Todoist vs Things 3: Honest Comparison (2026)

Todoist vs Things 3: Which Is Better in 2026?

Todoist is the better choice for cross-platform users and teams in 2026. It works on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and web with natural language task input and team collaboration. Things 3 wins for Apple-only users who want a calm, beautiful task manager with zero distractions. Todoist costs $4/month (annual). Things 3 costs $9.99-$49.99 as a one-time purchase. Choose Todoist for power and platforms. Choose Things 3 for simplicity and design.

Both Todoist and Things 3 are personal task managers that help you organize to-dos, set deadlines, and plan your day. They overlap on core functionality but differ sharply in philosophy. Todoist prioritizes power and cross-platform reach. Things 3 prioritizes calm design and Apple-native elegance. This comparison breaks down seven dimensions to help you decide.

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Todoist vs Things 3 at a Glance

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What Is Todoist?

Todoist is a cross-platform task management app used by over 40 million people. It works on every major platform including iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and web browsers. Todoist's standout feature is natural language input. Type "Submit report every Friday at 3pm #Work p1" and it creates a recurring task with a project, priority, and time automatically. The app recently added an AI Assistant and Ramble (voice input) feature. With a 4.5-star G2 rating from 816 reviews and plans starting at $4/month, Todoist serves everyone from students tracking assignments to business teams managing shared projects with comments and file attachments.

Todoist Key Features

• Natural Language Input: Type tasks in plain English with dates, priorities, labels, and projects parsed automatically.
• Cross-Platform Sync: Available on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web, and browser extensions with instant sync.
• Team Collaboration: Share projects, assign tasks, add comments, and attach files for team workflows.
• AI Assistant: AI-powered task suggestions, project planning, and smart rescheduling for overdue items.
• Filters and Views: Create custom views with powerful filters to see tasks by date, priority, label, or project.

Todoist Pricing

• Beginner (Free): 5 active projects, 5 collaborators per project, basic features
• Pro: $4/month (annual at $48/year) or $5/month - 300 projects, reminders, calendar view, AI Assistant
• Business: $6/user/month (annual) or $8/user/month - team workspace, admin controls, team billing

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What Is Things 3?

Things 3 is a task manager designed exclusively for Apple devices by Cultured Code. It runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Things 3 is known for its calm, minimal design that makes task management feel peaceful rather than overwhelming. The app organizes tasks using a "Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday" structure inspired by Getting Things Done (GTD). It uses a one-time purchase model with no subscription. Things 3 has earned consistent praise for its speed, reliability, and beautiful interface. With an Apple Design Award in its history, it remains the gold standard for task management aesthetics on Apple devices.

Things 3 Key Features

• Calm Design: Minimal, distraction-free interface that makes managing tasks feel easy rather than stressful.
• Today View: A focused daily view showing only what matters right now with clear time-based organization.
• Headings and Projects: Organize tasks within projects using headings to create structured, scannable task lists.
• Quick Entry: System-wide keyboard shortcut captures tasks from any app without switching context.
• Apple Watch App: View and complete tasks from your wrist with a clean, functional watchOS app.

Things 3 Pricing

• iPhone / Apple Watch: $9.99 one-time
• iPad: $19.99 one-time
• Mac: $49.99 one-time
• Full Apple ecosystem: $79.97 total (no subscription ever)

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Platform Support

Todoist wins on platform coverage. It works everywhere: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web, and browser extensions. Things 3 only works on Apple devices. If you use a Windows PC at work and an iPhone at home, Todoist is your only option. If you also work with Android users on shared projects, Things 3 is off the table entirely. Platform lock-in is the single biggest factor in this decision.

Winner: Todoist - works on every major platform while Things 3 is Apple-only

Design and User Experience

Things 3 is the most beautifully designed task manager available. Its calm, minimal interface reduces cognitive load. Tasks feel manageable, not overwhelming. Todoist has a clean design too, but it exposes more features and settings. Things 3 treats whitespace and simplicity as core features. Users consistently describe it as the only task app that "sticks" because it feels good to use daily.

Winner: Things 3 - unmatched design quality that makes task management feel calm

Task Input and Flexibility

Todoist's natural language input is far more powerful. Type "Call dentist tomorrow at 2pm #Personal p2" and everything parses automatically - date, time, project, and priority. Things 3 handles basic natural language for dates and reminders but ignores priorities, tags, and complex recurring patterns. For power users who add tasks quickly throughout the day, Todoist's input speed saves significant time.

Winner: Todoist - advanced natural language parsing for faster task creation

Collaboration

Todoist supports team collaboration with shared projects, task assignments, comments, and file attachments. Things 3 is a solo-only tool with zero collaboration features. If you need to manage tasks with teammates, clients, or family members, Todoist is the only choice. Things 3 is designed for individual productivity and has no plans to add collaboration.

Winner: Todoist - full team collaboration versus Things 3's solo-only design

AI Features

Todoist added an AI Assistant that helps with task suggestions, project planning, and smart rescheduling. It also offers Ramble, a voice input feature for capturing tasks by speaking. Things 3 has no AI features. For users who want AI to help organize and prioritize their tasks, Todoist is the only option in this matchup.

Winner: Todoist - AI Assistant and voice input that Things 3 does not offer

Pricing Model

Things 3 uses a one-time purchase: $9.99 for iPhone, $19.99 for iPad, $49.99 for Mac. Total cost for all platforms is $79.97 with no recurring fees ever. Todoist Pro costs $48/year ongoing. After two years, Todoist Pro costs $96 while Things 3 stays at $79.97. For long-term users who do not need collaboration, Things 3 is the better financial deal.

Winner: Things 3 - one-time purchase saves money after year two compared to Todoist's subscription

Integrations

Todoist integrates with Google Calendar, Slack, IFTTT, Zapier, and dozens of third-party tools. Things 3 has limited integrations, primarily through Shortcuts on Apple and basic calendar sync. No Zapier, no Slack integration, no API for custom workflows. For users who need their task manager connected to other tools, Todoist provides far more flexibility.

Winner: Todoist - broad integration ecosystem versus Things 3's limited connectivity

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Who Should Choose Todoist?

• You should choose Todoist if you use both Apple and non-Apple devices (Windows, Android)
• You should choose Todoist if you need team collaboration with shared projects and task assignments
• You should choose Todoist if natural language task input and fast capture speed matter to you
• You should choose Todoist if you want AI-powered task suggestions and voice input
• You should choose Todoist if you need integrations with Slack, Google Calendar, and Zapier

Who Should Choose Things 3?

• You should choose Things 3 if you work exclusively in the Apple ecosystem (iPhone, iPad, Mac)
• You should choose Things 3 if beautiful, calm design is a priority and you want to enjoy using your task manager
• You should choose Things 3 if you prefer a one-time purchase over an ongoing subscription
• You should choose Things 3 if you work solo and do not need collaboration features
• You should choose Things 3 if you follow GTD methodology and want a structured Today/Upcoming/Anytime flow

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Todoist better than Things 3?

It depends on your ecosystem and needs. Todoist is better for cross-platform users, teams, and anyone who needs powerful natural language input. Things 3 is better for Apple-only users who value design, simplicity, and a one-time purchase. Neither is objectively superior. Todoist wins on features and platforms. Things 3 wins on design and long-term cost. Choose based on whether you work solo on Apple or across platforms with a team.

Can I use Todoist and Things 3 together?

This is not recommended. Running two task managers splits your tasks across systems and creates confusion about where to add and check items. Pick one and commit. If you are unsure, try Todoist's free plan first. If the design does not feel right and you are Apple-only, switch to Things 3.

Which is cheaper, Todoist or Things 3?

Things 3 is cheaper long-term. It costs $79.97 total for iPhone, iPad, and Mac with no recurring fees. Todoist Pro costs $48/year. After 20 months, Todoist's total cost exceeds Things 3. However, Todoist's free plan is fully functional for basic use. If you only need a free task manager, Todoist wins on cost. If you need premium features and plan to use the app for years, Things 3 saves money.

Is there a better alternative to both Todoist and Things 3?

Both are excellent task managers for their target users. The main gap in any task management workflow is getting tasks into your system in the first place. If you generate action items during meetings and conversations, Speakwise can help. It records and transcribes meetings on your iPhone, then extracts action items automatically. You can push those items into your task manager through Notion integration, closing the loop between conversations and tasks.

Does Things 3 work on Windows or Android?

No. Things 3 is exclusively available on Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. There is no Windows app, no Android app, and no web version. Cultured Code has stated they have no plans to expand beyond Apple. If you need cross-platform support, Todoist, TickTick, or Microsoft To Do are your options.

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Final Verdict: Todoist vs Things 3

Todoist is the better task manager for most people in 2026. Cross-platform support, natural language input, team collaboration, and AI features make it the more versatile choice. It works wherever you work.

Things 3 is the better choice for a specific user. If you work exclusively on Apple devices, prefer calm design over feature density, and work solo, Things 3 is genuinely delightful. Its one-time purchase model is a financial win for long-term users.

The biggest gap in most task management workflows is not the tool itself. It is getting tasks captured in the first place. Meeting action items often get lost because nobody wrote them down. Speakwise captures those moments automatically with AI transcription and action item extraction on your phone.

Bottom line: Todoist wins for cross-platform teams. Things 3 wins for solo Apple users who value design. Speakwise fills the gap by capturing action items from conversations.> If meeting action items never make it into your task manager, download Speakwise from the App Store and capture every task from your conversations automatically.