Your to-do list grows faster than you can complete it. You’ve tried apps with subscriptions, complex menus, and features you never use. Meanwhile, the important tasks remain on your list. Maybe it’s time for a different approach.
Things 3 does it differently. No subscription, no unnecessary features, just a sleek task manager that does exactly what you need. But is that approach also suitable for your way of working? And what if you don’t only use Apple devices?
In this review, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know. From the features that really make a difference to the limitations you need to consider. So you can decide for yourself whether Things 3 is right for you.
Things 3: the company
Things is made by Cultured Code, a small development team from Stuttgart, Germany. They launched the first version in 2007 and have since consistently chosen quality over speed. You can see that in their approach: no rushed updates full of bugs, but carefully crafted features that actually work.
The company has won multiple Apple Design Awards and is known for their obsession with details. They build exclusively for the Apple ecosystem, which means they can make optimal use of the capabilities of iOS and macOS. That focus creates an app that feels like a natural part of your iPhone or Mac.
Their business model is remarkably simple: you buy the app once per platform and you’re done. No monthly costs, no hidden features behind a paywall. You get updates for free, without paying extra. In a world full of subscriptions, that’s almost refreshingly old-fashioned.
Who is Things 3 for?
Things 3 is built for people who have all their devices from Apple and are looking for a personal task manager. If you use an iPhone, iPad, and Mac, you get a seamless experience where everything syncs lightning fast between your devices.
The app is perfect for people who value design and simplicity. If you get distracted by unnecessary features and complicated menus, you’ll appreciate the minimalist approach. Everything has its place, nothing feels superfluous.
For people who want to structure projects without it becoming a whole ordeal, Things is also ideal. You can set up complex projects with subprojects and checklists, but it remains manageable. The app doesn’t force you to plan everything in detail if you don’t want to.
But watch out: Things is strictly personal. If you want to share tasks with colleagues or your family, you’re better off looking at Todoist or TickTick. And do you also use Windows or Android? Then Things is out of the question anyway, because those platforms are not supported.
What can Things 3 do?
Things 3 is packed with thoughtful features that make your daily workflow smoother. These are the most important ones:
- To-do lists and checklists – Create simple lists or break down complex tasks into smaller steps. You can see at a glance how much you’ve already checked off.
- Projects and areas – Group related tasks into projects and organize projects under areas like “Work” or “Personal.” This keeps everything neatly separated.
- Calendar integration – See your calendar appointments alongside your tasks for the day. Handy for having realistic expectations about what you can do.
- Start dates versus deadlines – This is brilliant. You can set when you want to start something, separate from the final deadline. This way tasks appear at the right time without your entire list being filled with things that aren’t relevant yet.
- Quick Entry and Siri Shortcuts – Press a keyboard shortcut and add a task from any app. Or use your voice via Siri. It even works with mail, so you can directly link a task to an email.
- Tags and filters – Label tasks with tags and create smart filters to see exactly what you need. For example: all work-related tasks with high priority.
- Widgets – See your most important tasks directly on your homescreen without opening the app. Available for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Things Cloud Sync – Synchronization that just works. Add a task on your iPhone and see it appear on your Mac within a second. No hassle, no conflicts.
What stands out is that Things doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. There’s no Pomodoro timer, no habit tracker, no time tracking. The focus is purely on organizing tasks and they do it better than most competitors.
The interface is divided into smart sections. “Today” shows what you want to do today, with a separate “This Evening” section for evening tasks. “Anytime” contains tasks without a specific date. “Upcoming” gives an overview of what’s coming. And “Someday” is perfect for ideas you don’t want to schedule yet but don’t want to forget either.
How much does Things 3 cost?
Things 3 works with one-time purchases per platform. You pay once and then get all updates for free. No monthly subscriptions, no hidden costs.
For the Mac you pay € 49,99. That’s the most expensive version, but also the most complete. For the iPhone and Apple Watch combined you pay € 9,99. And the iPad version costs € 19,99. If you want the complete package for all your devices, you’ll end up at around € 80.
That might sound like a lot of money at once. But compare it with an app like Todoist, where you pay € 48 per year for the premium version. After two years you’ve already spent more on Todoist than on Things, and with Things you only pay once.
There is no free version, but there is a 15-day trial period for the Mac version. For iPhone and iPad you can’t try the app before you buy, which is unfortunate. Fortunately, Apple does have a refund policy if you don’t like the app.
The price is fair when you consider what you get: an app without a subscription, lightning-fast sync, regular updates and no ads. For people who take their tasks seriously and work with the app daily, it’s worth the investment.
What should you watch out for?
Things 3 is not perfect. There are a number of things you need to know before you take the leap.
The biggest problem is the platform limitation. Things only works on Apple devices. No Windows app, no Android version, no web version. If you have even one device that’s not from Apple, you can’t use Things on it. For people with a mixed ecosystem, that’s a dealbreaker.
Collaboration is also not possible. You can’t share tasks with others, create joint projects, or assign tasks to team members. Things is built for personal use and that’s where it stays. For teams you really need to look at something like Asana or Todoist.
The development speed is slow compared to competitors. Where Todoist and TickTick regularly roll out new features, Things sometimes stands still for years. Users have been asking for location-based reminders for years, but they’re still not there. Adding files or images to tasks is also not possible.
The high purchase price can be off-putting. € 80 for the complete package is a serious investment, especially if you’ve never used the app before. The absence of a trial period on iPhone and iPad makes it extra difficult to test whether the app suits you.
You also miss advanced features that power users might expect. No Gantt charts, no time tracking, no Pomodoro timer. If you need those things, you’ll have to arrange them in another app.
Recurring tasks have an annoying limitation: you can’t complete them early. If you do a weekly task on Tuesday already on Monday, you still have to check it off on Tuesday. Sounds like a detail, but in practice it’s irritating.
Things 3 reviews
I’ve watched and read a number of Things 3 reviews and there are a few I’d like to share with you.
1. ToolFinder
ToolFinder gives you a comprehensive tour through Things 3, with a particular focus on the fact that this is a one-time purchase without a subscription. The reviewer takes you step by step through all the features, from the basic inbox to advanced features like URL schemes and shortcuts integration.
The review shows well how Things 3 works on Mac, with attention to the daily workflow. You learn about the Today-view with a separate “This Evening” section, the project management system with areas and deadlines, and the convenient synchronization via Things Cloud. The reviewer emphasizes that the app is perfect for personal project management, but also points out that sharing with others is not possible.
Pros
- One-time purchase of € 49,99 without subscription – you’re rid of those monthly costs
- Smart separation between “Today” and “This Evening” for better work-life balance
- Projects with deadlines and progress indicators (pie chart) for overview
- Local storage possible, but also cloud sync between all your Apple devices
- Advanced options like URL schemes and Shortcuts app integration for power users
Cons
- No ability to share projects or tasks with others – purely for personal use
- No real calendar view, only a list overview of upcoming items
- High entry price can be off-putting if you still need to try out the app
2. Peter Akkies
Peter Akkies discusses the latest update of Things with a critical eye. He has recommended Things for years as the best to-do app for Apple users, but now wonders if that’s still the case. The update brings mainly cosmetic improvements such as Apple’s new “liquid glass” design, but little real new functionality.
The review goes deep into what’s new: Control Center integration on Mac, Spotlight integration, and improved window management on iPad. But Peter is honest – many of these features are nice but not essential. He misses three crucial functions: location-based reminders, the ability to complete recurring tasks early, and the ability to add files to tasks. Despite these shortcomings, he continues to recommend Things for most people, especially because of the great design and lightning-fast sync.
Pros
- Still one of the best designed apps with a fantastic “command center” overview
- Lightning-fast and reliable sync between iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
- Handy hidden views like “Anytime” and “Tomorrow” that improve your workflow
- Control Center integration on Mac lets you quickly open specific lists (for example deadlines filtered by work)
- Developers have invested years in backend improvements for future features
Cons
- No location-based reminders – you can’t automatically get a notification when you’re at the grocery store
- You can’t complete recurring tasks early, which results in cumbersome work
- You can’t add files to tasks, which is frustrating if you want to link PDFs or documents
- Few real new features in recent years compared to competitors like Todoist
3. Daniel Sokolovskiy
Daniel Sokolovskiy is clearly a big fan of Things and calls it his absolute favorite macOS application. His review is a short, practical beginner’s guide that shows you how to get started quickly. He especially appreciates the native Apple feel, the speed and the beautiful design.
The review focuses on the basics: the difference between the different views (Today, Anytime, Someday), how to create projects, and especially the smart distinction between when you want to start something and the final deadline. Daniel also shows the handy Quick Entry function that lets you create tasks from any app, including direct links to emails. It’s an accessible intro that shows why Things is so effective for both work and personal life.
Pros
- One-time purchase instead of a subscription – nice in this subscription world
- Smart distinction between start date and deadline gives you peace and overview
- Quick Entry (Ctrl+Space) works from any app and can even link emails to tasks
- Native Apple experience that works offline, is fast and just looks beautiful
- Someday bucket helps you get non-urgent matters out of your head without forgetting them
Cons
- No team functionality or Gantt charts – really only for personal use
- Maybe too simple for people who need complex project management tools
Things 3 alternatives
Doesn’t Things 3 quite fit what you’re looking for? These are the best alternatives:
- Todoist – Choose Todoist if you need a cross-platform solution that works on Windows, Android, web, and all other platforms. Also ideal if you want to share tasks with team members or your family. It has more collaboration features and is being expanded more quickly with new features.
- TickTick – Go for TickTick if you want to track habits in addition to task management or need a built-in Pomodoro timer. It offers more extras than Things for a comparable price, and also works on all platforms.
- Apple Reminders – Choose Apple Reminders if you’re looking for a free, simple solution that’s already on your iPhone. It lacks the advanced project structure and refined design of Things, but for simple task lists it’s more than sufficient.
Each of these alternatives has its own strengths. Todoist is the best all-rounder with the most platforms. TickTick offers the most features for your money. And Apple Reminders is perfect if you want to keep it simple without extra costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a web version or Windows app available?
No, Things 3 is exclusively developed for the Apple ecosystem. You can only use it on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and visionOS. There is no web version and no Windows app either. If you use even one non-Apple device, you can’t use Things on it.
Do I have to pay a subscription?
No, Things 3 works with one-time purchases. You pay once per platform and then receive all updates for free. There are no monthly or annual subscription fees. The Mac version costs € 49,99, the iPhone and Apple Watch together € 9,99, and the iPad version € 19,99.
Can I share tasks or collaborate with others?
No, Things 3 is designed as a personal task manager. You can’t share tasks with others, create joint projects or assign tasks to team members. If you need collaboration features, you should look at an alternative like Todoist or Asana.
Conclusion
Things 3 is an excellent task manager for people who are fully in the Apple ecosystem. The design is beautiful, the synchronization works flawlessly and the one-time pricing model is fair. If you value simplicity and focus, you get exactly what you need without unnecessary features.
But the limitations are clear. No Windows, no Android, no web version. No collaboration, no shared lists. And the development speed is slow compared to competitors. If any of these points are important to you, you’re better off looking at Todoist or TickTick.
So who is Things 3 really suitable for? For people with only Apple devices who are looking for a reliable, beautiful task manager without monthly costs. Who want to organize their tasks personally without hassle with teams or platforms. And who are willing to invest significantly in a tool they use daily.
The app does what it promises, and does it well. No revolutionary features, no gimmicks, just solid task management with attention to detail. If that suits you, Things 3 is more than worth the money.
