TL;DR
TickTick vs Things: In August 2026 Things remains the recommendation for Apple-only users who want the most refined daily task experience and refuse a productivity subscription. TickTick is the right default if you live cross-platform, want an all-in-one hub, or need shared lists and time-blocking without extra apps. The tie-break is platform mix and module appetite, not which app is "better" in the abstract.
Which is better: TickTick or Things?
TickTick is the top pick for most Mac users looking at Task managers. It is free and installs in one Homebrew command. Things is the stronger choice if you want tasks. As of September 2026, both install with brew install --cask ticktick and brew install --cask things.
TickTick vs Things
Which is the better Task managers for Mac in 2026?
We compared TickTick and Things across 6 key factors including price, open-source status, and community adoption. Read our full breakdown below.
TickTick
To-do & task list manager
Things
Award-winning personal task manager for Mac with a clean design and powerful organization features.
Our Verdict
In August 2026 Things remains the recommendation for Apple-only users who want the most refined daily task experience and refuse a productivity subscription. TickTick is the right default if you live cross-platform, want an all-in-one hub, or need shared lists and time-blocking without extra apps. The tie-break is platform mix and module appetite, not which app is "better" in the abstract.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | TickTick | Things |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Paid |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Replaces | Things 3 ($50) | — |
| Best for | tasks, to-do, reminders | tasks, to-do, gtd |
| Install | brew install --cask ticktick | brew install --cask things |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
Quick Install
brew install --cask ticktickbrew install --cask thingsLearn More
In-Depth Overview
What is TickTick?
TickTick by Appest Inc. is a freemium task manager spanning macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, web, Apple Watch, and extensions. Beyond lists, it bundles a calendar with time-blocking, habit tracker with streaks, Pomodoro timer with white noise, Eisenhower Matrix, and Kanban/timeline views. Tasks support subtasks, priorities, tags, smart lists, location and calendar reminds, and collaboration. Pricing in 2026: Free (limited lists/collaboration) and Premium approximately $35.99/year (about $3/month) for full calendar, habits, and Pomodoro stats. TickTick is Universal, notarized, and runs natively on Apple Silicon under macOS Tahoe 26.x.
What is Things?
Things 3 by Cultured Code is award-winning GTD-style task manager for Apple platforms only - Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch (and Apple Vision Pro). It strips task management to its essentials: elegant projects, areas, headings, checklists, repeating to-dos, tonight/this evening, and magical natural-language date parsing without clutter. Sync is via Things Cloud, free and fast. In 2026 Things remains a one-time purchase with no subscription: approximately $49.99 for Mac, $9.99 for iPhone/Watch, and $19.99 for iPad - buy each platform once and own it. It is deeply native on Tahoe 26.x: Liquid Glass styling, Shortcuts, Siri, and system share sheet integration.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Platform coverage
CriticalMac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, web. One account everywhere; essential if household or work mixes platforms.
Apple-only. No Windows, Android, or web. Perfect continuity inside Apple, deal-breaker outside it.
Verdict: TickTick wins cross-platform; Things wins depth inside Apple.
Task capture and parsing
HighQuick add with dates, priorities, tags, and lists. Natural language is solid for dates/times.
Frictionless quick entry with superb date parsing ('next Tuesday', 'every 2 weeks') and natural structure via projects/areas/headings.
Verdict: Things feels faster for Apple-centric capture.
Calendar and time-blocking
HighBuilt-in calendar with drag-to-block time slots alongside Google/Outlook events.
Shows calendar events (read-only) in Today/Upcoming; no drag time-blocking inside the app - relies on external calendar.
Verdict: TickTick's integrated time-blocking is a clear edge.
Habits and Pomodoro
MediumDedicated habit tracker with streaks and Pomodoro timer with noise - both built in.
No habits or timer built in. Repeating to-dos approximate habits; Pomodoro via separate app.
Verdict: TickTick replaces two extra apps.
Design and focus
HighWell-organized but busy by design due to many modules. Functional and improving, but dense.
Best-in-class Apple design: typography, whitespace, animations, and progressive disclosure. Calm by default.
Verdict: Things wins beauty and cognitive ease.
Pricing model
HighFreemium ~$35.99/year for Premium. Low annual cost for a suite; recurring forever.
One-time purchase ~$49.99 Mac + $9.99 iPhone + $19.99 iPad; no subscription. Own it for years.
Verdict: Things is cheaper over 3 years for Apple users; TickTick is cheaper if you need Windows/Android.
Collaboration
MediumShared lists, assignees, comments, and activity - solid for families and small teams.
Personal task manager with shared lists via Things Cloud links but no true team workspace. Choose TickTick for collaboration.
Verdict: TickTick wins if you share work.
Tahoe 26.x / Apple Silicon
MediumUniversal, notarized; smooth on M-series with iCloud/Siri integration.
Deeply native: Liquid Glass, Shortcuts, Siri, Share sheet, Handoff, and Apple Silicon optimization since inception.
Verdict: Things feels more at home on Tahoe.
Who Should Choose Which?
1Apple-only freelancer
Design calm and one-time purchase beat bundle noise.
2Student on Mac + Android
Cross-platform plus habit tracking.
3Small team
Shared projects and comments.
4GTD purist on MacBook Pro
Areas/headings map GTD cleanly.
Migration Guide
Ticktick → Things
Export TickTick lists as CSV/OPML where supported, or drag tasks via share, then rebuild Areas/Projects and headings in Things. Recreate smart lists as Things filters/tags. Rebuild habits separately (Streaks/Habits apps pair well with Things).
Things → Ticktick
Create matching lists in TickTick, import via TickTick import tools or via CSV/Reminders, then enable calendar sync and recreate repeating habits inside TickTick's habit module.
Pro Tips
Move only active projects first. Keep due-date parsing consistent by testing natural-language entry on five sample tasks before bulk import.
Final Verdict
Things
Winner
Runner-up
Scores are Bundl.run editorial ratings out of 10 across 8 criteria (the feature comparison above), last reviewed August 2026.
In August 2026 Things remains the recommendation for Apple-only users who want the most refined daily task experience and refuse a productivity subscription. TickTick is the right default if you live cross-platform, want an all-in-one hub, or need shared lists and time-blocking without extra apps. The tie-break is platform mix and module appetite, not which app is "better" in the abstract.
Bottom Line: Apple-only → Things. Cross-platform or bundle-maximalist → TickTick.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
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Sources & References
Key Verified Facts
- TickTick Premium is approximately $35.99/year with calendar, habit tracker, and Pomodoro built in.[cite-1, cite-2]
- Things 3 is a one-time purchase around $49.99 Mac / $9.99 iPhone / $19.99 iPad with free Things Cloud sync; no subscription.[cite-3, cite-4]
- TickTick runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and web; Things is Apple-only.[cite-1, cite-3]
- 1TickTick - homepage
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 2TickTick - pricing
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 3Things - homepage and features
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 4Things - App Store pricing
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 5Things 3 review - pricing and platforms
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 6TickTick review 2026
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 7macOS Tahoe overview
Accessed Aug 9, 2026
- 8Things vs Apple Reminders comparison 2026
Accessed Aug 9, 2026