- Platform
- iOS
- Category
- Productivity
- Status
- Live
- Price
- Free
- Version
- 1.2.1 · since 2026-07
Quipu is a keyboard-first client for Vikunja, the open-source, self-hosted task manager, built for iPhone and iPad. Every action has a single-key shortcut, there is a Today focus with a daily planning prompt, per-project Kanban boards and quick capture from the clipboard, a widget and a URL scheme. It is available on the App Store and connects to your own Vikunja server.
What it does
- Fast by design: j/k to move, e to edit, y to add to Today, x to mark done, / for a command palette that finds any action by name. Shortcuts are fully remappable.
- Today focus: pick a handful of tasks each morning; a dedicated Today view and a clean daily reset keep yesterday’s picks from piling up.
- Kanban, your way: switch any project to a To-Do / Doing / Done board that mirrors Vikunja’s buckets and move cards with a keystroke or a drag.
- Quick capture from anywhere: “New task from clipboard”, a URL scheme for Shortcuts automations, a home-screen widget, and drag-and-drop of emails, files or links onto a list (small files become notes, bigger ones a real attachment).
- Quick-add “magic”: type @labels, !priority, due dates and #project inline; #NewName creates the project on the spot.
- Multi-server, multi-device: connect as many Vikunja servers as you use and sync your settings through iCloud Keychain.
- Apple Watch app with a Today view across projects and task creation from the wrist; light/dark appearance and eight accent colours.
Who it is for
People who run their own Vikunja and live on a hardware keyboard — an iPad with a Magic Keyboard, or a Mac running iPad apps — and want to fly through tasks without touching the screen. Touch works fine for quick reviews; the keyboard is where the app was designed to shine.
Privacy and data
Your tasks live on your Vikunja server, self-hosted or hosted by a provider of your choice; Quipu authenticates with an API token stored in the Keychain. The app runs no analytics and shows no ads. A privacy policy is published on this site.
Pricing and licence
Free on the App Store, with no in-app purchases. The App Store description states that Quipu is open source and given back to the community. Requires iOS 17 or later; interface in English and Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quipu for Vikunja free?
Yes. Quipu is free on the App Store, has no in-app purchases, no ads and no analytics, and the App Store description states that it is open source and given back to the community. The only thing you need to bring is a Vikunja server — the app is a client and does not host your tasks itself.
Does Quipu need a Vikunja server?
Yes. Quipu is a client for Vikunja, the open-source self-hosted task manager, so it needs a Vikunja instance to connect to: one you self-host or one hosted by a provider of your choice. On first launch you enter the server URL and a Vikunja API token (created under Settings, API Tokens in the Vikunja web UI); the token is stored in the Keychain. You can add several servers and switch between them instantly.
Does Quipu work on iPad with a keyboard?
That is the main use case. On iPad — and on a Mac running iPad apps — every action has a single-key shortcut: j/k to move, e to edit, y to send a task to Today, x to complete, / for the command palette, Tab to nest tasks and projects, h/l to switch panels. Shortcuts are remappable. In regular width the app uses a collapsible sidebar and a detail panel you can hide from the toolbar.
How do I capture a task quickly?
Several ways. A New task from clipboard shortcut turns whatever you copied into a task; a home-screen widget captures straight to your Inbox with one tap; a URL scheme lets Shortcuts automations create tasks; and you can drop an email from Mail, a file or a link onto a task list — small files become notes, bigger ones an attachment. Inline magic syntax (@label, !priority, #project, a due date) fills the fields as you type.
Is there an Apple Watch app?
Yes. The Quipu watch app picks up your account from the iPhone, shows a Today view listing what is due today across every project, and lets you add tasks straight from the watch. Settings sync across your own devices through iCloud Keychain, so a second iPhone or iPad connects to the same servers without re-entering tokens.