Top 10 Task Managers Redditors Recommend in 2026 (Underrated Picks, No Big Players)

Introduction

Reddit is brutal in a good way: if an app is bloated, slow, or marketed too hard, people call it out. So when the same tools keep getting mentioned across productivity threads, it usually means they're doing something right.

This list is built from real Reddit discussions in communities like r/ProductivityApps, r/productivity, r/gtd, and r/selfhosted—while deliberately excluding the usual giants (Notion / ClickUp / Asana / Monday / Trello / Todoist / etc.).

Why these aren't "big player" picks

Redditors often recommend tools that are:

• simpler and faster
• more opinionated (GTD, time tracking, date-centric, self-hosted)
• privacy-friendly or independent
• not trying to be a corporate "do-everything suite"

1) Self-Manager.net — date-centric planning + fast weekly review workflows

Even on Reddit, Self-Manager shows up as a "different" approach: your tasks live on real dates, and that makes weekly/monthly review workflows natural.

Why redditors mention it

• People describe it as fast, minimalist, and powerful, especially for daily planning.
• The "date-centric vs board-centric" angle resonates with people tired of moving cards around without time awareness.
• There are also threads specifically about reviewing the week with AI and "AI Period Summary," which connects planning to reflection (not just task lists).

Best for

• founders, freelancers, and "I plan by week" people
• anyone who wants a task manager that doesn't forget when work happens

2) Super Productivity — free, open-source, time tracking baked in

Super Productivity is one of those tools Reddit keeps bringing up because it's seriously capable without being another subscription.

Why redditors recommend it

• Users praise it for being free/open-source, with project organization and built-in time tracking, plus integrations for dev workflows.
• It also shows up in self-hosted circles as a credible "personal task manager" option.

Best for

• developers, freelancers, and anyone who wants time tracking attached to tasks

3) Vikunja — self-hosted task management that feels "grown up"

Vikunja is frequently mentioned when people want control (self-hosting) without sacrificing usability.

Why redditors recommend it

• Redditors compare it directly in "replace X with self-hosted" conversations and keep it on the short list.
• There's ongoing discussion around setup, workflow, and best practices—classic "serious tool" signals.

Best for

• self-hosting folks, privacy-minded users, small teams who want ownership of data

4) DoneTick — a niche favorite for recurring chores and household routines

DoneTick shows up in exactly the kind of thread you'd expect: people trying to manage recurring tasks without turning life into a project management platform.

Why redditors recommend it

• In a thread comparing alternatives, a commenter specifically suggests it for chores and recurring tasks.

Best for

• recurring personal tasks: chores, maintenance, "stuff I forget unless it repeats"

5) Amazing Marvin — the "build your own system" task manager (highly customizable)

Amazing Marvin gets recommended by users who tried everything and want something flexible but still task-first.

Why redditors recommend it

• Redditors mention using it for household projects and repeat-after-completion tasks (great for maintenance).
• In ADHD/productivity discussions, it's praised as extremely customizable with rewards and stats.

Best for

• power users who enjoy building a personal workflow (without building a Notion dashboard)

6) NirvanaHQ — a pure GTD tool that people keep coming back to

Nirvana is one of those "quiet tools" that gets fewer headlines but strong loyalty—especially among GTD people.

Why redditors recommend it

• In GTD discussions, users call it one of the smoothest GTD implementations and recommend it strongly.
• There are also balanced takes noting slower development—useful honesty you often only get on Reddit.

Best for

• GTD purists who want structure out of the box

7) Lunatask — privacy-first feel (macOS), tasks + habits + mood

Lunatask appears repeatedly in Mac-focused subreddits and broader productivity threads because it tries to combine multiple daily needs without becoming messy.

Why redditors recommend it

• People describe it as an all-in-one (tasks, habits, mood, pomodoro), and discuss updates and features.
• It also gets mentioned as a main daily productivity hub in personal systems posts.

Best for

• Mac users who want a single personal productivity home (with a calmer vibe)

8) Twos — "capture-first" daily lists that don't overwhelm

Twos shows up a lot when people want something that helps them remember and capture without building a complicated system.

Why redditors recommend it

• Multiple threads call it a favorite or "backbone" app because it helps with everyday remembering without overwhelm.
• Users often describe it as a blend of reminders/notes/daily planning rather than "project management."

Best for

• quick daily capture, lightweight planning, "I forget things unless it's frictionless"

9) Remember The Milk — old-school, fast input, still loved

It's been around forever—and that's exactly why it's interesting. RTM still gets recommended by people who value fast entry, tags, filters, and text-based task creation.

Why redditors recommend it

• Redditors praise its minimalism and quick natural-language style task input.
• It still comes up across multiple communities when people ask "what do you use?"

Best for

• people who want a "just works" task list with power features (without modern bloat)

10) TaskRocky — gamified tasks for people who need motivation

Gamification is not for everyone, but when it works, it works. TaskRocky pops up as a recommendation for people who want tasks + motivation.

Why redditors mention it

• In a "what actually worked for you" thread, it's suggested as an easy-to-use task manager with a gamified angle.

Best for

• users who respond to rewards, progress, and a little "game loop" energy

What these Reddit picks have in common

If you zoom out, these tools win because they're opinionated:

• Time + review driven: Self-Manager.net
• Open-source / ownership: Super Productivity, Vikunja
• Method-based: Nirvana (GTD)
• Capture-first: Twos
• Low-bloat longevity: Remember The Milk