Actions vs Things 3

Actions

• iPhone, iPad and Mac users who want a card-based to-do list
• People who already use Bonobo's Timepage calendar
• Households sharing lists under one Family Bundle
• Typing tasks with dates and repeats in plain English

Things 3

• People who work only on Apple devices
• Buyers who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription
• One person planning their own tasks and projects

Actions

• There is no free plan: after the 7-day trial the app stays in read-only mode without a membership.
• Memberships are bought through Apple's App Store and billed to an Apple ID. No Android or Windows app is listed, only the web app.
• Bonobo sets prices by purchasing power parity, so they vary by country. The figures here are from the US App Store.
• Natural-language entry works in English only, and the help article lists it as supported on iOS and the web.

Things 3

• Apple devices only: the vendor states it will not work on Windows, Android, Linux or in a web browser.
• Mac, iPhone, iPad and Vision apps are separate purchases with no bundle; all four come to $109.96.
• Real-time sharing of to-dos or lists with other people is not supported.
• Only the Mac app has a free trial.

Actions

Action Cards

Each task is a card with a title, due date and reminders, and a card can hold its own checklist and free-form notes.

Color-coded Lists

Cards are grouped into Lists, each with its own color, which can be sorted, filtered and archived. Cards keep their list's color in the other screens.

Schedule and Logbook

Schedule shows today and the coming week, and cards are rescheduled by dragging. Completed cards move to the Logbook, where they can be reviewed or restored.

Natural-language entry

Typing a phrase such as "Pay rent on the 1st of every month" sets the date, repeat rule and reminder. It works on iOS and the web, in English only.

Shared lists

A list is shared by sending an invitation link to other Actions users. Collaborators' initials show on the list, and change notifications can be switched off per list.

Siri, Shortcuts and Timepage

Tasks can be added and checked by voice with Siri and automated with Shortcuts actions. With Timepage installed, calendar events appear in the Schedule screen.

Things 3

Today and This Evening

The Today list puts the day's calendar events at the top and to-dos underneath, with a separate This Evening section for tasks meant for later in the day.

Upcoming

A view of the days ahead with scheduled to-dos, repeating items, deadlines and calendar events. A to-do can be dragged to another day to reschedule it.

Projects, headings and checklists

Headings split a project into categories or milestones, and a single to-do can carry a checklist of smaller steps along with notes written in Markdown.

Dates in plain words

The Jump Start popover accepts dates typed as "Tomorrow", "Saturday" or "in four days", and a time-based reminder can be added to any to-do.

Quick Entry and Quick Find

Quick Entry on Mac creates a to-do while you are working in another app. Quick Find searches projects, to-dos and tags as you type.

Things Cloud sync

To-dos sync between your devices through the vendor's own Things Cloud service at no extra charge.

Actions

• Monthly Membership$3.99

  per month

  Actions on its own, billed monthly through the App Store. One membership covers iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and the web app.

• Annual Membership$19.99

  per year

  Actions on its own with the same access on every device, billed once a year.

• Bonobo Bundle (Annual)$29.99

  per year

  Actions together with the Timepage calendar and the Flow notebook app under a single membership.

• Bonobo Bundle (Annual Family)$49.99

  per year

  The same three-app bundle shared with up to six people through Apple Family Sharing.

• Bonobo Bundle (Lifetime)$129.99

  one-time purchase, as labelled on the App Store

  The three-app bundle sold as a lifetime in-app purchase on the US App Store listing.

Things 3

• Things for iPhone & Watch$9.99

  one-time purchase

  The iPhone app, with the Apple Watch app included. Sold on the App Store.

• Things for iPad$19.99

  one-time purchase

  The iPad app, bought separately from the iPhone and Mac apps.

• Things for Vision$29.99

  one-time purchase

  The Apple Vision Pro app, bought separately from the other apps.

• Things for Mac$49.99

  one-time purchase

  The Mac app, sold on the Mac App Store. A 15-day trial can be downloaded from the vendor's site.

Actions

• Annual discount

  Annual membership costs less than five months

  The US App Store lists the Annual Membership at $19.99 against $3.99 a month, which is $27.89 less than twelve monthly payments, a saving of about 58%.

• Lifetime license

  Bonobo Bundle lifetime purchase

  The US App Store listing includes a Bonobo Bundle (Lifetime) in-app purchase at $129.99, covering Actions, Timepage and Flow.

• Other savings

  Bundle saving on Bonobo's three apps

  Bonobo says the bundle of Timepage, Actions and Flow saves up to 44% compared with subscribing to the apps individually.

• Other savings

  Free membership for Apple employees

  Bonobo offers free memberships to Apple employees who email from an @apple.com address after creating an account.

Things 3

• Other savings

  Shareable through Apple Family Sharing

  Cultured Code supports Apple's Family Sharing, so one purchase of an app can be shared with family members at no extra cost.