OpenTodo vs Things
For people who love Things' calm but need Android, Windows or the web, or want to share lists with their household.
Checked on against OpenTodo v0.6.0
Things is the app many people point to when they talk about calm, well-made software, and we agree. It is also personal by design and lives only on Apple devices.
OpenTodo is for when that stops fitting: a partner on Android, a work laptop on Windows, a shopping list the whole family should see.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Things | OpenTodo |
|---|---|---|
| Calm, focused design | Yes | Yes How it works: Calm, focused design in the OpenTodo docs |
| Native Apple Watch app and widgetsOpenTodo has neither. | Yes | No |
| Deep Apple integration (Shortcuts, Siri, Share sheet)OpenTodo installs from Safari and accepts shared pages, but has no Siri or Shortcuts actions. | Yes | Partly How it works: Deep Apple integration (Shortcuts, Siri, Share sheet) in the OpenTodo docs |
| Android, Windows, Linux and the web | No | Yes How it works: Android, Windows, Linux and the web in the OpenTodo docs |
| Share projects with other people | No | Yes How it works: Share projects with other people in the OpenTodo docs |
| Reminders and repeating tasks | Yes | Yes How it works: Reminders and repeating tasks in the OpenTodo docs |
| Filters and saved viewsThings filters by tags inside its lists. | Partly | Yes How it works: Filters and saved views in the OpenTodo docs |
| Works offline | Yes | Yes How it works: Works offline in the OpenTodo docs |
| Your data on your own server | No | Yes How it works: Your data on your own server in the OpenTodo docs |
| Export everything any time | Partly | Yes How it works: Export everything any time in the OpenTodo docs |
Where Things is ahead
If any of these matter most to you, Things may be the better choice, and that is fine.
Apple Watch and widgets
Things has a native Apple Watch app and home screen widgets. OpenTodo has no watch app and no widgets.
Polish on Apple devices
Things is a native app built for each Apple platform, with Siri and Shortcuts. OpenTodo is a web app you install, and on an iPhone it feels like one.
Nothing to run
Things syncs through its own free service. OpenTodo needs a server, even a very small one.
What it costs
Things
A one-time purchase per Apple platform (Mac, iPhone and iPad are bought separately), with free sync. No subscription.
OpenTodo
Free and open source. You run it on a small server you already have or rent cheaply, for as many people as you like.
Your to-do list, on your own server.
Try the demo in your browser. When you like it, install OpenTodo on your server and import your tasks.