Locu vs Todoist: When Lists Aren't Enough

Todoist has earned its reputation as the best pure task manager. Clean, fast, cross-platform, with every feature you'd expect: projects, labels, filters, natural language input, and bulletproof sync.

But task management isn't the same as execution.

Locu takes a different approach: instead of perfecting the task list, we focus on helping you complete those tasks through structured focus sessions, deep work support, and engineering workflow integration.

If Todoist helps you organize work, Locu helps you execute it.

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Why Engineers Need More Than Better Lists

Lists Don't Create Focus

Todoist shows you what to do, but doesn't help you stay focused while doing it. No Focus Mode, no distraction blocking, no session structure. You see 20 tasks and you're on your own to pick one and stay focused.

For engineers doing deep work—debugging, architecture, complex implementation—you need more than a list. You need protection from distractions, structure for sustainable work, and clear boundaries.

Locu's approach: Session-based execution. Start a 60-minute focus session, select ONE task, full context appears, distractions blocked, Slack goes to DND. The system protects your focus while you work.

Missing Time Tracking

Todoist has no time tracking. For freelancers billing clients or anyone wanting to understand execution patterns, this is a dealbreaker. You'd need to run Toggl or Harvest alongside, creating manual overhead and tool switching.

Locu's approach: Sessions naturally capture time as you work. Start session, work on tasks, time tracked automatically. Export client-ready timesheets. Know exactly: "Feature implementation took 4.2 hours across 3 sessions."

No Work History

Todoist shows completed tasks in a simple list. But there's no rich work history—can't see when you worked on what, for how long, or patterns in your execution. The completed items list is just a checkbox archive.

Locu's approach: Complete work history built from your sessions. Task-based timeline shows what you worked on, when, for how long. See patterns: "I ship most effectively in morning sessions." Export for retrospectives or client reports.

Limited Engineering Integration

Todoist has integrations, but they're basic: email to task, calendar events, generic webhooks. Where's deep Jira integration? Where's Linear sync? Where's Slack DND during focus? Where's GitHub commit linking?

Engineers don't live in Todoist—they live in Jira, Linear, Slack, GitHub. Without deep integration, Todoist becomes yet another tool to update manually.

Locu's approach: Built for engineering workflows. Jira and Linear tasks auto-sync bidirectionally. Slack sets DND and status during focus. Calendar integration shows meeting context. Your execution layer connects to your actual work stack.

No Session Structure or Breaks

Todoist is a list. You work through it however you want. This freedom sounds good, but for many people it leads to working until exhausted, no breaks, no rhythm, eventual burnout.

Locu's approach: Built-in session structure. 60-minute focus periods with breaks between. Regular break reminders (that you can extend if in flow). Sustainable rhythm by design, not willpower.

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Feature Comparison

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When to Choose Todoist

✅ You need best-in-class task management only
✅ You manage tasks across life domains (work, personal, errands)
✅ You love organizing with projects, labels, and filters
✅ You don't need focus sessions or time tracking
✅ You're disciplined enough to execute without structure
✅ Budget is critical (free tier is generous)
✅ You want the simplest, cleanest task list possible

Todoist excels at task organization. Period.

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When to Choose Locu

✅ You're an engineer or freelancer doing deep work
✅ You need focus sessions to actually complete complex tasks
✅ You want time tracking without manual timer burden
✅ You work in Jira/Linear and need deep integration
✅ You want work history for insights or client billing
✅ You need sustainable execution structure (not just lists)
✅ You're willing to pay for complete execution system

Locu combines task management with focus execution.

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The Real Difference: Organization vs Execution

Todoist's philosophy: The best task organization system possible. Projects, labels, filters, priorities, dates. Every organizational feature you could want.

Locu's philosophy: Task organization is table stakes. The real challenge is execution: staying focused, working sustainably, measuring progress.

They solve different problems:

• Todoist answers: "What should I work on?" (organization)
• Locu answers: "How do I actually do the work?" (execution)

Most people don't fail because their lists aren't organized enough. They fail because:

• They get distracted (no focus structure)
• They work until exhausted (no break rhythm)
• They context-switch constantly (no single-task focus)
• They can't measure quality (no focused vs unfocused insights)

Todoist doesn't solve these execution problems. Locu does.

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Can You Use Both?

Yes, but probably unnecessary:

Common pattern:

• Keep Todoist for personal life tasks (errands, home, family)
• Use Locu for work execution (engineering tasks, focus sessions)

Why it works:

• Todoist's strength is broad task capture across life domains
• Locu's strength is deep work execution for engineering tasks
• Different use cases, minimal overlap

Alternative: Just use Locu for work and skip Todoist. Locu's task management is simpler but sufficient for most work contexts. Save the $4-5/month subscription.

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Switching from Todoist

What you'll keep:

• Task management habits (capture, prioritize, complete)
• Keyboard-driven workflow
• Daily review patterns
• Cross-platform access

What you'll change:

• From complex organization (projects/labels) → simpler prioritization (Today/Sooner/Later)
• From pure task lists → session-based execution
• From open-ended work → structured focus periods

What you'll gain:

• Focus sessions with distraction blocking
• Automatic time tracking
• Work history and insights
• Jira/Linear/Slack/Calendar integrations
• Daily planning and shutdown rituals
• Sustainable work rhythm built-in

What you might miss:

• Natural language task input ("tomorrow at 3pm")
• Complex project hierarchies and filters
• Integration with non-work life domains
• Free tier for casual use

Migration process:

1. Export Todoist tasks (or just start fresh from Jira/Linear)
2. Set up Locu integrations (5 minutes)
3. First morning planning (prioritize Today tasks)
4. First focus session (experience structured execution)
5. First evening shutdown (see what you actually shipped)

Setup time: 15 minutes
Learning curve: 2-3 days (simpler than Todoist organizationally, new in execution structure)

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Pricing Comparison

Todoist: Free or $4-5/month (Pro)
Locu: $12/month or $6/month (Beta discount)

At first glance: Todoist is cheaper. But consider the full stack:

Todoist stack:

• Todoist Pro: $5/month
• Focus timer: $0-10/month
• Toggl time tracking: $10-20/month
• Total: $15-35/month

Locu all-in-one:

• Task management: ✅
• Focus sessions: ✅
• Time tracking: ✅
• Work history: ✅
• Engineering integrations: ✅
• Total: $12/month ($6 with Beta)

Savings: $3-29/month ($36-348/year)

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For Freelancers Specifically

Todoist's limitation: No time tracking means running Toggl/Harvest alongside. That's constant manual timer management: remember to start, remember to stop, remember to switch tasks. Month-end invoice prep still takes 3-4 hours reconstructing time.

Locu's advantage:

• Sessions = natural billing units (1 session ≈ 1 billable hour)
• Task-connected time tracking (know exactly what took how long)
• Export invoice-ready timesheets (time + task details + notes)
• Better focus structure = higher quality work = happier clients

The ROI: If you bill $75/hour and capture just 10% more hours per month through better tracking, that's $150/month extra revenue. Locu costs $6-12/month. ROI: 12-25x.

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For Engineering Teams

Todoist's limitation: Each person manages personal Todoist separately from team's Jira/Linear. No automatic sync. Manual duplication. Tasks get out of sync. Engineers avoid it.

Locu's advantage:

• Personal execution layer on TOP of team tools (not replacing them)
• Jira/Linear tasks auto-sync (no manual entry)
• Your work sessions track to actual issues
• Standup answers instant (yesterday's work visible)
• Each engineer has structured execution without team needing to change tools

For managers: Locu doesn't compete with Jira/Linear. It enhances them by giving engineers better execution structure.

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The Honest Assessment

Todoist is genuinely excellent at what it does. If task organization is your primary need, especially across work and life domains, it's hard to beat.

But most engineers and freelancers discover: Better task lists don't make you more productive. They need:

• Focus structure (to complete complex tasks)
• Time tracking (to bill clients or understand patterns)
• Break rhythm (to work sustainably)
• Engineering integration (to reduce tool switching)

Todoist gives you the best list. Locu gives you list + execution.

If you need a list, use Todoist. If you need to execute deeply, use Locu.

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