TaskOut vs PaperTrail
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TaskOut
Read full descriptionHide full description
[ Taskout Features ] - Group and Today list - Filter tasks on groups
PaperTrail
This app provides a full TaskPaper editing experience on iOS and iPadOS, allowing you to manage projects, tasks, and notes using simple, flexible plain text files. Sync your work with iCloud and edit across devices, with powerful search and filtering capabilities.
- Full TaskPaper format support
- OPML import
- Distraction-free editing
- Full query language search
- Tag system with progress tracking
- iOS Reminders integration
- Shortcuts and Siri integration
Read full descriptionHide full description
PaperTrail brings full TaskPaper editing to iOS and iPadOS. TaskPaper is plain text productivity—simple, fast, flexible. Projects, tasks, notes, and tags. Filter, search, and archive. All in plain text files you can sync via iCloud and edit in TaskPaper on your Mac. FEATURES • Full TaskPaper format support (.taskpaper, .todo, .txt, .md) • Open Bike (.bike) and OPML (.opml) outlines, with clear warnings when an import can't carry everything across • OPML and Bike-style export, so tags and done state round-trip back into Bike • Fold and focus into any subtree for distraction-free editing • Full query language with text, tag, boolean, and semantic search • Tag system with dates, progress tracking, and cost aggregation • Tag autocomplete ranked by how often you use each tag • Smart filters with edge-swipe gestures and an iPad side-by-side sidebar • Colour lines by priority, depth, or due date proximity • Natural date parsing and two-way iOS Reminders integration—import a Reminders list as a project • Quick capture: append tasks, notes, clipboard text, or web links to your most recent document • Planning shortcuts: Open in Today, Random Next Task, and Morning Brief • Shortcuts, Siri, Action Button, and Spotlight integration via App Intents • Find & update documents from Shortcuts: run queries, mark done, set tags, append tasks • Command palette for projects, searches, tags, and every editor command • iPadOS menu bar with Item, Tag, Outline, View, and Palette menus • Export documents as interactive HTML slide presentations or as OPML outlines • Built-in and custom document templates • 50+ keyboard shortcuts for power workflow • Native Swift app—tiny install size, built for speed • Dynamic Type, VoiceOver, and dark mode support
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TaskOut at Free against PaperTrail's $19.99. PaperTrail's advantage is chart position (#115 vs unranked) and device support. On in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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
TaskOut is free to download; PaperTrail costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | TaskOut | PaperTrail |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $19.99 |
| Rating | — | 4.2 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 75.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 10 days |
| Ads | — | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #115 — better |
| Devices | — | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Will Moody | gingerbeardman |
In-app purchases
TaskOut
No in-app purchases
PaperTrail
No in-app purchases





