioritization | No | No | Four priority levels |
| Attachments | No | Yes | Yes |
| Search | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reminders | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email Reminders | No | No | Yes |
| Keyboard Shortcuts | No | No | Yes |
| Natural Language Input | No | No | Yes |
Organization & Task Features Winner: TaskGuru
TaskGuru offers advanced organization features including natural language input, keyboard shortcuts, email reminders, and project management capabilities that Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do lack.
Collaboration & Teamwork
Collaboration capabilities reveal the biggest differences between these task management tools. Google Tasks is designed purely for personal use with no team sharing or collaboration features, while Microsoft To Do offers basic list sharing within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem but lacks advanced team communication tools.
| Feature | Google Tasks | Microsoft To Do | TaskGuru |
|---|---|---|---|
| List Sharing | No | Yes | Yes (per board) |
| Task Assignment | No | Yes | Yes |
| File Attachments | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Comments | No | No | Yes (messages) |
| Real-time Collaboration | No | No | Yes |
| Team Chat | No | No | Yes |
Collaboration & Teamwork Winner: TaskGuru
TaskGuru provides comprehensive team collaboration features including real-time collaboration, team chat, task assignment, and board sharing that Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do do not have.
Integration & Compatibility
Integration capabilities determine how well these task management tools work within existing workflows and ecosystems. Google Tasks excels with seamless Google Workspace integration including Gmail and Google Calendar, while Microsoft To Do provides deep Office 365 connectivity with Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint. Both platforms offer excellent ecosystem compatibility within their respective environments.
| Feature | Google Tasks | Microsoft To Do | TaskGuru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes (Gmail, MCP) |
| Calendar Integration | Google Calendar | Outlook Calendar | Google Calendar (MCP) |
| Platform Sync | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Web (mobile web) |
| API Access | Yes | Yes | Yes (MCP) |
| Third-party Integrations | No | No | Yes (Notion, Google Workspace, MCP) |
| Widgets | Yes | Yes | No |
Integration & Compatibility Winner: Joint (Google Tasks & Microsoft To Do)
Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do excel in integration and compatibility with existing platforms, offering amazing ecosystem connectivity. However, they have zero third-party integrations, which is a significant limitation. This makes it a joint tie between the two platforms.
Mobile & Desktop Experience
Microsoft To Do leads in platform availability with comprehensive mobile and desktop apps, while Google Tasks offers solid mobile coverage but lacks desktop applications. TaskGuru focuses on web-based accessibility with plans for mobile expansion, providing cross-device sync across all platforms.
| Feature | Google Tasks | Microsoft To Do | TaskGuru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Apps | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | No |
| Web | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Apps | No | Windows, Mac | No |
| Offline Access | No | No | No |
| Cross-Device Sync | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mobile & Desktop Experience Winner: Microsoft To Do
Microsoft To Do offers the most comprehensive platform coverage with native mobile and desktop applications, providing users with consistent experiences across all devices.
Security & Privacy
Microsoft To Do leads in enterprise security with comprehensive SSO integration and advanced authentication, while Google Tasks offers solid security through Google's infrastructure. TaskGuru provides strong encryption and privacy controls with Google SSO integration.
| Feature | Google Tasks | Microsoft To Do | TaskGuru |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSO | Google Account | Microsoft 365 | Google |
| Two-factor Auth | Yes | Yes | No |
| Data Encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Data Residency | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Security & Privacy Winner: Microsoft To Do
Microsoft To Do offers the most comprehensive security features with enterprise-grade SSO integration, advanced authentication, and robust data protection suitable for business environments.
Pricing
Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do offer completely free task management, but require subscriptions to their respective ecosystems for full functionality. TaskGuru provides transparent, affordable pricing with a generous free tier and simple unlimited plan structure.
| Feature | Google Tasks | Microsoft To Do | TaskGuru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes - Completely free | Yes - Completely free | Yes |
| Starting Paid Plan | Yes - Part of G Workspace | Yes - Part of Microsoft 365 | Yes - $3.49/user/month (annually) |
| Mid-tier Plan | Yes - N/A | Yes - N/A | Yes - N/A |
| Enterprise Plan | Yes - N/A | Yes - N/A | Yes - N/A |
| Annual Discount | Yes - monthly vs annual pricing | Yes - monthly vs annual pricing | Yes - monthly vs annual pricing |
Pricing Winner: Joint (All Three Platforms)
All three platforms offer excellent value: Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do are completely free but require ecosystem subscriptions for full features, while TaskGuru provides transparent, affordable pricing with a generous free tier and simple unlimited plan structure, making it a joint tie.
Category Winners Summary
| Category | Google Tasks | Microsoft To Do | TaskGuru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organization & Task Features | |||
| Collaboration & Teamwork | |||
| Integration & Compatibility | |||
| Mobile & Desktop Experience | |||
| Security & Privacy | |||
| Pricing | |||
| Total Wins | 3 | 4 | 4 |
The Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose in 2025?
Choose Google Tasks If:
- You live entirely in the Google ecosystem
- You only need basic personal task management
- Converting emails to tasks is your primary use case
- You want the simplest possible solution
Choose Microsoft To Do If:
- Your organization uses Microsoft 365
- You need Outlook and Teams integration
- My Day planning appeals to you
- You want basic sharing within Microsoft ecosystem
Choose TaskGuru If:
- You use mixed ecosystems (Google + Microsoft)
- You need team collaboration features
- You want to avoid vendor lock-in
- You need advanced project management
- You're planning to scale from personal to team use
The Bottom Line
Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do are excellent free solutions within their respective ecosystems. But in today's mixed-environment world, most professionals need flexibility that neither can provide.
TaskGuru bridges this gap—offering the professional features and team collaboration that both lack, without forcing you into any specific ecosystem. It's the platform-independent choice for modern productivity.
Key TaskGuru Advantages
While Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do excel within their ecosystems, TaskGuru offers true platform independence with professional features that work everywhere without ecosystem dependencies.
Platform Independence
Works across all platforms and devices without requiring Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. No vendor lock-in required.
True Team Collaboration
Unlike both Google Tasks and Microsoft To Do, TaskGuru offers unlimited team collaboration with built-in chat and project sharing.
Cross-Project Visibility
TaskGuru's Immediate Board shows all your tasks across every project on one page—something neither competitor offers.
Ready for ecosystem independence?
Get professional task management features without ecosystem lock-in. Try TaskGuru's free plan and discover true productivity freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Comparisons
TaskGuru vs Google Tasks
Compare TaskGuru's platform independence with Google Tasks' ecosystem integration
TaskGuru vs Microsoft To Do
See how TaskGuru's team collaboration compares to Microsoft To Do
Todoist vs Microsoft To Do
Another popular comparison for personal task management apps
Explore All Task Management Comparisons
Discover comprehensive comparisons between TaskGuru and 20+ popular task management tools. Find the perfect solution for your productivity needs with our detailed analysis.