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

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.

What is Routine

Routine is a productivity tool that sets itself apart with its all-in-one approach, combining elements of task management, note-taking, and calendar integration into a single platform. Designed to cater to the needs of busy professionals and individuals seeking to streamline their organizational process, Routine offers a comprehensive solution for managing daily tasks, appointments, and notes. Its unique selling point is the integration of these features within an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for users to track their to-dos, schedule their days, and store important information in one place. This level of integration is particularly useful for those who prefer a unified system to manage various aspects of their work and personal life.

Key Features of Routine

• Timeline Agenda: Offers a detailed view of the day’s plan with timestamps, including meeting and event reminders, with options to time-block tasks.
• Week Calendar: Provides a 5-day, week, and month view for task planning, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
• Console Capture: A desktop feature for capturing events, notes, and tasks outside the application, ideal for GTD enthusiasts.
• Centralized Workspace: Combines tasks, notes, and calendar in one space.
• Organization: Utilizes categories and tags for better event and task management.
• Daily Plan: Helps in crafting focused daily tasks and important events.

Microsoft To Do vs Routine: Features

Features	Microsoft To Do	Routine
Integrations	Microsoft Products such as Outlook, allows external apps to connect with their API	Syncs with multiple calendar services and task managers like Todoist and Google Tasks.
Calendar	Not Inbuilt	Google Calendar, Notion, Slack, Zapier, Siri, Gmail
Platforms	Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and as a web and desktop app.	macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web
Task Management	To-do lists, Task priorities, Subtasks, and color-coding items for organization.	No
Natural Language Processing	Yes	Offers task creation with date assignment via drag-and-drop
Time Blocking	No	Available
Analytics	No	No
Meeting Scheduler	No	No
Time Zones	Yes	Yes
Reminders	Yes	Yes
Customer Support	Average	Average
1:1 User Onboarding	No	No
Pricing	Free	$12 per month, annually.

Microsoft To Do vs Routine: Pricing

Microsoft To Do Pricing

MS To do is absolutely free.

Routine Pricing

(i) Free Version: Available for students and hobbyists, though with limited features.

(ii) Professional Plan: Priced at $12 per month.

(iii) Business Plan: Costs $15 per user per month.

(iv) Believer Plan: Priced at $10 monthly or $8 per month for an annual commitment, totaling around $96 annually

Microsoft To Do vs Routine: Reviews

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.

Routine Review

Routine stands out for its exceptional design, skillfully combining elements of daily planning, note-taking, and journaling into a user-friendly interface. The application’s free version is especially popular among students and individuals using it for personal or hobbyist projects, making it a preferred choice in these communities. Additionally, Routine’s smart planning and scheduling capabilities are highly valued by users who favor an automated, intelligent approach to organizing their tasks and appointments. However, a significant limitation of Routine, particularly in its free version, is the constrained number of integrations it offers. This restriction is frequently mentioned by users as a downside, as it may limit the app’s effectiveness in more integrated digital workflows.

Which One Should You Pick

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.

Consider Routine if

1. You Want a Balance Between Calendar and Task Management: Routine offers a mix of these features, but it might not be as comprehensive as some specialized apps in either category.
2. You Like Quick Task and Note Capturing: The app has convenient features for this, though it’s not a full-fledged note-taking application
   
3. You’re Looking for a Personal Planner: Routine is more suited to personal use and less technical users, but it might not meet all the needs of power users or large teams.

Best Microsoft To Do and Routine Alternatives

1. Akiflow: Akiflow is a time management app offering time blocking, task scheduling, and integrations with various tools. It focuses on productivity and organization through a unified task and appointment interface.

• Akiflow Price: $19 per month, paid annually

2. Google Tasks: Google Tasks is a task management app, allowing users to create, manage, and prioritize tasks directly from their smartphone.This app is particularly useful for those already embedded in the Google ecosystem, providing a synchronized task management experience across devices.

• Google Tasks Price: Free

3. TickTick: TickTick is an all-in-one task management and reminder app, offering features like task organization, habit tracking, and calendar views. It’s designed for personal and work use, facilitating productivity with its user-friendly interface and cross-platform compatibility. TickTick also includes collaboration tools for team projects.

• TickTick Price: $3 per month, paid annually