Where to download a local-first GTD app: a decision guide
A local-first GTD app keeps every task on your device instead of someone else's server. Here's how Trayzero, Everdo, OmniFocus, and Things 3 actually compare on method, data, platform, and price.
Published · 7 min read
If you've decided you want a Getting Things Done app that keeps your tasks on your own device — no account, no vendor cloud — the shortlist is shorter than you'd hope. Most of the polished GTD apps are Apple-only, subscription-based, or both. This guide walks the four that are worth considering, what each one actually does with your data, and how to pick.
The short version: if you want a strict GTD method, local-first storage, and both Android and iOS for free, Trayzero is built for exactly that. If you're all-in on Apple and want maximum polish or depth, Things 3 or OmniFocus are strong — just know they run their own clouds. Everdo sits in the middle: genuinely cross-platform and local-first, but a one-time purchase.
What "local-first" actually means
A local-first app stores your data on your device first, not on a remote server. Your tasks live in a database on your phone, so the app works the same whether you're online or in a tunnel, and there's no account standing between you and your own list.
The honest trade-off is sync. A cloud app keeps every device in step because a server holds the master copy — convenient, but it also means your tasks sit on someone else's machine. Local-first apps solve multi-device access differently: some sync peer-to-peer over your own network, some use end-to-end encryption between your devices, and some (Trayzero included) leave it to you with a plain export file. You trade automatic, vendor-managed sync for ownership and privacy. Whether that's the right trade is the whole question.
We wrote more on why a task app shouldn't need an account if you want the longer argument.
Does it walk the whole method, or just hold a list?
A real GTD app guides the five steps — Capture, Clarify, Organize, Reflect, Engage — not just the first one. The two that separate a GTD system from a to-do list are Clarify (deciding what each inbox item actually is) and Reflect (the weekly review). Plenty of apps that call themselves "GTD" quietly skip both.
Trayzero implements them directly: a Process Inbox card-stack runs the GTD decision tree on each captured item until your inbox hits zero, and a seven-step Weekly Review wizard walks the review the same way every week. Everdo and OmniFocus are both built around GTD and handle the method well, though OmniFocus leaves more of the structure for you to set up. Things 3 is the outlier here — it's a beautiful task app, but it has no dedicated weekly review mode, which is the feature serious GTD users miss most.
Whose servers hold your tasks?
This is the line that matters if privacy is why you're here.
| App | Where your data lives | Account required |
|---|---|---|
| Trayzero | On your device (SQLite) | No |
| Everdo | On your device; optional sync | No |
| OmniFocus | Omni's sync server | Yes |
| Things 3 | Things Cloud | Yes |
Trayzero is 100% on-device: an SQLite database on your phone, no account, no server, no analytics SDK. Your tasks never leave unless you export them yourself. Everdo is offline-first by the same standard, with sync as an opt-in extra you control. OmniFocus and Things 3 store your data locally too, but their multi-device story runs through their own clouds — Omni Sync and Things Cloud — so in practice your tasks are mirrored on a vendor's servers and gated behind an account.
Because Trayzero is open source under GPLv3, that privacy claim is auditable — you can read the code rather than trust the marketing.
What devices can you actually run it on?
| App | Platforms |
|---|---|
| Trayzero | Android & iOS |
| Everdo | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| OmniFocus | Apple only (iPhone, iPad, Mac) |
| Things 3 | Apple only (iPhone, iPad, Mac) |
This is where the field thins out fast. Things 3 and OmniFocus — the two most-loved GTD apps — are Apple-only, so if your household mixes Android and iOS, they're off the table for at least one person. Everdo and Trayzero are the cross-platform options. Everdo adds desktop apps; Trayzero is mobile-only but covers both phone ecosystems for free.
What it costs
| App | Free tier | One-time | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trayzero | Full app | — (open source) | — |
| Everdo | 5 projects | ~$99 Pro | optional sync, ~$1.66/mo |
| OmniFocus | No | Perpetual license | $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr |
| Things 3 | No | ~$80 across devices | — |
Everdo gives you a capped free tier (five projects, two areas of responsibility) and unlocks the rest with a one-time $99.99 Pro purchase; encrypted cross-device sync is a separate ~$1.66/mo. OmniFocus runs $9.99/month or $99.99/year, with a perpetual license available if you'd rather buy once. Things 3 is a one-time purchase, but you buy each platform separately — roughly $80 to cover iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Trayzero is free, and every feature is in the free app. There are optional tips and a supporter subscription, but they unlock nothing functional — they're a way to chip in, not a paywall.
How to choose
Pick based on which trade-off you're actually willing to make:
- You want strict GTD, on-device data, on Android and iOS, for free. That's Trayzero. It's the only option on this list that scores well on the method, keeps your data local, and runs on both phones without charging you.
- You're committed to Apple and want maximum polish or depth. Things 3 for simplicity, OmniFocus for power — both excellent, both Apple-only, both running their own clouds. Worth the lock-in if you're never leaving the ecosystem.
- You want desktop apps and built-in encrypted sync, and don't mind paying once. Everdo. It's the mature, cross-platform, one-time-purchase pick, as long as the ~$99 and the five-project free cap work for you.
If the deciding factors are privacy you can verify and a price of zero, you can try Trayzero free on Google Play or the App Store, and read the source on GitHub.
Frequently asked questions
Which local-first GTD apps include a guided weekly review?
Trayzero ships a seven-step Weekly Review wizard that walks the canonical GTD review — empty your inboxes, check projects, look at Someday/Maybe — every time, so you're not rebuilding the checklist from memory. Everdo supports the review but doesn't guide you through it step by step. Things 3 has no dedicated review mode at all, which is the most common complaint from GTD users who try it.
Which GTD apps are a one-time purchase instead of a subscription?
Everdo's Pro version is a one-time $99.99 (its free tier caps you at five projects). OmniFocus offers a perpetual license alongside its subscription, so you can buy once instead of paying monthly. Trayzero sidesteps the question entirely — it's free and open source, so there's no license to buy and no subscription to cancel.
What are the best local-first alternatives to Todoist or TickTick?
Todoist and TickTick are cloud-first: your tasks live on their servers and need an account. If you want the same workflow with your data on your own device, Trayzero (on-device SQLite, no account, free) and Everdo (offline-first, one-time purchase) are the two genuinely local-first GTD apps that also run on Android. OmniFocus and Things 3 keep their own clouds and stay inside Apple's ecosystem.
Can a local-first GTD app sync across devices without a cloud account?
It depends on the app. Trayzero doesn't sync automatically — by design, nothing leaves your phone. You move your data yourself with a plain-JSON export and import, so there's no server in the loop. Everdo offers optional sync over your local network for free, or end-to-end encrypted sync between your own devices for a small monthly fee. Neither requires handing your tasks to a vendor's cloud.
Which open-source GTD app stores data in a format I can read?
Trayzero is open source under GPLv3 and keeps your live data in an on-device SQLite database. Backups export as plain JSON you can open, read, and move anywhere — no proprietary format, no lock-in. Because the source is public, the privacy claims are auditable rather than something you have to take on faith.
Trayzero is an independent app inspired by the GTD methodology. "Getting Things Done" and "GTD" are trademarks of the David Allen Company. Competitor prices and features are approximate and current as of June 2026 — check each app's site for the latest.
Sources
- Everdo — official site — Free-tier caps, one-time Pro price, and optional sync pricing cited above.
- OmniFocus — The Omni Group — Subscription and perpetual-license pricing; Apple-only platform support.
- Things 3 — Cultured Code — Per-platform one-time pricing and Things Cloud sync.
- Trayzero source code (GPLv3) — Open-source repo backing the on-device-storage and no-account claims.
Keep reading
How to get started with Trayzero: a local-first, offline GTD app
Trayzero is a free, offline GTD app that keeps every task on your device — no account, no cloud. Here's how to install it, capture your first task, and run the full five-step GTD method in under a minute.
Simple To-Do List vs. GTD App: When a Flat List Stops Working
A plain to-do list stores what you type. A GTD app guides what you do with it. Here's the real difference, where each one fits, and when it's worth switching.
The GTD weekly review, step by step
The weekly review is the step most people skip — and the reason most productivity systems eventually stop working. Here's what it involves, how long it actually takes, and what to do when you've fallen behind.