TickTick vs Things 3: Which is Better in 2026?
TickTick and Things 3 both design their entire interface around a single core idea: get tasks out of your head with the least possible friction. TickTick is a cross-platform, subscription-funded app with calendar sync, habit tracking, and a Pomodoro timer built in. Things 3 is a one-time-purchase app scoped entirely to Apple devices, prized for its clean design and rigid discipline around what it will not add. Read this if you are choosing between a broad, cross-platform task manager and a focused, Apple-only one.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
TickTick
Task manager, calendar, habits, and Pomo timer in one app
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • You need task management features specifically
- • TickTick is a to-do list and task management app with calendar
- • It combines tasks, habits, and calendar in one productivity app
Things 3
Award-winning task manager for Apple
Best for you if:
- • You need productivity features specifically
- • GTD-based task manager for Apple ecosystem with elegant design and keyboard shortcuts.
- • Features projects, areas, tags, and seamless iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
| At a Glance |  TickTick |  Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | $9.99/onceiPhone |
Best For | Task Management | Productivity |
Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose TickTick or Things 3?
Choose TickTick if
Task manager, calendar, habits, and Pomo timer in one app
- All-in-one
- Calendar view
- Habit tracking
- Budget matters (Free vs $9.99/once)
- Your work is task management-shaped, not productivity-shaped
Choose Things 3 if
Award-winning task manager for Apple
- Beautiful design (Apple)
- Powerful organization
- One-time purchase
- Your work is productivity-shaped, not task management-shaped
| Feature | TickTick | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 234 reviews | ★4.6/5 172 reviews |
| Categories | Task ManagementHabit Tracking | ProductivityProject Management |
In-Depth Analysis
TickTick
Strengths
- +Works across iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and web, so it is the only realistic option if your household or team mixes operating systems
- +Premium bundles calendar sync, habit tracking, a Pomodoro timer, and custom filters into a single $35.99 per year subscription
- +Free tier is genuinely usable, with up to 9 lists and 99 tasks per list plus basic reminders and sync
- +Frequent feature updates since it is actively developed and subscription-funded, rather than a mostly static one-time purchase
Weaknesses
- -Ongoing subscription cost adds up over years compared to a single upfront payment, even though the annual price is modest
- -Free plan's list and reminder limits will push regular users toward Premium fairly quickly
- -Interface carries more visual density than Things 3, since it accommodates more feature surface area (habits, Pomodoro, calendar) inside the same app
Best For
Anyone who needs a task manager that works identically across Android, Windows, and Apple devices, or who wants habit tracking and calendar sync built in.
TickTick is the more practical choice outside a pure-Apple household, and its $35.99 yearly Premium plan is inexpensive for what it bundles.
Things 3
Strengths
- +One-time purchase per platform ($49.99 Mac, $9.99 iPhone including Apple Watch, $19.99 iPad) with no subscription and no recurring cost
- +Widely regarded as one of the most polished, minimal task manager interfaces available, with a deliberately restrained feature set
- +Things Cloud sync between your own devices is included free with the app purchase, no separate subscription required
- +Areas, projects, and a natural-language quick-entry system make organizing and capturing tasks fast without extra taps
Weaknesses
- -Apple-only. There is no Windows, Android, or web version, so it cannot be the shared task manager for a mixed-platform team or household
- -Buying all three main platforms (Mac, iPhone, iPad) costs $79.97 upfront, more than several years of TickTick Premium depending on how long you keep it
- -No habit tracking, Pomodoro timer, or the kind of calendar-sync depth TickTick includes, by design rather than oversight
Best For
Apple users who want a fast, beautifully designed task manager and are willing to pay once per device instead of subscribing.
Things 3 is the better fit if you live entirely inside Apple's ecosystem and value interface polish and a one-time payment over breadth of features.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Pricing
TieTickTick Premium costs $35.99 per year on top of a usable free tier. Things 3 is a one-time purchase per platform: $49.99 on Mac, $9.99 on iPhone (Apple Watch included), and $19.99 on iPad, totaling $79.97 for all three with no subscription ever. Things 3 becomes cheaper after roughly two years on one platform; TickTick is cheaper if you only need it briefly or across multiple non-Apple devices.
Core capability
TieBoth apps nail fast task capture and clean project organization. TickTick adds calendar sync, habit tracking, and a Pomodoro timer as core features. Things 3 deliberately stays narrower, focusing entirely on tasks, projects, and areas with a famously refined quick-entry flow.
Platform support
TickTick winsTickTick runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and the web. Things 3 is Apple-only across Mac, iPhone, iPad, Watch, and Vision Pro, with no plans to expand beyond Apple's ecosystem.
Design and ease of use
Things 3 winsThings 3 is consistently cited as one of the most polished, least cluttered task manager interfaces available, a direct result of its narrower scope. TickTick's broader feature set means a slightly busier interface, though it remains straightforward to use.
Free tier depth
TickTick winsTickTick's free plan supports up to 9 lists and 99 tasks per list with device sync and basic reminders, enough for many users to never upgrade. Things 3 has no free tier at all, only a 15-day trial on Mac, so you must buy at least one platform version to use it beyond the trial.
Habits and calendar integration
TickTick winsTickTick's Premium tier includes native habit tracking, 2-way calendar sync, and a Pomodoro timer inside the same app. Things 3 has no built-in habit tracker or Pomodoro feature and relies on Apple Calendar integration rather than 2-way sync of its own.
Migration Considerations
Moving from TickTick to Things 3 means giving up cross-platform access entirely, so confirm every device you and anyone you share tasks with uses is Apple hardware before buying. You will also lose habit tracking and the Pomodoro timer unless you add separate apps for those. Moving from Things 3 to TickTick means trading a one-time purchase for an ongoing subscription if you want Premium features, but you gain platform flexibility and built-in habit and calendar tools.
Pricing: TickTick vs Things 3
| Plan | TickTick | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | $49.99 once Mac |
| Tier 2 | $2.79 month Premium | $9.99 once iPhone |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $19.99 once iPad |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on TickTick pricing and Things 3 pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
TickTick has a free tier. Things 3 is paid only.
Go with: TickTick
Want the highest-rated option?
TickTick: 4.7/5 (234 reviews). Things 3: 4.6/5 (172 reviews).
Go with: TickTick
Value user reviews?
TickTick: 234 reviews (4.7/5). Things 3: 172 reviews (4.6/5).
Go with: TickTick
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
TickTick is freemium. Things 3 is paid. TickTick lets you start free.
What's your use case?
TickTick is a task management tool. Things 3 is in productivity. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
TickTick is rated higher: 4.7/5 vs 4.6/5.
Key Takeaways
Things 3
- Our pick for this comparison
TickTick
- Has a free tier
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.6/5
- Larger review base (234 reviews)
- Better fit for task management
The Bottom Line
Choose TickTick if you use non-Apple devices, want habit tracking and calendar sync bundled in, or prefer paying a modest $35.99 yearly fee over a larger upfront cost. Choose Things 3 if you are fully inside the Apple ecosystem, want the cleanest possible task interface, and would rather pay once per device than subscribe. Mixed-platform households and habit-trackers should default to TickTick; Apple-only users who dislike subscriptions will get more lasting satisfaction from Things 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Things 3 a subscription?
No. Things 3 is a one-time purchase per platform: $49.99 for Mac, $9.99 for iPhone (which includes Apple Watch), and $19.99 for iPad. There is no recurring fee, and sync between your own devices is included.
Does TickTick work on Android and Windows?
Yes. TickTick is one of the few major task managers with full native support across iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and the web, which is its main practical advantage over Things 3's Apple-only scope.
What do you lose on TickTick's free plan?
The free plan caps you at 9 lists and 99 tasks per list, with basic reminders and sync but no calendar sync, habit tracking, custom smart lists, or Pomodoro timer. Those features require the $35.99 per year Premium plan.
Can I try Things 3 before buying?
Only the Mac version offers a trial, and it runs for 15 days. The iPhone and iPad versions have no trial, so you are buying those without a hands-on test first.
Which app is better for habit tracking?
TickTick, clearly. It includes native habit tracking as part of its Premium plan alongside task management. Things 3 has no habit-tracking feature and is scoped purely to tasks, projects, and areas.