Todoist is a task manager, not a time tracker. Tidst is the integration that bridges the gap — pulling your completed tasks into a time logging workflow automatically, via the official Todoist API.

Why Todoist doesn't have built-in time tracking

Todoist is purpose-built for task management — capturing, organizing, and completing tasks. Time tracking is a different problem: recording how long you spent on each piece of work. Most Todoist users who need to track billable time end up running a second tool alongside it.

The trouble is that most time tracking tools don't talk to Todoist natively. Tools like Toggl offer a browser extension that shows a timer button inside the Todoist web interface, but that only works in the browser. If you complete tasks on your phone, Apple Watch, or the desktop app, those completions are invisible to the extension.

Tidst takes a different approach: instead of injecting UI into Todoist's interface, it connects through the Todoist API and reads your task completions directly from the source. This means it works regardless of where or how you complete tasks.

How the Tidst–Todoist integration works

Tidst connects to your Todoist account using OAuth 2.0 — the same secure authorization standard used by major apps. You authorize Tidst once, and it gets read/write access to your Todoist tasks. No passwords are shared; you can revoke access at any time from your Todoist account settings.

Once connected, Tidst polls the Todoist API for task completion events across the projects you've enabled. When you complete a task, it appears in The Queue in Tidst — along with the task name, the project it belongs to, and the date. This happens regardless of which device or app you used to complete the task.

Tidst uses the Todoist Sync API, which gives access to the full task history including completions that happened before you connected Tidst. This means you don't need to have Tidst open for tasks to be captured — they'll be waiting in The Queue when you come back.

Label tracking: time data inside Todoist itself

Tidst has a feature called label tracking that takes the integration one step further. You create standard Todoist labels named @15min, @30min, @60min, or @90min. When you add one of these labels to a task and complete it, Tidst reads the label and pre-fills the duration in The Queue.

This lets you record time without ever opening Tidst. You add a label in Todoist, complete the task, and the entry is ready to approve in The Queue — with the duration already set. For freelancers and consultants who have a feel for how long recurring tasks take, this makes time tracking almost invisible.

Label tracking works anywhere you can assign Todoist labels: the web app, iOS, Android, and even Siri or Apple Watch via Todoist's integrations. The labels are just regular Todoist labels — there's nothing special to install.

What the integration tracks

For each completed task, Tidst captures:

Task name — the exact text of your Todoist task
Project — which Todoist project the task belonged to
Completion date — when the task was marked complete
Duration — pre-filled if a time label was applied; otherwise you enter it in The Queue

This data is stored in Tidst's database (powered by Supabase) and never shared with third parties. The integration only reads task information — it doesn't modify your Todoist tasks, create tasks on your behalf, or access anything outside the projects you've selected.

Tidst vs other Todoist integrations

There are a handful of ways to add time tracking to Todoist. Here's how they compare:

Integration type	How it works	Limitation
Toggl / Clockify browser extension	Injects a timer button into Todoist's web UI	Only works in the browser; no mobile support
Zapier automations	Triggers when a Todoist task is completed	Requires setup and Zapier subscription; no native time UI
Harvest + Todoist	Manual logging, some Zapier integration available	Expensive; built for teams; manual entry still required
Tidst	Reads completions via Todoist API; The Queue + label tracking	Requires Todoist; solo use only

Setting up the integration

Sign up at tidst.com. No credit card required. Free trial for 14 days.
Click "Connect Todoist" on the onboarding screen. You'll be taken to Todoist's authorization page.
Approve the connection. Tidst requests read/write access to your tasks. This is necessary to read completions and to write time label data back if needed.
Select your projects. Choose which Todoist projects you want to track time for. You can add or remove projects at any time from Settings.
Start completing tasks. They'll appear in The Queue automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Does Tidst modify my Todoist tasks?

No. Tidst reads your task data but does not modify, delete, or create tasks in Todoist. The connection is read-focused.

What happens if I disconnect Todoist?

Your existing time entries in Tidst are preserved. You can reconnect at any time and the integration will pick up from where it left off.

Does it capture tasks completed before I connected?

Yes. Tidst reads your recent task completion history from the Todoist API on first connection, so you don't start with an empty Queue.

Does the integration work with Todoist Free?

Yes. All Todoist plans — Free, Pro, and Business — are supported.

Learn more about how time tracking in Todoist works or see why it's ideal for freelancers.

Todoist time tracking integration