Things 3 vs Todoist
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Things 3 is a personal task manager designed by Cultured Code for macOS, iPhone, and iPad. It helps you capture ideas, organize projects, and stay on top of daily work with a clean, intuitive interface. With features like Projects, Areas, Tags, and a built-in Calendar view, Things 3 lets you structure your to‑do list the way you think, while iCloud sync keeps your tasks up‑to‑date across all your Apple devices.
Todoist is a cloud‑based task manager that helps individuals and teams capture, organize, and prioritize work across devices. Its flexible project views, natural‑language input, and powerful filters let users build custom workflows and stay on top of deadlines.
- Elegant, distraction‑free interface
- Deep integration with iOS/macOS ecosystem
- Powerful hierarchical organization
- Reliable iCloud sync across devices
- Intuitive natural‑language entry speeds up task capture.
- Robust cross‑platform sync keeps data consistent everywhere.
- Powerful filters and labels enable highly customized views.
- Free tier offers generous features for individual users.
- Only available on Apple platforms
- No native Windows or Android support
- No public API for third‑party extensions
- Advanced automation requires a paid subscription.
- Limited offline functionality on some mobile devices.
- No built‑in time‑tracking or budgeting features.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Things 3
View all →Native Mac and iOS calendar app with tasks, smart filters, and natural language input.
Task management app for individuals, families, and teams with calendar and AI planning.
Alternatives to Todoist
View all →
Open‑source task manager that blends time tracking, kanban and agile planning for freelancers and small teams.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataTodoist offers a free tier, cross‑platform support and collaboration, while Things 3 is a paid, Apple‑only app focused on personal, hierarchical task management.
Key differences
- •Platform coverage – Todoist works on Web, Windows, Android, iOS; Things 3 runs only on macOS/iOS.
- •Pricing – Todoist has a freemium model; Things 3 requires a one‑time purchase.
- •Collaboration – Todoist lets you share projects and assign tasks; Things 3 has no built‑in team features.
- •Automation & filters – Todoist provides natural‑language entry, labels and custom filters; Things 3 relies on manual tagging and hierarchical areas.
- •API & extensibility – Todoist offers a public API and Zapier integration; Things 3 has no public API.
Pricing & value
Todoist’s freemium tier provides generous features at no cost; Things 3 requires a paid license.
Ease of use / learning curve
Things 3’s native macOS/iOS UI is praised for being elegant and distraction‑free, requiring minimal setup.
Features & depth
Todoist includes natural‑language entry, recurring tasks, labels, filters and four priority levels; Things 3 lacks these advanced filters.
Integrations & ecosystem
Todoist integrates with Slack, Google Calendar, Outlook, Zapier, Alexa and offers an API; Things 3 only syncs via iCloud and integrates with Calendar, Reminders, Siri.
Collaboration
Todoist supports shared projects, task assignment and comments; Things 3 has no collaboration features.
Support
Both provide email support; Todoist adds a Help Center and community forum, while Things 3 offers only email.
Scalability / lock‑in
Todoist’s cloud SaaS model and API make it easier to scale and migrate; Things 3 is tied to Apple devices with no API.
Choose Things 3 if…
Mac/iOS‑only users who want a sleek personal organizer without needing team features.
Choose Todoist if…
Freelancers, small teams, or anyone needing cross‑platform, collaborative task management.
Common questions
Can I use the tool on Windows or Android?
Todoist works on Windows, Android, Web, macOS and iOS; Things 3 is only available on macOS and iOS.
Is there a free version?
Todoist offers a freemium tier with core features; Things 3 requires a one‑time purchase.
Can I collaborate with teammates?
Yes, Todoist allows sharing projects, assigning tasks and commenting; Things 3 has no built‑in collaboration capabilities.