Most side projects don't die because the idea was bad. They die because the tracking system required more effort than the project itself. You open Jira to log a bug and twenty minutes later you're configuring a custom field schema. You set up a Notion database and spend an afternoon designing the perfect template. Meanwhile, the actual code you wanted to write sits untouched.
What developers tracking side projects actually need is something closer to a sticky note on a monitor — fast to write, easy to find, impossible to over-engineer. The catch is that real sticky notes don't sync, don't remind you, and can't hold a screenshot or a log file. This article is about finding the right middle ground: tools that keep your side project alive without becoming a side project themselves.
What to Look for in a Loose Project Tracker
A loose project tracker is not a project management tool. It is a low-friction system for capturing what you're working on, what you still need to do, and what you learned — without requiring you to maintain the system itself. This distinction matters enormously, because the moment maintaining the tracker becomes a task, the tracker becomes the enemy.
Three criteria actually separate useful loose trackers from the ones that collect dust:
- Capture speed. If writing a note takes more than five seconds, you'll stop writing notes. The best tools let you dump a thought the moment it surfaces — from your browser, your phone, or your desktop — before context switches kill it.
- Zero mandatory structure. Side projects are inherently exploratory. A tracker that forces you into boards, epics, or sprints before you can write anything is solving a different problem. You need something that accepts a half-formed thought and doesn't demand you categorize it.
- Enough features to matter later. Pure text files work for the first week. But at some point you need a reminder to follow up on a Stack Overflow thread, a place to attach a mockup screenshot, or a way to share a note with a friend who's helping you test. The tracker needs to grow a little with the project without requiring a migration.
Why TaskLoco Fits the Developer Side-Project Workflow
TaskLoco is built around sticky notes — and that's not a limitation, it's a deliberate philosophy. Each note is a self-contained unit: a task, an idea, a log entry, a link. You don't start by designing a database. You start by writing. The wall view puts all your notes in front of you at once, so you can see everything in a single glance the way a developer sees a Kanban board without the ceremony of one.
The Chrome extension is the feature that actually makes this click for side-project work. When you find a GitHub issue that's relevant to your project, a Reddit thread with a workaround, or a documentation page you'll need tomorrow, one click captures it as a note with the URL already embedded. No tab-switching, no copy-paste loop, no 'I'll come back to this' that you never do. It captures the page title and URL instantly and drops it straight into your notes.
TaskLoco Premium adds the features that matter when a project gets serious: file attachments (10GB of storage, so screenshots, logs, and design files all live next to the notes they belong to), reminders delivered as push notifications to your phone and computer that deep-link back to the exact note you set them on, a calendar view so you can see what's due across all your projects, and team sharing that works like email — send a note to a collaborator, they clone it and make it their own. No permissions to configure, no access levels to manage.
For developers who want to start free, TaskLoco Lite (native iPhone and Android app) gives you up to 20 notes stored locally on your device with no sign-in required — completely anonymous. When you're ready to sync across devices and grab the Chrome extension, Lite Plus+ is free too: up to 30 notes, synced across all your devices via the web app, no account setup beyond a Google sign-in. You only pay when you need reminders, attachments, unlimited notes, and team features.
Capturing Ideas at the Speed You Think
The graveyard of side projects is full of ideas that died in transit — between the browser tab where you found something useful and the tool where you were supposed to write it down. TaskLoco eliminates that gap in two ways. The Chrome extension means any webpage becomes a note in one click. And on mobile, the Lite app requires zero sign-in — open it, write, done. No auth flow, no loading screen, no 'select your workspace' prompt.
When you do want the full experience on mobile, the web app runs in your phone's browser and gives you access to every Premium feature — unlimited notes, file attachments, reminders, and calendar — without requiring a native app download. It's the same interface you use on your laptop, just on a smaller screen.
The file attachment system deserves specific attention for developers. Side projects generate artifacts constantly: architecture sketches, API response samples, error screenshots, exported Figma frames. In most note tools, attaching a file means switching to a different system or fighting with embed limits. In TaskLoco Premium, you get 10GB of storage, attachments live directly on the note they belong to, and you can stack more storage in tiers — 10GB, 50GB, 200GB, 1TB — if a project grows into something bigger.
When TaskLoco Is the Right Call — and When It Isn't
TaskLoco is the right tool when the project is real but the process should stay light. If you're a solo developer shipping something on weekends, a designer and a developer building a tool together, or a small group doing async collaboration on a shared codebase — TaskLoco handles all of that without requiring anyone to become a project manager.
The sharing model is worth understanding: each team member needs their own TaskLoco Premium subscription. Shared notes work like emails — you send a note to someone, they receive it, clone it, and own their copy. It's fast, flexible, and requires no configuration. But it does mean that if you're coordinating with five collaborators, each of them needs their own account. That's intentional — TaskLoco is built around individual subscriptions, not seat-pooling.
Be honest about the limits. If your side project has grown into something with real sprint planning, external stakeholders, and deadline dependencies tracked across multiple contributors, you may eventually want Gantt charts and timeline views — TaskLoco doesn't have those. If you need an API for custom integrations or natural language task input, those aren't here either. But for the vast majority of developer side projects that need to stay moving without becoming a management exercise, TaskLoco hits exactly the right balance.
How TaskLoco Compares
| Feature | TaskLoco | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Two free tiers: Lite (20 notes, no sign-in, native app) and Lite Plus+ (30 notes, synced, web + Chrome extension) FREE | Free tier available with limited blocks and no advanced features |
| Setup time to first note | Seconds — Lite requires zero sign-in; Lite Plus+ needs only a Google sign-in | Requires account creation, workspace naming, and template selection before you can write anything |
| Native mobile app | Lite is a native iPhone and Android app — anonymous, no account, 20 notes stored on device FREE | Native iOS and Android apps available |
| Chrome extension | One-click capture of any webpage into a note — free with Lite Plus+ and Premium FREE | Web clipper available via browser extension |
| Cross-device sync | Lite Plus+ and Premium sync across all devices via web app FREE | Syncs across devices on all tiers |
| Note capture speed | Open and write in seconds — no template, no schema, no mandatory fields | Flexible but requires choosing a page type or block before writing |
| File attachments | 10GB storage included with Premium; stackable up to 1TB in add-on tiers | File uploads available; storage limits depend on plan |
| Reminders | Push notification reminders that deep-link back to the original note; optional email and SMS add-on | Reminders available on paid plans |
| Calendar view | Full calendar view included with Premium | Calendar view available via linked databases |
| Team sharing | Yes — included with Premium. Each team member requires a separate subscription — currently $9.99/month per person, but TaskLoco is offering a Charter Member special: 50% off for life, currently $4.99/month per person for the first 500 subscribers with code CHARTER50. | Full workspace sharing with simple note sharing with real-time updates and page-level access control |
| Required structure | None — write a note, done; structure is optional | Flexible but encourages (and often requires) choosing a structure before you start |
| Unlimited notes | Unlimited notes, tasks, and calendar events with Premium | Block limits on free tier; unlimited on paid |
| API access | Not available | Public API available for custom integrations |
| Database / relational views | Not available — TaskLoco is note and task focused | Full database functionality with relations, rollups, and custom fields |
| Gantt / timeline view | Not available | Timeline view available on paid plans |
| Natural language input | Not available | Not natively available — requires third-party integration |
| Anonymous use | Lite app is fully anonymous — no account, no email, no data sent to any server FREE | Account required for all tiers |
| Push notification reminders | Reminders fire as push notifications to phone and computer, deep-linking to the note | Reminders available; notification delivery depends on platform and settings |
Who Should Use Each
Use TaskLoco if…
- You want to capture ideas the moment they surface — no templates, no setup, no mandatory fields
- You're a developer with one or more side projects that need tracking but not project management
- You want reminders that fire as push notifications and deep-link back to the exact note you set them on
- You attach screenshots, logs, and mockups constantly and want them to live next to the notes they belong to
- You discovered a useful page in your browser and want to capture it in one click via the Chrome extension
- You want to start completely free and anonymous, then upgrade only when you need reminders and file storage
- You're collaborating with one or two other people and want to share notes without configuring permissions
Use Notion if…
- You need a full relational database with custom fields, rollups, and multi-view layouts
- Your project requires a public API for custom integrations with other tools
- You need Gantt charts or timeline views for dependency tracking
- You want one tool that doubles as a team wiki, company handbook, and project tracker in a single workspace
- Your team requires enterprise SSO or compliance certifications
TaskLoco Premium is regularly $9.99/month per person. Right now, charter members can lock in 50% off the regular price — forever. That means $4.99/month per person today. And if our price ever goes up, you still pay half. Always.
Code CHARTER50 auto-applies at checkout. First 500 spots only — once they're gone, this offer is gone permanently. Act fast while spots last.
Every Premium subscription includes unlimited notes, 10GB file storage, reminders, calendar, and team sharing. Each team member requires a separate subscription. 7-day free trial — no charge until day 8. Cancel anytime.
Free Options: TaskLoco
TaskLoco Lite
- Native iPhone & Android app
- Completely anonymous — no sign-in
- Data stays on your device
- Up to 20 notes
- Free forever
TaskLoco Lite Plus+
- Web app + Chrome extension
- Sign in with Google
- Wall syncs across all devices
- Up to 30 notes
- Free forever
Lock In 50% Off — Forever
7-day free trial. No charge until day 8. CHARTER50 auto-applies at checkout.
🔒 Lock In My Charter SpotSee TaskLoco in Action
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best app for tracking a developer side project without over-engineering it?
TaskLoco is purpose-built for this. You open it, write a note, and you're done — no template selection, no field configuration, no mandatory structure. The Chrome extension captures any page in one click. Reminders fire as push notifications and deep-link straight back to the note. It stays out of your way on day one and grows with you if the project gets serious.
Is there a free version of TaskLoco for solo developers?
Two of them. TaskLoco Lite is a native iPhone and Android app — completely anonymous, no sign-in, up to 20 notes stored on your device. TaskLoco Lite Plus+ is free too: sign in with Google, get up to 30 notes synced across all your devices, and use the Chrome extension to capture any webpage in one click. You only upgrade to Premium when you need reminders, file attachments, unlimited notes, or team sharing.
Does TaskLoco have a Chrome extension for capturing pages while I browse?
Yes, and it's free with Lite Plus+ and Premium. One click saves the current page as a note with the URL already embedded. When you find a GitHub issue, a Stack Overflow answer, or a docs page you'll need later, you capture it without leaving the browser.
How do reminders work in TaskLoco?
TaskLoco Premium reminders are delivered as push notifications to your phone and computer. The key feature is that they deep-link back to the original note — so when the reminder fires, one tap takes you directly to the context you set it on. Email notification is an optional additional channel. SMS is an optional add-on.
Can I attach files to notes in TaskLoco?
Yes, with TaskLoco Premium. You get 10GB of file storage included, and attachments live directly on the note they belong to. If you generate a lot of assets — screenshots, exported designs, log files, architecture diagrams — you can stack additional storage in tiers: 10GB, 50GB, 200GB, or 1TB, stackable up to 100x.
How does TaskLoco pricing work for a team?
$9.99/month per person (currently $4.99/month per person for first 500 charter members with code CHARTER50)
When should a developer use Notion instead of TaskLoco?
If your side project has grown to the point where you need a relational database with custom fields and rollups, a public API for custom integrations, or Gantt-style timeline views for dependency tracking, Notion is the stronger fit. TaskLoco is optimized for fast, low-ceremony note and task capture — not for building structured data systems. If you find yourself designing a database schema to track your side project, that's a signal you may want a different tool for that specific need.
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TaskLoco is available on iPhone, Android, Chrome, and every web browser.