I’ve used all three of these apps for extended stretches of time. Todoist for two years as my primary system. TickTick for six months when I wanted everything in one place. Things 3 since it launched on iOS — it’s been on my phone since 2017.
So this isn’t a spec comparison from a review site. It’s what I actually found after switching between them, knowing what I care about in a task manager, and watching how each one behaves under real daily use.
Short version: Todoist is the most versatile. TickTick has the most features per dollar. Things 3 is the best-designed app in the category. Which one wins depends entirely on how you work and what you’re willing to pay.
Quick answer: Todoist is the best task manager for cross-platform users and teams — the most integrations, the most flexibility. TickTick wins on value: calendar view, habit tracking, and a built-in Pomodoro timer at ~$3/month. Things 3 is the best-designed app in the category and the cheapest option over a 3-year horizon, but only if you’re fully on Apple.
Quick Verdict
| Todoist | TickTick | Things 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Cross-platform, teams | Feature-maximalists | Apple ecosystem users |
| Free Plan | Yes (5 projects) | Yes (generous) | No (one-time purchase) |
| Starting Price | $4/month | ~$3/month | $49.99 one-time (Mac) |
| Platforms | All | All | Apple only |
| Standout Feature | Integrations | Built-in calendar | Design polish |
Todoist — Most Versatile
Todoist is the task manager that works everywhere. Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, web, browser extension — if you switch between platforms or devices, nothing else handles this as cleanly.
What Makes It Worth Paying For
Natural language input. Type “meeting with Sarah Friday 2pm” and Todoist parses it as a task due Friday at 2pm. This sounds trivial. In practice, the speed difference between natural language capture and clicking through date pickers is significant.
Karma system. A gamified productivity score based on tasks completed on time. Either useful accountability or noise, depending on your personality. I found it genuinely motivating for the first six months.
Integration ecosystem. Todoist connects to more tools than any other task manager: Slack, Gmail, Outlook, Google Calendar, Zapier, IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant. If your workflow involves other software, Todoist connects to it.
Collaboration. You can share projects and assign tasks to other users. Not a full project management tool, but functional for small teams or household sharing.
Pricing
- Free: 5 active projects, 5 collaborators, 5MB file uploads
- Pro: $4/month (billed annually) — 300 projects, reminders, comments, labels, filters, calendar view
- Business: $6/user/month — team billing, admin controls
Pro is the meaningful upgrade. The free plan is functional but the 5-project limit hits quickly for anyone who organizes work beyond the basics.
What I Don’t Like
The design is functional but not beautiful. After two years with Todoist, I switched to Things 3 partly because the interface was starting to feel like work.
The AI features added in recent versions are useful but half-baked compared to a purpose-built AI writing tool.
TickTick — Most Features Per Dollar
TickTick is what happens when a developer decides to add every feature requested by users. Calendar view, habit tracker, Pomodoro timer, notes, Kanban boards, and a built-in Eisenhower matrix — all in one app, at $3/month.
If you’re currently paying for a task manager, a calendar app, and a habit tracker separately, TickTick collapses those into one subscription at a lower cost.
What Makes It Worth Paying For
Built-in calendar view. Todoist added a calendar view in 2024 but it’s basic compared to TickTick’s, which shows your tasks alongside actual calendar events. Seeing tasks and appointments in the same view eliminates the constant context-switching between apps.
Habit tracking. A genuine habit tracker built into the same app as your tasks. Not a compromise feature — the streak visualization and check-in system are better than standalone habit apps I’ve tried.
Pomodoro timer. Integrated focus timer with optional white noise and sound effects. Links directly to the task you’re working on.
Free plan. The most generous free tier in this comparison: 9 lists, 99 tasks per list, basic reminders.
Pricing
- Free: 9 lists, 99 tasks/list, basic reminders, basic calendar
- Premium: $2.99/month (billed annually) — calendar sync, habit tracking, Pomodoro, Kanban, all reminders, filters
Premium is essentially required for calendar sync and habits — the two features that distinguish TickTick from alternatives. At $36/year, it’s the cheapest paid option here.
What I Don’t Like
The interface feels cluttered. There’s a tension between all the features TickTick has added and the need for the app to feel simple and fast. It resolves in favor of features, which is fine if you use them and frustrating if you don’t.
The iOS app widget support is less polished than Todoist or Things 3.
Things 3 — Best Designed
Things 3 is made by Cultured Code, a small German software company. They’ve been making Things for 15 years. The current version, Things 3, has been continuously refined since 2017 and is the best-designed task manager app in existence.
If design quality, keyboard navigation, Apple ecosystem integration, and the satisfaction of using software that feels intentional in every detail matter to you — Things 3 is the answer.
What Makes It Worth Paying For
Design and feel. The spacing, typography, animations, and interaction design in Things 3 are at a level that other task managers haven’t reached. Opening the app is a pleasant experience in a way that Todoist and TickTick aren’t.
Apple ecosystem integration. Calendar integration, Reminders integration, Shortcuts automation, Share Sheet capture, widget design — Things 3 is built for Apple platforms and it shows.
One-time purchase. $49.99 for Mac, $9.99 for iPhone, $19.99 for iPad. Pay once, own it forever. Over a 3-year period, this is the cheapest option at $79.98 total vs. $108-144 for the others at equivalent subscription rates.
GTD-native structure. Areas, Projects, and Next Actions map directly to Getting Things Done principles without requiring custom setup. The Someday list and Logbook are built-in. If you’ve tried to implement GTD in other apps, the amount of configuration you don’t have to do in Things 3 is immediately apparent.
Pricing
| Platform | Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone | $9.99 |
| iPad | $19.99 |
| Mac | $49.99 |
| Total | $79.97 |
No subscription. No in-app purchases. No upsell.
What I Don’t Like
Apple only. Things 3 does not exist on Windows, Android, or web. If you use any non-Apple device, Things 3 is not an option.
No collaboration. Tasks are personal. No sharing, no assignment, no comments.
Slower feature releases. Cultured Code ships updates methodically. If there’s a specific integration or feature you need that Things 3 doesn’t have, you may be waiting longer than with subscription-funded apps.
Head-to-Head: Specific Scenarios
Best for GTD practitioners
Things 3. The structure is native, not configured. If you’re already practicing GTD, Things 3 will feel like it was built for your system.
Best for teams
Todoist. The collaboration features, admin controls, and integration ecosystem make it the only real option for shared task management.
Best for replacing multiple apps
TickTick. If you’re currently paying for a task manager + habit tracker + calendar app, TickTick collapses all three into one subscription at $36/year.
Best for Apple power users
Things 3. Shortcuts, widgets, Siri, Apple Watch — the integration depth is unmatched.
Best for budget
TickTick at $36/year beats Todoist at $48/year. Things 3 at $79.97 one-time beats both over a 3-year horizon.
Our Recommendation
Cross-platform users: Todoist. No alternative handles the full range of operating systems as cleanly.
Apple-only users who care about design: Things 3. Pay once, use for years.
Anyone who wants the most features at the lowest ongoing cost: TickTick.
The wrong tool doesn’t just slow you down — it quietly drains the mental overhead you need for the actual work. Try the free plans for Todoist and TickTick (Things 3 has a 14-day trial) before committing.
Pricing current as of early 2026.