Sorted³ vs Things 3 (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Things 3 grades higher than Sorted³: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Sorted³ grades higher on value for money. Things 3 grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Sorted³
Day planner that puts tasks, events and notes on one timeline
Things 3
Personal task manager for Apple devices, sold as a one-time purchase
Which one is for you
Pick Sorted³ if
- Fits if you use only Apple devices and want tasks placed on a timeline
- Works for people who like to plan each day by time blocks
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use Windows or Android, as it is Apple only
- Pricey if you want both devices, as iOS and Mac PRO are separate purchases
- Watch out: the pages do not spell out which features are free and which need PRO
- Watch out: sync is through iCloud, so it does not reach non-Apple devices
Pick Things 3 if
- Fits if you work only on Apple devices and plan your own tasks and projects
- Works for people who'd rather pay once per device than subscribe
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows, Android or Linux, as it won't run there or in a browser
- Not for you if you share lists with a partner or a team, because real-time sharing isn't supported
- Pricey if you want it on every device, as the Mac, iPhone, iPad and Vision apps come to $109.96 with no bundle
- Watch out: only the Mac app has a trial, so on iPhone, iPad or Vision you pay before you see it
- Pricey if you start on a Mac, since the Mac app alone is $49.99
How we grade them
| 2.4GPASorted³Fair | 2.6GPAThings 3Good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | APRO is $14.99 once on iOS or $24.99 on Mac, under a year of the to-do middle subscription ($48). | BNo subscription, and sync through Things Cloud costs nothing extra. The iPhone app is $9.99 once. But iPad is $19.99 and Mac $49.99 with no bundle, so a phone and laptop pairing is about $60, which still beats two years of this category's $3.99 middle plan. All four come to $109.96. |
| Free plan and trial | CThe core app is free with no subscription and PRO can be previewed for 14 days, but the pages do not say which features need PRO. | CNo free version. The Mac app has a 15-day trial with every feature, downloaded from Cultured Code's site and asking for no card. There's no trial on iPhone, iPad or Vision, so there you pay first and find out after. |
| Features | CTimeline, auto scheduling, lists, repeat rules and widgets, but sync goes through iCloud only. | CProjects split by headings, checklists inside a to-do, notes in Markdown, repeating items, deadlines and reminders, with Today and Upcoming showing calendar events beside your tasks. For one person that covers it. The gap its own pages name: real-time sharing of a to-do or list isn't supported. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. There is a timeline and scheduling method to learn first. | A4.8 from 27,988 App Store ratings, which is a lot of people agreeing. Dates go in as plain words like "Tomorrow" or "Saturday", and on a Mac Quick Entry adds a to-do while you're in another app. |
| Platforms and integrations | CiPhone, iPad and Mac only, with no Windows, Android or web version. | CMac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, with Apple Calendar, Reminders, Shortcuts and Siri. One family of devices. Cultured Code states it will not work on Windows, Android, Linux or in a web browser. |
| Best for | auto-scheduling tasks on a day timeline for Apple devices | one person's tasks on Apple devices, paid for once |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Sorted³ and Things 3. How we grade
Where they differ
- Sorted³ also covers time blocking and auto-scheduling.
- Things 3 also covers Markdown.
At a glance
| Sorted³ | Things 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $14.99 one-time for PRO on iOS ($24.99 on macOS) | $9.99 one-time for iPhone; iPad $19.99 and Mac $49.99 are sold separately |
| Free plan | The core app is free with no subscription, and the App Store listing says PRO features can be tried for 14 days. | None |
| Free trial | 14-day preview of PRO features, per the App Store listing | 15-day free trial of the Mac app with every feature. There is no trial on iPhone, iPad or Vision. |
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | StaySorted Limited | Cultured Code GmbH & Co. KG |
| Price read from | sortedapp.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Sorted³
- Runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac only; the vendor's pages list no Windows, Android or web version.
- iOS and macOS PRO are separate purchases, so using both costs more than either alone.
- The vendor's text does not spell out which features are free and which need PRO.
- Sync goes through iCloud, so it does not reach non-Apple devices.
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
Sorted³
- Unified timeline
- Tasks, calendar events and notes sit together on one timeline for the day, with formatted notes and attachments on both.
- Auto Schedule
- Fits your tasks into the open time in a day so you can see what is realistic to finish.
- Time Ruler and Magic Select
- Gestures to shift, merge or split tasks and push the rest of the day around when plans change.
- Folders, lists and tags
- Organize larger work into folders, lists and tags, and split big tasks into smaller ones.
- Natural language and repeat rules
- The App Store listing names natural language entry, repeat rules, Siri integration and a URL scheme.
- iCloud sync and widgets
- Syncs through iCloud and offers widgets for iOS and macOS.
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
Sorted³
Free$0
Core app on iOS and macOS; the vendor calls it free forever.
PRO for iOS$14.99
one-time, iOS only
Unlocks the full app on iPhone and iPad; shown on the vendor's pricing section with a hidden note about a limited-time community promo.
PRO for macOS$24.99
one-time, macOS only
Unlocks the full app on Mac. iOS and macOS PRO are separate purchases, and the App Store says a bundle is also sold.
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
Sorted³
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Sorted³ or Things 3?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Sorted³ starts at $14.99 one-time for PRO on iOS ($24.99 on macOS), and Things 3 starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone; iPad $19.99 and Mac $49.99 are sold separately.
Which has a free plan, Sorted³ or Things 3?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Sorted³ has a free plan. Things 3 does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.