Things 3 vs OmniFocus 4: which task manager for Mac?
Things 3 and OmniFocus 4 compared on design, features, pricing and sync, so you can pick the right Mac task manager for how you plan.
Written by Mac App Index Editorial
Choose Things 3 if you want a calm, fast task manager you pay for once and barely need to configure. Choose OmniFocus 4 if you manage many projects with dependencies, need custom views and scripting, and are happy to spend time setting it up.
How we picked: we ran the same set of projects, a work launch, a home renovation and daily routines, in both apps for several weeks on a Mac and an iPhone.
At a glance
| Things 3 | OmniFocus 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Cultured Code | The Omni Group |
| Price on Mac | $49.99 one-time | Subscription, with licences sold on the Omni Group's store |
| Other platforms | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro (separate purchases) | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, web |
| Sync | Things Cloud, free | Omni Sync Server, free |
| Custom views | No | Custom perspectives |
| Automation | URL scheme, Shortcuts | Omni Automation (JavaScript), Shortcuts |
| Collaboration | No | No |
Things 3
Things 3 is built around a few fixed views. Today shows what you plan to do now, with an optional This Evening section. Upcoming shows dated tasks alongside your calendar. Anytime and Someday hold everything else. Projects sit inside Areas, and can be split with headings and checklists.
Quick Entry is the feature people miss most when they leave: a global shortcut opens a small window from any app, and with Autofill it can grab the current web page or email as a task.
Things changes slowly and deliberately. Version 3.23, released in August 2026, reworked repeating tasks so you can complete one early or change a single occurrence without touching the rule.
The limits are deliberate too. There are no custom views, no task dependencies, and no sharing. If you need any of those, Things will feel tight.
OmniFocus 4
OmniFocus 4 follows the Getting Things Done method closely and gives you many more controls. Projects can be sequential, so only the next task is available, or parallel. Tasks can have defer dates, which hide them until they are relevant, as well as due dates. Tags work as contexts, and can be nested.
The Forecast view combines due tasks with your calendar. Custom perspectives let you build saved views with your own filters, such as "errands available now, grouped by tag". A Review mode prompts you to check each project on a schedule.
Omni Automation adds a JavaScript scripting layer that works across Mac and iOS. If you like to automate, there is a lot here.
The cost is time. A good OmniFocus setup takes an afternoon, and the app rewards people who maintain it.
Getting tasks in
Both apps work well with capture tools. Drafts has actions that send a line or a list to Things or OmniFocus, so you can type a brain dump and split it into tasks in one step. MindNode can export a mind map to Things, which is useful for planning a project visually first.
Calendars and reminders
Both apps show your calendar next to dated tasks: Things in Today and Upcoming, OmniFocus in Forecast. Neither replaces a calendar app. If you want tasks and events together in a full calendar view, Fantastical can show tasks from Apple Reminders and some other services alongside events, though not from Things or OmniFocus directly.
Both can also import from Apple Reminders, which helps when you capture tasks with Siri.
Pricing in practice
Things costs $49.99 on the Mac, plus separate purchases for iPad and iPhone if you want them. Updates have been free since 2017.
OmniFocus 4 is sold as a subscription that covers all platforms, and the Omni Group also sells traditional licences on its own store. Check the Omni Group's site for current prices, as the options differ by edition.
Which one should you choose?
Pick Things 3 if:
- You want to open the app and start, with almost no setup.
- You prefer paying once.
- Your projects are mostly simple lists.
Pick OmniFocus 4 if:
- You run many projects with steps that depend on each other.
- You want custom views and a regular review.
- You will use scripting or detailed automation.
Both apps offer a free trial, either on the developer's website or through the App Store, so you can run a real week in each before paying. If you are not sure, start with Things. It is easier to outgrow a simple app than to keep a complex one tidy.
See more options in productivity apps, alternatives to Things and alternatives to OmniFocus.
FAQ
Is Things 3 a subscription?
No. Things 3 is a one-time purchase per platform: $49.99 on the Mac. Things Cloud sync is included at no extra cost.
Does OmniFocus work on Windows?
There is no Windows app, but OmniFocus for the Web runs in a browser, so you can reach your tasks from a non-Apple computer.
Can I share projects with other people?
Neither app supports shared projects. For team task management, a shared tool such as Reminders' shared lists or a project management service fits better.
Can I move from Things to OmniFocus, or the other way?
There is no direct import between them. Both support Shortcuts and URL schemes, and people have built scripts to move tasks, but most switchers re-enter their active projects by hand.
