Head-to-head
Mesh vs Things 3
Things 3 is arguably the most beautiful to-do app ever made — and it's Apple-only, single-player, and doesn't touch your calendar. Mesh is the opposite kind of app.
How Mesh and Things 3 stack up, feature by feature.
| Feature | Mesh | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Quick capture (keyboard-first) | ||
| Natural-language date parsing | Basic | |
| Google Calendar overlay | ||
| Drag-to-schedule time blocking | ||
| Recurring tasks | ||
| Subtasks | ||
| Tags / labels | ||
| Shared lists | ||
| Real-time collaboration | ||
| Comments & @mentions | ||
| File attachments | ||
| Native mobile apps | Web + PWA | iOS, iPadOS, macOS only |
| Offline support | ||
| AI assistant integration (MCP) | ||
| Data export | Manual | |
| Free tier | Everything, while in beta | |
| Price to unlock everything | Free (beta) | $50 iOS + $50 Mac (one-time) |
Where Things 3 wins
- The most refined visual design and interaction model in the category.
- One-time purchase, no subscription.
- Feels genuinely native on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS — because it is.
Where Mesh wins
- Works on any browser, any OS. Not just Apple.
- Real calendar integration and drag-to-schedule.
- Shared lists, comments, real-time collaboration — Things is single-player only.
Things 3 is best for
Solo Apple users who want a personal task app they'll happily use for a decade.
Mesh is best for
Anyone on Chrome/Windows/Android, or anyone who needs to share work with other people.
Also worth considering
See the full list of Things 3 alternatives →Try Mesh free. Keep Things 3 if it's better for you.
Import is manual today (CSV). We're honest about it — and the switch usually takes 10 minutes.