Things 3 Review (2026): The Cleanest GTD Task Manager — If You're All-Apple

Beautiful, fast, and focused, with a pay-per-platform model and no Android, web, or collaboration.

Things 3 has a narrow ambition and executes it almost perfectly: it is a single-user GTD task manager for Apple devices, and after three weeks of daily use on an iPhone and Mac, it is the most polished app in the category we tested. Where other tools chase features, Things chases calm — and that focus is exactly its appeal and its limitation.

What works

The design is the headline, and it earns it. Everything from the quick-entry panel to the satisfying swipe-to-complete feels considered, fast, and quiet. The structure follows GTD cleanly: top-level Areas hold Projects, and the Today, Upcoming, Anytime, and Someday views make a daily and weekly review effortless. Capture is frictionless — a global shortcut on Mac and a magic-plus button on iOS mean a thought becomes a task in a second, which is the single most important property of a task manager you’ll actually keep using.

Sync via Things Cloud was flawless throughout testing: changes on the phone appeared on the Mac essentially instantly, with no conflicts or lost edits across three weeks. And because it is a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, you own the app outright — a refreshing model in a category that has largely moved to recurring fees.

What doesn’t

The limitations are structural, not bugs. Things 3 is Apple-only: there is no Android app, no Windows client, and no web version. If any part of your life runs on a non-Apple device, the app simply isn’t an option, and that single fact disqualifies it for a large share of users.

Pricing compounds this. Cultured Code charges separately per platform — roughly $49.99 for Mac, $9.99 for iPhone/Apple Watch, and $19.99 for iPad on the US App Store. Outfitting all three runs about $80 up front. It is a one-time cost rather than a subscription, which many will prefer, but the per-device structure surprises people. Finally, there is no collaboration of any kind: no shared projects, no assigning tasks, no comments. Things is a deliberately personal tool, and automation beyond Apple’s own reminders leans on URL schemes and Shortcuts rather than built-in integrations.

Pricing & value

For an all-Apple individual who values design and focus and doesn’t need to share anything, the one-time price is fair and the experience is best-in-class. For anyone cross-platform or collaborating with others, a tool like Todoist is the more practical choice regardless of how good Things looks.

Things 3 is the cleanest, most enjoyable task manager we tested — within the boundaries it sets for itself. Those boundaries are real and worth understanding before you buy. We disclose no affiliate compensation and no sponsored content. You can find Things 3 at culturedcode.com/things.