Competitive Matrix

Overview

Daylight competes on a different axis than most task apps. While mainstream tools optimize for convenience and features, Daylight optimizes for data ownership and reliability.

This matrix compares Daylight against popular alternatives on the dimensions that matter to our target users.

Quick Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Data Ownership

Daylight’s position: Full ownership. Your tasks work without the app.

Recurrence Reliability

Daylight’s position: Instance-based tracking eliminates the “I completed Friday but lost next Friday” problem.

Offline Capability

Daylight’s position: Offline is the default, not a fallback mode.

Sync Approach

Daylight’s position: You control sync. More setup, more control, no vendor lock-in.

Time Tracking

Daylight’s position: Manual entry beats forgotten timers. Log what actually happened.

When to Choose Each

Choose Daylight When

• You want to own your data as portable files
• You value offline reliability over cloud convenience
• You’ve been burned by recurring task bugs in other apps
• You’re already running Syncthing (or willing to set it up)
• You use Linux or Android as primary platforms
• You don’t need team collaboration

Choose Todoist When

• You want zero-friction cloud sync across all platforms
• You need sharing and collaboration features
• You prefer managed service over self-managed
• Natural language input is important to you
• You’re okay with subscription pricing

Choose Notion When

• Tasks are part of a larger knowledge/project system
• You need flexible databases and views
• Team collaboration is essential
• You’re invested in Notion’s ecosystem
• Task-specific features are secondary to flexibility

Choose TickTick When

• You want Pomodoro timers integrated with tasks
• You need calendar integration with time blocking
• Multiple list views (Kanban, calendar, etc.) matter
• Habit tracking alongside tasks is important
• Price is a factor (cheaper than Todoist)

Choose Obsidian Tasks When

• Your tasks live alongside notes in Obsidian
• You want the same file-based benefits as Daylight
• You prefer plugin customization over opinionated design
• Desktop-first workflow (mobile is secondary)
• You’re comfortable with Obsidian’s learning curve

Choose Things 3 When

• You’re fully in the Apple ecosystem
• You value design polish and simplicity
• One-time purchase matters (no subscription)
• You don’t need Android/Windows/Linux
• Offline reliability is important but iCloud sync is acceptable

Positioning Summary

Daylight’s Unique Position

Daylight occupies a specific niche: local-first task management with reliable recurrence, for users who prioritize data ownership.

No other option offers all of:

1. Portable Markdown files (not proprietary database)
2. Instance-based recurrence tracking
3. Android + Linux native apps
4. No cloud dependency or subscription
5. Manual time tracking built-in

Competitive Advantages by Feature

Where Competitors Win

Messaging Against Competitors

vs. Todoist

“Todoist is great until you need to export or they raise prices. Your Daylight tasks are files—export is instant, subscription is zero, and your data works without asking permission.”

vs. Notion

“Notion can do tasks, but it’s not built for tasks. Daylight is focused: create a task, schedule it, complete it. No database setup, no template hunting.”

vs. TickTick

“TickTick has more features. Daylight has fewer features you’ll actually use, and your data stays on your device.”

vs. Obsidian Tasks

“Obsidian Tasks is powerful but plugin-fragile. Daylight is a native app with instance-based recurrence built in, not bolted on.”

vs. Things 3

“Things 3 is beautiful but Apple-only. Daylight works on Android and Linux, and your tasks are Markdown—not a proprietary database.”