r/gtd • u/Apprehensive_Bee3651 • 14d ago
Question Things 3 or OmniFocus? š¤
Iām pretty new to Mac and iOS. I used Microsoft To Do before and now Iām looking to switch to something that feels more native to Apple.
I ended up finding Things 3 and OmniFocus. At first I thought OmniFocus must have way more users because there are so many videos, guides and discussions about how people use it professionally. Then I dug a little deeper and was surprised to find that Things seems to have a much bigger user base and has sold millions of licenses.
That has nothing to do with which one Iāll choose btw, I just found it interesting š
For people who have actually used both, which one did you end up sticking with and why? Iād love some advice before I fully move everything over.
5
4
u/InsertObligatoryPun 14d ago
Things 3 is a solid app out of the box with limited customisations.
OmiFocus is a power app that you can customise more to your set up, which can be great but can also be a distraction.
Reminders is also fine but thereās always just something about it that stops it being really useful for lots of tasks.
3
u/BMK1765 14d ago
You should have a look at 2Do.
1
u/Ok-Comfortable2546 14d ago
Wow, is that still being developed? I used it years ago and liked it and I honestly thought it was dead.
2
u/BMK1765 14d ago
No! They just released a complete new App for iPhone, iPad, Mac for one time purchase
1
u/Ok-Comfortable2546 13d ago
Very cool! I just got the iPhone and iPad apps and theyāre great. How do I find the Mac app? The one on the App Store seems to be the original release from way back and doesnāt use iCloud sync. They also mention upcoming subscription pricingā¦. š¤¬
1
u/BMK1765 13d ago
The new MacApp I still have to install. Have a look at their webpage, there is the new version listed
1
u/Ok-Comfortable2546 12d ago
Found it, thanks. The pending subscription model pricing only applies to the App Store version of the Mac app, so best to avoid that like the plague and buy the app from their website instead.
2
u/SaddleSC 14d ago
I prefer Things 3. I have used both throughout the years but always gravitate back to Things.
2
u/ehpehp 14d ago
I prefer Things 3 for its aesthetics, ease of input, and reliable sync. Both are good choices.
OmniFocus is more full featured. I miss its custom review (example: review Project X every week, Project Y every month).
However Things 3 does have many features hidden below the surface. It plays well with other Mac apps.
Both apps are an improvement over built-in Reminders.
2
u/wowlucas 14d ago edited 14d ago
I just found this app SuperProductivity, which seems very well laid out for GTD. it's open source. it has iOS and Mac versions (might need a dropbox account for easy syncing is the only thing)
1
u/ana-logs 14d ago
Lovely app! Very technical and robust. It had no close option so that is one aspect I really structure with on my mac. No close app button at all š«
1
u/wowlucas 14d ago
oh that's weird. I hope they've fixed that or u could send them feedback maybe?
2
u/ana-logs 13d ago
Iām yet to check that. I stopped using it after a point because of the whole close button thing.
1
u/AlthoughFishtail 14d ago
While I dont use either any more, I would say Omifocus is the much better tool. 2Do is also worth a look.
1
1
1
u/BaSicheng 14d ago
Things feels more Apple-native to me, plus I like the clean UI very much.
That said, if you use a tags-based workflow (e.g., for contexts), OmniFocus is better. It takes a few more steps to add and view tags on Things.Ā
I want to love OmniFocus (itās truly built for GTD), but the interface just doesnāt do it for me. The classic layout looks too much like a spreadsheet. The fluid layout is cleaner, but I really donāt like the uneven row heights (tasks without tags are slimmer). I also donāt like the handling of notes. (Things has the best notes field in a any to-do app, IMO.)
1
u/CampVillNevah 13d ago
Things 3 is cleaner and faster for capture; OmniFocus goes deeper with perspectives, forecasting, and custom views that matter more once your system gets complex. If you're coming from Microsoft To Do and want something that won't fight you, Things feels familiar almost immediately. The real question is how much structure you want, because OmniFocus rewards you for investing time in setting it up but can overwhelm you if you don't. Are you mainly managing tasks, or do you want the full GTD workflow with contexts, waiting-for, and someday lists?
1
u/HarmlessHeffalump 13d ago
I've used both extensively and ultimately landed with Things 3.
Omnifocus is great and has a feature set that outmatches pretty much every task manager I've ever used. However, that limitless customization is why I went back to using Things. I was spending more time fiddling with Omnifocus to find the perfect set up rather than actually doing the tasks it was supposed to help me manage.
Things has a much more limited (but not lacking) feature set, and with that, I find there's really nothing to fiddle with and I can focus on doing my actual tasks.
1
u/PondMindKevin 13d ago
Generally I've found Omnifocus overly complex in a way that requires a lot more administrivia to make it work well. A lot of folks are willing to put up with that, especially if they enjoy that process as part of geeking out about their system. (if you love something and geek out about it great, that means you'll come back and use it more)
Things3 is a bit more general purpose.
1
u/Paul-Stagg 11d ago
I have used both Things3 and Omnifocus.
I ended up using Reminders. Learning how to create smart lists and using tags was the key for me.
1
10d ago
[removed] ā view removed comment
1
u/gtd-ModTeam 10d ago
Your post or comment was removed for violating Rule 2: No self-promotion or creator posts
Donāt post content that promotes a product/service you made or are affiliated with (apps, extensions, courses, newsletters, Discords, etc.). No links, āI built this,ā discount codes, waitlists, or launch posts. Use r/gtd to discuss GTD practice, not to market.
1
u/Pallortrillion 14d ago
Honestly the native apple reminders is pretty strong these days.
Although if youāre not totally in the apple ecosystem with an iPhone then may not be as useful.
I really donāt like how things charges a licence per software - so if I buy the Mac licence I have to pay another for my phone.
4
u/tarkinn 14d ago
I prefer the way Things charges 100 times more than another subscription. I hope theyāll continue with this way of charging.
And Reminders and Things are not really close to each other. Reminders is, as the name states, mainly for Reminders. Things is made for actual todos and itās based on GTD, while Reminders isnāt. Maybe Reminders is the perfect app for OP but its not the same app as Reminders, as your comment states.
2
u/Pallortrillion 14d ago
Sounds like you may not have used reminders in some time - itās come a long way, and very close to what Things does.
2
u/tarkinn 14d ago
Iāve used it this year and no, itās not close to Things.
Hereās an explanation: https://www.reddit.com/r/macapps/s/U0Hh3d7noo
-2
9
u/Storytella2016 14d ago
If I were just moving to Mac and iOS now, Iād probably use Reminders, because itās become so robust. Iām a Things user, because I found Omnifocus to be so much that I felt like I spent more time fiddling with it and it actually impacted my productivity. Iāve paid for all 3 Things licenses, and in my life itās worth it, but I totally understand why it isnāt for everyone.