The Stack vs Do First
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Stack
This app offers a straightforward approach to managing tasks and capturing thoughts. It utilizes a single list of text-based notes organized with hashtags for easy retrieval and organization.
- Simple text-based notes
- Hashtag organization
- Easy idea capture
- To-do list management
- Streamlined interface
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The Stack is a different take on To-Do List management. It favours simplicity, and encourages easy capture of your thoughts ("notes to self") as you have them. It uses a single list of simple text-based notes, organised using #hashtags.
Do First
This task manager helps you prioritize your to-do list using the Eisenhower Matrix. Organize tasks by urgency and importance, and separate work and personal life. Data syncs seamlessly across Apple devices.
- Eisenhower Matrix prioritization
- Work/Self spaces
- Fast task capture
- iCloud sync with Mac
- Light and Dark Mode
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Do First is an iOS task manager built around the Eisenhower Matrix, the 4-quadrant method for sorting tasks by urgency and importance. If you are looking for a simple priority matrix or a clearer way to plan your day, Do First helps you stay focused on what truly matters. Capture tasks quickly on iPhone, organize them in a clean 4-quadrant view, and keep work and life separated with Work / Self spaces. If you also use Do First on Mac, your data stays in sync through iCloud. Key features: - 4-quadrant overview: sort tasks by urgency and importance at a glance - Work / Self spaces: keep work and life neatly separated - Fast task capture and organization: add tasks quickly and move them into the right quadrant - iCloud sync with Mac: keep your priorities aligned across devices - Light and Dark Mode support: follows your system appearance Privacy: Do First collects no data. Your tasks stay on your device and in iCloud. Put the important first. Download Do First and plan your priorities with clarity. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Do First at fortnightly against The Stack's every 5 weeks. Do First also leads on ratings volume (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (18 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. The Stack sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Do First sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for The Stack against 5.0 for Do First. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.
The Stack ships an update every 5 weeks, Do First fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Stack | Do First |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 3 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Elegant Chaos Limited | 元仕 洪 |
Customer experience
The Stack
Do First
In-app purchases
The Stack
- Fresh Straw$0.99
- A Nice Juicy Carrot$2.99
- Deluxe Hamster Wheel$9.99
Do First
- Do First Pro (Quarterly)$2.993 Months
- Do First Pro (Yearly)$8.991 Year
- Do First! Pro - Lifetime$14.99
