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Comparison · PM

OpenProject vs Todoist

A side-by-side editorial comparison of OpenProject and Todoist — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

OpenProject vs Todoist: at a glance

FeatureOpenProjectTodoist
SectorPMPM
Velocity score6.30.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesproject-management, mcp, ai-integration, open-sourcetask management, ai capture, voice input, productivity
Last editorial update1mo ago2h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is OpenProject?

OpenProject's MCP Server gains write access — AI agents can now create tasks, add comments, and manage relations.

OpenProject 17.8.0 marks the most significant AI integration milestone in the product's history: the MCP Server can now create and update work packages, add comments, and manage relations — moving from a read-only query layer to a write-capable AI agent interface. The same release adds multiple target versions per work package, sprints and milestones to the project timeline, and relation display in the free Community edition. OpenProject 17.7.0 laid the organizational management foundation: departments, work-related user attributes, and individual work schedules for capacity planning.

Read the full OpenProject trajectory →

What is Todoist?

Todoist's 2026 bets are on capture: voice via Ramble, photos and files via Task Capture.

The entries SparkPulse tracks for Todoist are help-center index pages rather than dated release notes, so the detail is thin. They show a 2026 built around getting tasks into the app with less typing: Ramble turns spoken thoughts into tasks (January), came to Wear OS in beta (March), and Task Capture scans notes, photos and files for tasks (beta, April). Later months cover urgency triage and capturing tasks wherever they appear, while the experimental track retired Goals and simplified Quick Add.

Read the full Todoist trajectory →

OpenProject vs Todoist: editorial side-by-side

O6.3

OpenProject's MCP Server gains write access — AI agents can now create tasks, add comments, and manage relations.

◆ Current state

OpenProject 17.8.0 marks the most significant AI integration milestone in the product's history: the MCP Server can now create and update work packages, add comments, and manage relations — moving from a read-only query layer to a write-capable AI agent interface. The same release adds multiple target versions per work package, sprints and milestones to the project timeline, and relation display in the free Community edition. OpenProject 17.7.0 laid the organizational management foundation: departments, work-related user attributes, and individual work schedules for capacity planning.

◆ Where it's heading

The two-track development pattern is clear: broader project management capabilities for enterprises (resource management, capacity planning, PM² methodology support) and a rapidly maturing AI interface through the MCP Server. The progression from read-only MCP to write-capable MCP is a qualitative shift — AI assistants become active project participants rather than passive query tools. The XWiki integration in 17.6.0 shows the platform also extending into enterprise knowledge management.

◆ Prediction

The logical next step is workflow automation via the MCP Server — AI agents that can trigger status transitions, query resource availability from the 17.7.0 capacity data, or auto-assign work packages based on department membership. The data model is in place; the automation layer is the missing piece.

T0.0

Todoist's 2026 bets are on capture: voice via Ramble, photos and files via Task Capture.

◆ Current state

The entries SparkPulse tracks for Todoist are help-center index pages rather than dated release notes, so the detail is thin. They show a 2026 built around getting tasks into the app with less typing: Ramble turns spoken thoughts into tasks (January), came to Wear OS in beta (March), and Task Capture scans notes, photos and files for tasks (beta, April). Later months cover urgency triage and capturing tasks wherever they appear, while the experimental track retired Goals and simplified Quick Add.

◆ Where it's heading

The pattern is AI-assisted capture spreading across inputs and devices: speech first, then images and documents, then other surfaces. The experimental channel is being used to test and prune, as the retired Goals beta shows, so not every beta becomes a permanent feature.

◆ Prediction

Expect Task Capture and Ramble to leave beta or spread to more platforms; the index pages don't give dates, so timing is unclear.

Alternatives to OpenProject and Todoist

Other PM products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either OpenProject or Todoist.

See all OpenProject alternatives → · See all Todoist alternatives →

Recent activity from OpenProject and Todoist

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 1mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.8.0 ⚡
  2. 2mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.7.2: bug fix release
  3. 2mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.7.1: bug fix release
  4. 2mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.7.0
  5. 3mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.6.0
  6. 4mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.5.1: bug fix release
  7. 6mo agoTodoistTodoist 2026: Ramble voice capture and Task Capture beta

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between OpenProject and Todoist?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. OpenProject is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is OpenProject better than Todoist?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. OpenProject is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other PM products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to OpenProject?

Top OpenProject alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "OpenProject alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/openproject for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to Todoist?

Top Todoist alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Todoist alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/todoist for the full list with editorial commentary on each.