Todoist vs Things 3 vs TickTick: Best Task Manager in 2025

Choosing a task manager is a surprisingly personal decision. The wrong one creates friction; the right one becomes invisible — you just get things done.

Here’s how Todoist, Things 3, and TickTick compare on everything that actually matters.

Quick Verdict

Todoist

Price: Free / $5/mo Pro / $8/mo Business Platforms: All (Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Linux)

Strengths

• Works everywhere — true cross-platform with web app
• Natural language input (“Buy milk tomorrow at 5pm p1 #shopping”)
• Powerful filters and labels
• Team features (comments, assignments, shared projects)
• 100+ integrations (Google Calendar, Slack, Zapier)
• Karma points for gamification

Todoist works especially well as the task capture tool for a GTD workflow thanks to its natural language input and flexible project structure.

Weaknesses

• No built-in calendar view (Pro only)
• Start dates require workarounds
• Can feel overwhelming with too many features
• Recurring tasks logic can be confusing

Best For

People who work across multiple platforms, need collaboration, or want the most flexible system.

Things 3

Price: $49.99 Mac / $19.99 iPad / $9.99 iPhone (one-time) Platforms: Apple only (Mac, iPad, iPhone)

Strengths

• Gorgeous, intuitive design
• Zero learning curve
• Headings and checklists within tasks
• Keyboard shortcuts are exceptional (Mac)
• One-time purchase — no subscription
• Fast, native performance
• Area → Project → Task hierarchy is clean

Weaknesses

• Apple ecosystem only (no Windows, no Android, no web)
• No collaboration features
• No labels/tags for cross-project filtering
• Limited integrations
• No API for advanced automation

Best For

Solo Apple users who value simplicity, beautiful design, and hate subscriptions.

TickTick

Price: Free / $35.99/year Premium Platforms: All (Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android)

Strengths

• Built-in calendar (real calendar, not just a date view)
• Built-in Pomodoro timer
• Built-in habit tracker
• Eisenhower Matrix view
• Natural language input
• Kanban board view
• Most generous free tier
• Cheapest premium of the three

Weaknesses

• Interface can feel busy (too many features visible)
• Design less polished than Things 3
• Sync can be slightly slower
• Smaller integration ecosystem than Todoist

Best For

People who want an all-in-one productivity app (tasks + calendar + habits + timer) at the lowest price. If you’re interested in the Pomodoro aspect specifically, our best Pomodoro apps roundup compares TickTick’s timer against dedicated alternatives.

Detailed Comparison

Pricing Breakdown (Annual Cost)

*Things 3 is one-time purchase across all platforms.

Long-term winner: Things 3 (if you’re Apple-only). Otherwise TickTick is cheapest.

Migration Tips

Already using one? Here’s how to switch:

• Todoist → Things 3: Export Todoist CSV, use Things’ built-in import
• Todoist → TickTick: TickTick has direct Todoist import
• Things 3 → Todoist: Use Things’ JSON export + Todoist import

Our Recommendation

1. Start with TickTick Free — most generous free tier, test all features
2. If you’re all-Apple and want simplicity — buy Things 3 (no regrets, it’s beautiful)
3. If you need team features or cross-platform — Todoist Pro

Don’t overthink it. The best task manager is the one you open every day. Pair it with a solid note-taking app like Notion or Obsidian for a complete productivity system.

Related Articles

• Getting Things Done (GTD): Complete Beginner’s Guide — The best methodology to use with any of these task managers
• Notion vs Obsidian in 2025 — Complement your task manager with the right note-taking tool
• 7 Best Pomodoro Timer Apps in 2025 — Add focused sprints to your task management workflow

Pick one, use it for 2 weeks, and don’t look back. The system matters more than the tool.

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