Do you know that feeling? Your head is full of ideas, tasks, habits you want to track, and sometimes you just want to write down how your day was. Most apps force you to use separate tools for each of these things. Lunatask throws that overboard and puts everything into one app. I used it for three months and can tell you exactly whether that works.
Lunatask: the company
Lunatask was built by Carl Pullein, an independent developer who struggled himself with ADHD and frustration over existing productivity tools. He didn’t want to make yet another to‑do list. He wanted a place where you could organize your whole life without putting your privacy at risk.
That privacy thing isn’t just marketing. Lunatask uses end‑to‑end encryption for everything. Your journal, your tasks, your habits – no one can read them. Not even the developer. For people who take their personal data seriously, it’s a relief.
The app is relatively young but growing fast. What started as a desktop app for Windows, Mac, and Linux now also has mobile versions. And although it’s a one‑man show, you regularly see updates and improvements appear.
Who is Lunatask actually for?
Lunatask is mainly aimed at people with ADHD or anyone who struggles with focus and structure. The app uses methods like Must/Should/Want and the Eisenhower Matrix to help you prioritize without getting overwhelmed.
Perfect for you if you’re a solopreneur who not only wants to keep track of tasks but also wants to build habits and maintain relationships. Or if you’re simply someone who wants everything in one clear overview without giving your data to big tech.
Not for you if you work in a team. Lunatask has zero collaboration features. No shared projects, no comments, no access for colleagues. This is a strictly personal productivity tool. Also not ideal if you mainly work on your phone – the mobile app is functional but feels less polished than the desktop version.
Features of Lunatask
Lunatask packs more into one app than most competitors. Here are the main features you get:
- End-to-end encryption – All your data is encrypted before it leaves your device. Even if someone hacks the servers, they only see unreadable garbage. For people who don’t want to casually share their journal or personal notes, this is worth its weight in gold.
- Task list with Kanban and Eisenhower Matrix – You can view your tasks as a list, as a Kanban board (like Trello), or as an Eisenhower Matrix that helps you distinguish between urgent and important. The latter is especially useful if you get easily distracted by seemingly urgent things.
- Habit and mood tracker – Want to exercise or meditate daily? You can add habits and track how often you stick to them. Plus a mood tracker to discover patterns between your habits and how you feel.
- Personal CRM (Relationship management) – This is unique. You can add contacts with notes about when you last spoke, what you discussed, and when you want to reach out again. Ideal for freelancers or networkers who want to keep relationships warm.
- Journal and notes (Markdown) – A simple journaling feature where you can write down your thoughts. Supports Markdown for formatting, but don’t expect a fancy editor with images or attachments. It’s intentionally kept basic.
- Pomodoro timer – Built‑in timer for the Pomodoro technique. 25 minutes of focus, 5 minutes of break. Works well and integrates with your tasks, but it’s not revolutionary compared to other Pomodoro apps.
- Must/Should/Want method – This is where Lunatask truly stands out. Instead of giving everything a deadline, you categorize tasks into what you really must do (Must), what you should do (Should), and what you would like to do (Want). This greatly helps with setting realistic expectations.
The Must/Should/Want method deserves some extra explanation. With many productivity apps, your task list becomes stressful because everything seems equally important. Lunatask forces you to be honest: how much really needs to be done today? Usually that’s only 2–3 things. The rest is a bonus.
The Eisenhower Matrix works on the same principle but with two axes: urgent versus important. Tasks that are both urgent and important are done first. Tasks that are important but not urgent are scheduled. And tasks that are urgent but not important? You should really delegate or delete those.
Lunatask pricing
Lunatask has a free version you can use indefinitely. But it’s quite limited: you only get 2 ‘Areas of Life’ (think work and personal), a maximum of 7 daily habits, 30 relationships in your CRM, and no calendar integration. You also miss out on the Eisenhower Matrix, which is actually one of its strongest features.
For Premium you pay $1 per month or $1 per year (that’s $1 per month). Then you get everything: unlimited areas, habits, relationships, calendar integration, and all views. No trial, but you can see the free version as a permanent test version.
Is it worth it? If you’re only looking for a to-do list, Todoist is cheaper and better. But if you really want everything in one app – tasks, habits, journal, relationships – then $1 per month is actually quite reasonable. Especially compared to Amazing Marvin, which costs $1 per month.
The price tag does become an issue if you use the free version. Those 2 Areas of Life really are too few for most people. You probably want to separate at least work, personal life, and maybe health or hobbies. So you’ll end up needing Premium pretty quickly.
What should you pay attention to?
The mobile app is the biggest pain point. On desktop, Lunatask feels fast and intuitive. On your phone, it feels like you’re using a watered-down version. Things load more slowly, the interface feels less polished, and some actions that take one click on desktop require more steps on mobile.
No collaboration features. Absolutely none. You can’t share tasks with your partner, no projects with colleagues, no shared habits. If you ever want to do anything together, you need a different app. Lunatask just isn’t built for teams.
The notes are intentionally kept simple, but sometimes too simple. You can’t add images, attach files, or create tables. It’s Markdown and that’s it. If your notes need to be more than text, it becomes frustrating.
The Kanban board feels a bit clumsy. Dragging cards doesn’t always go smoothly, and the layout doesn’t use screen space optimally. If you’re used to Trello or Notion, this will disappoint. The list view and Eisenhower Matrix are much stronger.
Small bugs pop up regularly. Nothing that makes the app unusable, but still annoying. Sometimes a habit doesn’t sync right away, or a task temporarily disappears from your overview. It’s usually fixed quickly, but it reminds you that this isn’t a product made by a large team.
What do others think?
Overall sentiment is positive. People especially appreciate the unique Must/Should/Want method and the combination of tasks, habits, and journaling in one app. The full end-to-end encryption gets a lot of praise from privacy‑conscious users.
Techlore, a YouTube channel focused on privacy, praises the all‑in‑one approach but calls the mobile app “clunky.” TheAriannaBradford, who creates reviews for people with ADHD, finds the structure perfect for her audience but had trouble with the mobile installation (although that has since improved).
The most common complaint? The mobile experience. Almost every review mentions this as a downside. The lack of collaboration features also comes up frequently, especially from people who hoped to use it with their partner.
What people appreciate most is the developer’s involvement. He responds to feedback, fixes bugs quickly, and listens to feature requests. For a one‑man show, that’s impressive.
Lunatask alternatives
Not a perfect fit? Here are three alternatives:
- Todoist – Simpler and faster for pure tasks, but lacks life‑tracking features. Choose this if you want a simple, fast to‑do list without journaling or habits.
- Amazing Marvin – Even more customizable for ADHD, but more expensive and complex. Choose this if you want full control over your workflow and interface and have the budget for it.
- TickTick – Similar all‑in‑one features, but with less focus on privacy and encryption. Choose this if you need a web version and privacy is less of a priority.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free trial for Premium?
No, Lunatask uses a freemium model. You can use the free version indefinitely to test whether the app suits you. There is no temporary Premium trial, but the free version gives you enough insight to make a decision.
Is my data safe?
Yes, Lunatask uses end‑to‑end encryption for everything you store. Your journal, tasks, habits, notes — it’s all encrypted before it leaves your device. Even the developer can’t read your data. If privacy is important to you, this is one of the few productivity apps that takes it seriously.
Does Lunatask support hard deadlines?
No, and that’s a deliberate choice. The app focuses on priorities and start dates instead of strict deadlines. The idea behind it is that deadlines cause stress, especially for people with ADHD. Instead, you work with the Must/Should/Want method to determine what’s truly important.
Conclusion
Lunatask is not a perfect app. The mobile experience could be better, it lacks collaboration features, and the notes are basic. But if you’re a solopreneur or someone who struggles with focus and priorities, it offers something few other apps do: a complete overview of your life in one place.
That Must/Should/Want method alone is worth trying. It helps you be realistic about what you can do without feeling guilty about the rest. And the privacy is really excellent – finally a productivity app where you can keep your journal without a company looking over your shoulder.
For $1 per month you get tasks, habits, journaling, and relationship management in one app. That’s a good deal if you’re looking for that combination. But if you mainly work on your phone or collaborate with others, look at alternatives. I’ve been using Lunatask for three months now and it has really improved my workflow, but I mainly work on desktop and on my own.
