Todoist vs TickTick vs Things 3 Subscription Price Comparison 2026: Which Task Manager Is Worth It?
Todoist Pro $48/yr, TickTick $35.99/yr, Things 3 one-time $79.97. 5-year cost breakdown, regional pricing, and money-saving tips for 2026.
Article Citation Summary
Todoist Pro $48/yr, TickTick $35.99/yr, Things 3 one-time $79.97. 5-year cost breakdown, regional pricing, and money-saving tips for 2026.
Todoist vs TickTick vs Things 3 Subscription Price Comparison 2026: Which Task Manager Is Worth It?
The task management app market features a rare pricing dynamic: Todoist Pro at $48/year, TickTick Premium at $35.99/year, and Things 3 as a one-time purchase across three platforms for roughly $79.97. These three products operate on completely different payment models — which one gives you better value depends on how long you use it and how many devices you need.
As of June 2026, TickTick Premium at $35.99/year is the lowest-cost subscription of the three. Things 3's combined three-platform purchase of $79.97 breaks even with cumulative TickTick costs after 2.3 years of use, and with Todoist costs after 1.7 years — for Apple ecosystem users only.
Quick Pricing Overview: Three Task Management Apps
2026 Pricing Summary
The table below summarizes the core pricing for all three tools (as of June 2026, sourced from official product websites and AppPriceHub real-time monitoring):
| App | Billing Model | Monthly Price | Annual / One-Time Price | Effective Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todoist Pro | Subscription | ~$5/month | ~$48/year | ~$4/month |
| TickTick Premium | Subscription | ~$3.99/month | ~$35.99/year | ~$3/month |
| Things 3 (3 platforms) | One-time purchase | — | ~$79.97 (one-time) | Amortizes over time |
All three apps offer free tiers, but core features — reminders, filters, and calendar view — are largely gated behind paid plans. Things 3 has no free trial and requires an upfront purchase. Todoist and TickTick both let you try the basic features for free before deciding to upgrade.
Subscription vs. One-Time Purchase: Model Differences at a Glance
Todoist and TickTick use subscription models — if you stop paying, your account reverts to the free tier, with historical data retained but premium features disabled. Things 3 sells you the right to use the current version permanently. If Things 4 is released down the road, you'd need to buy it separately; you won't be forced to upgrade, and your existing version continues to work as-is.
In practice, the one-time purchase model is friendlier to users who don't like switching tools. The upside of subscriptions is that ongoing revenue keeps developers motivated to ship updates — Todoist and TickTick's consistent annual feature releases back this up.
5-Year Total Cost Comparison: Which App Costs the Most?
This is the core question many users wrestle with. Let the numbers speak:
| Years of Use | Todoist Pro (annual) | TickTick Premium (annual) | Things 3 (one-time, 3 platforms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | $48 | $35.99 | $79.97 |
| 2 years | $96 | $71.98 | $79.97 |
| 3 years | $144 | $107.97 | $79.97 |
| 5 years | $240 | $179.95 | $79.97 |
As of June 2026, over a 5-year period, Things 3's three-platform one-time cost ($79.97) is just 33% of Todoist Pro's 5-year total ($240) and 56% less than TickTick's 5-year total ($179.95). The catch: this only applies if you're exclusively on Apple devices and have no need for Android or Windows.
Things 3 has no Android app. If you use an Android phone, TickTick is the only option that covers all platforms — and in that case, the cross-platform value is well worth the subscription.
Todoist Regional Pricing: How Big Are the Differences?
Todoist uses regional pricing. Based on AppPriceHub monitoring data from June 2026:
| Region | Todoist Pro Annual Price | Approximate ¥ Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $48/year | ~¥348 |
| India | ₹1,400/year | ~¥120 |
| Turkey | ₺600/year | ~¥130 |
| China (iOS App Store) | ¥228/year | ¥228 |
| Brazil | R$140/year | ~¥175 |
India and Turkey pricing is roughly one-third of the US price and also lower than the China region. Switching your App Store region to subscribe to Todoist is technically possible, but it comes with billing address verification requirements and refund risks. Before attempting this, refer to the AppPriceHub cross-region subscription guide.
TickTick also has regional price differences, but subscribing directly through the official website (outside the App Store) offers a more consistent rate locked at $35.99/year. Users can subscribe directly with a credit card without needing to change their region.
TickTick Premium Features and Pricing: What Does $35.99 Get You?
As of June 2026, TickTick Premium costs $35.99/year — the lowest subscription price of the three. Key features unlocked over the free tier include:
- Calendar view: Tasks and calendar events displayed side by side — essential for heavy time-management users
- Habit tracking: Built-in check-ins and statistics, unavailable on the free plan
- Custom filters: Filter tasks by tag, due date, and priority in combination
- Pomodoro timer: Built-in focus timer, no need to switch apps
- Up to 299 projects: Free tier is capped at 9
The bottom line: if you mainly use TickTick for simple to-do management, the free tier is sufficient. But habit tracking and calendar view are exclusive to the paid plan — for power productivity users, $3/month is a low barrier to entry.
Things 3 One-Time Purchase Deep Dive: Is $79.97 Worth It?
Things 3 is a rare holdout in the mainstream task management space, sticking with a one-time purchase model. At $79.97 for iPhone + iPad + Mac, it sounds expensive upfront — but stretched over time:
Things 3 is a great fit if you:As of June 2026, Things 3's three-platform one-time price is $79.97. At TickTick Premium's rate of $35.99/year, Things 3's cumulative cost breaks even after 2.3 years of use. By year 3, Things 3 users have spent $27.99 less than TickTick users and $64 less than Todoist users.
- Are a long-term Apple ecosystem user (iPhone + Mac, no Android needs)
- Prefer a clean, minimal design without complex collaboration features
- Plan to use the app for 3+ years consistently
- Dislike the idea of losing features if you stop paying
- No Android or Windows version — not an option for cross-platform users
- Weak collaboration features — not suited for shared team tasks
- Major version upgrades require a new purchase (Things 3 → Things 4 pricing not yet announced)
- No web app — tasks are only accessible on Apple devices
Which Task Management App Is Right for You? A Scenario Guide
Users who've cycled through multiple tools consistently report the same lesson: choosing the wrong app isn't about missing features — it's about a mismatch between the payment model and how you actually use it.
Choose TickTick Premium if:You use Android or multiple platforms, want built-in habit tracking, are budget-conscious, or just want the lowest-cost entry point into a paid task manager — $35.99/year has the lowest barrier to entry.
Choose Todoist Pro if:You need team collaboration, rely on third-party integrations (Slack, Google Calendar, Zapier), or prioritize ecosystem maturity. Todoist's task comments and assignment features are available even on the $48/year personal plan, making it a solid choice for light collaboration. For details on Todoist integrations with other productivity tools, see the AppPriceHub productivity subscription guide.
Choose Things 3 (one-time purchase) if:You're all-in on Apple, hate recurring subscription charges, plan to use a task manager for 3+ years, and prefer the GTD methodology. Things 3's three-tier Area + Project + Task structure is exceptionally well-suited for GTD practitioners.
For tips on lowering subscription costs further through gift cards or regional pricing, see the AppPriceHub subscription savings guide.
FAQ
Q: Which is cheapest — Todoist, TickTick, or Things 3?A: Short-term (within 1 year), TickTick Premium is cheapest at $35.99/year. Long-term (3+ years), Things 3's one-time purchase has the lowest total cost at $79.97 across three platforms with no recurring charges. Todoist Pro at $48/year accumulates to $240 over 5 years, making it the most expensive option over the long run.
Q: Does Things 3 have a free version or trial?A: No. Things 3 is a pure one-time purchase — you pay upfront after downloading from the App Store, with no free trial. Each platform is priced separately: iPhone at $9.99, iPad at $19.99, and Mac at $49.99. They are sold independently, not bundled. If you only need the iPhone app, $9.99 is your entry cost.
Q: Will I lose my data if I stop subscribing to TickTick or Todoist?A: Your data won't be deleted, but your account will be downgraded. After canceling, you revert to the free tier — existing tasks and project data are retained, but projects exceeding the free tier limits become read-only (no editing). It's worth exporting a data backup before your subscription expires.
Q: Does Things 3 support Android or Windows?A: No. Things 3 is an Apple-only app, supporting iPhone, iPad, and Mac. There is no Android version, Windows version, or web app. If your primary devices include an Android phone, Things 3 is not a viable option — TickTick or Todoist are the only alternatives with full cross-platform support.
Q: Can switching App Store regions get you a cheaper Todoist subscription?A: In theory, yes. Todoist Pro in the India or Turkey region works out to roughly ¥120–130, significantly less than the China region price of ¥228. However, switching App Store regions requires a payment method from that region (gift card or local credit card), and Apple has billing address verification in place — doing it incorrectly risks purchase failures or account issues. For detailed steps and risk disclosure, see the AppPriceHub cross-region subscription guide.
Q: Which of these apps is best for team use?A: Of the three, only Todoist and TickTick support task sharing and team collaboration. Todoist has a dedicated Business plan with task assignment, comments, and permission management. TickTick Premium supports shared lists, suitable for light team coordination. Things 3 is a personal tool with no collaboration features and is not appropriate for team scenarios.