TaskLite vs Tracks
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted project management & tasks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | TaskLite | Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 67 · Good | 62 · Good |
| Category | Project Management & Tasks | Project Management & Tasks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Elm | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 291 | ★ 1,239 |
| First released | 2019 | 2004 |
| Replaces | Todoist, Things | Todoist, OmniFocus |
What are TaskLite and Tracks?
TaskLite
TaskLite is an open-source command-line task manager backed by an SQLite database. It supports tags, priorities, due dates, and notes for organizing work from the terminal.
- CLI task manager
- SQLite backed
- Tags and priorities
- Due dates and notes
Tracks
Tracks is a web-based application designed to help you implement the Getting Things Done methodology. It organizes tasks into projects and contexts with a focus on personal productivity.
- GTD contexts and projects
- Next-action tracking
- Recurring todos
- Mobile-friendly interface
TaskLite vs Tracks: key differences
TaskLite is written in Elm, while Tracks is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for TaskLite versus GPL-2.0 for Tracks. TaskLite is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Tracks. Tracks is the more established project (first released 2004), while TaskLite arrived in 2019. Tracks has the considerably larger community, at 1,239 GitHub stars versus 291. Tracks lists first-class Docker deployment; TaskLite does not.
Why pick each one
Choose TaskLite if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Elm
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Choose Tracks if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Ruby
Frequently asked questions
Is TaskLite or Tracks better?
Neither is universally better. Tracks has the larger community, while TaskLite is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are TaskLite and Tracks free and open-source?
Yes. TaskLite is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tracks under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run TaskLite and Tracks with Docker?
TaskLite: check the project docs for container support. Tracks: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, TaskLite or Tracks?
TaskLite has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Tracks. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.