Things 3 vs Todoist: Which Task Manager Is Right for You?

Looking for the perfect task manager? Let's compare Things 3 and Todoist in detail to help you find the right fit for your productivity needs.

Quick Comparison At a Glance

Things 3: Quick Introduction

Things 3 is a beautifully designed task manager that exemplifies Apple's design philosophy with its clean interface and intuitive workflow.

Best for: Apple ecosystem users seeking a refined, distraction-free task management experience.

Strengths:

• Elegant, intuitive interface that reduces cognitive load
• Seamless integration across Apple devices
• One-time purchase with no subscription fees
• Built-in calendar integration
• Powerful project organization with areas and headings
• Quick entry from any app using keyboard shortcuts
• Excellent iPad optimization with drag-and-drop support

Limitations:

• Apple ecosystem only (no Windows/Android/Web)
• No collaboration features
• Limited third-party integrations
• Basic natural language processing
• No AI features or advanced automation

Todoist: Quick Introduction

Todoist is a versatile task management platform that balances power and simplicity, available across all major platforms.

Best for: Users who need cross-platform access and team collaboration features.

Strengths:

• Available on all platforms and devices
• Powerful natural language processing
• Strong collaboration features
• Extensive integration options
• Regular feature updates
• Advanced recurring task options
• Karma system for motivation
• AI-powered task suggestions

Limitations:

• Subscription-based pricing
• Some features locked behind premium
• Can become complex with many projects
• Basic calendar functionality
• Limited customization options

Detailed Feature Comparison

1. Task Management

Both tools approach task management differently, with Things 3 focusing on a clean, structured approach while Todoist emphasizes flexibility and natural input.

Things 3

• Beautifully designed task creation interface that makes adding and organizing tasks feel effortless and intuitive
• Structured project organization with support for areas, projects, and headings to maintain clear hierarchy
• Checklists within tasks for breaking down complex items into smaller, manageable steps
• Quick Entry functionality allowing task capture from anywhere in macOS using keyboard shortcuts
• Today and Upcoming views that provide clear visibility into immediate and future commitments
• Built-in evening review feature helping users plan tomorrow's tasks and maintain productivity
• Clean progress tracking with visual indicators for project completion

Todoist

• Advanced natural language processing that understands complex commands like "every other Tuesday" or "next weekend"
• Four priority levels with visual indicators and filtering capabilities to focus on what matters most
• Sub-tasks supporting multiple levels of hierarchy for breaking down complex projects
• Quick add feature accessible from any screen with keyboard shortcuts and browser extensions
• Smart date recognition that automatically sets due dates based on natural language input
• Labels and filters providing powerful organization options without cluttering the interface
• Karma system that gamifies productivity and tracks task completion streaks

2. User Interface & Design

The contrast between these tools is most apparent in their design philosophies, with Things 3 pursuing minimalism and Todoist aiming for functional clarity.

Things 3

• Minimalist design that reduces cognitive load and makes task management feel effortless
• Thoughtful animations and transitions that provide visual feedback and enhance the user experience
• Consistent design language across all Apple platforms maintaining familiarity
• Dark mode support that's carefully crafted for optimal viewing in low-light conditions
• Gesture support on iOS and iPadOS that makes navigation and task management feel natural
• Custom keyboard shortcuts on macOS enabling rapid task entry and organization
• Unified inbox providing a clear overview of all upcoming tasks and deadlines

Todoist

• Clean, functional interface that prioritizes clarity and ease of use across all platforms
• Consistent experience across devices with responsive design adapting to different screen sizes
• Customizable themes and color schemes allowing personal preference in appearance
• Quick add button always accessible for rapid task capture
• Board view option providing a Kanban-style visual organization of tasks
• Context menus offering quick access to common actions and features
• Widget support across platforms for quick task access

3. Platform Availability & Sync

The approaches to platform support and synchronization reveal fundamentally different philosophies between the two tools.

Things 3

• Seamless integration across all Apple devices including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch
• Native visionOS support for Apple Vision Pro, showcasing commitment to emerging platforms
• Proprietary Things Cloud service providing fast and reliable sync across Apple devices
• Offline functionality allowing full access to tasks and projects without internet connection
• iCloud calendar integration showing appointments alongside tasks in the Today view
• Optimized interfaces for each Apple platform taking advantage of device-specific features
• Handoff support enabling seamless transition between Apple devices

Todoist

• Universal availability across all major platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
• Web access through any browser, ensuring access to tasks from any device
• Smart offline support with automatic syncing when connection is restored
• Cross-platform sync that keeps tasks updated across all devices and platforms
• Third-party calendar integration supporting Google Calendar and other services
• Progressive web app support for desktop-like experience through browsers
• Wearable support including Apple Watch and Wear OS devices

4. Integration & Automation

The integration capabilities highlight different priorities, with Things 3 focusing on Apple ecosystem integration while Todoist offers broad third-party support.

Things 3

• Deep integration with Apple's ecosystem including Mail, Calendar, and Reminders
• Shortcuts support on iOS and macOS enabling custom automation workflows
• Mail to Things feature allowing task creation via email
• Share extension making it easy to create tasks from other apps
• URL scheme support for automation and inter-app communication
• Quick entry window accessible from anywhere on macOS
• Calendar integration showing events alongside tasks

Todoist

• Over 60 direct integrations with popular productivity and communication tools
• Strong Gmail integration with smart email task creation
• Calendar sync with Google Calendar and other popular services
• API access enabling custom integration development
• Zapier and IFTTT support for advanced automation workflows
• Browser extensions for major web browsers
• File storage integration with services like Google Drive and Dropbox

5. Project Organization

Both tools offer unique approaches to organizing projects and tasks, catering to different workflow preferences.

Things 3

• Areas feature for high-level organization of different life aspects (Work, Personal, etc.)
• Projects with headers allowing logical grouping of related tasks
• Tags system for flexible cross-project organization
• When feature for separating someday items from active projects
• Today view combining calendar events with daily tasks
• Upcoming view providing a clear overview of future commitments
• Progress tracking with visual indicators for project completion

Todoist

• Projects with unlimited hierarchical levels for complex organization
• Labels and filters enabling multiple organization schemes
• Board view for Kanban-style project management
• Custom views based on filters and search criteria
• Today and Upcoming views for temporal organization
• Priority levels helping focus on important tasks
• Sections within projects for logical task grouping

Is There a Better Alternative?

While both Things 3 and Todoist excel in their respective areas, they may not provide the optimal solution for users seeking a truly unified productivity experience. Here's why:

Things 3's Limitations:

• Apple ecosystem lock-in excludes cross-platform users
• Lack of collaboration features limits team usage
• Basic natural language processing
• Limited third-party integrations
• No automated scheduling or AI features

Todoist's Challenges:

• Subscription-based pricing adds up over time
• Features scattered across multiple views
• No native time tracking
• Basic calendar integration
• Complex setup for advanced workflows

Enter OFFLIGHT: The Unified Solution

OFFLIGHT offers a fresh approach by combining task management, calendaring, and time tracking in one seamless application.

Why Consider OFFLIGHT?

• Universal Inbox
  • Manage tasks from Gmail, Notion, and Slack in one place
  • AI-powered task summarization
  • Unified task view across all platforms
• Intelligent Task Management
  • Command bar for quick actions
  • Keyboard-first UX for speed
  • Smart task creation with natural language processing
• Seamless Calendar Integration
  • Unified calendar view
  • Simple scheduling and editing
  • Default calendar mapping for each list
• Built-in Time Tracking
  • Focus on one task at a time
  • Analyze time spent on each list
  • Automatic time blocking

Coming Soon to OFFLIGHT: Smart Solutions for Modern Workflows

OFFLIGHT is evolving to address the challenges faced by busy professionals. Here's what's coming:

Smart Auto-Planning 

Say goodbye to manual planning - OFFLIGHT will automatically schedule your tasks based on priority, duration, and deadlines for optimal productivity.

Dynamic Rescheduling 

When your day doesn't go as planned, OFFLIGHT adapts in real-time, automatically adjusting your schedule as new tasks arrive or existing ones run long.

Context Preservation 

Never lose track of your work - new hovering popup features show exactly what you were doing and your progress when interruptions happen.

Focus Time Frames 

Designate specific time blocks for focused work while letting OFFLIGHT automatically organize tasks by area of focus.

Making Your Choice

Choose Things 3 if:

• You're fully invested in the Apple ecosystem
• Value beautiful, minimalist design
• Prefer a one-time purchase over subscription
• Want a distraction-free task management experience
• Need excellent iPad and Apple Watch support

Choose Todoist if:

• You use multiple platforms (Windows, Android, etc.)
• Need collaboration features
• Want extensive third-party integrations
• Prefer natural language input
• Like gamification features for motivation

Consider OFFLIGHT if:

• You need unified task and calendar management
• Want intelligent, automated task scheduling
• Need powerful integration capabilities
• Value context preservation during task switching
• Prefer a keyboard-driven interface

Ready to experience a truly unified productivity solution? Try OFFLIGHT for free!