The Ultimate Task Manager & Todo App Showdown
Choosing a task manager & todo app is personal. It's the app you'll open dozens of times per day, so it needs to feel right. Let's compare three popular options: Todoist, Things 3, and 0F-Tasks.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Todoist | Things 3 | 0F-Tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $4/month (Free limited) | $50 one-time | Free forever |
| Platforms | All platforms | Apple only | iPhone, Windows, Web |
| Quick Capture | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Sync Speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Simplicity | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Account Required | Yes | Yes | No |
| Offline Mode | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Natural Language | Yes | No | Yes (coming) |
| Widgets | Yes | Yes | Yes (iOS) |
Deep Dive: Feature Comparison
1. Quick Capture & Speed
Winner: 0F-Tasks
0F-Tasks:
- Press Alt+Space anywhere on Windows → instant capture
- Lock Screen widgets on iPhone
- < 1 second app startup
- Zero clicks needed to add a task
Todoist:
- Global keyboard shortcut available
- Quick Add via keyboard
- Takes 1-2 seconds to pop up
- Still requires you to select project/labels
Things 3:
- Quick Entry window on Mac (Cmd+Ctrl+Space)
- Fast, but Mac-only
- No similar feature on Windows (because there's no Windows app)
2. Cross-Platform Support
Winner: Todoist (but with caveats)
Todoist:
- Available everywhere: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Web, Linux
- Consistent experience across platforms
- But feels like a web app on desktop
0F-Tasks:
- iPhone, Windows, Web
- Native apps on each platform
- macOS and Android coming soon
Things 3:
- Only Apple ecosystem (iOS, iPadOS, macOS)
- Beautiful, but useless if you have a Windows PC
3. Pricing & Value
Winner: 0F-Tasks
0F-Tasks:
- Free forever
- No trial limitations
- No "upgrade to unlock" features
- Zero cost, full features
Todoist:
- Free plan: 5 projects, limited features
- Premium: $4/month or $48/year
- Pro: $6/month or $72/year
- Annual cost: $48-72
Things 3:
- iPhone: $9.99
- iPad: $19.99
- Mac: $49.99
- Total for all devices: $80 (one-time)
4. Simplicity vs Features
Most Features: Todoist
- Projects, sections, labels, filters
- Productivity trends and karma points
- Integrations with hundreds of apps
- Email to task conversion
- Natural language parsing
Best Balance: Things 3
- Clean interface with just enough features
- Areas, projects, checklists
- Beautiful design that doesn't overwhelm
- Perfect for personal task management
Most Simple: 0F-Tasks
- Just tasks, nothing else
- No projects, no complex organization
- Perfect for quick capture and completion
- Ideal for simple to-do lists
Real-World Use Cases
Case 1: Freelancer with Windows PC + iPhone
Best choice: 0F-Tasks
Why? You need quick task capture while working on Windows, and you want to check tasks on your iPhone on the go. Things 3 won't work (no Windows). Todoist works but is overkill if you just need a simple list.
Case 2: Power User with Mac + iPhone + iPad
Best choice: Things 3
Why? If you're all-in on Apple and want a beautiful, polished experience, Things 3 is worth the one-time cost. The design is exceptional and it integrates perfectly with Apple's ecosystem.
Case 3: Student on a Budget
Best choice: 0F-Tasks or Todoist Free
Why? Both are free. 0F-Tasks if you want simplicity, Todoist Free if you need some project organization. Just know Todoist Free is limited to 5 projects.
Case 4: Corporate Worker (Outlook, Teams, Windows)
Best choice: Microsoft To Do or 0F-Tasks
Why? Microsoft To Do integrates with Outlook and Teams. But if you want faster capture and don't need Outlook integration, 0F-Tasks is much snappier.
Privacy & Data Ownership
Most Private: 0F-Tasks
- No account required
- Data stored locally on your devices
- Simple sync code (no email or personal data)
- No analytics or tracking
Todoist & Things 3:
- Both require accounts
- Your data is on their servers
- Covered by privacy policies (generally good)
- But you're trusting them with your task data
The Individual vs Team Tool Spectrum
Let's be honest about what these tools are really designed for:
Team/Enterprise Tools:
- Asana, Monday.com, ClickUp, Jira
- Designed for 5+ people collaborating
- Complex permissions, roles, workspaces
- Monthly cost per user
Hybrid Tools (trying to serve both):
- Todoist, Microsoft To Do, Notion
- Work for individuals and teams
- Result: bloated features most individuals never use
- Free tiers often limited
Pure Individual Tools:
- Things 3, 0F-Tasks
- Built for one person managing their own life
- No team features = simpler, faster
- Focus on personal productivity
Where 0F-Tasks Fits: We're intentionally in the "Pure Individual" category. No team features, no enterprise bloat—just your tasks, synced across your devices.
The Verdict
There's no single "best" task manager - it depends on your needs:
Choose Todoist if:
- You need advanced features and integrations
- You work across many platforms (Android, Linux, etc.)
- You want natural language parsing
- You're okay with a subscription
Choose Things 3 if:
- You're fully invested in Apple ecosystem
- Design and polish matter to you
- You want a beautiful, mature app
- You're okay with a one-time $80 investment
Choose 0F-Tasks if:
- You use iPhone + Windows
- Speed and simplicity are your priorities
- You value privacy (no account needed)
- You want it free forever
- Quick capture is essential to your workflow
My Personal Take
I built 0F-Tasks because I was frustrated with existing options. Todoist felt too complex for my needs. Things 3 didn't work on my Windows PC. Microsoft To Do was slow and clunky.
I just wanted to press a hotkey, type my task, and forget about it. That's what 0F-Tasks does better than anything else.
But if you need advanced project management or tons of integrations, Todoist is still the king. And if you're Mac-only and want the most polished experience, Things 3 is beautiful.
Try 0F-Tasks free → No signup, no credit card, no bullshit. Just tasks.