Things 3, Todoist and Keepio meet the same need in different ways. Things is a polished Apple app sold device by device. Todoist works everywhere, with an account and a subscription. Keepio brings tasks, projects, notes and Pomodoro together on Apple devices, with no account. Here is what you need to choose well. Prices were checked on November 10, 2026 on the official sites and App Store listings.
The verdict in one sentence
- Things 3 if you want an elegant task list on Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch and Vision Pro, and don’t mind paying for each version.
- Todoist if you need Windows, Android or the web, and a subscription doesn’t bother you.
- Keepio if you want tasks, projects, notes, a calendar and Pomodoro in one Apple app, with no account and a one-time purchase.
Comparison table
| Keepio | Things 3 | Todoist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac (Android without sync) | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows, Linux, web, watches |
| Pricing model | Free + Keepio+ one-time purchase | One paid app per device, no subscription | Limited free plan + Pro subscription |
| Prices checked | Free, or Keepio+ once (€9.99 in France) | iPhone $9.99, iPad $19.99, Mac $49.99 | Pro $7/month or $60/year |
| Account | None | Free Things Cloud account to sync | Required |
| Sync | Your private iCloud | Things Cloud | Todoist’s servers |
| Built-in Pomodoro | Yes, with per-project statistics (Keepio+) | No | No (third-party integrations) |
| Notes in projects | Yes | Yes (Markdown) | Project comments |
| Calendar view | Yes | No (events in Today and Upcoming) | Paid plans only |
| Natural language input | Analyze with Apple Intelligence, on device (Keepio+) | Dates and times | Smart date recognition |
| AI | On-device Apple Intelligence, offline | No AI of its own (Apple Writing Tools) | Todoist Assist, processed in the cloud |
| Offline | Yes | Yes | Yes, once signed in |
Things 3: the most polished, sold per device
Things is known for its finish. Projects support Markdown notes, date entry understands natural language, and the app works offline. It also covers Apple Watch and Vision Pro.
Two things to know. First, each version is a separate app: iPhone, iPad and Mac add up to $79.97 in the US. Second, sync goes through a Things Cloud account; iCloud is not supported. There is no focus timer and no dedicated calendar view. A 15-day free trial exists on Mac only.
Sources: pricing and trial, sync, features.
Todoist: everywhere, with an account and a subscription
Todoist is the most cross-platform of the three: Android, Windows, Linux, the web and watches. Date entry understands natural language, and Todoist Assist adds AI features.
In return, an account is required and your data lives on Todoist’s servers. The free plan is limited to 5 personal projects, with no calendar layout. Pro costs $7 per month, or $60 per year billed annually. There is no built-in Pomodoro: you need a third-party integration. AI processing happens in the cloud.
Sources: pricing, terms of service, Todoist Assist.
Keepio: everything in one place, no account
Keepio starts from a simple idea: your tasks, projects, notes, calendar and focus sessions in one place. The free version includes unlimited tasks, projects and notes, the Today view and iCloud sync. Keepio+ adds Apple Intelligence, Pomodoro and its statistics, copying to Apple Calendar, project templates and all widgets, as a one-time purchase (€9.99 in France; prices vary by country).
There is no account to create: your data stays on your devices and in your private iCloud. The guide on syncing without an account explains how it works.
What Keepio doesn’t do
To be fair: Keepio has no web or Windows version. The Android version exists but doesn’t sync. If you work on a PC at the office, Todoist will be more practical. And if you mainly want a pure, minimal task list, Things remains a benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Things 3 alternative that doesn’t charge per device?
Keepio is free on iPhone, iPad and Mac, with iCloud sync included. Keepio+ is a single one-time purchase, instead of one paid app per device like Things 3.
Which task app works without an account?
Keepio works without an account, including for sync, because it uses your private iCloud. Things 3 doesn’t need one on a single device, but syncing requires a Things Cloud account. Todoist requires an account.
Which task app has a built-in Pomodoro timer?
Of the three, only Keepio has built-in Pomodoro, with per-project focus statistics (in Keepio+). Things 3 doesn’t offer one, and Todoist relies on third-party integrations.
Is Todoist free?
Todoist has a free plan limited to 5 personal projects, with no calendar layout. Advanced features need the Pro subscription, at $7 per month or $60 per year as of November 2026.
Try this today: list what matters to you (devices, account, price, Pomodoro) and tick the columns in the table. The app that ticks the most boxes is the right one, even if it isn’t Keepio.
Explore task management in Keepio and the Pomodoro timer.
