Things 3
by Cultured Code GmbH & Co. KG · Productivity · Task Management
Beautifully designed personal task manager for Apple devices.
Quick Answer: Things 3 has a verified Real Score of 4.6/5 based on 14,000 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.9/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 14,000 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Things 3's App Store rating is 0.3 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Stunning design and UX
- Fast and reliable
- Great keyboard shortcuts
- No subscription - one-time purchase
Common Complaints
- Apple-only ecosystem
- No collaboration features
- Expensive upfront cost
- No web version
Verified Reviews (20)
The most beautiful task app ever made
Things 3 is a masterpiece of design. Every interaction feels intentional and delightful. The way tasks animate, the drag and drop, the quick-add - it's all perfect. Worth every penny.
One-time purchase is refreshing
In a world of subscriptions, paying once for Things 3 and owning it forever is amazing. It's been years and I'm still getting updates. No monthly fee hanging over my head.
Perfect for personal use, not teams
If you're looking for a personal task manager and you're in the Apple ecosystem, stop looking. Things 3 is it. Just know it has zero collaboration features - this is a solo tool.
Keyboard shortcuts are incredible
On Mac, the keyboard shortcuts make task management lightning fast. Cmd+N for new task, Ctrl+S for someday, Space to complete. I barely touch the mouse. Power users will love this.
Wish it had a web version
The only thing keeping Things 3 from being perfect is the lack of a web version. When I'm on a Windows PC at a client's office, I can't access my tasks. Apple-only is a real limitation.
Headings and areas are genius
The organizational structure of Areas > Projects > Headings > Tasks just makes sense. My areas are Work, Personal, Health. Under each, projects break down naturally. So logical.
Fast, no bloat, just works
Things 3 launches instantly, syncs in seconds, and never crashes. After trying Notion, Todoist, and TickTick, the speed and reliability of Things 3 brought me back. Simple is better.
Expensive but justified
$50 for Mac + $20 for iPad + $10 for iPhone = $80 total. That's steep upfront but compare it to Todoist premium at $48/year and Things 3 pays for itself in under 2 years.
The Today and Upcoming views are perfect
Starting my day by looking at the Today view gives me instant clarity on what needs to happen. The Upcoming view shows my week ahead. Simple, focused, no distractions. Exactly how a task manager should work.
Lacks integrations
Things 3 is a walled garden. No Zapier integration, limited Shortcuts support, no API. If your workflow depends on connecting tools together, this is a limitation. For standalone use, it's perfect.
Natural language date input works great
Type "next tuesday" or "in 3 days" and it picks up the date automatically. Not as advanced as Todoist's natural language, but covers the common cases smoothly.
Six years later, still the best
I bought Things 3 when it launched in 2017 and it's still the best task manager I've used. The fact that it hasn't needed a major redesign speaks to how well it was designed from the start.
Tags could be more powerful
Tags work for basic categorization but there's no way to create smart filters or saved tag combinations. Compared to Todoist's filter queries, Things 3 tags feel limited.
The Quick Entry feature is amazing
On Mac, the global quick-entry shortcut lets you add a task from anywhere without switching to Things 3. It captures the thought in seconds and you can organize it later. Brilliant.
Great for GTD methodology
Inbox for capture, Areas and Projects for organizing, Today for execution, Someday for future ideas - Things 3 maps beautifully to GTD. If you follow David Allen's system, this is your app.
Apple Watch app is actually useful
Unlike most Watch apps, the Things 3 Apple Watch app is well-made. Quick glance at today's tasks, check them off from your wrist. Simple and functional.
Repeating tasks work well
Setting up repeating tasks with various schedules (daily, weekly, monthly, custom) works smoothly. After completing a repeating task, the next instance appears automatically.
CloudKit sync is seamless
Syncs via iCloud/CloudKit and it's instantaneous. Add a task on my phone and it appears on my Mac before I even look up. Never had a sync conflict or lost data.
Wish it had more customization
You can't change colors, icons, or the overall theme. It's Cultured Code's design or nothing. The design is beautiful, but some personalization options would be nice.
Reduced my screen time
Things 3 is so efficient that I spend less time managing tasks and more time doing them. No endless tinkering with views and settings like other apps. Open, check, do, close. Love it.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
Have you used Things 3?
Share your honest experience and help others make better decisions. All reviews go through our 5-step verification.
Write a Verified Review
Your review will go through our 5-step verification process
Things 3 FAQ
Is Things 3 worth downloading in 2026?
What is Things 3's real rating without fake reviews?
What do users like most about Things 3?
What are the biggest complaints about Things 3?
How does VerifiedAppReviews rate Things 3?
Last updated: April 2026