Last updated · Matthew Blode
Todoist vs Things 3
Todoist vs Things 3 splits on devices, sharing, and how much of the system you maintain. Pick Todoist for Windows, Android, the web, assignees, or an API. Pick Things 3 for Apple-only personal GTD you never configure. Done Bear keeps that structure on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, and iOS. There is no Android app yet (waitlist at /android).
Free up to 250 tasks. No credit card.
How Todoist, Things 3, and Done Bear compare
Competitor cells come from Todoist’s and Cultured Code’s own documentation, listed under sources.
| Criterion | Todoist | Things 3 | Done Bear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, web, watches | Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, Vision. No Windows or browser | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS. No Android |
| Price | Beginner free; Pro $7 a month or $60 a year; Business $10 per user per month or $8 billed yearly | One-time purchase per Apple platform; Things Cloud is free | Free up to 250 tasks, then from $7/month per member billed yearly |
| Free plan | 5 active personal projects, 3 filters, one week of history; every plan caps a project at 300 active tasks | No free tier | 250 active tasks, unlimited workspace members |
| GTD views | Filters, labels, and views you maintain | Inbox, Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday are the app | Inbox, Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday, Logbook |
| Sharing | Shared projects, assignees, comments | None | Shared workspaces on every plan; personal Today stays personal |
| Automation | API v1, CLI, hosted MCP at ai.todoist.net/mcp | URL scheme, Shortcuts, AppleScript, Mail to Things | CLI, GraphQL API, hosted MCP at mcp.donebear.com/mcp |
Who should pick which
Stay on Things 3 for Apple-only personal GTD
Stay if every device is Apple, nobody else touches the list, and you prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription.
Stay on Todoist for Android, sharing, and a documented API
Stay if Windows, Android, or a browser is part of your week, projects need assignees, or a script needs a documented API.
Where Done Bear fits in this comparison
Done Bear is a local-first GTD task manager for Things-style views on Windows or in a browser, with shared workspaces that keep your Today personal. One list. Every device.
Free up to 250 tasks with unlimited workspace members, then from $7 per month per member billed yearly. See the pricing page for the rest.
Import paths into Done Bear
Todoist exports one project as CSV on any plan, or a ZIP of active-project CSVs on Pro and Business; neither includes completed tasks or archived projects. Things 3 imports from the Mac database with `donebear import things`, or from Settings, Import, Things 3.
Where this information comes from
- Cultured Code, Getting Things (Things is sold separately for Mac, iPad, iPhone and Vision, with no Windows or browser app)
- Cultured Code, Syncing with Things Cloud (a supported Apple device is required to view to-dos, and real-time sharing of to-dos or lists is not supported)
- Cultured Code, Connecting AI tools to Things (the Things URL Scheme, Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript on Mac, and Mail to Things are the supported automation routes)
- Todoist, Download Todoist (apps for Linux, Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple Watch and WearOS, plus browser extensions and email add-ons)
- Todoist, Todoist plans, pricing, and billing FAQ (Beginner is free, Pro is $7 a month or $60 a year, and Business is $10 per user per month or $8 per user per month billed yearly)
- Todoist, Usage limits in Todoist (Beginner allows 5 active personal projects, 3 filters, one week of activity history and 5 people per personal project, and every plan caps a project at 300 active tasks and 20 sections)
- Todoist, Import or export a project as a CSV file in Todoist (CSV export and import run one project at a time and leave out completed tasks)
- Todoist, Download or restore backups in Todoist (Pro and Business backups are ZIP files of active-project CSVs, excluding completed tasks and archived projects)
- Todoist, Todoist API v1 reference (a public HTTP API covering tasks and projects)
- Todoist, Connect Todoist to an AI assistant (hosted MCP at ai.todoist.net/mcp)
- Doist, todoist-cli (the official td command line for Todoist)
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Todoist vs Things: which should I pick?
Todoist if you need Windows, Android, a browser, shared projects, or an API. Things 3 if you work alone on Apple hardware and want GTD views you never configure.
Is there a Things 3 app for Windows?
No. Things runs on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro, and Things Cloud is not a site you can open on a PC. Done Bear has a native Windows app with the same GTD views.
Can I import Todoist into Done Bear?
Yes. Export a Todoist backup or project CSV, then open Settings, Import, Todoist in Done Bear and check the preview; your Todoist account is unchanged.
Can I import Things 3 into Done Bear?
Yes. Run `donebear import things` on the Mac, or upload the Things database in Settings, Import, Things 3; areas, projects, Today, Someday, and scheduled dates come across.
Is Done Bear local-first like Things 3?
Yes. Every view opens from a copy on the device, and edits sync when you reconnect; on iPhone and in a browser where it has loaded before it works offline, while the desktop apps need a connection to start.
Free up to 250 tasks. No credit card.