The Daily List Dilemma: Logseq, Obsidian, and Other Contenders (Bite-size Article)

Introduction A while ago I wrote an article How I Make a Daily Task List with Logseq, explaining how I manage my day‑to‑day tasks. Even now, the basic structure of that ecosystem hasn’t changed much, but I’ve started using Obsidian for quick notes, etc, a few small workflow tweaks have crept in. How I Use Logseq to Manage My Daily List In this post I’d like to tidy up my current daily‑list workflow and share where I might take it next. I rely on Logseq, an outliner‑style note‑taking tool, to create and manage a daily list of tasks. Although Logseq is extremely flexible, I mainly use its Journals feature: Journals automatically generates a dated page each day. I capture the tasks and notes for that date—usually the night before or first thing in the morning. With the list visible while I work, I can focus on one task at a time without second‑guessing what’s next. What’s Starting to Bug Me About Logseq Logseq has served me well for a long time, but lately a few pain points have surfaced: Unstable sync – Sync can be slow or fail to update, especially when multiple devices are editing the same data. Mobile UX – Because of the sync hiccups, working from my phone is often frustrating (on desktop it’s fine). Awkward future‑date entries – Journals always opens “today,” so writing tasks for a future date is clunky. A calendar plug‑in helps, but it feels bolted‑on rather than native. These and other small annoyances made me wonder if a different tool might suit my workflow better. Tools I Researched (and Dabbled With) Obsidian Markdown‑based, snappy, and has a rich plug‑in ecosystem. Core features are free and all data is local. Catch: Mobile sync is easiest with the paid Obsidian Sync service; free third‑party sync is possible but takes extra setup. Workflowy A super‑simple web outliner with rock‑solid sync and great mobile apps. The UI is nice and clean, but the free plan limits node count, so serious use means a subscription. Dynalist An outliner similar to Workflowy, with basic Markdown formatting, date tagging (e.g. !2024-04-20), and internal linking—making it a convenient option for lightweight task and note management. Others Polished, UI‑friendly Tana; Google ToDo for a straight‑up task list; Scrapbox with its unique link‑first knowledge graph; and security‑minded Joplin and Standard Notes. Each has its own strengths, and depending on one’s goals they could all be viable options. Conclusion For my needs, an outliner‑style daily list still feels like the best fit. That said, a simple list app such as Google ToDo might work if the rest of my ecosystem shifts that way. Exploring these alternatives reminded me why I like Logseq—its flexibility and outline‑centric design suit how I think. So, for now, I’ll stick with Logseq and keep an eye on the landscape in case something even better shows up. After all, there’s always room for improvement—and it never hurts to keep your antennae up. That’s all for this recent review of daily list management tools. If you have any recommendations or have faced similar challenges, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

May 2, 2025 - 22:45

The Daily List Dilemma: Logseq, Obsidian, and Other Contenders (Bite-size Article)

Introduction

A while ago I wrote an article How I Make a Daily Task List with Logseq, explaining how I manage my day‑to‑day tasks.

Even now, the basic structure of that ecosystem hasn’t changed much, but I’ve started using Obsidian for quick notes, etc, a few small workflow tweaks have crept in.

How I Use Logseq to Manage My Daily List

In this post I’d like to tidy up my current daily‑list workflow and share where I might take it next.

I rely on Logseq, an outliner‑style note‑taking tool, to create and manage a daily list of tasks. Although Logseq is extremely flexible, I mainly use its Journals feature:

Journals automatically generates a dated page each day.
I capture the tasks and notes for that date—usually the night before or first thing in the morning.
With the list visible while I work, I can focus on one task at a time without second‑guessing what’s next.

What’s Starting to Bug Me About Logseq

Logseq has served me well for a long time, but lately a few pain points have surfaced:

Unstable sync – Sync can be slow or fail to update, especially when multiple devices are editing the same data.
Mobile UX – Because of the sync hiccups, working from my phone is often frustrating (on desktop it’s fine).
Awkward future‑date entries – Journals always opens “today,” so writing tasks for a future date is clunky. A calendar plug‑in helps, but it feels bolted‑on rather than native.

These and other small annoyances made me wonder if a different tool might suit my workflow better.

Tools I Researched (and Dabbled With)

Obsidian

Markdown‑based, snappy, and has a rich plug‑in ecosystem.
Core features are free and all data is local.
Catch: Mobile sync is easiest with the paid Obsidian Sync service; free third‑party sync is possible but takes extra setup.

Workflowy

A super‑simple web outliner with rock‑solid sync and great mobile apps.
The UI is nice and clean, but the free plan limits node count, so serious use means a subscription.

Dynalist

An outliner similar to Workflowy, with basic Markdown formatting, date tagging (e.g. !2024-04-20), and internal linking—making it a convenient option for lightweight task and note management.

Others

Polished, UI‑friendly Tana; Google ToDo for a straight‑up task list; Scrapbox with its unique link‑first knowledge graph; and security‑minded Joplin and Standard Notes.

Each has its own strengths, and depending on one’s goals they could all be viable options.

Conclusion

For my needs, an outliner‑style daily list still feels like the best fit. That said, a simple list app such as Google ToDo might work if the rest of my ecosystem shifts that way.

Exploring these alternatives reminded me why I like Logseq—its flexibility and outline‑centric design suit how I think. So, for now, I’ll stick with Logseq and keep an eye on the landscape in case something even better shows up.

After all, there’s always room for improvement—and it never hurts to keep your antennae up.

That’s all for this recent review of daily list management tools.
If you have any recommendations or have faced similar challenges, I’d love to hear your thoughts!