Things 3

Things 3 is a task management app developed by Cultured Code, a German software company that has been building productivity tools since 2007. The app is designed exclusively for the Apple ecosystem, running on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It targets individuals who want a visually clean, distraction-free way to organize tasks, projects, and long-term goals without the complexity of team-based project management platforms.

With AI-enhanced features like natural language processing for task entry and deep Siri integration, Things 3 bridges the gap between simple to-do lists and full-scale project planners. It is best suited for personal productivity rather than collaborative workflows.

How Things 3 works

Things 3 organizes tasks using a hierarchy of Areas, Projects, and individual to-dos. Areas represent broad responsibilities like “Work” or “Health,” while Projects sit within those areas and contain actionable task lists. Users can assign due dates, deadlines, tags, and checklists to each task.

The natural language input system lets users type entries like “Call the dentist next Tuesday at 2pm” and the app automatically parses the date, time, and task title. Siri integration extends this further, allowing voice-based task creation from any Apple device. Calendar integration pulls in scheduled events alongside tasks, giving users a unified view of their day.

Repeating tasks can be configured with flexible scheduling rules, covering daily, weekly, monthly, or custom intervals. The app syncs across all Apple devices through Cultured Code’s own cloud service, keeping tasks consistent whether entered on a Mac or an iPhone.

Strengths

• Design quality: Things 3 is widely regarded as one of the best-designed productivity apps on any platform. The interface is minimal, responsive, and stays out of the way. Navigating between areas, projects, and individual tasks feels fast and intuitive.
• Natural language input: The ability to type a full sentence and have it parsed into a structured task with dates and tags reduces friction when capturing ideas quickly.
• One-time pricing: Unlike most productivity apps that charge monthly or annual subscriptions, Things 3 uses a one-time purchase model. At $9.99 for iPhone, $19.99 for iPad, and $49.99 for Mac, users pay once and own the software outright.
• Deep Apple integration: Siri shortcuts, calendar sync, widgets, and native support for Apple Watch make Things 3 feel like a built-in part of the operating system rather than a third-party add-on.
• Keyboard shortcuts on Mac: Power users on the desktop version benefit from extensive keyboard shortcut support, making task entry and navigation fast without reaching for the mouse.

Limitations

• Apple only: There is no Android app, no Windows app, and no web version. Users who work across Apple and non-Apple devices cannot access their tasks everywhere. This is a hard dealbreaker for mixed-platform households or workplaces.
• No collaboration features: Things 3 is strictly a personal task manager. There is no way to share projects, assign tasks to others, or work with a team inside the app.
• Separate purchases per platform: While the one-time pricing is a strength, buying the app across all three platforms costs a combined $79.97. Users who only need one device will pay less, but full ecosystem coverage adds up.
• Limited integrations: Beyond Siri and Apple Calendar, Things 3 does not connect natively with many third-party services. There is no built-in integration with Slack, email clients, or browser extensions without relying on workarounds like automation apps.
• No built-in note-taking: Task descriptions are plain text with checklists. Users who want rich notes, file attachments, or embedded links within tasks will find the feature set sparse compared to alternatives.

Who it is for

Things 3 fits individual professionals, freelancers, and students who live entirely within the Apple ecosystem and want a personal task manager that prioritizes clarity over feature density. It works well for people who manage their own workload without needing to delegate or collaborate. Users who prefer paying once rather than subscribing monthly will also find the pricing model appealing.

It is not the right choice for teams, project managers overseeing group work, or anyone who needs cross-platform access on Android or Windows devices.

How it compares

For users who need cross-platform support and team collaboration, Todoist is a direct alternative. Todoist runs on every major platform, offers shared projects, and uses a freemium subscription model. It trades some of Things 3’s design polish for broader accessibility and collaborative features.

Users whose productivity needs extend beyond task management into writing and communication may also benefit from tools like Grammarly, which focuses on AI-powered writing assistance rather than task organization but complements any productivity setup.