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Things 3 costs $80 if you want to sync it across all your Apple devices (iPad, iPhone, and Mac). It’s a one-time purchase for each platform, which can add up, but it’s still more cost-effective than a subscription. On the other hand, Apple Reminders is completely free and includes a web app, which Things 3 doesn’t have. The web app is particularly useful since it works on any device as long as you have your Apple ID.
Both apps are minimalist, and in most task management apps, your homepage and workspace are combined. Things 3 offers more navigation options than Apple Reminders, but that doesn’t necessarily make it better—it really depends on your personal preference.
In Things 3, the Inbox contains tasks imported from Apple Reminders and Things Cloud email. These are tasks you’ve created in other apps. Apple Reminders doesn’t distinguish between tasks based on where they were created; they all look the same. Whether this distinction matters depends on your workflow—do you need to know where your tasks originated?
Things 3 uses terms like Upcoming, Anytime, and Someday for scheduled tasks, which are simply labeled as Scheduled in Apple Reminders. Apple Reminders takes a straightforward approach, but if you prefer more specific categories, you might appreciate Things 3’s terminology. Completed tasks are grouped in the Logbook in Things 3, whereas Apple Reminders shows completed tasks under each list. Both methods work, but if you can’t remember which list a task was in, the Logbook in Things 3 can be more useful. Apple Reminders also has dedicated sections for Flagged tasks and tasks assigned to you, which you can easily access and customize.
In Things 3, what Apple Reminders calls Lists are referred to as Projects. Despite the different names, they serve the same purpose—a collection of tasks. Things 3 allows you to schedule, repeat, and duplicate these task groups (projects) just like individual tasks.
While Things 3 displays a progress bar on your projects that updates as you complete tasks, Apple Reminders uses icons and emojis for list names. The progress bar is more practical and can be motivating, but the emojis can add a touch of fun, especially on tough days. Though emojis are charming, the utility of the progress bar gives Things 3 an edge here.
In Things 3, completed projects can disappear from your navigation sidebar if you choose to set them that way. In Apple Reminders, completed lists remain visible, showing that all tasks are done. Both approaches work, giving you a sense of accomplishment.
Things 3 allows you to export projects from the app, while Apple Reminders excels in collaboration. You can create tasks and assign them to others in Apple Reminders, but Things 3 only allows collaboration by sharing your entire Things Cloud account, which isn’t ideal since it grants full access to all your content. Apple Reminders is better suited for collaborative tasks, although neither app supports collaboration on individual tasks.
When creating tasks in both apps, you can add the following:
– Due dates
– Notes
– Tags (in Things 3)
– Priority (in Apple Reminders)
– URLs (in Things 3 via notes, and in Apple Reminders directly)
Things 3 offers additional features like start dates and flexible tags. The start date is when you begin working on a task, which is helpful for tasks that span several days. Apple Reminders, on the other hand, generally uses one date, which acts as a deadline unless specified otherwise in the task notes. For tasks with both a start and finish date, it’s beneficial to have both recorded.
Both apps support tagging, but Things 3 is more flexible, allowing you to create and delete tags as needed. In Apple Reminders, tags are more specific, like priority tags, while Things 3 lets you create custom tags for any purpose.
Although Things 3 doesn’t have a dedicated URL field, you can add multiple URLs in the notes section of your tasks. Apple Reminders, however, lets you add images to your tasks, which is useful for collaboration. You can take photos, scan documents, or add images from your photo library. You can also bookmark one webpage per task in Apple Reminders.
Apple Reminders allows you to flag important tasks, which then appear under the Flagged tab in your navigation bar for easy access. It also offers location-based and messaging-based reminders, which Things 3 can only replicate using iPadOS’s Shortcuts Automation—something that’s not unique to Things 3 and works for Apple Reminders as well.
Things 3 can pull in information from Apple Calendar and Apple Reminders, so if you want all your tasks in one place, this feature is useful. However, since Things 3 doesn’t support some features available in Apple Reminders, you’ll still need to use Apple Reminders for tasks that require images, URLs, flags, etc. Surprisingly, Apple Reminders and Apple Calendar don’t interact directly, which would be a helpful feature to connect these two Apple apps.
You can create tasks from other applications in both Things 3 and Apple Reminders, but they take different approaches. Things 3 requires you to export information from other apps to create tasks, while Apple Reminders integrates more seamlessly. For instance, you can create reminders directly from apps that support it, complete with all the details, without leaving the app. Apple Reminders offers a smoother experience when creating tasks outside the app.
Things 3 allows you to create tasks by sending an email to Things Cloud, where the subject becomes the task and the email body becomes the note. This feature is designed to let you create tasks even when you’re away from your devices. Apple Reminders achieves something similar with its web version, which you can use on any operating system.
You can export lists from Things 3 to other apps, something Apple Reminders doesn’t offer. However, some planning apps, like Agenda, can integrate your reminders from Apple Reminders, providing active interactions with your tasks.
Things 3 offers three levels of hierarchy for organizing tasks:
1. Areas (Groups of projects)
2. Projects (Groups of tasks)
3. Tasks
Apple Reminders only has two levels: Groups and Lists, but both apps allow lists to exist independently of folders.
Things 3 has a more sophisticated search engine that searches through everything in the app, from areas and projects to tasks, tags, and even settings. Apple Reminders’ search is more basic, focusing only on tasks and organizing the results by list.
Both Things 3 and Apple Reminders are simple GTD apps designed to keep you on track with your tasks. However, given their similarities, buying Things 3 might not be worth it, especially if you’re already using Apple Reminders. If you’re currently using Apple Reminders, switching to Things 3 wouldn’t feel like an upgrade.
