Your tasks are piling up, deadlines are looming, and your mind feels like a chaotic mix of reminders and checklists.
You’re left wondering, “Where do I even start?” Sounds familiar? We’ve all been there.
This is where a good to-do list app can help. It can organize your tasks in one place, declutter your mind, and give you the unmatched satisfaction of ticking off items. ✅
Among the many to-do list apps, TickTick and Things 3 stand out for their effective, flexible approaches to task management. But which one is right for you?
In this post, we’ll discuss TickTick vs. Things 3 to help you find the most suitable tool for organizing your work and personal life. 📋✨
TickTick vs. Things 3: Which Task Manager Is Best?
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is TickTick?
TickTick is a personal productivity assistant that helps you organize and track work projects and individual goals in one place. As a to-do list app, it allows you to create multiple lists, add tasks through voice notes, convert emails into tasks, set task reminders, and add recurring tasks to create a daily schedule. 📆
It also has useful features like a calendar and a Kanban board, which are good for managing projects and collaborating with your team. Plus, the Pomodoro timer helps you focus on essential tasks, a standout feature in the TickTick vs. Things 3 comparison.
TickTick features
TickTick provides many features for task management, habit tracking, and team collaboration. Let’s some of its key features:
1. Task management through lists
If you prefer a simple, clear list layout for tracking your daily tasks, TickTick can be a great addition to your digital toolkit. It offers two types of lists for task management: ‘Regular List’ and ‘Smart List.’
You can use the Regular List feature to categorize tasks into ‘Work,’ ‘Personal,’ ‘Education,’ or any other category for better efficiency. This also helps you manage tasks for different projects in one place.
Next comes the Smart List feature. It filters tasks based on due dates, tags, priorities, location, and other conditions.
📌 For example, you can view the ‘Today’ list for all tasks due today. Similarly, the ‘Next 7 Days’ list shows the tasks due in a week.
However, the Smart List feature is available only in the Premium subscription.
2. Task entry and management
One of TickTick’s standout features is its smart task entry and management, simplifying task creation and organization. Instead of manually setting due dates, priorities, or tags, TickTick uses natural language processing to recognize these details as you type.
📌 For example, if you type (or say) “Submit the quarterly report by Friday at 3 pm,” TickTick will automatically set the deadline and reminder for that task.
With TickTick, you can organize tasks effortlessly using lists, tags, and priority levels. It helps you manage multiple projects without feeling overwhelmed. TickTick also supports quick task entry through voice commands, so you can add new tasks on the go, making it perfect for busy individuals needing fast, efficient task management.
3. Multiple alerts and reminders
TickTick alerts and reminders system ensures you’re always on top of your tasks. You can set multiple reminders or ‘Annoying Alerts’ for tasks to ensure you never miss a task deadline or an important event. Its Repeat Reminder feature works well for weekly meetings, birthdays, or bill due dates.
What makes it more special is its customization of location-based reminders. You can set alerts for specific times or dates or even when you arrive at a particular location.
📌 For example, you can get a ping to pick up groceries when you’re near the store.
TickTick also lets you choose how to receive the alerts, whether through a notification, email or push notification on your smartwatch.
4. Flexible calendar views
TickTick further simplifies task management through its flexible Calendar View, which offers a visual, customizable way to organize your schedule. You can view your tasks in five ways: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Bi-weekly, and Timeline. ⏳
TickTick’s Calendar offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop feature, enabling you to adjust task deadlines or reschedule events seamlessly without disrupting your entire agenda. Additionally, TickTick integrates with third-party calendars like Google Calendar, allowing you to manage all your appointments, meetings, and deadlines in one place. This makes TickTick an efficient daily planner app.
5. Pomodoro timer
Need help to stay focused? TickTick’s built-in Pomodoro Timer is created to boost focus and productivity. You can schedule 25-minute work sessions for priority tasks, followed by a short break.
The timer seamlessly integrates with your task list, allowing you to start a session directly from any task. TickTick also tracks your Pomodoro sessions to see how long you’ve been working and how many breaks you’ve taken. This helps you stay motivated and on track.
You can even play white noise in the background while the Pomo timer is on to enhance your focus. 🧘
💡Pro Tip: To maximize your productivity, try combining the Pomodoro Timer with a dedicated focus playlist. Choose instrumental music or nature sounds that help you concentrate, minimize distractions, and enhance your ability to stay in the zone during your work sessions. 🔥
TickTick pricing
- Free
- Premium: $35.99/year
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is Things 3?
Things 3 is a sleek, user-friendly task management app for Apple users. It is a popular alternative to TickTick and combines beautiful design with intuitive features, making it easy to organize your tasks and stay productive. ⚡
Whether you’re managing personal projects, work-related tasks, or long-term goals, Things 3 provides a streamlined, distraction-free environment to help you focus on what matters most.
It’s ideal for breaking down larger projects into manageable steps and organizing everything.
Things 3 features
Here are the most useful features of Things #:
1. Project breakdown and headings
Things 3 stands out with its project structuring feature. Rather than managing a long list of to-dos, you can group related tasks under specific headings, giving your project a clear visual hierarchy. This is one of the most frequently praised features when comparing TickTick vs. Things 3.
Imagine working on an extensive campaign or event. Instead of staring at a chaotic list of tasks, you can organize everything by category—’Research,’ ‘Planning,’ and ‘Execution’—with individual tasks listed neatly underneath.
This makes it easy to focus on one section at a time without losing sight of the overall goal. Plus, the visual clarity helps reduce stress by providing a roadmap for completion.
2. Magic plus button
The Magic Plus Button in Things 3 is more than just a way to add tasks—it’s your shortcut to productivity. Imagine being able to quickly capture tasks or ideas the moment they pop into your head, no matter where you are in the app. That’s how the Magic Plus Button works. ✨
Capture new tasks or ideas instantly, no matter where you are in the app. Need to add something last minute? Just tap and add it, and it’ll be sorted without disrupting your workflow.
3. Checklists
The Checklist feature in Things 3 helps you provide context for your tasks, making it perfect for breaking down complex to-dos into bite-sized steps.
📌 For instance, instead of ‘Plan event,’ create a checklist of ‘Book venue,’ ‘Arrange catering,’ and ‘Send invites’ to keep everything organized and trackable.’
4. Quick Find
The Quick Find feature in Things 3 lets you find exactly what you need without sifting through endless lists.
With just a few keystrokes, you can search tasks, to-dos, projects, and specific details across your entire task list.
Imagine you’re in the middle of a busy day and need to locate that crucial task buried deep within a project. Instead of wasting time scrolling or hunting through folders, you hit Quick Find, type a keyword, and voilà—everything relevant pops up instantly.
5. Timely reminders
Timely Reminders in Things 3 help you stay on top of crucial tasks. Whether it’s a critical meeting or a personal deadline, Things 3 has you covered with several easy ways to set reminders.
You can click to add reminders directly while scheduling your to-dos, making it simple to set alerts when you plan your tasks. Just hit ‘Add Reminder,’ choose your time, and you’re all set.
📌 Prefer typing?
With Things 3’s natural language date parser, you can type reminders like ‘Tom, 8 pm,’ and the app will automatically understand and set the time for you.
For those who love hands-free solutions, Siri integration allows you to set reminders by speaking directly to your iPhone. Just say, “In Things, remind me to send a message to Alex at 5 am tomorrow,” and your Apple reminder is set.
Things 3 pricing
Separate one-time fee for each of your iOS devices:
- Mac: $49.99
- iPad: $19.99
- iPhone and Apple Watch: $9.99
- Vision Pro: $29.99
Summarize this article for me pleaseTickTick vs. Things 3: Features Compared
Both TickTick and Things 3 offer impressive task management and to-do app features, each with a unique flair. Here’s a quick overview of their features so you can choose the most suitable tool for completing tasks:
| Feature | TickTick | Things 3 |
| Ease of use | Has a learning curve to understand all the features | Simple user interface |
| Task entry | Supports natural language input for quick scheduling | Task entry without extensive language parsing |
| Availability | Accessible on both Apple and Android devices | Accessible only on Apple devices |
| Collaboration | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Time-tracking | Available | Not available |
| Reminders | Multiple Reminders and Annoying Reminders for tasks to ensure you don’t miss a deadline | Fastlane reminders feature to set task reminders on your Apple calendar |
| Task View | List View and Calendar View | List View and Calendar View |
| Free Version | Yes, but with limited features | No |
| Price | TickTick Premium Plan: $35.99/year | One-time purchase: Mac: $49.99 iPad: $19.99 iPhone and Apple Watch: $9.99 Vision Pro: $29.99 |
| Best For | All users looking for simple time management and task collaboration | Apple users looking for a clean visual layout for task organization |
1. Task management
TickTick
TickTick shines with its ability to manage multiple task lists on a single screen, making it an excellent choice for juggling various aspects of your life and working in one place.
Things 3
On the other hand, Things 3 impresses with its Project Breakdown and Headings. These allow you to structure large projects into manageable sections and provide clear visual hierarchy and organization.
🏆 Winner: TickTick for balancing numerous tasks across different projects with its streamlined Multi-list View
2. Reminders and alerts
TickTick
TickTick offers a wide range of customization options for your reminders and alerts. You can set specific times, dates, and locations and even choose the sound and vibration patterns. You can also connect TickTick with your calendar and other apps to ensure you’re always in the loop.
Things 3
In contrast, Things 3 shines with its Fastlane feature, which ensures that reminders are instantly synced across all your devices. This means when you set a reminder on your phone, it’s immediately updated on your computer and tablet, keeping your notifications consistent and timely.
🏆 Winner: Things 3 due to its Fastlane feature, which ensures real-time updates across devices
3. Time management
TickTick
TickTick’s Pomodoro timer stands out with built-in focus sessions, helping you boost productivity with structured work intervals and breaks. This feature is great for users who prefer a timed approach to managing their work.
Plus, TickTick has an Eisenhower Matrix feature where you can arrange your tasks into four categories: ‘Urgent and Important,’ ‘Not Urgent and Important,’ ‘Urgent and Unimportant,’ and ‘Not Urgent and Unimportant.’ It helps you identify important and urgent tasks so that you can finish them first.
Things 3
Things 3, however, doesn’t include a Pomodoro timer but offers flexible calendar views and timely reminders that can indirectly help with time management.
🏆 Winner: TickTick because of the Pomo Timer and Eisenhower Matrix features
Summarize this article for me pleaseTickTick vs. Things 3 on Reddit
We also checked user reviews on Reddit to see which tool is better. Here’s a glimpse into what Reddit users say about TickTick vs. Things 3.
One Reddit user made his take on Things 3 very clear.
Another user suggests trying TickTick and Things 3 and using the one that suits your needs.
Summarize this article for me pleaseMeet ClickUp—The Best Alternative to TickTick vs. Things 3
Now, you can decide whether to pick TickTick vs. Things 3. However, the ‘Thing’ is that if you choose TickTick, you might lose the ability to break down projects into simpler tasks or milestones. And, if you pick Things 3, you’ll have to compromise on the time-tracking feature.
So, if you’re still on the fence between TickTick and Things 3, allow us to introduce ClickUp. It combines the strengths of both apps while offering even more features for free. Plus, as a web app and mobile app, it ensures cross-platform accessibility.
ClickUp is a robust task management tool that offers comprehensive features to streamline your workflow and boost productivity in your daily tasks. Let’s find out how it is a powerful TickTick and Things 3 alternative.
Advanced task management
The ClickUp Tasks is like your personal productivity powerhouse. You can create tasks, add task categories by adding tags and statuses, and set task priorities. This helps you organize and filter tasks like a pro.
You can add context to your tasks with Custom Fields, such as project, location, client, etc. Plus, ClickUp Tasks enables you to link related and dependent tasks to track task progress and identify blockers. This capability makes it the frontrunner in the TickTick vs. Things 3 vs. other to-do list apps race, thanks to its advanced customization and flexibility.
Instead of sticking to default statuses like ‘Open’ or ‘Closed,’ ClickUp lets you create Custom Statuses that align perfectly with your workflow. You can have statuses like ‘In Progress,’ ‘Awaiting Review,’ or ‘Blocked,’ providing more clarity about where each task stands.
Depending on what works best for the project, you can also view your tasks in different ways, whether that’s a List, Kanban Board, or Calendar View. Subtasks can be customized to display exactly the information you need when you need it.
ClickUp isn’t only for project management or tracking team tasks. You can easily use it to manage your personal projects or calendar events. Here’s how our users rely on ClickUp as a personal AI to-do list app.
But that’s not all.
With ClickUp Brain, you get a personal AI assistant to automate task management by providing task summaries and daily progress reports. It also automates action items, subtasks planning, and data filling.
But it doesn’t stop there.
ClickUp Brain can also analyze project data to enhance decision-making, estimate costs, optimize resource allocation, predict capacity needs, streamline team management, and monitor potential risks—all in real time. Managing tasks has never been this easy with ClickUp Tasks and ClickUp Brain.
Quick and easy reminders
Reminders in task management apps can feel like nagging notifications, irritating you. ClickUp Reminders offers a customizable system that keeps you informed about your tasks without feeling intrusive.
You can color-code your reminders, tweak settings to fit your style, and ensure you’re always ahead of your deadlines.
The Inbox feature doubles as a task manager and calendar app, making it easy to keep track of everything in one place. Tabs like ‘Next,’ ‘Done,’ and ‘Unscheduled’ let you know what’s coming up, what’s completed, and what still needs a due date.
ClickUp Reminders pack a powerful punch with the ability to attach files like photos, voice memos, or map locations to your reminders. This feature keeps you and your team organized and on track. Plus, with over 1,000 integrations, it’s easy to sync your reminders with Google Calendar, Outlook, Zoom, and even Amazon Alexa.
With the ‘Delegated Reminders’ feature, you can also set reminders and notifications for your team, ensuring no task is forgotten. Whether it’s recurring reminders or syncing across your calendar apps, ClickUp helps you maintain control over your schedule.
Calendar To-Do List Template
Are you feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list? It’s time to bring order to the chaos! The ClickUp Calendar To-Do List Template comes to your rescue here.
This template helps you visualize your goals and tasks so you can plan your day or week like a pro. No more scrambling to meet deadlines or feeling lost in a sea of to-dos.
The template also helps sort your tasks into clear categories so you can see exactly what needs to be done and when. It gives you a detailed view of each task, allowing you to track progress, set deadlines, and stay on top of things.
With this template, you can:
- Schedule tasks easily
- Organize tasks into different categories for better productivity
- Add task context and track task progress
Level up your productivity with ClickUp’s Calendar To-Do List Template. It’s time to stop just planning and start achieving.
Seamless time tracking
Effective task management requires tracking the time spent on each task. ClickUp makes this easier with its built-in Time Tracking feature, allowing you to record task durations seamlessly.
You can start and stop the timer from any device and use the global reminder to record time for multiple tasks. This enables you to set task priorities, allocate resources efficiently, and identify bottlenecks.
Summarize this article for me pleaseClickUp: The End to the TickTick vs. Things 3 Debate
While TickTick and Things 3 productivity apps bring solid features to the table, ClickUp emerges as the ultimate solution for task management, daily planning, and team collaboration.
From powerful task management to customizable views, advanced reminders, and AI-driven tools, ClickUp goes beyond simple task tracking. The free version offers all of this.
Sign up for free with ClickUp today, and see how it transforms the way you work! 🚀
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
