Todoing.ly vs Things 3 — honest comparison
Looking for a Things 3 alternative that runs on more than just Apple devices? Here's an honest Todoing.ly vs Things 3 comparison — what each one does well, and where the other one wins. We'll say it up front: Things 3 is the more beautiful, more refined app, and if you live entirely inside the Apple ecosystem it is hard to beat. Todoing.ly's case is narrower and specific: it's free, it syncs in real time across web, iPhone, and Android, and it works for people Things 3 simply cannot serve.
| At a glance | Todoing.ly | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free (uncapped) | $9.99 (iPhone + Watch) |
| Most popular plan | Free core; optional Pro | $49.99 (Mac) |
| Lifetime license | $49 one-time (covers every platform) | Per-device one-time: $49.99 Mac + $9.99 iPhone + $19.99 iPad |
| Platforms | Web · iOS · Android | macOS · iOS · iPadOS · Apple Watch |
Pick Things 3 if
- ·The most beautifully designed task app that exists. This isn't flattery — Things 3 is widely considered the design high-water mark of the entire category, and Todoing.ly does not match its polish.
- ·Fifteen years of refinement behind every interaction: the Today / Upcoming / Anytime / Someday model, Magic Plus, Quick Entry with autofill, and deep, refined keyboard shortcuts are the signature of the app and remain unmatched.
- ·One-time ownership with no subscription at all — you buy each app once and own it, which suits people who'd rather pay once than rent forever.
- ·Polished Apple Watch app and system-deep iOS/iPadOS integration that a cross-platform app structurally cannot replicate.
- ·Refined Markdown notes and a calm, opinionated interaction model that many people consider the best in the category — craft over reach is a real, defensible trade.
Pick Todoing.ly if
- +Runs where Things 3 cannot: a native Android app, a full web app for any computer (including Windows and Linux), and a native iPhone app — one synced list across all three. Things 3 is Apple-only by deliberate product decision and will not run on Android, Windows, or the web.
- +A genuinely complete free tier: unlimited tasks, unlimited projects, notes, recurring tasks, reminders, natural-language dates ("tomorrow 4pm"), and Inbox/Today/Calendar views — no task cap, no project wall, no card required. Things 3 has no free tier at all.
- +One account covers every platform with no per-device purchase. Things 3 is sold separately per Apple device.
- +Optional Pro adds shared projects — invite someone by email and collaborate on a list together, with member roles and real-time updates. Things 3 does not offer shared lists at all. (Invite/collaboration UX is still being refined.)
- +A one-time $49 lifetime option covers every platform from a single purchase — versus Things 3's separate per-device purchases (Mac $49.99 + iPhone $9.99 + iPad $19.99, each bought individually).
Full feature comparison
Verified 2026-05-16. Source linked at the bottom.
| Feature | Todoing.ly | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| macOS app | No (web works in any Mac browser) | Yes — native, exceptional |
| iOS app | Yes | Yes — native, exceptional |
| iPadOS app | Web (responsive) | Yes — native |
| Android app | Yes | No |
| Windows | Yes (web) | No |
| Web app | Yes | No |
| Apple Watch | No | Yes — polished |
| Real-time cross-device sync | Yes | Yes (Apple devices only) |
| Free tier | Yes — uncapped | No free tier |
| Unlimited tasks / projects | Yes (free) | Yes (paid) |
| Natural-language date entry | Yes | Yes (Quick Entry autofill) |
| Recurring tasks | Yes | Yes |
| Reminders / notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Notes on tasks | Yes | Yes (Markdown) |
| Today / Upcoming / Someday model | Inbox / Today / Calendar | Yes — refined, the signature feature |
| Design & interaction polish | Clean, good | Best-in-class — we concede this fully |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Web shortcuts (partial) | Extensive, refined |
| Collaboration / shared lists | Optional shared projects (Pro) | No |
| Pricing model | Free core; optional Pro, incl. $49 one-time lifetime | Per-device one-time (no free tier) |
Bottom line
Things 3 is the better-crafted app, full stop. If you're all-Apple and design matters to you most, buy Things 3 — you'll be happy, and nothing here is trying to talk you out of it. Todoing.ly wins exactly one argument, and it's a structural one: Things 3 does not run on Android, Windows, or the web, and it never will, because that's a deliberate Apple-only product decision. If you have a non-Apple device anywhere in your life — your own phone, your work PC, your partner's Android — Things 3 can't be your task manager and Todoing.ly can, for free, synced everywhere. That's the whole pitch. We don't out-design Things; we out-reach it.
FAQ
Is there a Things 3 for Android?+
No — Things 3 is Apple-only and there is no Android version. If you need an Android task app that syncs with your other devices, Todoing.ly runs on web, iPhone, and Android for free.
Is there a Things 3 for Windows or web?+
No. Things 3 has no Windows app and no web version. Todoing.ly has a full web app that works on any computer, Windows or otherwise.
Is Todoing.ly as polished as Things 3?+
Honestly, no — Things 3 is the most refined task app in the category and we don't claim to match it. Todoing.ly's advantage is being free and running everywhere, not out-designing Things.
Does Todoing.ly have a free version?+
Yes — a genuinely complete one: unlimited tasks and projects, reminders, recurring tasks, natural-language dates, and cross-device sync, all free. Things 3 has no free tier.
Can I pay once for Todoing.ly instead of subscribing?+
Yes. Pro is offered as a one-time $49 lifetime purchase that covers every platform, alongside monthly and annual subscription options. The exact subscription price is shown on the Todoing.ly page and in-app, since it can vary by where you buy — but the core task manager is genuinely free either way, with no lifetime purchase required to manage tasks.
Pricing verified 2026-05-16. Things 3 pricing source. Subject to change.