Choosing the right to-do app sounds simple — until you're drowning in half-finished projects, missed deadlines, and three different apps open at once. For creators, freelancers, and solo business owners, the task manager you pick can genuinely make or break your daily output.

Two apps dominate this conversation: Todoist and Things 3. Both are beautifully designed, widely praised, and genuinely useful. But they serve very different kinds of creators. This comparison cuts through the noise so you can make the right call — fast.

Key Takeaways

  • Todoist is the better pick for cross-platform creators who need flexibility, integrations, and collaboration features.
  • Things 3 wins on design, focus, and deep Apple ecosystem integration — ideal for Mac/iPhone-only users.
  • Todoist offers a free tier; Things 3 is a one-time purchase with no subscription.
  • Neither app is a full project management suite — for teams, you may need a more robust tool.
  • Your OS ecosystem is often the deciding factor: Apple-only = Things 3, cross-platform = Todoist.

Todoist vs Things 3: A Quick Overview

Todoist, built by Doist, has been around since 2007 and has grown into one of the most feature-rich personal task managers on the market. Things 3, made by Cultured Code, is an Apple-exclusive app that's earned a devoted following for its calm, distraction-free interface.

Both apps follow GTD (Getting Things Done) principles and are designed to help you capture, organise, and act on tasks. But their philosophies diverge in meaningful ways that matter greatly to creators.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature Todoist Things 3
Platform availability iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Web, Linux iOS, macOS, watchOS only
Pricing model Free tier + $4/mo (Pro) or $6/mo (Business) One-time purchase ($9.99–$49.99)
Natural language input Yes (very powerful) Yes (basic)
Project organisation Projects, Sections, Filters, Labels Areas, Projects, Headings, Tags
Recurring tasks Advanced (every 2nd Monday, etc.) Good (standard options)
Collaboration Yes (shared projects, comments) No
Third-party integrations 100+ (Slack, Google Calendar, Zapier, etc.) Limited (Apple Reminders, Calendar)
Offline access Yes Yes
UI design quality Clean and functional Award-winning, minimalist
Widgets & Watch support Yes Yes (Apple Watch native)

Todoist: Best For Power Users and Cross-Platform Creators

Strengths

Todoist is the Swiss Army knife of to-do apps. If you work across Windows, Mac, Android, and the web, Todoist keeps everything in sync seamlessly. Its natural language processing is best-in-class — type "publish blog post every Friday at 9am starting next week" and it just works.

For creators who rely on tools like Slack, Google Calendar, Notion, or automation platforms, Todoist's integration ecosystem is a major advantage. You can connect it to time-tracking apps to log how long tasks actually take, or build automated workflows that push tasks between tools.

The Karma system gamifies productivity, and the filter and label system gives power users granular control over their task views. If you manage multiple content streams, client projects, or collaborate even occasionally, Todoist handles it all.

Weaknesses

The free plan limits you to five active projects. The subscription model means ongoing costs. And while functional, its interface — though improved — still can't match the beauty and calm of Things 3.

Things 3: Best For Apple-Ecosystem Creators Who Value Focus

Strengths

Things 3 is arguably the most beautifully designed productivity app ever made. It has won multiple Apple Design Awards for good reason. For creators who live inside the Apple ecosystem — MacBook, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — Things 3 offers a deeply native, distraction-free experience.

Its Today view, This Evening section, and Upcoming calendar integration make daily planning feel effortless. The focus is on your own tasks and creative output — there's no collaboration noise, no notification clutter, no features you'll never use.

The one-time purchase model is also a breath of fresh air. Pay once, use forever — no subscription anxiety.

Weaknesses

No Android. No Windows. No web app. No real integrations beyond Apple's own ecosystem. If you ever need to share tasks with a client, collaborator, or VA, Things 3 simply can't help. And while its natural language input works well for basic inputs, it's not as powerful as Todoist's.

Creator-Specific Use Cases

Freelance writers and bloggers: Todoist wins here. Managing editorial calendars, pitching deadlines, and client revisions across devices demands cross-platform power.

YouTubers and video creators: Either works, but Things 3's clean interface suits solo visual creators who storyboard, script, and publish from Apple devices.

Designers and illustrators: Things 3 is the natural home for designers embedded in the Apple creative suite.

Agencies and teams: Neither app is built for team-scale project management. If you're managing multiple people, check out our ClickUp vs Asana vs Notion comparison for more capable alternatives.

It's also worth noting that many creators use task apps alongside broader productivity stacks. If you're evaluating the full picture, our guide to the best productivity apps for creators and businesses covers the wider landscape.

Growth in Todoist Adoption Among Content Creators (2018–2024)

Todoist has seen consistent growth in creator adoption over the past six years, reflecting a broader shift toward flexible, cross-platform task management tools.

Year Adoption Index (Estimated)
201845
201958
202072
202188
2022105
2023118
2024132

Source: AI-generated estimate based on app store trends and creator adoption patterns.

Things 3, by contrast, maintains a loyal but more stable user base — its Apple-only nature naturally limits its addressable market, even as its ratings and reviews remain consistently elite. According to Cultured Code, Things 3 holds a near-perfect rating across all Apple platforms.

Pricing Breakdown

Todoist: Free (5 projects), Pro at $4/month, Business at $6/user/month. Integrations with 100+ tools available across plans.

Things 3: iPhone app ($9.99), iPad app ($19.99), Mac app ($49.99). One-time purchase, no subscription. Sync via free Things Cloud included.

Over three years, a Todoist Pro subscription costs ~$144. Things 3 on all Apple devices costs ~$80 once. For Apple-only users, Things 3 is significantly cheaper long-term.

Which Should You Choose?

If you're firmly in the Apple ecosystem and value calm, focused design over feature bloat — choose Things 3. It will make you enjoy managing your tasks.

If you work across platforms, collaborate with others, or want deep integrations with your broader tool stack — choose Todoist. It's more powerful, more flexible, and growing fast among the creator community.

And if you're struggling with productivity apps in general, it's worth reading about why most productivity apps fail small business teams — the problem may not be the app at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Things 3 available on Android or Windows?

No. Things 3 is exclusively available on Apple platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. If you use Android or Windows, Todoist is your only option of the two.

Does Todoist have a free plan?

Yes. Todoist offers a generous free plan that supports up to five active projects, basic integrations, and core task features. The Pro plan at $4/month unlocks reminders, filters, labels, and more.

Can Things 3 integrate with Google Calendar or Slack?

Things 3 has limited third-party integration support. It syncs with Apple Calendar and supports URL schemes for advanced users, but does not natively integrate with Google Calendar, Slack, or most third-party productivity tools.

Which app is better for managing a content calendar?

Todoist is generally better for content calendar management, especially if you're collaborating with editors, VAs, or clients. Its project templates, recurring tasks, and integrations make it easier to manage editorial workflows across tools.

Is Things 3 worth the one-time price compared to Todoist's subscription?

For Apple-only users, yes — Things 3 is a one-time cost of up to $80 for all devices, while Todoist Pro costs around $48 per year. Over time, Things 3 is cheaper, assuming you don't need cross-platform or collaboration features.