What Any.do actually does
Any.do is a mobile-first task management application founded in 2010–2011 by Omer Perchik, Yoni Lindenfeld, and Itay Kahana in Tel Aviv. With 40M+ users (Any.do/Wikipedia claim, 2022), it is one of the most widely downloaded personal task management apps. The company has raised approximately $6–9M total in funding — a relatively modest amount for its user base, suggesting a lean operation.
Any.do's core design philosophy is simplicity and beautiful mobile UX — tasks with smart reminders, voice input for quick capture, a calendar view, and a grocery list feature. The product targets personal users and small families rather than enterprise teams. Its WhatsApp reminder integration (Premium) and location-based reminders are differentiators in the crowded task app market.
The competitive challenge for Any.do is pricing itself between free apps (Apple Reminders, Google Tasks) and premium productivity tools (Todoist, Things 3). At $4.99/mo Premium, it struggles to justify its cost versus free alternatives for casual users, while offering less power than Todoist for professional users. The Teams plan at $4.99/user/mo is priced almost identically to the Premium individual plan, making the team value proposition unclear. Revenue figures are highly uncertain — GetLatka's ~$40K figure for 2024 appears to be a data anomaly given 40M users.
Task management with lists and priorities
Create tasks organized into lists (personal, work, family) with due dates, priorities, and notes. Tasks can be organized into sections within lists. Priority flags and 'My Day' focus view help filter the most important items.
Smart reminders with calendar sync
Time-based reminders with Google Calendar and Outlook sync. Smart suggestions based on due date patterns. WhatsApp reminders (Premium) deliver reminders via WhatsApp message — a strong differentiator for international markets.
Recurring tasks
Tasks that repeat on daily, weekly, monthly, or custom schedules. This is a Premium-only feature — the most-cited paywall complaint. Recurring tasks are considered table stakes for any task manager but are locked behind $4.99/mo.
Location-based reminders
Geofence-triggered reminders that fire when you arrive at or leave a location. 'Buy milk when you pass the grocery store' is the canonical use case. Premium-only feature requiring device location access.
Voice and NLP input
Quick task capture via voice dictation with NLP parsing — 'Call mom tomorrow at 3pm' creates a task with the due date and time automatically extracted. Available on mobile apps.
Collaborative workspaces with shared boards
Teams workspace allows sharing task lists with team members, assigning tasks, and commenting. The board view (kanban-style) is a Teams feature. Shared grocery/shopping lists work on the free tier for families.
Any.dopricing & limits
Based on 10 users on Teams plan at $4.99/user/mo annual
Where Any.do falls short
Recurring tasks paywalled behind Premium
GetApp reviewers in 2024 document this as the #1 pain point: 'recurring tasks are paywalled and that's table stakes.' A 'call mom every Sunday' or 'submit weekly report every Friday' recurring task requires upgrading to Premium at $4.99/mo. Apple Reminders and Google Tasks both include recurring tasks for free. The paywall on this basic feature drives users to abandon Any.do before paying.
Family plan price increase in 2025
Cloudwards' 2025 Any.do review documents that the Family plan ($8.33/mo for up to 4 members) saw a price increase without meaningful new features added. Families that adopted Any.do as a shared grocery/task list solution found their cost increasing mid-subscription. This is the classic SaaS repricing frustration — existing users feel penalized.
AI features locked to Premium tier
Any.do's AI list generation (AI suggests tasks for goals you describe) and smart scheduling features are Premium-only. In 2025, AI-assisted task management is increasingly expected as a standard feature rather than a premium add-on. Competitor apps (Todoist AI Assistant, TickTick AI schedule) include AI features at comparable or lower price points.
Android notification reliability issues
Any.do's app store reviews on Google Play document persistent notification delivery failures on Android — reminders set for 8am appearing at 10am or not at all. This is likely related to Android's battery optimization aggressively killing background processes. For a task management app whose primary value is time-sensitive reminders, unreliable notifications undermine the core product promise.
Monthly-heavy subscription model
Any.do's pricing is displayed prominently as monthly ($7.99/mo Premium) with annual as the less prominent option ($4.99/mo). The monthly-heavy presentation makes the cost appear higher than it is, and the 48-hour refund window discourages trial upgrades. Users comparing $7.99/mo Any.do to $4/mo Todoist Pro often choose Todoist.
Key features to replicate
The core feature set any Any.do alternative needs — plus what you can improve on.
Task management with lists, priorities, and My Day
Tasks organized into named lists with priority flags, due dates, and subtasks. 'My Day' is a daily focus view that shows today's tasks regardless of list. Implement with a tasks table (user_id, list_id, title, due_date, priority enum, is_completed, created_at) and a my_day_tasks junction table (task_id, date). The My Day selection is user-curated but can include AI-suggested additions based on due dates.
Recurring task engine
When a recurring task is completed, the next occurrence is automatically created. Recurrence patterns: daily, weekly (specific days), monthly (specific date or day-of-week), yearly, and custom intervals. Store the recurrence rule as an RRULE string (iCalendar RFC 5545 standard). On task completion, parse the RRULE, calculate the next occurrence date, and create the next task instance.
Calendar sync (Google and Outlook)
Bidirectional sync with Google Calendar (via Google Calendar API) and Outlook (via Microsoft Graph API). Tasks with due dates appear as calendar events; calendar events appear as tasks. The sync requires OAuth 2.0 for each provider and webhook subscriptions for receiving calendar change notifications. Google Calendar webhook setup requires a verified domain for push notifications.
Smart and location-based reminders
Time-based reminders use push notifications (FCM for Android, APNs for iOS). Location-based reminders use geofencing: create circular geofences with the Google Geofencing API (Android) or CoreLocation CLCircularRegion (iOS). The app monitors geofence entry/exit events and triggers a local notification. Note: background location access requires explicit user permission and careful battery optimization handling on Android.
Voice input with NLP date parsing
Voice capture uses the native speech recognition API (SpeechRecognition on web, iOS SFSpeechRecognizer, Android SpeechRecognizer). The transcribed text is processed by NLP to extract: task title, due date ('tomorrow', 'next Friday', 'in 3 days'), time, and priority keywords ('urgent', 'important'). Chrono-node (JavaScript NLP library) parses natural language date expressions.
Cross-platform sync (iOS/Android/web/desktop)
Task state must sync across all active devices in real-time. Supabase Realtime (PostgreSQL change events) delivers task updates to all active sessions via WebSocket. Mobile apps use the Supabase client library directly. A pessimistic conflict resolution (server timestamp wins) is acceptable for task management — last write wins with a brief toast notification if a conflict is detected.
Collaborative boards with task assignment
Team-shared lists where multiple members can view and edit tasks. Board (kanban) view groups tasks by status columns. Task assignment shows who owns each task. Real-time updates via Supabase Realtime ensure all team members see changes immediately. Board state (columns, column order) stored per-workspace in JSONB.
Technical architecture
An Any.do alternative is a mobile-first task management app with cross-platform sync, push notifications, calendar integration, and optional location-based reminders. The core is a simple PostgreSQL tasks database with a real-time sync layer. The mobile apps (React Native or Flutter) are the primary complexity driver — cross-platform location APIs, background notification handling, and offline sync require careful platform-specific implementation. The web client is straightforward.
Mobile apps
React Native (Expo), Flutter, native Swift/Kotlin
Recommended: React Native (Expo) — shared JavaScript codebase with the web, handles iOS and Android from one codebase. Expo provides push notification infrastructure (Expo Notifications), location services, and app distribution. Faster than Flutter for teams already in JavaScript.
Web client
Next.js App Router, React + Vite, SvelteKit
Recommended: Next.js App Router — Server Components for fast initial task list render, Client Components for the interactive task editing and real-time updates.
Database
PostgreSQL (Supabase), Firestore, PlanetScale MySQL
Recommended: Supabase — PostgreSQL for tasks/lists, Realtime for cross-device sync, Auth for user management. The recurring task engine uses PostgreSQL stored procedures for efficient RRULE parsing.
Push notifications
Expo Notifications (FCM + APNs), Firebase Cloud Messaging, OneSignal
Recommended: Expo Notifications for React Native deployments — handles both iOS APNs and Android FCM with a single API. For reminder scheduling, store reminder times in a notifications table and process with Inngest cron jobs.
Calendar integration
Google Calendar API + Microsoft Graph, Nylas unified API
Recommended: Native Google Calendar and Microsoft Graph APIs — covers 90%+ of users. Nylas adds iCloud and generic CalDAV support but adds per-event cost. Build Google + Microsoft first.
NLP date parsing
Chrono-node (JavaScript), Duckling (Erlang, Facebook), custom regex
Recommended: Chrono-node — pure JavaScript, works in React Native, handles complex relative date expressions ('next Tuesday at 3pm', 'in two weeks'). Accurate for English; add locale-specific parsers for international markets.
Job queue for reminders
Inngest, BullMQ + Redis, Expo Notifications scheduled
Recommended: Inngest for server-side reminder scheduling — schedules a notification delivery job for each reminder time. More reliable than client-side scheduling which fails when the app is killed.
Complexity estimate
Complexity 4/10 — the task data model is simple and well-understood. The mobile app is the primary complexity driver (location permissions, background notification delivery, iOS/Android differences). React Native + Expo significantly reduces cross-platform mobile complexity. Plan for 6–10 weeks with a team of 2.
Any.do vs building your own
Open-source Any.do alternatives
Existing projects you can self-host or use as a starting point. Each has trade-offs.
super-productivity
17.5Ksuper-productivity is an open-source personal productivity app (MIT) built with Angular and Electron. It combines time tracking, task management, Pomodoro timer, and Jira/GitHub/GitLab integration in one tool. Very actively maintained with frequent releases. Self-hostable or downloadable as a desktop app. The closest open-source equivalent to Any.do with more power-user features.
Vikunja
4.3KVikunja is a self-hosted task management tool (AGPL-3.0) built with Go and Vue.js. It supports tasks, lists, teams, labels, and file attachments with a clean interface. Version 2.3.0 was released in 2026. Closer to a Todoist/Asana alternative than Any.do, but covers the core task management use case.
Tasks.md
2KTasks.md is a simple task management tool (MIT) that stores tasks as Markdown files. Minimal and focused — tasks in Markdown with checkboxes and due dates. Good for developers who want file-based task storage.
Build vs buy: the real math
6–10 weeks
Custom build time
$25K–$60K
One-time investment
Never on cost alone at $598.80/yr; viable for vertical products charging $20–100/user/mo
Breakeven vs Any.do
At 10 seats on Any.do Teams, the annual cost is $598.80/yr — one of the cheapest SaaS products in this category. A custom build at $25K–$60K breaks even in 42–100 years on cost reduction alone. Any.do is already cheap SaaS — building a replacement purely to save money is irrational at any team size below several hundred seats. The compelling case is vertical SaaS: a 'task manager for field service technicians' with GPS-tracked task completion, a 'task manager for nurses' with shift-based scheduling, or a 'task manager for sales teams' with CRM integration. Vertical products can charge $20–100/user/month, making a $25K–$60K build break even at 10–30 specialized users in 3–6 months.
DIY roadmap: build it yourself
This roadmap covers building a vertical task management tool using React Native (Expo) for mobile and Next.js for web, targeting a specific professional vertical. It assumes a team of 2 developers and focuses on adding vertical-specific features that Any.do doesn't support.
Core task management
2–3 weeks- Set up Next.js App Router and Expo (React Native) with shared Supabase backend
- Design PostgreSQL schema: users, lists, tasks, subtasks, recurrence_rules
- Build task CRUD with priority, due date, notes, and list assignment
- Implement RRULE-based recurring task engine with Inngest job for next occurrence creation
- Add cross-device sync via Supabase Realtime — tasks update instantly on all devices
- Build Expo push notification setup with FCM (Android) and APNs (iOS)
Reminders and calendar integration
2–3 weeks- Implement time-based reminder scheduling with Inngest jobs firing push notifications
- Build Google Calendar OAuth and bidirectional task-to-event sync
- Add Microsoft Graph Calendar integration for Outlook users
- Implement NLP date parsing with chrono-node for quick task input
- Build location-based reminders using Expo Location and geofencing on iOS and Android
- Add 'My Day' focus view showing today's tasks and smart task suggestions
Vertical-specific features and team collaboration
2–4 weeks- Build vertical-specific task templates (e.g., field service work orders, nurse shift checklists)
- Add collaborative lists with task assignment and completion notifications
- Implement AI task suggestions using Claude or GPT-4o — suggest tasks for stated goals
- Build board (kanban) view for collaborative workspace tasks
- Add vertical-specific integrations (ERP, CRM, scheduling system)
- Set up Stripe billing for workspace subscriptions
Android's aggressive battery optimization is the biggest implementation risk — background notification delivery varies significantly across Android manufacturers (Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus have aggressive battery killers). Budget 1–2 weeks for Android-specific notification reliability testing. iOS is more predictable but requires a paid Apple Developer account and app review process that adds 1–2 weeks to first deployment.
Features you can't get from Any.do
This is where a custom build pulls ahead — features impossible or impractical on a shared platform.
Field service task management with GPS tracking
A task manager for field technicians where tasks are work orders with GPS-verified completion — the system captures location when a task is marked done and compares it to the expected service address. Any.do has location-based reminders but no location-verified completion. This is a core requirement for fleet management, utilities, and facilities maintenance companies.
Shift-based task scheduling for healthcare teams
Task lists that automatically populate based on shift schedules (day shift, night shift, weekend on-call), with handoff notes passed from the previous shift's tasks. Any.do's recurring tasks don't understand shift patterns or handoff workflows. A nursing station task manager with medication timing alerts and patient-linked checklists is a specialized vertical product.
Task capture from email and messaging with AI triage
Monitor a team inbox or Slack channel and use Claude to identify actionable items, create tasks automatically, and assign them to the right team member. Any.do has no email or messaging integration for automatic task capture. This is the 'turn conversations into tasks' workflow that requires AI understanding of context.
Offline-first task management for low-connectivity environments
A task manager that works completely without internet and syncs when connectivity is restored — designed for construction sites, rural field service, or international travel. Any.do's offline mode is unreliable. Build with Supabase's offline-capable client + SQLite local cache for a guaranteed offline experience.
Task completion analytics for team managers
Dashboard showing completion rate by team member, average task overdue time, most common incomplete task categories, and weekly velocity trends. Any.do has no team analytics visibility. For managers of distributed teams, completion rate dashboards create accountability without micromanagement.
Who should build a custom Any.do
Vertical SaaS builders embedding task management
Any.do's $598.80/yr Teams price is too low to justify replacing on cost grounds. The compelling case is embedding a task manager as a feature of a larger vertical product — adding a task checklist to a field service management app, a legal matter management tool, or a patient care platform. The $25K–$60K build cost is justified by the product differentiation, not by the SaaS cost savings.
Teams with Android notification reliability requirements
Any.do's known Android notification reliability issues are a dealbreaker for teams where reminders are mission-critical (medication timing, time-sensitive client callbacks, shift handoff alerts). A custom build with direct FCM integration and Android-specific notification channels allows tuning notification delivery behavior at the system level.
SMBs that want recurring tasks and AI without the Premium paywall
Small teams frustrated by Any.do's paywall on recurring tasks and AI features at $4.99/user/mo can self-host super-productivity (MIT, free) for a lightweight alternative, or build a custom tool at $25K–$60K that includes all features without per-seat premiums. For teams of 30+ users, the custom build breaks even in under 2 years.
Skip the DIY — let RapidDev build it
Everything above is doable — but it takes months of full-time work. We build custom Any.do alternatives using AI-accelerated development, delivering in weeks what used to take quarters.
Discovery call (free)
30 minWe map your exact requirements: which Any.do features you need, what custom features to add, your users, integrations, and compliance needs. You get a detailed scope document and fixed-price quote within 48 hours.
AI-accelerated build
6–10 weeksOur engineers use Claude Code, Lovable, and custom AI tooling to build 3–5x faster than traditional development. You see progress in a staging environment every week — not a black box for months.
Launch + handoff
1 weekWe deploy to your infrastructure, transfer the GitHub repo, set up CI/CD, and walk your team through the codebase. You own 100% of the source code — no vendor lock-in, no recurring platform fees.
What you get
Timeline
6–10 weeks
Investment
$25K–$60K
vs Any.do
ROI in Never on cost alone at $598.80/yr; viable for vertical products charging $20–100/user/mo
30-min call. Fixed-price quote within 48 hours. No commitment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build an Any.do alternative?
Building an Any.do alternative costs $25K–$60K for an MVP with task management, recurring tasks, reminders, calendar sync, and cross-platform mobile apps (React Native). A team of 2 experienced developers takes 6–10 weeks. The mobile apps (iOS + Android via Expo) add the most complexity versus a web-only build. Using super-productivity as a reference architecture reduces the design work significantly.
How long does it take to build an Any.do clone?
6–10 weeks for an MVP with React Native + Next.js + Supabase with a team of 2. The task core takes 2–3 weeks. Reminders, calendar integration, and NLP take 2–3 weeks. Vertical-specific features and billing take 2–4 more weeks. This is the fastest mobile-first build in the productivity category at 4/10 complexity.
Are there open-source Any.do alternatives?
Three options: super-productivity (~17.5K GitHub stars, MIT) is the strongest — combining time tracking, task management, and integrations in a desktop/web app. Vikunja (~4.3K stars, AGPL-3.0) is a clean self-hosted task tool built with Go. Tasks.md (~2K stars, MIT) is minimal Markdown-based task storage. None have mobile apps out of the box.
Can RapidDev build a custom Any.do alternative?
Yes — RapidDev has built 600+ applications including mobile task managers, reminder apps, and calendar integration tools. Any.do alternatives are one of the fastest builds in the productivity category. Visit rapidevelopers.com/contact for a free estimate — most task manager MVPs are deliverable in 6–8 weeks.
Why does Any.do paywall recurring tasks?
Any.do's freemium model depends on converting users to Premium ($4.99/mo). Recurring tasks are the most universally needed feature for personal productivity — once a user sets up a 'weekly grocery list' or 'daily exercise reminder' that repeats, they depend on it. By paywalling this specific feature, Any.do creates a strong upgrade trigger for users who start using the app. It's a deliberate growth mechanism, not a technical limitation.
Does Any.do work for team project management?
Any.do's Teams plan ($4.99/user/mo) provides collaborative task lists, assignment, and a kanban board view — sufficient for simple team task tracking. It lacks the project management depth of Asana or Trello (no Gantt, no dependencies, no custom fields, no reporting). Teams that need project management should look at Asana or Trello. Any.do is best positioned as a personal productivity tool used by teams, not a project management platform.
What causes Any.do's Android notification reliability issues?
Android's battery optimization aggressively kills background processes on many manufacturers (Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Samsung, Oppo). When Any.do's background service is killed, scheduled reminders don't fire until the app is relaunched. The fix requires users to manually whitelist Any.do from battery optimization, which most users don't know to do. A custom build using FCM (high-priority messages) and notification channels with proper Android background work permissions can improve reliability, but the underlying Android fragmentation problem remains.
Is Any.do worth replacing given its low price?
Any.do Teams at $598.80/yr for 10 users is genuinely cheap — replacing it purely to save money is not rational at any team size below 200+ seats. The compelling reasons to build are: (1) you need vertical-specific features Any.do doesn't support, (2) you want to embed task management in a larger product and charge clients for it, (3) you have Android notification reliability requirements for mission-critical reminders, or (4) you need on-premise or air-gapped deployment for compliance reasons.
We'll build your Any.do
- Delivered in 6–10 weeks
- You own 100% of the code
- No per-seat fees, ever
30-min call. No commitment.