You have three different to-do apps open. One on your phone, one on your laptop, and you wonder why they don’t sync. Meanwhile, you just forget that one important task because you don’t know which app you put it in. Sound familiar?
Things 3 tries to solve that problem, but only if you’re fully in the Apple universe. It’s a task manager that looks beautiful and does exactly what it promises: organize your tasks without fuss. But whether that’s enough for the price depends on what you’re looking for.
Things 3: the company
Things 3 is made by Cultured Code, a small German software company from Stuttgart. They’ve been around since 2007 and have completely focused on one thing: making the perfect task manager for Apple devices.
The company has deliberately stayed small and doesn’t work with investors. This means they’re not forced to push new features every month or introduce a subscription model. They take time for updates and you can see that in the quality.
Things 3 won multiple Apple Design Awards and is known for its minimalist approach. It’s not an app that tries to be everything for everyone. It’s an app that does one thing very well: personal task management for people who love beautiful software.
Who is Things 3 for?
Things 3 is made for people who have all their devices from Apple. If you use an iPhone, iPad and Mac, you get what you pay for. The app feels like a natural part of the Apple ecosystem.
It’s perfect for someone who:
- Only wants to track tasks for themselves (no teamwork)
- Values beautiful design and a calm interface
- Doesn’t want monthly subscriptions
- Wants structure without overwhelming complexity
- Focuses on personal productivity
But it’s absolutely not suitable if you:
- Also uses Windows or Android
- Wants to share tasks with colleagues or family
- Needs a web version for the office
- Isn’t willing to pay per device
The app is deliberately personal. There’s no way to share lists or collaborate. That’s a conscious choice by Cultured Code, not a forgotten feature.
What can Things 3 do?
Things 3 is packed with thoughtful features that help you stay organized. These are the most important ones:
- Projects & Areas – You can group tasks in projects (with an end goal) or areas (ongoing responsibilities like ‘Work’ or ‘Health’). This provides structure without becoming complicated.
- Today & This Evening – The ‘Today’ view shows what you want to do today. Later in the day, a ‘This Evening’ section automatically appears for evening tasks. Simple but effective for daily planning.
- Upcoming Schedule – A timeline view that combines your scheduled tasks with your calendar appointments. So you can see at a glance when you have time for tasks between your meetings.
- Headings & Checklists – Within a task you can create headings and subtasks. Useful for larger tasks that you want to break down without cluttering your main list.
- Quick Entry – With a keyboard shortcut you can quickly enter a task anywhere in macOS without opening the app. On iOS this works via widgets and Siri.
- Tags & Filtering – You can add tags to tasks (like ‘energy’, ‘location’ or ‘priority’) and filter on them later. Less powerful than in some alternatives, but sufficient for most people.
- Things Cloud Sync – Proprietary sync service that works lightning fast between all your Apple devices. No account needed, just your Apple ID.
The Magic Plus button deserves special mention. When you create a new task, Things automatically analyzes what you type and suggests dates, times and lists. Type “call John tomorrow at 2:00 PM” and the app fills everything in correctly. It doesn’t work perfectly in Dutch, but it is handy.
What Things 3 can’t do is just as important: no natural language recognition like Todoist, no location-based reminders, no collaboration features, and no advanced automations. It’s deliberately kept simple.
How much does Things 3 cost?
Things 3 works with a one-time purchase per platform. That means no monthly costs, but you do have to pay separately for each device type:
- iPhone & Apple Watch – $1.99 (one-time)
- iPad – $1.99 (one-time)
- Mac – $1.99 (one-time)
If you want all three versions, you’ll spend about $1. That sounds like a lot, but compared to a $1 monthly subscription, you’ll have earned it back after a year and a half. And after that you never pay again.
There’s a free 15-day trial available for the Mac version. This way you can test whether the app suits you before paying the full price. For iOS you can first buy the app and request a refund through Apple within 14 days if you don’t like it.
Important note: updates are free. When Things 3 came out in 2017, people who had Things 2 had to pay again. But since then all updates have been free, including major features like widgets and iPad optimizations.
There are no hidden costs, no premium tiers, and no pressure to upgrade. You pay once and that’s it.
What should you watch out for?
Things 3 is beautiful, but not perfect. There are a few things you need to consider before you buy.
The biggest problem is the platform limitation. If you use even one Windows laptop or Android phone, you can forget about Things 3. There’s no web version to fall back on. You’re completely dependent on Apple devices. That’s fine if you’re already in that ecosystem, but it makes switching later difficult.
The total costs can also be a surprise. $1 for the Mac version alone is already significant, and if you also want the iPad version for $1, it adds up quickly. Yes, it’s one-time, but you do have to put down a large amount upfront.
No collaboration features means you can’t use Things 3 for shared shopping lists, team projects or household tasks you share with your partner. It’s strictly personal. If your family also uses Apple, everyone needs to buy their own license.
Natural language processing works best in English. In Dutch, the app recognizes dates like “tomorrow” or “next week,” but more complex sentences aren’t always parsed correctly. That’s a shame, because competitors like Todoist do this better.
Location-based reminders are completely absent. You can’t get a notification when you’re at the supermarket. For some people that’s a dealbreaker, especially since Apple Reminders can do this for free.
The learning curve for keyboard shortcuts is steeper than you’d expect from such a “simple” app. There are dozens of keyboard shortcuts that make the app much faster, but you have to learn them. Without keyboard shortcuts, Things 3 feels somewhat slow on Mac.
Finally: if Cultured Code ever stops with Things, you have a problem. There’s no export to universal formats like Markdown or CSV. You can export to Reminders, but then you lose a lot of structure.
What do others think?
Opinions about Things 3 are surprisingly consistent: people are either completely fans, or they don’t understand why you would pay so much for a to-do app.
On YouTube, Peter Akkies explains how he uses Things 3 in his daily workflow. He especially praises the ‘Today’ view that helps stay focused without being overwhelmed by long lists. His point: the app forces you to consciously choose what you’re going to do today.
AyshBanaysh discusses how Things 3 helps with ADHD. The visual progress indicators (small pie charts next to projects) give a sense of progress without being stressful. There’s no red, no warnings, no feeling of failure when you miss a deadline. That makes the app calming instead of stressful.
In Reddit reviews, it often comes up that people use Things 3 for years without ever considering switching. The stability and lack of unnecessary updates are seen as advantages. No hassle with new features that disrupt your workflow.
The most common complaint is the price. People find $1 for all platforms expensive, especially since free alternatives like Apple Reminders keep getting better. But fans say you pay for design and user experience, not just functionality.
Another frequently heard frustration: the lack of collaboration. Many people want to use Things 3 for personal tasks and shared lists with their partner. That’s not possible, so they end up with two apps or choose Todoist instead.
What almost everyone praises is the synchronization. Things Cloud works lightning fast and reliably. You add a task on your iPhone and within a second it’s on your Mac. No hassle with accounts or logging in, it just works.
The Apple Design Award that Things 3 won is often mentioned as proof that it’s not just a to-do app, but a piece of craftsmanship. For some people that’s important, for others it’s marketing.
Things 3 alternatives
Doesn’t Things 3 quite fit what you’re looking for? These are the best alternatives:
- Todoist – Works on all platforms including Windows and Android. Has natural language recognition in Dutch and supports collaboration. Choose this if you don’t only use Apple or want to share tasks with others. Does need a subscription for the best features ($1 per month).
- OmniFocus – The most powerful GTD app for Apple with customizable perspectives, review systems and complex project structures. Much more expensive than Things 3 ($1+ for all platforms) and much more complex. Choose this if you’re a power user who wants to optimize every workflow.
- Apple Reminders – Free, built into every Apple device, and significantly improved in recent years. Has location-based reminders and basic project structure. Choose this if you’re looking for a simple, free solution without the polish of Things 3.
- TickTick – Cheaper alternative ($1 per year) with more features than Things 3, including Pomodoro timer, habit tracker and collaboration. Works on all platforms. Choose this if you want more than just task management and don’t only use Apple.
- Notion – If you want to combine tasks with notes, databases and wikis. Much more flexible but also much more complex. Choose this if you’re looking for an all-in-one workspace instead of just a task manager.
Each of these alternatives has its own strengths. Things 3 wins on design and ease of use within the Apple ecosystem, but loses on flexibility and platform support.
Frequently asked questions
Is Things 3 available for Windows, Android or the web?
No, Things 3 is exclusive to the Apple ecosystem. You can only use it on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro. There’s no web version and there are no plans for other platforms. If you use even one non-Apple device, you’re better off skipping Things 3.
Does Things 3 have a subscription?
No, Things 3 works with a one-time purchase per platform. You pay once for the iPhone version ($1.99), once for iPad ($1.99) and once for Mac ($1.99). After that, all updates are free and you never pay again. No monthly costs, no hidden fees.
Can I share tasks or collaborate with others?
No, Things 3 is deliberately designed as a personal task manager. You can’t share lists, assign tasks to others, or manage joint projects. If you need collaboration, you should look at Todoist or TickTick.
Does Things 3 work offline?
Yes, Things 3 works completely offline. You can add, edit, and check off tasks without an internet connection. Once you’re back online, everything automatically syncs via Things Cloud to your other devices.
Can I export my data from Things 3?
Yes, but limited. You can export your tasks to Apple Reminders, but then you lose much of the structure like areas, tags, and headings. There’s no direct export to Markdown, CSV, or other universal formats. That makes switching to another app difficult.
Do I have to pay again for major updates?
That depends. When Things 3 came out in 2017, users of Things 2 had to pay again. Since that time, all updates have been free, including major features. If there’s ever a Things 4, you’ll probably have to pay again, but that hasn’t been announced.
Conclusion
Things 3 is an excellent task manager if you’re fully in the Apple ecosystem and value design. It does exactly what it promises: keep your tasks organized without unnecessary complexity.
The one-time purchase price is high, but if you use the app for years it’s cheaper than a subscription. The sync works perfectly, the interface is calming, and the ‘Today’ view really helps you stay focused.
But the limitations are clear: no collaboration, no web version, no Android or Windows. If you need even one of those things, Things 3 isn’t an option.
My advice: try the 15-day trial on Mac. If after a week you notice you’re learning keyboard shortcuts and adapting your workflow to the app, then it’s a good match. If after three days you think “can’t Apple Reminders do this too?”, then you’ll save yourself $1.
Things 3 isn’t an app for everyone. But for the right person, it’s the best task manager that exists.
