BusyCal vs Things 3
Things 3 is a dedicated task manager; BusyCal is a calendar-first app with tasks built in. Choose Things 3 for pure task-list depth and a clean, focused workflow, and BusyCal when you want events and tasks in one calendar workspace with multi-provider sync and dense planning views.
Last reviewed: April 28, 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 | List-driven personal task execution |
| 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 | ✓ | |
| Map out events with locations | ✓ | |
| Apple Watch app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Widgets (multiple sizes) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shortcuts / Siri integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Task-first workflow without calendar-heavy UI | ✓ |
Where Things 3 May Be Better
- You want pure task management without calendar-heavy planning.
- You prefer a clean, focused task-list workflow.
- Your execution model is list-first rather than schedule-first.
Where BusyCal May Be Better
- You want one workflow for calendar + tasks, not separate planning systems.
- Calendar blocks are your primary source of truth.
- You need events and tasks visible in one scheduling interface.
- You manage multiple calendars alongside tasks.
- You want Calendar Groups to organize many calendars into folders.
- You want native account sync across iCloud, Google, Exchange/Microsoft 365 (Graph), and CalDAV in one calendar client.
- You want to map out events with locations and travel-time context directly in your planning workflow.
BusyCal Account Sync Docs
- Office 365 via Microsoft Graph
- CalDAV account sync
- Public WebDAV calendar subscriptions
- Google Calendar sync
- iCloud calendar sync
- Map out events with locations and travel time
Common Questions
- Can BusyCal replace Things 3?
- Only in part. BusyCal keeps tasks alongside events, which suits calendar-driven planning. Things 3 stays the stronger tool for list-first task management on its own.
- Does BusyCal show tasks and events together?
- Yes. Tasks sit alongside events in the calendar views, can be sorted, filtered, and grouped by calendar, and they sync with Apple Reminders.
- Is BusyCal a subscription?
- No. BusyCal is a one-time purchase with a perpetual license: $49.99 for Mac from our store, with a free 14-day trial, and $9.99 for iPhone and iPad on the App Store.
Official Links
Want to compare a few more options before deciding? Browse all BusyCal comparison guides.