MinimaList vs Things 3

MinimaList

• iPhone users who want a pared-back list with reminders
• People who like a Pomodoro timer next to their tasks
• Sharing a grocery list with someone else who uses an iPhone

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

MinimaList

• Apple only: iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, plus Macs with an M1 chip or later, where it runs as the iPad app. No Android, Windows or web version is listed.
• The listing's description quotes Premium at $0.99 a month or $5.99 a year, but its in-app purchase list shows Pay Monthly at $2.99 and several lifetime options.
• Neither the vendor's site nor the App Store listing says which features are free and which need Premium.
• A link to a shared list must be opened in Safari, according to the App Store listing.

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.

MinimaList

Colored lists and custom themes

Separate lists serve different purposes and can be color-coded. The background, font style and size, and notification sounds can all be changed.

Reminders

Reminders can be based on a time or a location and can repeat. A reminder can be set to snooze itself automatically up to three times.

Smart input

A time written inside a task phrase is detected automatically and set as the task's reminder. Tasks also take a memo and sub-tasks.

Focus Timer

A built-in timer offers Pomodoro, countdown and count-up modes with sound effects.

Widgets and Siri

Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets show lists, tasks can be created and completed from the Today widget, and Siri can add a reminder to MinimaList.

Sync, sharing and calendar

Lists sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac, a list can be shared with other people through a link, and tasks can sync with Apple Calendar.

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.

MinimaList

• Free$0

  The list and reminder app itself. The listing does not say which features are held back for Premium.

• Pay Monthly$2.99

  per month

  Premium as a monthly subscription, as shown in the in-app purchase list. The app description quotes $0.99 a month instead.

• Boost Productivity$5.99

  billing period not shown on the App Store listing

  Listed among the in-app purchases without a term. The app description quotes a Premium price of $5.99 a year.

• Lifetime Premium (best offer)$5.99

  one-time purchase

  A lifetime Premium purchase. A second item, Lifetime (special offer), is listed at the same $5.99.

• Lifetime VIP (50% off)$8.99 to $9.99

  one-time purchase; the App Store lists two prices

  A lifetime purchase listed twice under the same name, at $8.99 and at $9.99.

• Lifetime Family$14.99

  one-time purchase

  A lifetime purchase labelled for family use.

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.

MinimaList

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime purchases from $5.99

  The US App Store lists Lifetime Premium (best offer) and Lifetime (special offer) at $5.99, Lifetime VIP (50% off) at $8.99 and $9.99, and Lifetime Family at $14.99.

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.