Things 3 Review: Pros, Cons, Features & Pricing

Things 3 is a task management application designed to help individuals organize their tasks and projects using principles from the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. Developed by Cultured Code, it caters to professionals who value simplicity and clarity, such as freelancers, graphic designers, and writers. The app is exclusive to Apple devices, including macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Apple Watch, and offers a streamlined approach to task management that focuses on enhancing productivity and reducing overwhelm.

In this article, you'll find an overview of Things 3's key features, pros and cons, best and worst use cases, and pricing. If you're aiming to boost your team's efficiency and stay on top of your projects, this review is for you.

Things 3 Evaluation Summary

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Things 3 Overview

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We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.

Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.

Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)

The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.

Standout Features (25% of final scoring)

Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.

We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.

Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)

We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.

Onboarding (10% of final scoring)

We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.

Customer Support (10% of final scoring)

We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.

Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)

Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.

Value for Money (10% of final scoring)

Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.

Core Features

Task organization: Things 3 allows you to organize tasks and subtasks using Projects, Areas, and Tags. Projects help group related tasks with clear goals, while Areas categorize broader themes like 'Work' or 'Personal.' Tags let you add context, which makes it easy to filter and prioritize tasks based on what matters most.

Deadline reminders: Things 3 lets you assign due dates and deadlines to tasks, with optional notifications to remind you when it's time to take action. This supports effective time management by helping you stay on top of important responsibilities—especially for tasks with hard deadlines or recurring obligations.

Daily planning: The Today view in Things 3 highlights all tasks scheduled or due today, giving you a focused, up-to-date agenda. This view automatically pulls in tasks with set dates and allows you to manually add items you want to prioritize, helping you concentrate on what requires your immediate attention.

Checklists: Within any task in Things 3, you can create checklists to break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. This is especially helpful for multi-step tasks or detailed workflows to ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.

Search functionality: Things 3 includes a powerful, system-wide search function that lets you instantly locate tasks, projects, tags, or notes. Whether you're looking for a specific keyword, project title, or tag, the search bar delivers fast results.

Calendar integration: Things 3 can sync with your Apple Calendar app, which allows you to view scheduled events alongside your tasks in the Today and Upcoming views. This provides a unified, comprehensive view of your day or week that can help you plan tasks around existing commitments and avoid scheduling conflicts.