Nirvana vs Things 3
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Nirvana
To-do list app built around the Getting Things Done method
Things 3
Personal task manager for Apple devices, sold as a one-time purchase
Where they differ
- Nirvana starts at $3 per month, billed annually ($36/year). Things 3 starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone; iPad $19.99 and Mac $49.99 are sold separately.
- Nirvana has a free plan. Things 3 does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Nirvana lists a web app.
- Only Nirvana lists Windows and Android apps.
- Things 3 can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Things 3 also covers Markdown, natural-language input and calendar.
At a glance
| Nirvana | Things 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $3 per month, billed annually ($36/year) | $9.99 one-time for iPhone; iPad $19.99 and Mac $49.99 are sold separately |
| Free plan | Basic account: unlimited to-dos, up to 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, with sync across devices and email capture. It does not expire. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 15-day free trial of the Mac app with every feature. There is no trial on iPhone, iPad or Vision. |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Nirvanahq, Inc. | Cultured Code GmbH & Co. KG |
| Price read from | nirvanahq.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Nirvana
- People who follow Getting Things Done and want its lists ready-made
- Solo users who want one task system on web, desktop and phone
- Connecting an AI client such as Claude or Cursor to a to-do list
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
Worth knowing
Nirvana
- Basic accounts are capped at 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas, and recurring to-dos need Pro.
- Pro has no free trial, and the vendor gives no refunds and does not prorate a cancelled billing period.
- The AI assistant is a beta for Pro early-access members on the web and desktop apps, and it has no calendar integration.
- No Linux app is listed. The apps page names Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web browser.
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.
Key features
Nirvana
- Built-in GTD lists
- To-dos move between Inbox, Next, Waiting, Scheduled and Someday lists, and a Focus list collects the ones you star for attention now.
- Projects, areas and reference lists
- Projects group related to-dos, areas of focus separate parts of your life, and reference lists hold material that is not actionable. Basic accounts cap all three.
- Tags, contexts and filters
- Filter to-dos by tags, areas, contacts, energy and time required to see what is practical for where you are and how much time you have.
- Capture and Focus by email
- Forwarding an email to your Nirvana address turns it into a to-do, and the Focus list can be emailed to you on chosen days of the week.
- Scheduled and recurring to-dos
- Scheduled to-dos stay out of the actionable lists until their start date, and due dates can be set on to-dos and projects. Recurring to-dos need Pro.
- AI assistant and MCP server
- A built-in assistant, in beta for Pro early-access members, runs guided reviews. An MCP server lets clients such as Claude and ChatGPT read and create tasks; updating them needs Pro.
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.
Plans
Nirvana
Free$0
The GTD lists, tags and contexts, notes and checklists, sync and email capture, with up to 5 projects, 3 reference lists and 2 areas.
Pro$3
per month, billed annually ($36); $5 billed monthly
Everything in Free, plus unlimited projects, areas and reference lists, recurring to-dos and priority support.
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.
Ways to pay less
Nirvana
- Annual discount
40% off Pro with yearly billing
Pro costs $5 a month billed monthly or $36 a year, which works out to $3 a month. The pricing page labels the yearly option as 40% off.
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.
