Smart Tasks vs Things 3

Smart Tasks

• Apple users who plan a week at a time and want it color-coded
• Students who give each class its own color
• People who want a to-do list with no account or sign-up
• Seeing calendar events and tasks on one screen

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

Smart Tasks

• Apple only: the FAQ says Smart Tasks is unavailable on Windows and Android, and there is no web version.
• Reminders, routines, notes, iCloud sync and unlimited categories all require the Smart Tasks+ subscription.
• Smart Tasks+ does not support Family Sharing, and tasks cannot be synced between different Apple IDs.
• The vendor's site gives no prices and points to the in-app subscription screen; the figures here are from the US 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.

Smart Tasks

Color-coded categories

Each category takes one of 42 built-in colors or a custom one picked from the spectrum or a photo. Unlimited categories are part of Smart Tasks+.

Next 7 Days view

The opening screen lists today's tasks first with the rest of the week beneath, and an undated task can sit in a Whenever list until it gets a day.

Apple Calendar events beside tasks

Events from Apple Calendar appear above each day's tasks, including Google Calendar and Outlook calendars connected to it, and can be added, edited or deleted in the app.

Widgets and Apple Watch

Three widget types show today's list or a single category on the Home Screen, where a task can be checked off without opening the app. Lock Screen widgets and an Apple Watch app are included.

Reminders and routines

With Smart Tasks+, a task can carry one or several reminders, and routines repeat daily, weekly, monthly or a set number of days after the last completion.

iCloud sync with no account

Tasks are stored on the device. Smart Tasks+ syncs them through the user's own iCloud across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, with no sign-up.

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.

Smart Tasks

• Free$0

  Tasks, color-coded categories, Next 7 Days, widgets, Apple Calendar events, Siri and Shortcuts, with no account.

• Smart Tasks + (Monthly)$2.99

  per month, US App Store in-app purchase

  Unlimited categories, task reminders, recurring routines, notes, iCloud sync and custom swipe actions on every device signed in to one Apple ID.

• Smart Tasks + (Annual)$17.99

  per year, US App Store in-app purchase

  The same Smart Tasks+ features as the monthly subscription, paid once a year.

• Smart Tasks +$1.99 to $11.99

  billing basis not shown on the App Store listing

  Three further items named only Smart Tasks + are listed at $1.99, $9.99 and $11.99, with no billing period given.

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.

Smart Tasks

• Annual discount

  About half the monthly cost on the annual plan

  The US App Store lists Smart Tasks + at $2.99 monthly and $17.99 annually. Twelve monthly payments come to $35.88, so the annual subscription costs about 50% less.

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.