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Task vs Mage: catalog facts
Task	Mage
Best for: Run repeatable project tasks with a cross-platform build tool	Best for: Write build tasks as ordinary Go functions
Free The open-source application is available without a license fee.	Free The open-source application is available without a license fee.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Cross-platform task execution	Build tasks use normal Go code
Projects need task definitions before commands can be run.	Requires a Go development environment.
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: MIT	License: Apache-2.0
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Task github.com/go-task/task Catalog checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Mage github.com/magefile/mage Catalog checked September 22, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.