Feature deep dive
Todoist start dates: the workaround vs. the real thing
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Start dates have been the most-requested feature on r/todoist for years. In January 2025, Todoist launched “Deadlines” — a second date field. But it's not start dates. Here's what it actually does, why it falls short, and what real defer dates look like.
What Todoist users actually want
When people ask for “start dates” in Todoist, they mean one specific thing: hide a task from my view until the day I can actually start working on it.
The concept is simple. You need to renew your passport. The due date is June 30. But you can't start until the post office opens appointments on May 1. You want to create the task now so you don't forget it, set May 1 as the start date, and have it disappear from your Today view until May 1 arrives. Zero noise for two months. Zero risk of forgetting.
In GTD terminology, this is called a defer date — the date when a task becomes actionable. Until that date, it's deferred. Hidden. Out of your way.
“My biggest pain point with Todoist is the lack of start dates.” — Things 3 user switching to Todoist
What Todoist's Deadlines feature actually does
In January 2025, Todoist launched “Deadlines” for Pro and Business users. Here's what it adds:
Before Deadlines: Each task had one date field. It functioned as both “when to do it” and “when it's due.” There was no way to separate the two.
After Deadlines: Each task now has two date fields. The original date becomes the “do date” (when you plan to work on it). The new Deadline field is when it's actually due. If you haven't completed the task by the deadline, it shows a warning.
This is a genuine improvement. Separating “when to do” from “when it's due” is useful. But it doesn't solve the core problem that users have been requesting for years.
Here's why:
Tasks are never hidden
A task with a future “do date” of May 1 is still visible in project views, search results, and filter views today. It doesn't hibernate. It doesn't disappear from your active lists. Todoist's own help article confirms: “Todoist does not support start dates that hide your tasks until their start date is due.”
The overdue avalanche remains
When a task's “do date” passes without completion, it becomes “overdue” in red. The Deadlines feature doesn't change this. Your Today view still fills with red items you planned to start but didn't get to — mixed in with items that are genuinely late.
Pro/Business only
The Deadlines feature requires Todoist Pro ($60/year) or Business ($8/user/month). Free users don't get the second date field at all.
“The number of overdue tasks slowly ticks up to panic-inducing levels.” — r/todoist user
The common workarounds (and why they break)
Todoist power users have developed several workarounds for the missing start dates. Each has costs:
1. Use the date field as a start date
Set the task date to when you want to start rather than when it's due. It surfaces on the right day. But now you've lost the due date information — or you have to put it in the task title or a comment. And if you don't complete it on the start date, it becomes “overdue” immediately.
2. Create a “Tickler” project
Put future tasks in a Tickler project and use recurring reminders to surface them. This simulates a tickler file but requires manual management. You have to remember to check the Tickler project, move items out when they become actionable, and maintain the system alongside your regular projects.
3. Use filters to hide future tasks
Create a filter like “due before: tomorrow” to only see current tasks. This works for your custom views but doesn't affect the default Today view, project views, or search results. Future tasks still appear everywhere else.
4. Use labels as a manual defer system
Tag tasks with @deferred and filter them out. Then manually remove the tag when the start date arrives. This works but adds a manual step to every deferred task, requires discipline to maintain, and doesn't surface tasks automatically on the right day.
Every workaround adds maintenance. Maintenance is the opposite of what GTD is supposed to provide. The system should handle this for you.
What real defer dates look like
Apps that implement true defer dates share three characteristics:
| Behavior | Todoist “Deadlines” | OmniFocus / Things 3 | SingleFocus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate start and due dates | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hides task until start date | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-surfaces on start date | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No “overdue” shame for deferred items | ✗ | Partial | ✓ “Carried over” |
| Works on Windows / Android | ✓ | Apple only | ✓ |
| Free tier includes this | Pro only ($60/yr) | ~$80 one-time | ✓ Free |
The key difference is one word: hides. Real defer dates remove the task from your active views entirely. It's not filtered, not dimmed, not moved to the bottom of a list. It's gone until the start date arrives. Then it reappears automatically, as a fresh actionable item.
“Without defer dates the clutter built up way too fast.” — psidnell, Omni Group Forums
Why this matters more than it seems
Missing start dates isn't just a feature gap. It's a design philosophy difference. Todoist shows you everything and expects you to manage the noise. Apps with defer dates show you only what's actionable and manage the rest for you.
The impact compounds over time. After a month of using Todoist, a typical GTD user has 20–50 tasks visible that aren't actionable yet. After six months, that number can reach hundreds. The Today view stops being useful. You stop trusting it. You stop opening the app. The system collapses — not because you failed at GTD, but because the tool didn't support the methodology.
This is why defer dates are the single most important feature in a GTD app. They're the mechanism that keeps your system clean, your views trustworthy, and your mind clear. For a deeper look, see The Case for Defer Dates.
“The pain of running 2 separate GTD universes was greater than not having a desktop client. Todoist was fine, but without defer dates the clutter built up way too fast.” — psidnell, Omni Group Forums
Related guides
The case for defer dates
Why defer dates are the most underrated feature in task management and which apps have them.
Best Todoist alternatives in 2026
After the price hike, what are the real alternatives? Honest comparison of every option.
Todoist vs SingleFocus
An honest comparison for people who take GTD seriously. Where each app excels and falls short.
Stop waiting for Todoist to add start dates
SingleFocus has real defer dates that hide tasks until they're actionable. Free during early access. Cross-platform. No credit card.
Also see: Todoist vs SingleFocus · Todoist Alternatives · Best GTD App 2026
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