TaskLite vs Vikunja
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted project management & tasks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Vikunja
Open-source to-do and project management app
| Feature | TaskLite | Vikunja |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 67 · Good | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | Project Management & Tasks | Project Management & Tasks |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Elm | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 291 | ★ 5,494 |
| First released | 2019 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Todoist, Things | Todoist, Trello, Asana |
What are TaskLite and Vikunja?
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
Vikunja
Vikunja is an open-source to-do app and project management tool with lists, kanban, gantt, and calendar views. It targets individuals and teams wanting flexible task management. It is deployed via Docker or a single binary.
- List, kanban, gantt and calendar views
- Reminders and recurring tasks
- REST API
- Lightweight single binary
TaskLite vs Vikunja: key differences
TaskLite is written in Elm, while Vikunja is built with Go. TaskLite is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Vikunja. Vikunja has the considerably larger community, at 5,494 GitHub stars versus 291. Vikunja 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 Vikunja if…
- Flexible task views
- Lightweight
- Good API
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Fewer integrations than rivals
Frequently asked questions
Is TaskLite or Vikunja better?
Neither is universally better. Vikunja has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are TaskLite and Vikunja free and open-source?
Yes. TaskLite is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Vikunja under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run TaskLite and Vikunja with Docker?
TaskLite: check the project docs for container support. Vikunja: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, TaskLite or Vikunja?
TaskLite has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Vikunja. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.