BusyCal vs Things 3
Things 3 is a dedicated task manager; BusyCal is a calendar app with tasks built in. Things 3 may suit you if you plan around task lists. BusyCal may suit you if you want to schedule events and tasks together, sync with several calendar services, and choose from detailed calendar views.
Last reviewed: October 16, 2026.
At a Glance
| Criteria | BusyCal | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary model | Calendar planning with tasks | Task list planning |
| Best fit | Time-blocked schedules and calendar context | Managing personal tasks in lists |
| Strength | Schedule visibility and calendar context | Simplicity and clean task workflows |
| Trade-off | Calendar-oriented setup | Limited calendar controls |
Calendar & Sync Comparison
| Capability | BusyCal | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Native CalDAV account sync | ✓ | |
| Microsoft 365 / Exchange calendar sync | ✓ | |
| Calendar subscriptions (.ics / holiday feeds) | ✓ | |
| Multiple provider calendars in one app (iCloud + Google + Exchange + CalDAV) | ✓ | |
| Calendar views (Day / Week / Month / Year Planner) | ✓ | |
| Calendar Groups | ✓ | |
| Smart Date Picker with real-time suggestions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Favorite Time Zones | ✓ | |
| Show event locations on a map | ✓ | |
| Apple Watch app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Widgets (multiple sizes) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shortcuts / Siri integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Task management focused on lists | ✓ |
Where Things 3 May Be Better
- You want to focus on managing tasks in lists.
- You prefer a task manager focused on personal lists and projects.
- You organize your day around task lists rather than calendar blocks.
Where BusyCal May Be Better
- You want to plan calendar events and tasks together.
- You use calendar blocks to decide when to work on tasks.
- You manage multiple calendars alongside tasks.
- You want Calendar Groups to organize many calendars into folders.
- You want to see iCloud, Google, Microsoft 365, Exchange, and CalDAV calendars in one app.
- You want to view event locations on a map and include travel time in your schedule.
Booking Meetings with BusyCal
Use BusyCal Bookings to let clients or colleagues choose an available meeting time through a link. For example, offer a 30-minute project call with a break afterward. Bookings checks busy times from your chosen calendars, lets you approve requests if needed, and adds confirmed meetings to your calendar. Learn More.
Bookings is currently available only in BusyCal for Mac. Once you activate it on your Mac, the iPhone app automatically syncs free/busy times if both devices use the same iCloud account. Access depends on your Mac license’s update coverage, an active Mac App Store subscription or Setapp membership, or the free trial. See the access requirements.
BusyCal Account Sync Docs
- Office 365 via Microsoft Graph
- CalDAV account sync
- Public WebDAV calendar subscriptions
- Google Calendar sync
- iCloud calendar sync
- View event locations and plan travel time
Common Questions
- Can BusyCal replace Things 3?
- BusyCal may cover your needs if you plan tasks alongside calendar events. Things 3 offers more tools for organizing personal tasks and projects in lists.
- Does BusyCal show tasks and events together?
- Yes. BusyCal shows tasks alongside events in calendar views. You can sort, filter, and group tasks by calendar, and sync them with Apple Reminders.
- Is BusyCal a subscription?
- No. BusyCal for Mac is a one-time purchase of $49.99 from our store, with a perpetual license and a free 14-day trial. BusyCal for iPhone and iPad is $9.99 on the App Store.
Official Links
Want to compare a few more options before deciding? Browse all BusyCal comparison guides.