Microsoft To Do vs Remember The Milk
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Microsoft To Do is a cloud-based task management application designed to help users organize and manage their day-to-day activities. It allows individuals to create shopping lists, work tasks, or travel itineraries, capturing everything in one centralized location. Built to replace Wunderlist, the application offers personalized daily planners, smart suggestions, and seamless synchronization across multiple devices. Users can collaborate on lists with family, friends, and colleagues to stay aligned on shared goals.
Remember The Milk is a task management app that lets users create lists, set due dates and reminders, and organize tasks with tags, priorities, and locations. It has been running for many years and integrates with tools like Gmail, Outlook, Twitter, and Slack so reminders can reach users through channels they already use.
- Completely free to use with no hidden subscription fees.
- Clean, intuitive, and distraction-free user interface.
- Deep integration with the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
- Reliable cross-device synchronization.
- Long track record and stable, mature feature set
- Deep email integration for capturing tasks quickly
- Flexible smart lists for custom task views
- Cross-platform availability including older and lighter clients
- Lacks advanced project management views like Kanban boards or Gantt charts.
- Limited customization options for subtasks and hierarchical structures.
- Requires a Microsoft account to use.
- Interface feels dated compared to newer task apps
- Free plan limits some sync frequency and integrations
- Lacks the rich collaboration/project features of tools like Asana or ClickUp
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Microsoft To Do
View all →The #1 family organizing app with a shared calendar, lists, and reminders.
Alternatives to Remember The Milk
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth are free‑to‑use personal task managers, but Remember The Milk offers richer reminder options and email integration, while Microsoft To Do provides tighter Microsoft 365 sync and a cleaner UI.
Key differences
- •Reminder delivery: RTM supports email, SMS, Twitter, push; To Do only time‑based notifications.
- •Smart lists vs. My Day: RTM’s saved‑search smart lists vs. To Do’s daily planner that resets each morning.
- •Ecosystem integration: RTM integrates with Gmail, Outlook, Evernote, Twitter; To Do integrates deeply with Microsoft 365, Outlook, Cortana, Planner.
- •API availability: RTM offers an API; To Do does not.
- •Collaboration: To Do includes list sharing; RTM’s free tier lacks collaboration features.
Pricing & value
Both are free, but To Do has no hidden limits; RTM’s free plan restricts sync frequency and some integrations.
Ease of use / learning curve
To Do’s clean, intuitive UI is described as distraction‑free, whereas RTM’s interface feels dated.
Features & depth
RTM provides flexible recurring tasks, location‑based reminders, and multiple reminder channels not present in To Do.
Integrations & ecosystem
Both integrate with Outlook; RTM adds Gmail, Evernote, Twitter, while To Do adds Microsoft 365, Cortana, Planner.
Collaboration
To Do supports list sharing for teamwork; RTM lacks collaboration in its free tier.
Support
To Do lists email, community forum, and help center; RTM provides no support details in the facts.
Security & privacy
Both are cloud SaaS with no disclosed open‑source or specific security info.
Choose Microsoft To Do if…
Users embedded in Microsoft 365 who value simple UI and shared lists.
Choose Remember The Milk if…
Users who need advanced reminders, email capture, and API access.
Common questions
Is there any cost to use either app?
Both are free; Remember The Milk offers a freemium model with paid upgrades, while Microsoft To Do is completely free.
Can I integrate the app with my email client?
Remember The Milk integrates with Gmail and Outlook; Microsoft To Do integrates with Outlook and the broader Microsoft 365 suite.
Do either of these tools support team collaboration?
Microsoft To Do includes list sharing for collaboration; Remember The Milk’s free version lacks collaboration features.
