Things 3 Review: Is This the Best Todo App for Mac?

You're looking for the best todo app for Mac and you've probably already tried Apple Reminders. It's fine, but it doesn't quite cut it when you're juggling multiple projects and actual deadlines.

Things 3 keeps showing up in "best of" lists with a $49.99 one-time price tag and zero subscription fees. That's unusual these days, and it raises the question: is this actually worth your money or just another overhyped productivity tool?

This review breaks down what you get, who should actually use it, and whether it's the right fit for your workflow or if you'd be better off with something like Todoist or TickTick.

What This Review Covers

Here's what we'll look at to help you decide if Things 3 is worth the investment:

• Is Things 3 actually worth trying? - The honest verdict on whether it lives up to the hype
• What you get with Things 3 - Features, design, and what makes it different from free alternatives
• Pricing and real value - One-time purchase vs subscription apps and who actually saves money
• Who should use Things 3 - The specific type of person this app is built for
• Things 3 vs cheaper alternatives - When Todoist, TickTick, or OmniFocus make more sense
• Final verdict - Should you buy it now, wait, or skip it entirely

Is Things 3 Actually Worth Trying?

Things 3 costs $80 total if you want it on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. That's a one-time payment, not a monthly subscription. Compared to Todoist's $60/year Pro plan, you're actually ahead by year two.

But here's the catch: Things 3 only works on Apple devices. No web app, no Windows, no Android. If you're not fully invested in the Apple ecosystem, this is an instant dealbreaker.

The app won the Apple Design Award twice and for good reason. It's fast, beautiful, and the interface gets out of your way. Opening the app feels instant, creating tasks takes seconds, and the whole thing just works without any loading screens or sync delays.

That said, Things 3 lacks features that other apps have. There's no AI to help you break down tasks. No collaboration features if you need to share projects with a team. No integrations with tools like Slack, Gmail, or Zapier beyond basic Apple Shortcuts.

So is it worth it? For solo Apple users who value design and want to own their software outright, absolutely. For anyone who needs team features, cross-platform access, or AI assistance, you'll want to look elsewhere.

What You Actually Get With Things 3

Things 3 is built as a native Apple app from the ground up. It's not a web app wrapped in a desktop container. This shows in every interaction, from the smooth animations to the keyboard shortcuts that actually work.

The hierarchy is simple: Areas at the top (like Work, Personal, Health), Projects inside those Areas, and Tasks inside Projects. You can add Headings within Projects to break them into sections. It's one level deeper than most people need and way simpler than OmniFocus.

The Today view is where you'll spend most of your time. It shows only what's scheduled for today plus any tasks due today. No clutter from overdue items or your entire task database. Just today's plan.

Natural language date parsing works well for everyday use. Type "Review contract Thursday" and it schedules it. "Every two weeks starting April 1" also works. It's not the most advanced parser out there, but it handles what most people actually need.

Quick Entry on Mac is genuinely the best I've used. Hit Control+Space and a floating box appears over whatever you're doing. Type your task, pick a date if you want, select a project, hit Enter. Takes about five seconds and you're back to work.

The Someday list is underrated. It's where you park things you might want to do eventually but not now. "Learn Portuguese." "Read that book." These don't clutter your active tasks but stay searchable when you're ready.

Reminders work with time-based alerts. Set "Wed 8pm" and you'll get notified. Things Cloud uses something called Fastlane to push reminders instantly across devices so you don't miss time-critical tasks.

The Pricing Breakdown

Things 3 becomes cheaper than Todoist Pro after about 16 months. If you plan to use a task manager for years, the one-time purchase wins mathematically.

But the real question isn't just about price. It's about whether Things 3 has the features you actually need. If you need collaboration, AI features, or cross-platform access, paying more for Todoist makes sense even long-term.

The Good Stuff: Why Things 3 Stands Out

Things 3 feels different the moment you open it on your Mac. It does not have the clunky loading screens or sync delays that plague web-based task managers. The interface is crisp, the animations are smooth, and every keyboard shortcut works exactly as you expect it to.

The hierarchy is designed for actual human workflows. You organize your life into Areas, break those down into Projects, and manage daily Tasks within them. It is one level deeper than basic apps but avoids the overwhelming complexity of enterprise tools like OmniFocus.

Quick Entry is arguably the best feature for Mac users. You hit a keyboard shortcut, a small window pops up over your current work, and you type your task. You can assign a date and project in seconds without ever breaking your focus or switching apps.

Natural language parsing handles everyday scheduling effortlessly. You can type "Review contract next Thursday at 2pm" and the app instantly sets the correct date and time. It understands recurring patterns like "every two weeks" without requiring you to dig through complex menu settings.

The Someday list is a hidden gem for managing mental clutter. You can park ideas like "learn Spanish" or "research standing desks" without them polluting your active daily view. They remain searchable and ready for when you actually have the bandwidth to tackle them.

Checklists keep simple multi-step tasks from becoming bloated projects. You can paste a bulleted list from another app, and Things 3 automatically converts it into actionable subtasks. This keeps your main project view clean while ensuring no critical step is forgotten.

Pricing and Real Value

Things 3 uses a one-time purchase model, which is incredibly rare in modern software. You pay $49.99 for the Mac app, $19.99 for iPad, and $9.99 for iPhone. That is a total of $80 to own the entire ecosystem permanently, with free updates included for life.

Compare that to subscription-based alternatives that charge you every single year. A Pro plan on a major competitor costs around $60 annually just to unlock basic calendar views and reminders. You break even on Things 3 in just over a year, and every year after that is pure savings.

Here is how the long-term costs stack up against the most popular alternative.

The math is straightforward and heavily favors the one-time purchase. If you plan to use a task manager for more than 16 months, Things 3 is the cheaper option by a wide margin. You also avoid the frustration of losing access to your own data if you forget to renew a subscription.

Some users hesitate at the $80 total price tag. However, when you calculate the cost per day over a three-year period, it amounts to less than ten cents a day. That is a fraction of the cost of a single cup of coffee for a tool you will use dozens of times every single day.

Why You Need to Get It Now

You might be wondering if you can just stick with the free Apple Reminders app. Reminders has improved significantly, but it still lacks the structured project management that serious work requires. Things 3 gives you the hierarchy and focus needed to actually complete complex goals.

Another common objection is the lack of a web app or Windows version. This is a genuine limitation if you regularly switch between a Mac and a PC. However, if your entire workflow already lives on Apple devices, this limitation does not affect you at all.

Delaying this purchase usually means you keep patching together free tools that do not quite fit your needs. You end up wasting more mental energy managing your system than actually doing the work. A dedicated, well-designed tool pays for itself in reclaimed time and reduced stress.

If you are fully invested in the Apple ecosystem, this is the most logical next step. The one-time fee is a small price to pay for a system that feels like it was built specifically for your Mac. You can download it today and immediately start organizing your workflow with confidence.

How Things 3 Compares to Alternatives

Finding the best todo app for mac often leads you to a few heavy hitters. Things 3 is fantastic, but it is not the only option on the market. Your specific workflow and device ecosystem will ultimately dictate which tool makes the most sense for you.

Here is a direct comparison of Things 3 against the most popular alternatives to help you decide.

Explore Things 3

Choose Things 3 if you live entirely in the Apple ecosystem and despise monthly subscriptions. It is the clear winner for solo professionals who value design and simplicity.

Choose Todoist if you need to collaborate with a team or frequently switch between a Mac and a Windows PC. Its cross-platform reliability and AI features justify the recurring cost for many users.

Choose TickTick if you want a highly capable, budget-friendly alternative. It packs habit tracking and a Pomodoro timer into a single cheap subscription, making it a massive value proposition.

My Honest Take on Things 3

Things 3 earns its reputation as the best todo app for mac for a very specific type of user. It is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that is exactly why it succeeds. The app respects your time, your attention, and your wallet.

The lack of a web app or Windows version is a genuine limitation. If your workflow requires you to jump between different operating systems, you will hit a wall. However, if your digital life is already confined to Apple devices, this limitation simply does not apply to you.

The one-time purchase model is a massive advantage in an era of endless software subscriptions. You pay once and own the tool permanently. Over a three-year period, this costs less than a single month of many competing services.

If you are serious about organizing your work and life without the friction of clunky interfaces, this is worth a real look. Delaying the purchase usually means you keep patching together free tools that do not quite fit your needs. A dedicated, well-designed system pays for itself in reclaimed time and reduced mental clutter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free trial for Things 3?
Yes, Cultured Code offers a 15-day free trial for the Mac version. This gives you plenty of time to test the Quick Entry feature and natural language parsing before committing to the purchase.

Can I share projects with my family or team?
No, Things 3 is strictly a solo productivity tool. It does not support shared projects, task assignment, or team workspaces. You will need a tool like Todoist for collaborative work.

Does Things 3 work on Windows or Android?
No, it is exclusively built for Apple devices. You can use it on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro, but there is no web browser version or support for other operating systems.

Is the one-time fee really worth it compared to free apps?
If you use a task manager daily, the answer is yes. Free apps often lock essential features like reminders or calendar views behind paywalls. Things 3 gives you the complete, polished experience upfront for a fraction of the long-term cost of subscription alternatives.