The right GTD app can make David Allen’s methodology feel effortless—capturing thoughts in seconds, organizing projects with clarity, and keeping your mind truly clear. But the wrong app? It becomes a digital graveyard of forgotten tasks and abandoned systems, more frustrating than the chaos it was meant to solve.
Here’s the paradox: with hundreds of productivity apps claiming to support GTD, choice overload has become the biggest barrier to getting started. You spend more time researching apps than actually implementing the system.
This guide cuts through the noise. We’ve personally tested the top GTD software options across every major platform, evaluating them against David Allen’s core methodology. Whether you’re a Apple power user seeking maximum control or a Windows professional wanting simplicity, you’ll find your perfect digital brain here.
No marketing fluff, no feature laundry lists—just honest reviews to help you make the right choice and start building your trusted system today.
How We Rated the Apps: Our 5-Point GTD Criteria
Before diving into reviews, here’s exactly how we evaluated each GTD app to ensure our recommendations align with what actually makes GTD work:
1. Capture (Speed & Friction)
How quickly can you get a new thought out of your head and into the system? The best GTD tools make capture so fast it becomes automatic—keyboard shortcuts, voice input, email-to-task features, and mobile widgets that eliminate every barrier.
2. Process & Organize (GTD Structure Support)
Does the app naturally support GTD’s core organizational concepts? We tested each app’s ability to handle projects vs. single actions, contexts/tags, defer dates, and the critical “Waiting For” category that many tools ignore.
3. Review (Weekly Review Support)
GTD lives or dies by the Weekly Review. We evaluated how well each app facilitates this crucial habit—project overviews, completed task history, overdue item identification, and the ability to see your entire system at a glance.
4. Platform Availability (Where You Need It)
Your GTD system must be available everywhere you have thoughts. We assessed cross-platform sync reliability, feature parity between devices, and offline functionality for true ubiquitous capture.
5. Ease of Use (Learning Curve)
The most powerful app is useless if you abandon it after a week. We considered setup complexity, interface intuitiveness, and how quickly a GTD beginner could become productive without overwhelming configuration.
The Quick Comparison Table: Top GTD Apps at a Glance
| App | Best For | Platforms | Starting Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OmniFocus 4 | Apple power users wanting maximum control | Mac, iOS, Apple Watch | $99.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Todoist | Cross-platform simplicity with GTD power | All platforms | $4/month | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| FacileThings | GTD purists seeking methodology-first design | Web, iOS, Android | $10/month | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Notion | Tinkerers who want to build custom systems | All platforms | Free/$8/month | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Microsoft To Do | Windows users seeking free, simple solution | Windows, Web, Mobile | Free | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
Still deciding between digital and analog? Our Analog vs. Digital GTD comparison will help you choose the right approach first.
In-Depth GTD App Reviews
1. OmniFocus 4 – The Gold Standard for Apple Power Users
Quick Summary: OmniFocus isn’t just GTD-compatible—it was built from the ground up around David Allen’s methodology. With perspectives, contexts, defer dates, and review modes that mirror GTD perfectly, it’s the closest thing to having David Allen design your app personally.
GTD Scorecard:
- Capture: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Global quick entry, Siri, email-to-OmniFocus, browser extensions)
- Process & Organize: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Native project/action hierarchy, contexts, defer/due dates)
- Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Built-in Review mode shows stalled projects and overdue items)
- Platform Availability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Mac/iOS only, but perfect Apple integration)
- Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Powerful but requires learning investment)
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: Serious GTD practitioners fully embedded in the Apple ecosystem who want maximum power and see their productivity tool as a long-term investment.
👉 Learn More at the OmniFocus Website
2. Todoist – The Best All-Around Choice for Simplicity & Power
Quick Summary: Todoist strikes the perfect balance between GTD functionality and mainstream usability. While not explicitly designed for GTD, its project hierarchy, labels (contexts), and filters make it surprisingly powerful for Allen’s methodology across every platform.
GTD Scorecard:
- Capture: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Quick Add on all platforms, voice input, email integration)
- Process & Organize: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Projects, labels as contexts, scheduling—missing native “Waiting For”)
- Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Good project overview, completed task history, custom filters)
- Platform Availability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Every major platform with consistent experience)
- Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Intuitive interface, gentle learning curve)
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: The versatile professional who needs rock-solid cross-platform reliability, works collaboratively, and prefers an approachable tool that grows with them.
👉 Learn More at the Todoist Website
3. FacileThings – The App Built for GTD Purists
Quick Summary: FacileThings was designed explicitly for GTD practitioners by GTD practitioners. Every feature maps directly to David Allen’s methodology, making it the most “pure” GTD implementation available. It’s like having a GTD coach built into your software.
GTD Scorecard:
- Capture: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Multiple capture methods, but slower than competitors)
- Process & Organize: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Perfect GTD structure with guided workflow)
- Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Excellent Weekly Review support with guided process)
- Platform Availability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Web, mobile apps, but limited offline functionality)
- Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Easy if you know GTD, confusing if you don’t)
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: GTD purists who value methodological adherence above all else and want software that acts as a coach to enforce proper habits.
👉 Learn More at the FacileThings Website
4. Notion – The Best “Build-Your-Own” System for Tinkerers
Quick Summary: Notion isn’t a GTD app—it’s a platform for building your own GTD app. With databases, templates, and endless customization, you can create a system that perfectly matches your workflow. But that flexibility comes with complexity that isn’t for everyone.
GTD Scorecard:
- Capture: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Possible but requires setup, slower than dedicated tools)
- Process & Organize: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Infinitely customizable once configured)
- Review: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Depends entirely on your template design)
- Platform Availability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (All platforms, but mobile apps can be slow)
- Ease of Use: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (Steep learning curve, endless tinkering potential)
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: The systems-thinker and tinkerer who wants to build a completely custom “life OS” that integrates GTD with notes, wikis, and project management.
👉 Learn More at the Notion Website
5. Microsoft To Do – The Best Free Option for Windows Users
Quick Summary: Microsoft To Do offers surprisingly solid GTD functionality for free, especially if you’re in the Microsoft ecosystem. While lacking some advanced features, it covers the GTD basics well and syncs seamlessly with Outlook and other Microsoft services.
GTD Scorecard:
- Capture: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Good quick entry, Outlook integration, voice input)
- Process & Organize: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Lists and subtasks work for projects, limited context support)
- Review: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Basic overview features, completed task history)
- Platform Availability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Windows, Web, Mobile—excellent Windows integration)
- Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Simple, familiar Microsoft interface)
Pros:
Cons:
Best For: The Windows professional deep in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem who wants a simple, free, and seamlessly integrated way to practice GTD basics.
👉 Learn More at the Microsoft To Do Website
Honorable Mentions
Things 3
Beautiful design and excellent Apple integration, but lacks key GTD features like contexts and true project hierarchy. Better for simple task management than full GTD implementation.
Asana
Powerful for team collaboration but overkill for personal GTD. The interface can become overwhelming for individual task management, though it excels at project coordination.
TickTick
Strong feature set with good GTD support, but doesn’t excel enough in any particular area to beat our top picks. Solid choice if you need specific features like Pomodoro timers.
The Most Important “App” Is Your Habit
Here’s the truth that every app review glosses over: A simple notebook consistently used beats the most sophisticated software gathering digital dust.
The best GTD app is the one you’ll actually use every day. Before you get caught up in feature comparisons and free trials, ask yourself these crucial questions:
- Do I prefer simple or powerful? Simple tools are more likely to become habits, powerful tools can handle complex workflows.
- What platforms do I actually use? Don’t pay for five platforms if you only need two.
- Am I a tinkerer or a user? Some people love customizing systems, others want to set it once and focus on their work.
- What’s my GTD experience level? Beginners benefit from guided, opinionated tools; experienced users want flexibility.
The perfect GTD system isn’t about finding the perfect app—it’s about building perfect habits. Start with any tool from our top five, implement the core GTD workflow, and worry about optimization later. Your future organized self will thank you for starting today rather than spending another week researching the “perfect” solution that doesn’t exist.
The Best GTD Apps of 2025: A Complete Review & Comparison
OmniFocus 4
The premium, powerful GTD application built from the ground up for the Apple ecosystem, offering maximum control and perfect methodology alignment.
Best for serious GTD practitioners fully embedded in the Apple ecosystem who want maximum power and see their productivity tool as a long-term investment.
Editor’s Rating:
Price: $99.99
Visit Website
Todoist
The versatile and approachable GTD app that balances simplicity with powerful features, offering excellent cross-platform reliability for the modern professional.
Best for the versatile professional who needs rock-solid cross-platform reliability, works collaboratively, and prefers an approachable tool that grows with them.
Editor’s Rating:
Price: $4.00
Visit Website
FacileThings
A specialized GTD application for purists, designed to enforce proper methodology with a guided workflow that acts like a built-in coach.
Best for GTD purists who value methodological adherence above all else and want software that acts as a coach to enforce proper habits.
Editor’s Rating:
Price: $10.00
Visit Website
Notion
A flexible platform for building your own custom GTD system, ideal for systems-thinkers who want to integrate task management with notes and wikis.
Best for the systems-thinker and tinkerer who wants to build a completely custom 'life OS' that integrates GTD with notes, wikis, and project management.
Editor’s Rating:
Price: Free
Visit Website
Microsoft To Do
A simple and free GTD solution for Windows users, offering seamless integration with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem for practicing GTD basics.
Best for the Windows professional deep in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem who wants a simple, free, and seamlessly integrated way to practice GTD basics.
Editor’s Rating:
Price: Free
Visit Website
