Finale To Do vs Things 3

Finale To Do

• Tracking tasks and habits in one app on Apple devices
• People who want repeated, persistent reminders
• Buyers who prefer a lifetime license to a subscription

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

Finale To Do

• It is available for iPhone, iPad and Mac only; the help center says there are no plans for an Android app in the near future.
• iCloud sync between devices is a Finale Pro feature, as are repeating tasks and unlimited habits.
• Sharing a list needs Finale Pro and iCloud sync.
• Passcode and Face ID protection, importing iOS Reminders and syncing the iOS Calendar are also limited to Finale Pro.

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.

Finale To Do

Detailed tasks and lists

Tasks take priorities, notes and several reminders, and sit in custom lists with colors, icons and emojis. Smart Lists group tasks automatically, and tasks can be edited in batches.

Plain-language dates

Writing a task in natural language sets its date and time automatically. Recognition works in the language the app is set to: English, German, Portuguese, Spanish, French or Russian.

Reminders and Nagging Mode

A task can have standard, repeating or several notifications. Unlimited notifications per task, Time Sensitive notifications and Nagging Mode are part of Finale Pro.

Habit tracker

Habits have their own colors, icons, schedules, reminders and streaks. Unlimited habits, habit goals and flexible repeat settings need Finale Pro.

Focus timers

A Pomodoro timer or a plain stopwatch can be pointed at a specific task, with reminders to take a break or resume. Pomodoro time can sync to Apple Health.

Shared lists

With Finale Pro a list can be shared with any number of people as editors or viewers and worked on in real time. iCloud sync must be on to share or join a list.

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.

Finale To Do

• Free$0

  Core tasks, lists, Smart Lists, habits, focus timers, notes and widgets, with no ads.

• Finale Pro - Monthly$3.99

  per month

  Adds repeating tasks, iCloud sync, unlimited habits and notifications, Nagging Mode, shared lists, passcode and Face ID lock, and iOS Reminders import.

• Finale Pro - Yearly$19.99

  per year

  The same Finale Pro features billed once a year.

• Finale Pro - Lifetime$44.99

  one-time purchase

  Finale Pro bought once and kept with no further fees, on all devices using the same Apple ID.

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.

Finale To Do

• Annual discount

  Yearly Pro costs about 58% less than monthly

  The US App Store lists Finale Pro at $3.99 monthly or $19.99 yearly, so a year on the yearly plan costs about 58% less than twelve monthly payments.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Finale Pro for a one-time $44.99

  The Lifetime plan is bought once and keeps Finale Pro permanently with no further fees, in place of the monthly or yearly subscription.

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.