All questions
Is TodoCity free?
Yes. TodoCity is free for personal, non-commercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial license, and its source code is on GitHub for anyone to read.
Does anything I capture leave my Mac?
No. The AI that reads your text is a small language model that runs on your own Mac, and your tasks are stored in a file on it. There's no account and no tracking. The internet is used only for the one-time model download, checking for updates (you can turn that off), and sync between your Macs if you turn it on.
How do I turn text into a task?
Select or copy any text — an email, a Slack message, a web page — and press ⌘C once more. TodoCity fills in the task, its day and its time; phrases like “by Friday 3pm” become a deadline and “every Sunday” a repeat.
Which Macs does it run on?
Any Mac with macOS 11 Big Sur or later, Apple silicon or Intel. The first time you open it, TodoCity downloads its AI model (about 2 GB) once.
Can I use TodoCity on my work and personal Macs?
Yes. Pair them with a code and six matching digits, and your tasks stay the same on both — no iCloud or account needed. Changes are end-to-end encrypted on your Mac before they leave, so the relay that passes them along can't read them. You can keep any project on one Mac only.
Can I move my tasks from Things 3 or Todoist?
Yes. In Settings → Move in, TodoCity brings in your projects, headings or sections, tasks, checklists, dates, repeats and finished tasks. Things and Todoist aren't changed.
What does the city have to do with my to-do list?
Every project is a building, its sections are floors, and every task is a home. When you finish a task, someone moves in and the lights come on — so over time your city shows everything you've done.
Is TodoCity open source?
Its source code is public on GitHub under the PolyForm Noncommercial license: free to read, build and use for personal, non-commercial purposes.
Does TodoCity need an account?
No. There's no sign-up, no email and no password. Your tasks live on your Mac.
Does TodoCity work offline?
Yes. After the one-time model download, everything works offline. Only sync between Macs and update checks use the internet.
Is there an iPhone or iPad app?
Not yet — TodoCity is for Mac. Turn on two-way Apple Reminders sync to see your tasks on iPhone through Reminders.
Is there a Windows or web version?
No. TodoCity is a native Mac app.
How much disk space and memory does it need?
The app itself is small; the AI model is a one-time download of about 2 GB. The model runs only while it reads a capture and stops after five idle minutes.
Can it remind me at a specific time?
Yes. Tasks with a time notify you with Done, Snooze and Tomorrow buttons. You can also choose one morning summary instead, and the menu-bar dropdown can open on a task when its time comes.
Does TodoCity support repeating tasks?
Yes — daily, weekdays, weekly, every two weeks, monthly, yearly and more, written in plain words like “every Monday”. Finish one and the next is scheduled; skip one or pause the series any time.
Can I see my calendar next to my tasks?
Yes. Turn on the Calendar connector to show your meetings — including Google, Outlook and iCloud calendars added to your Mac — beside your tasks. It's read-only.
Can AI assistants add tasks to TodoCity?
Yes. Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf and LM Studio can add tasks over MCP, on your Mac only. They can never read your list, and you approve each task.
How do I keep work and personal tasks separate?
Use modes: Work shows only the projects you tick, Personal shows everything. Each Mac remembers its own mode.
Can I export my tasks?
Yes — to CSV or JSON from Settings → Backups & export. TodoCity also keeps seven days of automatic backups.
How do I install TodoCity?
Download the .dmg, drag TodoCity to Applications and open it. If macOS says it can't verify the developer, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway — once.
How does TodoCity update?
It checks GitHub for new versions and updates itself; a dot in the top bar turns red when one is ready, and Update restarts into it. You can turn update checks off.