Fantastical vs Microsoft To Do: Choosing the Right Productivity Tool for You

What is Fantastical

Fantastical is a renowned calendar application that has earned a strong reputation among Apple device users for its innovative features and user-friendly design. Known for its natural language processing capabilities and aesthetic interface, Fantastical offers a blend of traditional and advanced functionalities, making it a popular choice for those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem.

This app not only excels in calendar management but also integrates several smart features to enhance the overall experience of planning and scheduling. Here’s a detailed look at the features that define Fantastical and its place in the realm of productivity tools.

Key Features of Fantastical

• Multilingual Support: Accessible in multiple languages for a wide range of users.
• Flexible Viewing Options: Offers daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views for different scheduling needs.
• Attractive Interface: Known for its visually engaging design.
• Natural Language Input: Create events and reminders easily using everyday language.
• Calendar Syncing: Supports iCloud, Google Calendar, Exchange, and more for seamless integration.
• Reminders and Task Management: Integrates Apple’s Reminders for efficient event and task handling in one app.

What is Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To-Do is a streamlined and user-friendly task management application that integrates seamlessly with the Microsoft ecosystem. Designed to enhance productivity for both individual and professional use, MS To-Do stands out with its simple yet effective interface. It allows users to create lists, set reminders, and track tasks across various devices, ensuring accessibility and convenience. The app’s integration with Microsoft services like Outlook makes it a natural choice for users already embedded in the Microsoft environment. MS To-Do’s focus on simplicity and integration caters to those who need a straightforward, no-frills approach to task management while benefiting from the robustness of Microsoft’s technology.

Key Features of Microsoft To Do

• Task Addition: Easily add tasks and organize them in custom lists.
• Task Details: Add due dates, reminders, and files to tasks.
• Task Prioritization: Mark tasks as important for better focus.
• List Sharing and Collaboration: Share lists with others and assign tasks.
• Integration with Microsoft Tools: Seamlessly works with Outlook, Cortana, and other Microsoft applications.
• Customizable Themes and Backgrounds: Personalize the app with various themes and backgrounds for a unique user experience.

Fantastical vs Microsoft To Do: Features

Features	Fantastical	Microsoft To Do
Integrations	Syncs with multiple calendar services and task managers like Todoist and Google Tasks.	Microsoft Products such as Outlook, allows external apps to connect with their API
Calendar	Offers customizable views and “Calendar Sets” for managing different groups of calendars.	Not Inbuilt
Platforms	iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and as a web and desktop app.
Task Management	Integrates with task managers to display tasks within the calendar.	To-do lists, Task priorities, Subtasks, and color-coding items for organization.
Natural Language Processing	Yes	Yes
Time Blocking	Available	No
Analytics	No.	No
Meeting Scheduler	Yes	No
Time Zones	Yes	Yes
Reminders	Yes	Yes
Customer Support	Average	Average
1:1 User Onboarding	No	No
Pricing	$4.75 per month, paid annually	Free

Fantastical vs Microsoft To Do: Pricing

Fantastical Pricing

Fantastical offers both a free plan with basic features and a premium plan with additional capabilities. The pricing for the premium plan varies depending on the number of users:

(i) Individual Premium Plan: $4.75 per month when billed annually. This plan includes features like home screen widgets, notifications, multiple time zone scheduling, customizable templates, and Apple Watch support.

(ii) Family Premium Plan: $7.50 per month for 5 users when billed annually. This plan offers the same features as the Individual plan but accommodates multiple users, making it suitable for family or small team usage.

Microsoft To Do Pricing

MS To do is absolutely free.

Fantastical vs Microsoft To Do: Reviews

Fantastical Review

Fantastical is appreciated for its user-friendly experience and robust features, including effective task and time-blocking capabilities, and natural language input for event addition. However, its premium version is required for full functionality, and it may not be as rapidly evolving as some AI-integrated calendar apps. Moreover, its focus on the Apple ecosystem limits its cross-platform utility. Despite these drawbacks, Fantastical remains a solid choice for Apple users seeking a reliable and well-designed calendar app.

Microsoft To Do Review

Microsoft To Do, with its cloud-based task management, offers a range of benefits. The app allows for effective organization and prioritization of tasks and integrates well with other Microsoft services. Users appreciate the ability to customize lists and set recurring tasks. However, some limitations include the lack of rich text formatting for hyperlinks, inability to import task lists directly into Excel, and restrictions in copying tasks between lists. Despite these cons, the biggest advantage of Microsoft To Do is that it’s completely free to use.

Which One Should You Pick

Consider Fantastical if

1. You Want an Intuitive Calendar Interface: Choose Fantastical if you’re seeking an easy-to-use calendar app that works seamlessly across various Apple devices.
2. You Need Light Task Management: If you require basic task management integrated with your calendar, Fantastical’s ability to combine tasks with time-blocking features might suit your needs.
3. You Prefer Natural Language Inputs: Fantastical is ideal for those who appreciate the convenience of adding events using natural language, making scheduling faster and more intuitive.

Consider Microsoft To Do if

1. You’re in the Microsoft Ecosystem: It integrates well with Office 365 services, but might not be the best standalone option for those not using other Microsoft products.
2. You Value Simplicity in Task Management: While it’s easy to use for basic task lists and reminders, it may lack advanced features found in more comphensive task managers.
3. You Prefer Free Tools: Microsoft To Do is free, making it accessible, but it might not offer the depth of paid apps in terms of features and customization.

For an alternative daily planning app, consider Akiflow. It provides various features that Fantastical or Microsoft To Do might not have, while maintaining an interface for efficient task management. See if Akiflow meets your planning needs and explore its unique features today.