Things 3

Snapshot Verdict

Things 3 remains the gold standard for task management on Apple devices, prioritizing visual clarity and intentional planning over feature bloat. While it lacks collaborative tools and cross-platform support, its focused approach makes it the most effective tool for individuals who want to spend less time managing their lists and more time doing the actual work.

Product Version

Version reviewed: 3.22 (latest stable release for macOS/iOS/iPadOS)

What This Product Actually Is

Things 3 is a personal task manager developed by Cultured Code, designed exclusively for the Apple ecosystem. It is not a project management suite for teams, nor is it a complex database for tracking every metric of your life. It is a digital implementation of the "Getting Things Done" (GTD) methodology, stripped down to its most aesthetic and functional essentials.

The app is built around a specific hierarchy: Areas and Projects. Areas represent ongoing responsibilities like Finance, Health, or Work, while Projects are finite goals with a clear end date. Within these, you can create tasks, add sub-tasks (checklists), set deadlines, and apply tags.

What sets Things 3 apart is its philosophy of time. It categorizes your life into Today, Upcoming, Anytime, and Someday. It forces a distinction between things you must do today and things you merely want to be aware of. The software is sold as a one-time purchase per platform, a rarity in the current era of software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscriptions.

Real-World Use & Experience

Using Things 3 feels less like interacting with a database and more like writing in a high-end paper planner. The interface is famously white, minimalist, and utilizes plenty of negative space. On a Mac, the "Magic Plus" button allows you to drag a new task directly into a specific spot in your list, which sounds minor but fundamentally changes how you organize a morning brain-dump.

The "Today" view is the heart of the experience. It doesn't just show tasks due today; it integrates your calendar events at the top, providing a unified view of your schedule. A unique feature is the "This Evening" section. If you have a task that needs to happen after work—like picking up groceries or calling a friend—you can move it to This Evening. It stays on your Today list but stays out of your way during productive work hours.

Input is exceptionally fast. On macOS, a global shortcut allows you to summon a quick-entry box from anywhere. You can type the task, add a note, and use natural language to set a date (e.g., "next Friday at 2pm"). On iOS, the app feels native and fluid, with haptic feedback and gestures that make moving tasks feel tactile.

However, the experience is strictly solitary. There is no way to assign a task to a spouse or a colleague. If you try to use Things 3 for collaborative work, you will find yourself manually copying and pasting information into Slack or email, which quickly becomes a point of friction.

Standout Strengths

• Unmatched minimalist user interface design
• Fast natural language input parsing
• One-time purchase pricing model

The design is the primary reason to use Things 3. Many productivity apps suffer from "density overwhelm," where too many buttons and colors compete for your attention. Things 3 uses typography and white space to guide your eyes. You never feel like you are fighting the interface.

The integration with the Apple ecosystem is deep. It supports Shortcuts, Widgets, and Handoff flawlessly. If you start a list on your iPhone while commuting, it is instantly there on your Mac when you sit down. The "Mail to Things" feature is also a hidden gem, giving you a unique email address; any message forwarded to that address becomes a task in your Inbox, which is essential for clearing out an overflowing email account.

Finally, the "Someday" list is better implemented here than in any other app. It allows you to store ideas without them cluttering your active view or triggering unnecessary notifications. It acts as a digital parking lot for your brain, reducing the cognitive load of trying to remember future possibilities.

Limitations, Trade-offs & Red Flags

• No collaboration or sharing features
• Strictly limited to Apple devices
• No web-based access version

The lack of collaboration is a dealbreaker for many. In a modern work environment, tasks are rarely isolated. If you need to share a shopping list with a partner or a project timeline with a client, Things 3 offers no native way to do this beyond exporting a plain text list. You are an island in this app.

The Apple-only restriction is a significant red flag if you use a Windows PC for work or an Android phone. There is no web interface. If you are away from your Apple devices, you have zero access to your tasks. This creates a "walled garden" effect that can be frustrating for users who value cross-platform flexibility.

Another limitation is the lack of attachments. While you can link to files or emails, you cannot upload an image or a PDF directly into a task. For creative professionals who need to see a reference image alongside a task, this requires awkward workarounds. The development cycle is also notably slow; Cultured Code takes years to release major updates, meaning users often wait a long time for requested features like recurring task improvements or dark mode refinements.

Who It's Actually For

Things 3 is for the "Type A" individual who values aesthetics and psychological calm. It is perfect for freelancers, students, and executives who manage their own schedules and don't need to delegate tasks within their primary list.

It is also the ideal choice for people who find apps like Notion or ClickUp too complex. If you have spent more time "setting up" your productivity system than actually doing work, Things 3 is the antidote. It gives you just enough structure to be organized, but not enough to let you procrastinate by tweaking settings.

It is not for teams, nor is it for people who work in a cross-platform environment. If you need to see your tasks on a Windows desktop at the office, you should look elsewhere.

Value for Money & Alternatives

The pricing structure is a double-edged sword. You pay once, but you pay per platform: approximately $10 for iPhone, $20 for iPad, and $50 for Mac. While $80 total for the full suite feels steep compared to "free" apps, it is significantly cheaper than a $10/month subscription over two or three years.

Value for money: great

Alternatives

• Todoist — The best choice for cross-platform users and teams who need collaboration.
• Apple Reminders — A free, surprisingly powerful alternative that is already built into your devices.
• OmniFocus — For power users who need extreme customization, deep nesting, and complex review cycles.

Final Verdict

Things 3 is a masterclass in focused software design. It intentionally leaves out features like collaboration and file attachments to maintain a sense of simplicity and speed. For the solo professional or the enthusiast who lives entirely within the Apple ecosystem, it provides a level of polish and reliability that justifies its premium price tag. It is a tool that stays out of your way, helping you turn chaos into a structured, executable plan.