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Nirvana alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Nirvana: free plan caps projects at five and areas at two, and repeating to-dos require Pro. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Nirvana, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Everdo currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Taskwarrior logoTaskwarriorOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Self-hosted5 of 555.3
  1. Taskwarrior logo

    1. TaskwarriorTop pick

    Best for: Developers and terminal users who want scriptable, query-driven task lists

    Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, macOS, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Nirvana

    Free, open-source GTD-friendly system for the command line.

    Pros

    • Very powerful filters, reports and urgency sorting
    • Free and MIT-licensed
    • Scriptable with hooks and a large tool ecosystem

    Cons

    • Command line only without third-party front ends
    • No official mobile apps
    • Sync needs some setup
    Visit Taskwarrior Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Taskwarrior a good Nirvana alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026taskwarrior.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Interface
    Command line
    Checked Oct 25, 2026taskwarrior.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync
    Via a sync server with task sync
    Checked Oct 25, 2026taskwarrior.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Latest stable
    3.5.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026taskwarrior.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Nirvana alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Everdo logo

Best Nirvana alternative for most people

Everdo

Also GTD-native, but works offline with end-to-end encrypted sync and a one-time licence.

Taskwarrior logo

Best Nirvana alternative for a free option

Taskwarrior

Free, open-source GTD-friendly system for the command line.

Todoist logo

Best Nirvana alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Todoist

More general-purpose and flexible, with shared projects when you need them.

Taskwarrior logo

Best Nirvana alternative for open source

Taskwarrior

Free, open-source GTD-friendly system for the command line.

Taskwarrior logo

Best Nirvana alternative for self-hosting

Taskwarrior

Free, open-source GTD-friendly system for the command line.

OmniFocus logo

Best Nirvana alternative for Mac

OmniFocus

Far deeper GTD tooling with perspectives and reviews, if you're on Apple devices.

Amazing Marvin logo

Best Nirvana alternative for Windows

Amazing Marvin

Can be configured to run GTD and many other methods, with more planning tools.

Everdo logo

Best Nirvana alternative for Linux

Everdo

Also GTD-native, but works offline with end-to-end encrypted sync and a one-time licence.

Everdo logo

Best Nirvana alternative for iPhone and Android

Everdo

Also GTD-native, but works offline with end-to-end encrypted sync and a one-time licence.

OmniFocus logo

Best Nirvana alternative for working in the browser

OmniFocus

Far deeper GTD tooling with perspectives and reviews, if you're on Apple devices.

Nirvana alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Nirvana?

Everdo ranks first right now. Also GTD-native, but works offline with end-to-end encrypted sync and a one-time licence. OmniFocus and Todoist follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Nirvana?

Yes. Everdo (free plan + paid), Todoist (free plan + paid) and Taskwarrior (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Nirvana?

Yes: Taskwarrior. Taskwarrior can also be self-hosted.

Which Nirvana alternatives work on Linux?

Everdo, Todoist and Taskwarrior run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Nirvana?

The complaints we hear most: free plan caps projects at five and areas at two; repeating to-dos require Pro; no sharing or collaboration.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Nirvana, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.