Notes from the designer3 min read
Void Calendar vs Microsoft To Do
Priorities picked, how much time is left?
Void CalendarMy Day in Microsoft To Do has an idea I like: choose today’s priorities afresh.
Old unfinished work does not have to crowd into every new day. Picking a few things to advance feels lighter than facing one endlessly growing list.
In short: If you already work in Outlook and Microsoft 365 and need your to-dos on Windows, your phone, and the web, Microsoft To Do is free, light, and a good fit. If you plan your day on a Mac and want large tasks broken into steps that fit today, each with its own notes, and AI on your own model placing them into free time, consider Void Calendar.
At a glance
| Void Calendar | Microsoft To Do | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS (Apple silicon), public beta | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, web |
| Price | Free with every feature; Pro sync not on sale yet | Free with a personal Microsoft account |
| AI scheduling | Your own model and API key; fits tasks into free time | My Day suggests tasks |
| Calendar connections | Apple Calendar and Reminders, Google, iCloud; Outlook planned | Works with Outlook tasks and calendar |
| Tasks & notes | Every task has a note with [[ ]] links | Lists and My Day, shared with Outlook Tasks |
| Where data lives | On your Mac; no company cloud copy | Your Exchange Online mailbox |
Competitor details checked October 8, 2026; see their official sites. Void Calendar is in public beta.
Priorities still need a capacity check
My Day offers suggestions, and To Do fits into Outlook’s task and calendar workflow. See My Day and To Do in Outlook.
After classes, meetings, and travel have taken most of the day, five priorities may not fit. I want the tool to make that visible: if a report needs two hours and today has forty minutes, perhaps the session should cover research only.
A large task does not have to fit entirely into today
Void Calendar can break down a goal and reserve time around existing events. Each task has a corresponding note for instructions and material.
A class presentation might need examples today, an outline tomorrow, and rehearsal on Thursday. Dependencies connect those steps; AI helps break down the work and arrange it.
“Finish the presentation today” becomes a smaller step that can actually be completed.
Microsoft tasks can stay where they are for now
Void Calendar doesn’t connect to Microsoft To Do or Outlook Calendar yet; both integrations are planned. Until then, work to-dos can stay in To Do and Outlook, while tasks that need steps, notes, and focused time get planned in Void Calendar.
Which one fits
Choose Microsoft To Do if:
- Your workday runs through Outlook and Microsoft 365.
- You need your to-dos on Windows, iPhone, Android, or the web.
- A free, lightweight list with a daily My Day pick is all you need.
Choose Void Calendar if:
- You plan on an Apple silicon Mac and use Apple, Google, or iCloud calendars.
- You want to see how much time today actually has before choosing the next step.
- Your tasks need notes, material, and an order of steps, not just a title.
- You’d rather keep that content on your own computer.
A capable tool should keep quick capture easy. My Day’s lightness is worth preserving. Void Calendar adds room for working notes and a clearer view of how much the day can hold.
Explore time boxes for task planning.
Sources checked October 8, 2026: My Day, To Do in Outlook, supported devices, supported accounts, and data storage and compliance.