Notes-first workflow guide · Updated August 31, 2026
Should you use Obsidian for tasks, or keep a separate to-do app?
Obsidian is appealing because a task can sit beside the notes that explain it. The danger is spending more time designing queries and plugins than doing the work on the list.
Our take
Where we would start
Use Obsidian for tasks tied closely to research, meeting notes or writing projects. Use a dedicated task app for anything that must remind you at a particular time, be captured quickly on a phone or be shared with somebody else. A split setup is often more reliable than forcing every task into either app.
The quick version
The differences that matter
- Best reason to use Obsidian
- Tasks remain beside their source notes
- Best reason not to
- Plugin and query maintenance
- Data model
- Local Markdown files
- Recurring tasks
- Available through the Tasks community plugin
- Sharing and collaboration
- Not its natural strength
- Simpler alternative
- Todoist, TickTick or Apple Reminders
A checkbox is easy; getting it back at the right time is harder
Obsidian stores Markdown checkboxes perfectly well. The hard part is finding every open task later, deciding what belongs today and making repeats behave predictably.
The Tasks plugin adds queries, dates, repeating rules and filters across a vault. It is powerful, but you have to learn the syntax, keep the plugin working and remember that every result still belongs to a source note.
The extra setup is worth it when the notes matter
“Revise the proposal” makes more sense beside the meeting decisions, research and draft that created it. Keeping the task in the note also leaves a useful record after it is complete.
An errand or shared household task rarely needs that context. Opening a vault and maintaining queries is too much work for “buy batteries on the way home.”
It is fine to keep reminders somewhere else
A practical split is to keep project actions in Obsidian and put anything with a real time, place or shared commitment into a normal task app.
Avoid two-way syncing until that rule feels clear. Automation can duplicate a confusing setup much faster than it can fix one.
Good to know
A few common questions
Can Obsidian replace Todoist?
Yes for people comfortable building queries and keeping tasks in local notes. Todoist remains simpler for reminders, sharing, mobile capture and a ready-made daily workflow.
Does Obsidian support recurring tasks?
The widely used Tasks community plugin supports recurring tasks, dates, queries and filtering across a vault.
Is Obsidian good for ADHD?
It can keep context visible, but its flexibility can create setup and maintenance friction. A more opinionated planner may be easier to sustain.
Sources
Where we checked the facts
We use the app maker's own pages for prices and features. Reviews and community posts are useful for spotting problems, but one person's experience is still one person's experience.
- 01Project docsObsidian Tasks user guideView source
- 02Project docsObsidian Tasks auto-suggest documentationView source
- 03Project docsObsidian Tasks filter documentationView source