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Apple Calendar vs Things 3

Apple Calendar logo

Apple Calendar

Software

The calendar app built into every Apple device

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Things 3 logo

Things 3

Software

The award-winning personal task manager

From
$9.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Calendar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Calendar offline sync via USB has reported issues with duplicated events when syncing between macOS and iOS; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Calendar covers Event management, Things 3 covers Today view.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Calendar and Things 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Calendar and Things 3 differ
AttributeApple CalendarThings 3
Starting priceFree$9.99/one-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, macOSmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS
Founded19762004

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Calendar

  • Event management
  • Multiple calendar support
  • Travel time estimates
  • Natural language input
  • Siri integration
  • iCloud
  • Google Calendar
  • Microsoft Exchange

Only in Things 3

  • Today view
  • Projects and areas
  • Quick entry
  • Tags
  • Calendar integration
  • Apple Calendar
  • Siri
  • Shortcuts

Both cover

  • Macos support
  • Ios support
  • Ipados support
  • Watchos support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Calendar

  • Scheduling
  • Appointment booking
  • Time tracking
  • Resource management
  • Team coordination

Things 3

  • Scheduling
  • Appointment booking
  • Time tracking
  • Resource management
  • Team coordination

Both are used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management, team coordination, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Calendar

  • Offline sync via USB has reported issues with duplicated events when syncing between macOS and iOS
  • No granular calendar exclusion option; iCloud syncs all calendars together with no selective sync
  • Limited offline functionality for non-iCloud calendars

Things 3

  • No team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • Apple ecosystem only, with no Windows, Android, or web version
  • No third-party app integrations beyond Apple's ecosystem
  • Cannot attach files or images to tasks, only text notes
  • No time blocking or calendar integration for scheduling tasks into specific time slots

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Calendar

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Apple Calendar review.

Things 3

$9.99/one-time
  • iPhone/Watch$9.99/one-time
  • iPad$19.99/one-time
  • Mac$49.99/one-time

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Calendar if

  • You need event management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, macOS.
  • You also want multiple calendar support.
Apple Calendar review

Choose Things 3 if

  • You need today view.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
  • You also want projects and areas.
Things 3 review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Calendar or Things 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Calendar starts at Free and Things 3 at $9.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Calendar or Things 3?
Apple Calendar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Calendar and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
Does Apple Calendar or Things 3 run on more platforms?
Apple Calendar runs on iOS, macOS. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
Can I use Apple Calendar for free?
Yes. Apple Calendar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
What is Apple Calendar best used for?
Apple Calendar is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management.
What can Apple Calendar do that Things 3 cannot?
Apple Calendar covers Event management, Multiple calendar support, Travel time estimates, Natural language input. Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags. Both handle Macos support, Ios support, Ipados support, Watchos support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Calendar: Does Apple Calendar cost anything?

No. Apple Calendar is completely free and comes pre-installed on all Apple devices with no subscriptions or paid tiers.

Source
Things 3: Does Things 3 support team collaboration?

No. Things 3 is designed for individual use only with no task sharing, team workspaces, task assignment, or commenting features.

Source
Apple Calendar: Does Apple Calendar work offline?

Apple Calendar can display cached events offline but cannot create or edit events without an internet connection. Sync requires iCloud or another calendar service.

Source
Things 3: What platforms does Things 3 run on?

Things 3 is exclusive to Apple devices: macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and visionOS. There is no Windows, Android, or web version.

Source
Apple Calendar: What calendar services can I sync with Apple Calendar?

Apple Calendar can sync with Google Calendar, Outlook, Microsoft Exchange, iCloud, and Notion calendars, consolidating all events in one place.

Source
Things 3: How much does Things 3 cost?

Things 3 uses a one-time purchase model: $9.99 for iPhone/Watch, $19.99 for iPad, and $49.99 for Mac. Total cost for all platforms is approximately $80 with no subscription required.

Source
Apple Calendar: Does Apple Calendar include artificial intelligence features?

Yes. iOS 26 introduced Apple Intelligence features in Calendar including intelligent event suggestions by analyzing email and messages, and conflict detection with alternative time suggestions.

Source
Things 3: Does Things 3 sync across devices?

Yes. Things Cloud keeps your to-dos in sync across all your Apple devices automatically. There is no extra cost for cloud synchronization.

Source
Apple Calendar: How does Apple Calendar integrate with other Apple services?

Apple Calendar integrates with Apple Maps for travel time alerts, Reminders for task management, Siri for voice control, and Contacts for attendee information.

Source
Things 3: Can you attach files or images to tasks in Things 3?

No. Things 3 does not support attachments. You can only add notes (text) to tasks.

Source
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Related pages

More on Apple Calendar

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