Relay vs OmniFocus
Both are built for Getting Things Done, and both take the method seriously. The biggest difference is where they run. OmniFocus is an Apple app with a web companion. Relay runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and Windows, and in any browser, with the whole system on each.
We make Relay, so we have tried to be fair rather than flattering. Where OmniFocus is better, this page says so.
At a glance
| OmniFocus | Relay | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | ||
| iPhone and iPad | Yes | Yes |
| Android | No | Yes |
| Mac | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | No | Yes |
| Web browserPartly: a companion to the apps, with less in it | Partly | Yes |
| Built for GTD | ||
| Inbox, Next Actions, Waiting For and Someday built inPartly: some are, the rest you set up yourself | Partly | Yes |
| Contexts | Yes | Yes |
| Agenda lists for people | No | Yes |
| Sequential projects | Yes | Yes |
| Sub-projects | Yes | YesOne level |
| Areas, goals, vision and purposePartly: one level above projects | Partly | Yes |
| Reference material kept with its projectPartly: a separate reference list, or notes on the project itself | Partly | Yes |
| Trigger lists you can edit, for the mind sweep | No | Yes |
| Reviews and planning | ||
| Guided weekly reviewPartly: a review list, checklist or reminder, without guided steps | Partly | Yes |
| Guided daily reviewPartly: a daily list or reminder, without guided steps | Partly | Yes |
| Guided reviews in the phone appPartly: a review list, reminder or template, without guided steps | Partly | Yes |
| Next Actions cut to the time you havePartly: you filter by how long each action takes yourself | PartlyPro only | YesHours, calendar and daily review |
| Actions | ||
| Repeating actions | Yes | Yes |
| Checklists inside an actionPartly: sub-tasks, each one a full task | Partly | Yes |
| Snooze an Inbox item | YesInbox set to Available | Yes |
| AI help clarifying the next actionPartly: one narrow place, a beta, or a paid add-on | Partly | Yes |
| Around the lists | ||
| Google or Outlook calendar in the appPartly: only calendars already on the device | Partly | Yes |
| Two-way sync with other task appsPartly: a one-way import from another app | Partly | YesItems brought in from them |
| Home-screen widgets with your lists | Yes | YesNot on Windows or web |
| Workspaces that filter your lists | YesPro only | Yes |
| Saved custom views | YesPro only | NoEach list keeps its own sort and grouping |
| Shared projects | No | No |
| Look | ||
| Dark theme | Yes | Yes |
| Choose your own colours | YesiPhone and iPad | Yes |
| Price | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Buy once, no subscription | Yes | No |
Sources, checked 10 October 2026
Every cell was checked against OmniFocus's own site, help pages, release notes or store listing.
OmniFocus: OmniFocus, OmniFocus pricing, OmniFocus manual, perspectives, OmniFocus and OmniFocus Pro, OmniFocus manual, custom perspectives, OmniFocus manual, settings, OmniFocus manual, widgets and Focus, OmniFocus release notes.
Also in Relay
- Pin an item for today, tomorrow or this week, and it shows in Engage and the daily review.
- Your own sections in Someday/Maybe.
- Choose which sections each task, project and reference item shows, for one item or as the default.
- A default workspace for new items on each device.
- On a phone, choose the screens in the bottom bar.
- Reminders to process your Inbox at the times you choose. In the web app they show as a banner while Relay is open.
Side by side
| OmniFocus 4 | Relay | |
|---|---|---|
| Native apps | Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows |
| Windows and Linux | OmniFocus for the Web, as a companion to an Apple device | A Windows app from the Microsoft Store. On Linux, the web app, installable as an app in Chrome or Edge |
| Price | $74.99 Standard or $149.99 Pro once, or $99.99 a year with the web app. A licence can add the web app for $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year | €8 a month, or €5 a month billed yearly, everything included |
| Trial | 14 days | 30 days, no card needed |
| Weekly review | Review perspective, with a review interval per project. Not in the web app. | A guided twelve-step review on every platform, plus a daily review |
| Projects | Parallel, sequential or single-action lists, grouped in folders | Parallel or sequential, with an outcome, linked up to areas and goals |
| Contexts | Tags, several per action, with mutually exclusive tag groups | Contexts, several per action, with separate energy and time fields |
| Dates | Defer, planned and due dates, estimated duration | Scheduled and due dates, duration, energy, repeats |
| Higher horizons | Folders and projects; areas and goals are up to you | Areas, goals, vision and purpose as their own levels |
| Custom views | Custom perspectives and Focus (Pro) | Fixed lists with filters, each keeping its own sort and grouping; no views of your own |
| Today | Forecast | Engage: your calendar, what you earmarked, and what fits the time you have |
| Capture | Quick Entry, Share, Siri and Shortcuts, Mail Drop | Quick add, email to Inbox and paste a list on every device; a capture shortcut on Mac and Windows; widgets on iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac; the share sheet on iPhone, iPad and Android |
| Connects to | Apple Calendar, shown in Forecast, and Shortcuts | Google and Outlook calendars, Google Tasks, Microsoft To Do, Todoist, Notion and Linear on every device; Apple Calendar and Apple Reminders in the iPhone, iPad and Mac apps |
| Automation | Omni Automation scripting (Pro) | None |
Where OmniFocus is stronger
- Shaping the app to you
- Custom perspectives are the reason many people stay with OmniFocus for a decade. If you have built a set of views you rely on, Relay has nothing equivalent.
- Apple depth
- Apple Watch, Vision Pro, Shortcuts, scripting and location. On an all-Apple setup, OmniFocus fits in more places.
- Owning it
- You can buy OmniFocus 4 once. Relay is a subscription.
Where Relay is stronger
- Devices that are not all Apple
- An Android phone, a Windows laptop at work, a Chromebook at home. Relay runs the whole system on each, review included.
- A guided review
- Relay's weekly review is a guided sequence, from clearing your head to the final sweep, so you never need a checklist beside it. The steps, explained.
- The higher horizons
- Areas, goals, vision and purpose are real levels in Relay, and any project can link up to what it serves. Horizons, explained.
- The tools you already use
- Google and Outlook calendars beside your actions, and two-way sync with Google Tasks, Todoist and Microsoft To Do, so other apps can stay as ways in.
Which to pick
If every device you use is Apple and you lean on custom perspectives, stay with OmniFocus. It is very good at what it does.
If any of your devices is not Apple, or you want the method laid out for you rather than built from perspectives, try Relay. It imports your OmniFocus projects and Inbox; see moving from OmniFocus.
Sources, checked 3 October 2026: OmniFocus, OmniFocus pricing, OmniFocus Pro features, OmniFocus manual, Inspector, OmniFocus for the Web, Relay pricing. OmniFocus is a trademark of The Omni Group, which is not affiliated with Relay.
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