App Comparison
Things 3 is widely considered the best-designed task manager on Apple. OneTask is not a task manager at all. Compare these two beautifully crafted but fundamentally different approaches to getting things done.
| Feature | OneTask | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Core Approach | Single-task execution timer | Elegant project-based task manager |
| Task Organization | No organization — one task only | Areas, Projects, Tags, Headings |
| Timer | Built-in focus timer with Live Activity | No built-in timer |
| Today View | One task — that is the whole view | Curated list of today's tasks |
| Widgets | Home screen and Lock screen widgets | Home screen widgets |
| Apple Watch | Full Apple Watch support | Full Apple Watch support |
| Pricing Model | Subscription: $3.99/mo or $29.99/yr | One-time purchase: $9.99–$49.99 |
| Platform | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch |
Things 3 is best for
Things 3 is ideal for Apple users who appreciate beautiful software and want a structured but not overcomplicated task management system. It works especially well for people who manage multiple life areas and projects and prefer a one-time purchase over subscriptions.
Things 3 is a premium, Apple-exclusive task manager celebrated for its elegant design and thoughtful user experience. Developed by Cultured Code, it organizes tasks using a structure of Areas, Projects, Headings, and Tags. Its Today view, Upcoming view, and Anytime list help users navigate their commitments with clarity. Things 3 supports natural language input, repeating tasks, checklists within tasks, and a quick entry feature. It uses a one-time purchase model rather than subscriptions. The app has won multiple Apple Design Awards and is a favorite among productivity enthusiasts who value clean aesthetics and carefully considered interaction design.
Pricing: One-time purchase: $9.99 (iPhone), $19.99 (iPad), $49.99 (Mac). No subscription.
OneTask is best for
OneTask is designed for people who do not need task management at all — they need task execution. Instead of organizing tasks into projects and areas, OneTask shows one task with a running timer. It uses Live Activity, widgets, and Apple Watch to keep your single commitment visible.
An execution constraint for iPhone. One task at a time, always visible.
Pricing: $3.99/month or $29.99/year
Things 3 is one of the finest task managers ever built. It gives you a beautiful system to capture, organize, and review everything you need to do. But managing tasks and doing tasks are different activities, and for some people — especially those with ADHD — the gap between the two is enormous. OneTask does not help you manage tasks. It helps you do one task. There is no inbox, no projects view, no review process. You enter a task, start a timer, and execute. These are fundamentally different tools solving different problems.
Both apps are beautifully designed, but their design serves different goals. Things 3 uses its elegant interface to make complexity feel approachable — Areas, Projects, Tags, and Headings are presented so cleanly that the organizational power feels natural rather than overwhelming. OneTask uses its design to eliminate complexity entirely. There is nothing to learn, nothing to configure, nothing to organize. The beauty of OneTask is in what it removes. If Things 3 makes you feel in control, it is probably the right choice. If it makes you feel like you have too many open loops, OneTask may help.
Things 3 uses a one-time purchase model, which many users prefer. You pay once per platform and own the app. OneTask uses a subscription model at $3.99/month or $29.99/year. The pricing philosophies reflect the apps themselves: Things 3 is a complete, polished product that receives periodic major updates. OneTask is a focused tool with ongoing development. For budget-conscious users, Things 3 is cheaper over time. For users who prefer to try before committing long-term, OneTask offers more flexibility to start and stop.
Things 3 has an excellent Today view that shows a curated list of tasks you have scheduled or starred for today. It provides a clear picture of what your day looks like. OneTask takes the Today concept to an extreme: your today is one task. Not a list of tasks for today, but literally the single task you are working on right now. For people who feel motivated by seeing their daily list, Things 3 excels. For people who feel paralyzed by a list of even five or six items, OneTask removes that friction by showing only the immediate next action.
Things 3 is a masterclass in software design. It has earned its reputation as the gold standard for Apple task management, and for good reason. If you can work within its system of Areas and Projects without losing momentum, it is an outstanding investment — especially with its one-time purchase pricing. OneTask is not trying to compete with Things 3 as a task manager because it is not a task manager. It is for the person who has tried Things 3 (and maybe loved organizing in it) but still struggles to actually start working on the tasks inside it. If your problem is capturing and organizing, Things 3 is superb. If your problem is starting and finishing, OneTask offers a different kind of tool. Some users even pair them: Things 3 as the system of record, OneTask as the execution layer for the current task.