Microsoft To Do is a clean, simple task list. You make lists, add due dates, break tasks into steps, and plan each day in a view called My Day, a fresh page where you choose what to work on. For people who like keeping tidy lists and planning their own day, it is a solid choice.
Next Moves Lab does the choosing for you. You write down everything on your mind, and it hands back one task to do now, the reason it was picked, and a small first step. Your morning starts with the work, not with filling a page.
The short version
- Microsoft To Do is a solid pick if you like tidy lists and are happy to choose your own tasks for the day.
- Next Moves Lab is the better fit if you work for yourself, your lists are long, and you want something to decide what comes first.
Side by side
Price
- Microsoft To Do
- Free with a Microsoft account
- Next Moves Lab
- $9.99 a month, 30-day money-back guarantee
Who decides the order
- Microsoft To Do
- You, by adding tasks to My Day
- Next Moves Lab
- It does, and shows you the reason
How the morning starts
- Microsoft To Do
- You fill My Day from your lists
- Next Moves Lab
- The first task is already waiting
What you see
- Microsoft To Do
- My Day and your lists
- Next Moves Lab
- One task and a small first step; the rest waits in Later
Rules for your day
- Microsoft To Do
- Kept in your head
- Next Moves Lab
- Set once, like "no calls before 10", and followed every day
Follow-ups
- Microsoft To Do
- You add them
- Next Moves Lab
- Suggested from what you finished; tap Yes or No
When a day goes wrong
- Microsoft To Do
- You choose again tomorrow
- Next Moves Lab
- Nothing turns red; get the next move from where you are
When Microsoft To Do is a solid choice
- You like clean lists. Lists, due dates and steps are simple to set up and easy to read.
- You enjoy planning your own day. If choosing your tasks each morning works for you, My Day is a calm way to do it.
Where Next Moves Lab wins
- No blank page to fill. When you work for yourself, client work, your own projects, admin and follow-ups all compete. Next Moves Lab weighs them and hands you one task, with the reason it won. You can swap the pick.
- Starting is easy. Each pick comes with a first step of a couple of minutes, so you begin before you start to stall.
- Your week has a point. Set one goal for the week, and tasks that move it rank first.
- Your rules are followed every day. Tell it "no calls before 10" or "admin on Fridays" once, and every plan respects it.
- Today fits the day you have. Tell it your time and energy, and it sizes today to fit. At most three tasks are in play; the rest wait in Later, with no limit, and only you remove a task. Nothing turns red and there are no overdue counts.
- Follow-ups come to you. Finish an invoice or a quote and it suggests the follow-up. You tap Yes or No. It never sends anything for you.
Switching from Microsoft To Do
You do not need to move everything at once. Copy the tasks that matter this week from one list and paste them into Next Moves Lab. Plain words are fine. It turns them into tasks, ranks them, and gives you a first pick.
Common questions
How is this different from My Day?
My Day gives you a page to fill. Next Moves Lab fills it for you, with one task, the reason, and a first step.
Does Next Moves Lab sync with Microsoft To Do?
No, you bring tasks in by typing, speaking, pasting, or adding a photo of your notes.