We tested three popular personal task managers on real to-do lists. And here's the honest breakdown.
Quick verdict
Todoist is the pick if you want a fast, cross-platform task manager with the best quick capture and the widest device support. TickTick wins if you want tasks, a calendar, and habits in one app at the lowest price. Things 3 is the most elegant of the three and a one-time purchase, but it is Apple only. All three are excellent personal task managers, so the real choice is platform reach, all-in-one features, or design and pricing model.
| Todoist | TickTick | Things 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Cross-platform task management | Tasks + calendar + habits in one | Elegant tasks for Apple users |
| Standout strength | Natural language + works everywhere | Built-in calendar, habits, Pomodoro | Beautiful design, one-time purchase |
| Starting price | Free; Pro ~$4/mo (annual) | Free; Premium ~$2.99/mo (annual) | No free; one-time ~$49.99 (Mac) |
| Free plan | Free, 5 projects | Free, generous limits | None (paid only) |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | Apple only (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Watch) |
| Ease of use | Simple and fast | Feature-rich | Cleanest, most elegant |
| Our rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
Todoist is a cross-platform personal task manager known for fast, natural-language capture and a clean, reliable experience on every device. It pairs projects, labels, and filters with 90+ integrations and light sharing, making it a longtime favorite for getting things done.
TickTick is an all-in-one personal productivity app that bundles tasks with a built-in calendar, a habit tracker, a Pomodoro timer, and an Eisenhower matrix. It runs on every major platform and is the most feature-rich of the three for the price.
Things 3 by Cultured Code is an award-winning task manager known for its elegant, focused design. It is built only for Apple devices, with no web, Android, or Windows app, and it is sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription.
Here is how the three stack up on the things that decide most personal setups. The winner in each row is shown in purple.
| Todoist | TickTick | Things 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-platform & integrations | Every platform plus 90+ integrations | Every platform, fewer integrations | Apple only, no integrations to speak of |
| Calendar, habits & extras | Calendar layout; no habits | Calendar, habit tracker, Pomodoro, matrix | Tasks only, no calendar or habits |
| Design & polish | Clean and functional | Functional but busy | The most elegant, focused experience |
| Quick capture & natural language | Best natural-language input | Good quick add | Fast, but Apple devices only |
| Pricing model | Subscription | Cheapest subscription | One-time purchase, no subscription |
Todoist and TickTick are subscriptions with free plans; Things 3 has no free plan and no subscription, instead charging a one-time fee per Apple device. TickTick has the cheapest subscription and the most generous free plan. Prices change often, so confirm on each vendor's site before you subscribe.
| Plan | Todoist | TickTick | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free, 5 personal projects | Free, generous limits | No free plan |
| Paid / Premium | Pro ~$4/mo (annual) | Premium ~$2.99/mo (annual) | iPhone ~$9.99 (one-time) |
| Top / one-time | Business ~$6/user/mo | Premium only | Mac ~$49.99 + iPad ~$19.99 (one-time) |
| Value verdict | Best cross-platform GTD | Best value and all-in-one features | Best design, no subscription (Apple) |
Works on every platform
Best natural-language capture
90+ integrations and light sharing
No built-in habits; calendar is basic
Power features need a subscription
Calendar, habits, and Pomodoro built in
Cheapest subscription
Generous free plan
Interface is busier than Things
Fewer integrations than Todoist
Beautiful, focused design
One-time purchase, no subscription
Excellent for GTD on Apple
Apple only; no web, Android, or Windows
No collaboration; buy each device app
These are personal task managers, so most people pick just one. You can trial the free plans of Todoist and TickTick side by side, but Things 3 is paid-only and Apple-only, so for Apple users it is really an either-or choice against the other two.
Todoist wins for cross-platform task management with the best quick capture; TickTick wins for the most features and the best value, with calendar and habits built in; Things 3 wins for the most elegant design and a one-time purchase, if you live in Apple's ecosystem. All three are excellent personal task managers. The real difference is platform reach, all-in-one features, or design and pricing model.
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