Clear vs Things 3

Clear

• People who want a list app with as little interface as possible
• Shared grocery or packing lists with people who do not have the app
• Users motivated by sounds, themes and unlockable rewards

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

Clear

• Reminders, repeating tasks, archiving, widgets and the Apple Watch app all require Clear Pro.
• Cloud sync between devices and Clear Web are Pro features that are still labeled beta.
• Clear Pro's billing terms are not on the vendor's site; the App Store lists it at $3.99 and Google Play shows in-app purchases from $3.99 to $29.99.
• Some shared-list controls, such as member limits and removing people, are marked as iPhone first.

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.

Clear

Gesture controls

Every action is a gesture: swipe right to complete, swipe left to delete, pull down to create, pinch apart to insert between two rows, and shake to undo.

Heat-map lists

Each list is colored as a heat map that highlights the most important tasks. A long press picks up an item so it can be dragged to a new position.

Shared lists

A list is shared with a link that opens in the iPhone app, the Android app or a browser with nothing to install. Edits reach every device at once, and sharing does not need Pro.

Themes, sounds and collectibles

There are 398 themes, about 150 app icons, more than 80 fonts and 20 sound packs. Completing tasks drops collectibles at random; 9 themes are free and the rest come with Pro.

Reminders and repeating tasks

Clear Pro adds reminders and deadlines with Complete, Reschedule and Snooze actions, along with repeating tasks and list archiving.

Widgets, Apple Watch and sync

Pro members get interactive Home and Lock Screen widgets, the Apple Watch app, and Clear Cloud sync with Clear Web, which the vendor labels beta.

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.

Clear

• Free$0

  All 10 signature gestures, 9 themes, every icon and font, 20 sound packs, shared lists with real-time collaboration and iCloud backup.

• Clear Pro$3.99

  billing period not shown on the App Store listing

  389 more themes with per-list theming, reminders, repeating tasks, archiving, widgets, the Apple Watch app, and Clear Cloud sync with Clear Web in beta.

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.

Clear

No public discounts listed.

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.