Todoist vs Things 3: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Todoist and Things 3 comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Todoist
Organize work and life with natural language task capture
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • You need task management features specifically
- • Fast, cross-platform task manager with natural language input and clean design used by 50M+ people
- • Free tier covers 5 projects with smart scheduling; Pro adds calendar view, reminders, and 300 projects for $5/mo
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 |  Things 3 | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $5/mo (billed yearly)/moPro | $49.99/onceMac |
Best For | Task Management | Productivity |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Todoist or Things 3?
Choose Todoist if
Organize work and life with natural language task capture
- Exceptionally clean and fast interface with near-zero learning curve
- Generous free tier with 5 projects and core features included
- Natural language input makes adding tasks faster than any competitor
- 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 | Todoist | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.6/5 3,451 reviews | ★5.0/5 342 reviews |
| Categories | Task ManagementProductivity | ProductivityProject Management |
In-Depth Analysis
Todoist
Organize work and life with natural language task capture
Strengths
- +Exceptionally clean and fast interface with near-zero learning curve
- +Generous free tier with 5 projects and core features included
- +Natural language input makes adding tasks faster than any competitor
- +Available on every major platform with reliable real-time sync
- +Karma system and streak tracking provide built-in motivation
Weaknesses
- -No built-in time tracking or Gantt chart views
- -Limited project hierarchy depth compared to tools like Asana or ClickUp
- -Calendar view and task durations locked behind the Pro plan
- -No native document or wiki features for project context
- -Reporting and analytics are minimal even on paid plans
Key features
Things 3
Award-winning task manager for Apple
Strengths
- +Beautiful design (Apple)
- +Powerful organization
- +One-time purchase
- +Good keyboard shortcuts
- +Fast and reliable
Weaknesses
- -Apple only (no Windows/Android)
- -Expensive upfront ($50+)
- -No collaboration
- -No web version
- -Limited integrations
Key features
Pricing: Todoist vs Things 3
| Plan | Todoist | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Beginner | $49.99 once Mac |
| Tier 2 | $5/mo (billed yearly) Pro | $9.99 once iPhone |
| Tier 3 | $8/user/mo (billed yearly) Business | $19.99 once iPad |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Todoist pricing and Things 3 pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Todoist has a free tier. Things 3 is paid only.
Go with: Todoist
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Todoist
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Things 3
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Todoist is freemium. Things 3 is paid. Todoist lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Todoist is a task management tool. Things 3 is in productivity. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Things 3
- Higher user rating: 5.0/5 vs 4.6/5
- Our pick for this comparison
Todoist
- Has a free tier
- Larger review base (3,451 reviews)
- Better fit for task management
The Bottom Line
Things 3 is our pick. Todoist has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Todoist or Things 3 better?
Things 3 is rated in our evaluation. Todoist is freemium and Things 3 is paid.
What are Todoist and Things 3 used for?
Todoist: Organize work and life with natural language task capture. Things 3: Award-winning task manager for Apple.
What does Todoist cost vs Things 3?
Todoist is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Things 3 is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.