Overview
When it comes to personal task management, Todoist and Things 3 are two of the most respected names in the space. Both are polished, capable, and loved by their users — but they take very different approaches. Choosing between them comes down to your platform, workflow style, and how much you value flexibility vs. simplicity.
Platform Availability
| Feature | Todoist | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| iOS | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Android | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Mac | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Windows | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Web app | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
This is often the deciding factor. If you use Android or Windows, Things 3 simply isn't an option — it's Apple-only. If you're fully in the Apple ecosystem, both are viable.
Pricing Model
Todoist uses a subscription model. There's a limited free tier, and the Pro plan unlocks reminders, filters, labels, and calendar sync. Teams get additional collaboration features.
Things 3 uses a one-time purchase model — separate purchases for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. There are no subscriptions. If you hate recurring charges, Things 3 wins immediately.
Design & User Experience
Things 3 is widely considered one of the most beautifully designed apps on any platform. Its interface is calm, uncluttered, and opinionated in a way that feels thoughtful rather than limiting. Every interaction feels intentional.
Todoist is clean and functional, but it prioritizes power over aesthetics. It supports themes and is well-organized, though it can feel busier as your task list grows.
Task Organization
Todoist
- Projects and sub-projects
- Sections within projects
- Labels and filters for cross-project views
- Priority levels (P1–P4)
- Natural language date input (type "every Monday at 9am")
Things 3
- Areas (life categories like "Work" or "Home")
- Projects within areas
- Headings within projects
- Tags for cross-project filtering
- Unique "Someday" and "Anytime" scheduling options
Collaboration
If you need to share tasks with others, Todoist wins clearly. It has built-in project sharing, task assignment, and comment threads — Things 3 has no collaboration features whatsoever. It's strictly a personal productivity tool.
Integrations
Todoist integrates with a wide range of services: Google Calendar, Slack, Zapier, IFTTT, Gmail, and more. Things 3 keeps integrations minimal by design, relying mainly on Apple's ecosystem (Shortcuts, Calendar, Reminders) and a URL scheme for power users.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose Todoist if: you use non-Apple devices, need team collaboration, want deep integrations, or prefer natural language input.
- Choose Things 3 if: you're all-in on Apple, prefer a one-time purchase, value beautiful design, or want a calm and focused personal task system.
Bottom Line
There's no objectively better app here — only the better app for you. Todoist is the more powerful and universal tool; Things 3 is the more elegant and opinionated one. If you're on Apple and want the most enjoyable daily experience, Things 3 is hard to beat. If you need flexibility and cross-platform access, Todoist is the clear choice.