To-do apps are everywhere, but most of them only solve half the problem: they collect tasks, but say nothing about when you’ll actually do them or how much time they really take. That’s exactly the gap Super Productivity fills — a completely free, open-source app that combines classic task management with timeboxing and time tracking in one tool, with no account, no subscription, and no data collection.
With over 22,000 stars on GitHub and an active community of 245+ contributors, the project is one of the best-known open-source alternatives to commercial tools like Todoist, TickTick, or Notion. This review looks at what Super Productivity can actually do, where its limits are, and who it’s worth using for.
Table of Contents
Image: “Time management” by Osamu Uchida, licensed CC BY 2.0 (license), source: Wikimedia Commons
What Is Super Productivity?
Super Productivity is an advanced todo list app with integrated timeboxing and time tracking capabilities. The project started in 2017 and has been actively maintained ever since. It’s released under the MIT license, meaning it’s fully free to use, the source code is open to inspect, and anyone can modify it or self-host it. There’s no freemium gate, no paywall on core features, and no requirement to register an account. You decide where your data lives.
Core Features in Detail
Task Management: Sub-Tasks, Projects, Tags
Tasks can be broken into sub-tasks, grouped into projects, and color-coded with tags. This keeps even larger, multi-step efforts organized without needing a separate project management tool.
Timeboxing and Time Tracking
This is the core of the app: tasks aren’t just captured, they’re scheduled directly into your day. Time tracking runs alongside, producing exportable work time reports — genuinely useful for anyone who needs to document hours for clients or an employer.
Focus and Habit Tools
A break reminder keeps you from working for hours without a pause. The anti-procrastination feature helps you regain perspective when you’re stuck avoiding a task. For deep focus, there’s a dedicated focus mode with Pomodoro, Flowtime, and countdown sessions, plus personal metrics that reveal over time which work routines need adjusting.
Integrations for Developer Workflows
Integration support is a standout: Jira, Trello, GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, OpenProject, Linear, ClickUp, and Azure DevOps are all supported. Assigned tasks can be auto-imported, planned in detail locally, and change notifications arrive automatically. Worklogs are generated automatically too — a real time-saver compared to manually tracking time across several disconnected tools. A basic CalDAV integration is also included for calendar syncing.
Sync, Backup, and Extensibility
For syncing across devices there’s SuperSync, Super Productivity’s own end-to-end encrypted sync service (which you can also self-host), alongside Dropbox and WebDAV support. A plugin system and custom themes let you extend and restyle the app. Rounding things out: notes, file attachments, and project-level bookmarks for links, files, or commands.
Who Should Use Super Productivity?
The integrations and timeboxing concept make this app particularly compelling for developers who want to pull tickets from Jira, GitHub, or GitLab straight into their daily plan and auto-generate worklogs. Freelancers benefit from the exportable time tracking for client billing. Users with ADHD, or anyone who struggles with focus on certain days, frequently report in the community that the combination of break reminders, the anti-procrastination feature, and Pomodoro focus mode genuinely helps structure the day. If you’re just looking for a bare-bones checklist with no time component, this app offers more tooling than you probably need.
Installation and Platforms
Super Productivity runs practically everywhere: as a web app directly in the browser (app.super-productivity.com), as a desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux (built with Electron, also available via Flathub and the Snap Store on Linux), and on mobile via Android (Play Store, F-Droid, Obtainium) and iOS (App Store). Setup typically takes under a minute, and no account is ever required. According to the official wiki, the web version does have a few limitations compared to the desktop app — if you want every feature, go with the desktop version.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Completely free, MIT-licensed, permanently open source
- No data collection, no forced account, full control over where your data is stored
- Timeboxing and time tracking are native, not bolted on
- Deep, broad integration with developer tools (Jira, GitHub, GitLab, and more)
- Runs on practically every platform, including a self-hostable sync option
- Active community with 245+ contributors and regular updates
Cons
- The sheer feature density creates a real learning curve — if you only want a simple to-do list, you’ll have to click through timeboxing, tags, projects, and integrations first
- The web version is functionally reduced compared to the desktop app, per the official wiki
- Recurring tasks are a recurring complaint in the community, repeatedly flagged as needing improvement
- No classic official support channel — help comes via GitHub Discussions, Reddit, and community channels
How It Compares to Known Alternatives
Compared to Todoist and TickTick, Super Productivity stands out for its native time tracking and developer integrations — both of those established players offer productivity features too, but they’re primarily pure to-do apps that gate advanced functionality behind a subscription. Notion is a much broader all-in-one workspace (databases, wikis, team docs), but it’s also more complex to set up and isn’t focused on timeboxing. Super Productivity stays leaner and more focused by comparison: it’s primarily a personal task and time management tool, not a team wiki or CRM replacement. If you want a permanently free, privacy-respecting solution without subscription lock-in, Super Productivity delivers functionally more than most competitors’ free tiers.
Verdict
Super Productivity is one of the most convincing open-source answers to the question of what a to-do app with a real sense of time should look like. For developers and freelancers who want to manage their tickets and work time in one place, it’s currently one of the strongest free options available — especially given the depth of its integrations and the fact that your own data never has to leave your own device (or whichever sync service you choose). If you’re after a minimalist checklist app, the feature depth here will likely feel like overkill. For everyone else, it’s genuinely worth trying — setup costs nothing but a few minutes.
Source and download: github.com/super-productivity/super-productivity
FAQ
Is Super Productivity really free?
Yes. Super Productivity is fully free and open source under the MIT license, with no freemium model or paywall on core features.
Do you need an account to use Super Productivity?
No account or registration is required. You decide where your data is stored.
Which platforms does Super Productivity support?
It runs as a web app in the browser, as a desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux (via Flathub and the Snap Store), and as a mobile app on Android (Play Store, F-Droid, Obtainium) and iOS (App Store).
What developer integrations does Super Productivity offer?
Jira, Trello, GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, OpenProject, Linear, ClickUp, Azure DevOps, and a basic CalDAV integration are supported, including automatic task import and worklog generation.
How does Super Productivity sync data across devices?
Via its own end-to-end encrypted service SuperSync (which can also be self-hosted), or alternatively via Dropbox or WebDAV.
