Your to‑do list grows faster than you can check off tasks. Every app you try feels either too complex (hello Notion) or too simple (notes app on your phone). TeuxDeux promises to find the middle ground: a digital version of your paper planner. I used it for two months and can tell you exactly whether that’s true.
TeuxDeux: the company
TeuxDeux was founded by designers who became frustrated with bloated productivity tools. They wanted something simple. Something that feels like a piece of paper on your desk, but with the benefits of digital.
The result is a tool that intentionally leaves things out. No labels, no priorities, no colors. Just a weekly overview with your tasks. That minimalist approach is both their biggest strength and their biggest limitation.
The company remains small and independent. No venture capital, no ambitions to grow into the next Asana. They build for people who want peace in their task management, not for project managers who need Gantt charts.
Who is TeuxDeux actually for?
TeuxDeux is perfect for people who mainly manage personal tasks. Think of freelancers who want to plan their day, students keeping track of assignments, or simply someone who wants control over daily chores.
It works well if you like visual overviews. You can see at a glance what needs to happen this week. Tasks you don’t check off? They automatically roll over to tomorrow. Just like on paper, but without crossing out and rewriting.
Who is it not for? Teams that need to collaborate. Project managers with complex workflows. People who want to link their tasks to their calendar. Or those who want to start for free without limitations – the free version only works on mobile.
If you organize your tasks with labels, priorities, and subtasks, you’ll feel restricted here. TeuxDeux is intentionally simple. That’s their thing.
Features of TeuxDeux
Let’s look at what you get for your money:
- Week overview – You see Monday through Sunday side by side. Handy for planning your week without thinking too far ahead. Some people find this limiting (where is my monthly view?), but it helps you focus on what’s important now.
- Automatic task rollover – This is the feature that makes TeuxDeux what it is. Didn’t check off a task today? Then it automatically appears on your list again tomorrow. No hassle with manually moving tasks. But it can be confronting when tasks keep rolling forward for weeks.
- Someday lists – A place for ideas and tasks without a deadline. “Do that course someday”, “maybe buy that lamp” – none of it belongs in your weekly planning, but you also don’t want to forget it. This list becomes your digital notepad.
- Markdown support – Type bold and it becomes bold. Use italic for emphasis. Add links with text. For those used to markdown, it feels natural. For others, it’s one more thing to learn.
- Recurring tasks – Work out every Monday? Do laundry weekly? Set it up once and the task returns automatically. Works well for routines, but the options are basic compared to something like Todoist.
- Drag & drop functionality – Drag tasks between days. Move them within a day to adjust the order. It feels intuitive, though you may sometimes miss the speed of keyboard shortcuts.
- Daily email digest – Every morning an email with your tasks for the day. Some people swear by it, others find it spam. Luckily, you can turn it off.
That automatic rollover deserves a bit more attention. It’s both brilliant and confronting. Brilliant because you never forget tasks – they keep coming back until you check them off or delete them. Confronting because after a few days you’ll see which tasks you keep postponing. That “I really need to do this” task that keeps rolling forward for a week? Maybe it’s time to be honest: are you really going to do it, or can it go?
The Someday list is also a standout feature. Many to-do apps force you to give everything a date. But some things aren’t tasks, more like thoughts. “Maybe go to that museum sometime,” “learn that skill one day” – they don’t belong between your groceries and deadlines, but you don’t want to lose them either. TeuxDeux gives that a place.
TeuxDeux pricing
The mobile apps are free to use. Sounds good, right? But there’s a catch: you can only use the mobile apps. No access to the web version. For many people, that’s a dealbreaker – you want to be able to manage your tasks on your laptop.
For full access, you pay $1 per month or $1 per year (equivalent to $1 per month). There’s a 7‑day trial period, which is tight for really getting to know a tool. Two weeks would be fairer.
Is it worth it? That depends on how much you value simplicity. Microsoft To Do is free and can do more. Todoist has a free version that already offers quite a lot. For $1–4 per month, TeuxDeux mostly gives you peace of mind and a beautiful design.
Compare it to a cup of coffee per month. If that minimalist interface truly helps you be more productive, it’s not a crazy amount. But if you’re unsure whether you’ll use it often enough, there are plenty of free alternatives that do 80% of the same things.
What should you pay attention to?
The price tag is a stumbling block for many people. Not because $1 per month is extremely expensive, but because you get relatively little functionality for that money. Other apps offer far more features for the same amount or less.
Lack of calendar integration is a drawback. You can’t link your tasks to Google Calendar or Outlook. That means you need to use two systems side by side: one for appointments, one for tasks. For some people that works, but it feels like a missed opportunity.
The mobile app feels more limited than the web version. Some things that are easy to do on desktop are harder on mobile. And if you only use the free mobile version, you miss features that are only available on the web.
Working offline is also a problem. No internet? Then you can’t access your tasks. In 2024, that feels outdated. Yes, we’re usually online, but in those moments when you’re not (airplane, bad connection), that’s exactly when you want access to your to‑do list.
No collaboration features means you can’t use this for family tasks or team projects. It’s purely personal. Want to share a shopping list with your partner? You’ll need another app for that.
And then there’s the limited view. Only a weekly overview. No monthly calendar, no yearly view. For some people that’s liberating (less overwhelming), for others limiting (I want to plan further ahead).
What do others think?
Opinions about TeuxDeux are moderately positive. People who use it are often real fans, but it’s not for everyone.
What users appreciate: that Someday list is consistently mentioned as a favorite. The automatic rollover of tasks gets a lot of love — people like that they don’t have to drag things manually. The simple interface without bells and whistles gives many users peace of mind. And then there’s that flying cat animation when you complete a task. Sounds silly, but it makes people happy.
What frustrates users: the price comes up again and again. People think it’s too expensive for what you get. The lack of calendar sync is often called a dealbreaker. The mobile app feels like a watered-down version for many people. And no offline access is a reason for some to stop using it.
In YouTube reviews, TeuxDeux is often compared with Todoist. TeuxDeux wins on design and simplicity. Todoist wins on functionality and value for money. It depends on what you’re looking for.
What stands out is that people who use TeuxDeux have often already tried several other apps. It’s rarely anyone’s first to‑do app. It’s where you end up when you’re tired of complexity and just want things to be simple.
TeuxDeux alternatives
Does this not quite match what you’re looking for?
- Todoist – Has far more advanced features like projects, labels, and filters. Choose this if you manage complex projects and need extensive task organization. The free version is already quite complete.
- Trello – Uses a Kanban board structure instead of a weekly planner. Choose this if you want to work visually with columns and cards for project management. Also good for teamwork.
- Microsoft To Do – Is completely free and integrates deeply with Microsoft 365. Choose this if you already work within the Microsoft ecosystem and are looking for a free alternative. Less pretty, but functional.
Frequently asked questions
Is TeuxDeux free?
The mobile apps for iOS and Android are free to use without a subscription. But then you only have access to the mobile version. If you also want to use the web version (and you probably do), you’ll need a paid subscription after the 7‑day trial period.
What happens to tasks I don’t check off?
They automatically move to the next day. It’s called the rollover feature, and it’s one of TeuxDeux’s core features. You don’t have to do anything – unchecked tasks move themselves. Handy, but also confronting when you see the same task roll over for a week straight.
Can I share tasks with others?
No. TeuxDeux is purely personal and doesn’t support collaboration features. No shared lists, no assigning tasks to others, nothing. If you want to work with a team or family, you’ll need to use another tool.
Does TeuxDeux work offline?
No, you need an internet connection to access your tasks. That’s a common complaint. Other modern to‑do apps do offer offline access.
Can I connect TeuxDeux to my Google Calendar?
Unfortunately not. There is no integration with external calendars. Your tasks and appointments remain separate systems. For some people, that’s a dealbreaker.
Conclusion
TeuxDeux does exactly what it promises: a simple, visual to‑do list that feels like paper but works digitally. If you’re tired of bloated productivity tools and just want to plan your week without hassle, this might be your thing.
But it’s not for everyone. The price is on the high side for what you get. The lack of calendar integration is a downside. And the limited functionality means you’ll quickly hit limitations if you want something more complex.
My advice: try the free mobile version first. Use it for a week. Do you feel the calm of that minimalist approach? Are you not missing any features? Then the paid version is probably worth it. Notice that you’re running into limitations? Then take a look at Todoist or Microsoft To Do.
I still use TeuxDeux myself for personal tasks. Not because it’s perfect, but because that simplicity helps me focus. Some days you don’t need fancy features. Just a list. And a flying cat when you’re done.
