The Todoist Alternative with Built-In Time Tracking
Todoist is one of the best task managers available. It has great natural language input, a clean interface, and works reliably across every device. If you need a task manager and only a task manager, it is hard to beat.
The problem for freelancers is that Todoist doesn't track time. To know where your hours actually went, you need Toggl — a separate account, a separate login, and a manual process at the end of each day matching time entries to tasks. At $5/month for Todoist Pro and $9/month for Toggl Starter, that's $14/month minimum for functionality that should be one product.
Flowly was built for this specific gap. One-click timers live on every task card. Time logs to the task automatically. Analytics show time by task, project, and day — updated in real time, no reconciliation required. For freelancers tracking billable hours, it replaces two tools with one at $8/month annual.
And now Flowly also invoices. Tracked hours turn into a branded invoice in one click, with a hosted payment link your client can pay from. That removes the third tool freelancers usually bolt onto Todoist + Toggl (Bonsai, FreshBooks, or a spreadsheet). From $8/month annual or $12/month monthly, Flowly covers tasks + time + invoicing in one place.
The Short Answer
You bill clients by the hour, need task-level time tracking, or currently pay for both Todoist and Toggl. Flowly replaces both for less.
You need native mobile apps, rely on 80+ third-party integrations (Zapier, Gmail, Slack), or need team collaboration features.
Feature Comparison
Honest comparison — including areas where Todoist has the advantage.
| Feature | Flowly | Todoist |
|---|---|---|
| Task management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in time tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Built-in invoicing + payment link | ✓ | ✗ |
| One-click timer on task cards | ✓ | ✗ (needs Toggl) |
| Analytics by project & task | ✓ | Activity log only |
| Break reminders | ✓ | ✗ |
| Natural language input | ✓ | ✓ |
| Google Calendar sync | ✓ | ✓ (Pro) |
| Kanban / board view | ✓ | ✓ (Pro) |
| Recurring tasks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations (Zapier, Slack, etc.) | Limited | 80+ native |
| Mobile apps (iOS / Android) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Team collaboration | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing Side by Side
Adding Toggl Starter ($9/month) for time tracking brings Todoist's effective cost to $14/month, and pairing Bonsai Basic ($9/mo annual / $15 monthly) for invoicing puts the productivity-stack alternative at $18/mo combined — Flowly covers all three jobs (tasks + time + invoicing) from $8/month annual or $12/month monthly.
Up to 20 tasks and 3 projects — free forever
$8/month billed annually ($96/year) or $12/month
5 active projects, 5 collaborators
$5/month billed annually ($60/year)
Which is Right for You?
Choose Flowly if…
- ✓You bill clients by the hour and need task-level time data without a second tool
- ✓You're currently paying for both Todoist and Toggl — Flowly replaces both at $8/month annual
- ✓You bill clients and want to skip the third tool — Flowly turns tracked hours into a sendable invoice with a payment link
- ✓You want break reminders and wellness features built into your daily workflow
Choose Todoist if…
- →You need native iOS and Android apps — Flowly is currently web-only
- →You rely on 80+ native integrations (Zapier, Gmail, Slack, Alexa, etc.)
- →You need team collaboration features — Flowly is a single-user productivity tool
The Honest Verdict
If time tracking is part of your work — billable hours, project budgets, understanding where your day went — Flowly saves $5–13/month by replacing the Todoist + Toggl combination with one tool. If you don't track time and need deep integrations or mobile apps, Todoist is the more mature, better-connected choice with a strong free tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
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