2Do vs Things 3
Things 3 is a carefully curated, opinionated task manager that asks you to work its way, and rewards you with an unusually calm, well-designed app. 2Do takes the opposite position: it gives you the parts and lets you arrange them. If you want a fixed, minimal method and award-winning design, Things 3 may suit you better. If you want deeper structure, search, alarms, and a say in where your data syncs, 2Do is usually the stronger choice.
Last reviewed: August 10, 2026.
At a Glance
| Criteria | 2Do | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary model | Flexible lists, projects, and checklists that adapt to your method | A curated Today / Upcoming / Anytime / Someday workflow |
| Best fit | Power users who want depth, search, and sync choice | Users who want simplicity with strong design |
| Strength | Feature depth without forcing a methodology | Elegance and low friction |
| Trade-off | More features to explore | Deliberately limited feature set |
2Do imports your Things 3 data directly on the Mac — choose File > Import > From Things… and your Areas arrive as List Groups with each Project as its own list, while your to-dos, checklists, tags, dates, reminders, and repeats come across intact. See Import from Things.
Task Management & Sync Comparison
Where Things 3 May Be Better
- You want a fixed, minimal workflow with exceptional, award-winning design.
- You want zero-configuration sync and don't mind your data living in a proprietary cloud — Things Cloud is free and effortless.
- Headings inside projects fit how you outline work.
- You'd rather have fewer options than more.
- You're settling in for the long term and don't expect to need your tasks in another format. Things has no built-in CSV or calendar export, though 2Do can still read your data out if you change your mind.
Where 2Do May Be Better
- You want to arrange your own structure, combining lists, projects, checklists, and sub-tasks however suits the work.
- You rely on powerful saved searches — Smart Lists with a full query syntax.
- Every list sorts its own way — a dozen sort options remembered per list — with a one-click Focus Filter, expressive tag filtering, and on-demand List Group filtering on top.
- You decide what counts as "everything": exclude any list from All, Today, or Done, so Someday lists and background chores stay out of your daily views.
- You need reminders that persist, with several alarms on one task and repeat sounds that continue until you act.
- You want to pick your own sync: Dropbox, iCloud CalDAV, CalDAV, Apple Reminders, Todoist, or Toodledo.
- Some lists never need to leave your Mac: exclude chosen lists from sync entirely and they stay on this device only.
- Two-way Apple Reminders sync means Siri-captured tasks land in 2Do.
- Built for keyboard lovers: single keys defer (
D), schedule (K), star (S), tag (L), and move (M) tasks, while shortcuts jump to any editor field and Option-digit picks presets. - Press Spacebar for a Quick Look preview of notes, dates, alarms, and attachments, with the task's action one click away.
- Attach a Call, Message, Email, Visit, or Browse action to a task and perform it with one click.
- You capture by email with Mail to 2Do, or share a list over Wi-Fi with family or teammates.
- You want Claude to work your lists or automate with AppleScript and Shortcuts.
- Private lists stay private with password protection and Touch ID.
- You also use Android — 2Do runs there too.
Moving over? See Import from Things for the full mapping, or the quick FAQ.
Official Links
Want to compare a few more options before deciding? Browse all 2Do comparison guides.