OmniFocus vs. Things 3 review: which is best task manager?

Can't choose between OmniFocus and Things 3? Let's review and compare these two project-based task managers.

00:00 Introduction
04:43 Capturing tasks
06:45 Organizing projects
10:47 Planning your days and weeks
14:18 Reviewing your projects
15:21 Usability and design
16:21 Which app is best for you?
17:03 My free OmniFocus and Things resources
18:40 Bloopers

FREE RESOURCES:

PAID COURSES:

[PeterAkkies]

04:43 Capturing tasks
06:45 Organizing projects
10:47 Planning your days and weeks
14:18 Reviewing your projects
15:21 Usability and design
16:21 Which app is best for you?
17:03 My free OmniFocus and Things resources
18:40 Bloopers

▶ Free cheat sheet on how to do a weekly review in OmniFocus:

▶ Free Things 3 Quick Start Setup:

[MrMasoric]

I’m using both apps as an integrated system. Things holds the higher GTD horizons and Someday / Maybe. I also keep larger project plans and reference material in things. Omnifocus holds projects and next actions only. I use URLs to link items. For example, if I’ve completed all of my next actions on a project, I click the link to the project plan which takes be to the master plan in Things where I review project support material and perform further planning to define more actions.

[BSDjunkie]

I’ve tried Omnifocus in the past, but found it to be more complex than what I needed. Now am using Things 3 and am liking it so far!

[expresscisco]

I don’t often leave a comment, but here I want to say it’s a very clear comparison between those two apps. I’ve been using Omnifocus for years and today I’d like to give a new try to things, looking for more simplicity. I think you cover this aspect very well. Thanks!

[Ahduciekwndnbbbsvvvghhhyyyyy]

My #1 reason for using Omnifocus, is actually the text based organization. I can add projects, tags, due dates as I'm typing using only the keyboard, instead of having to use my mouse to drag/drop/click.

This alone is a significantly faster workflow than Things for me.

The ability to defer and use sequential projects to hide irrelevant tasks also lets me focus on what's relevant now, and not be distracted or overwhelmed by future tasks.

I like Things. It's so elegant you just want it to work, but it always felt really limiting to me compared to omnifocus.

[AnnetteTomei]

Thank you for this - it made the decision an easy one in the end (I went with Things 3 - was not my original first pick)

[PaulGarthAviation]

Thank you for the comprehensive and balance review. Just in time, as I'm planning on migrating to a new GTD trusted system.

[kingkiril]

I love things 3. It’s easier and I feel more productive

[markforrest]

First time viewer. Your explanation of the apps, quality of presentation and video was nicely done! Thank you for speaking at a normal, conversational speed ( a rarity when watching youtube reviews). I have subscribed.

[jeromekapeller]

Thanks Peter this is great, very helpful. What I'd love is either of these to integrate with a gantt chart.

[calisongbird]

I tried to enroll in your free resource "Choosing the Right Task Manager for You, " shown in the description box, but I couldn't complete the process. I received an error page indicating "too many redirects."

I also don't see a free "Things 3 Quick Start Setup" guide in the description box, as stated at 17:19. 😒

[sambarjunk]

Things better for iPhone users who manage tasks on the go, OmniFocus is tailored for mac users who value flexibility more than portability.

[artofguitar]

Great video. Thank you. All your content is super helpful. I'm still trying to decide. At the moment, it's coming down to this: OmniFocus lets me organise everything nicely. That's very important. Things can't do that. I can't nest folders as deep as I want. In fact, I can't at all. I can have an area and projects within it. If my area is 'Work' then I need to make a project for 'British Council' where I freelance, one for 'International House' where I do the same and one for 'tutoring' gigs. But British Council is not an actionable project. It's a list of single actions (in OF terminology). The check box annoys me, if nothing else. But then within 'British Council' I want to have 'Teacher's Room' and 'Classrooms.' Classrooms could be broken down into the 8 groups I teach weekly and use the system as a place for a quick reference of my lesson plans. Now I have to use headings which I don't like because I can't focus on any one of them. But then I can't go any deeper than a heading so I can't put my group in there. The alternative would be to have more areas with less top level organisation. I don't like either solution. (EDIT: I suppose tags could fill the gap of the lower level organisation--I have got to try that.)


But that's all I like about Omni Focus. The organisation. People say it's more versatile, but I'm not sure. Why can't we customise Forecast more by adding more than one tag to it or allowing flags in there. Why does it take two steps to input a task that I want to appear in a today view when I want it to. This is what I like about Things 3 better. In OmniFocus I need to set a flag or give the task a tag such as 'Next.' But that will always be around unless I defer the task=two steps. Things of course has the TODAY view which sorts everything out. It's not customisable much, but neither is Forecast in OF. But at least I only need to give a WHEN date and life is good. It seems like a more organic way of thinking, despite the confusing terminology. I set a WHEN date and on that date it appears in TODAY. That's all. Deadlines are a separate function, just as they are in OmniFocus.



So those two aspects of the two apps are throwing me for a loop. I don't know what's more important to me and I hate having to choose. I wish I knew that either company listens to what people want and develops timely improvements. I don't think that's the case for either company. They're both rather stubborn, but CulturedCode is more so because Things is by design more simplistic. Things is simple by design and any changes to suit some people would reduce the simplicity, usability for many the draw of their loyal users. Then again, Cultured Code is pretty bad ass and focus only on T3, unlike OmniGroup.



Given that, can anyone shed any more light on anything that might sway me one way or the other. I'm enjoying using OmniFocus and have also used Todoist in the past (great, by the way--it's seems overlooked often). I'm leaning more towards OF cause of my shiny app syndrome, but I'm yet to actually find someone that uses both in depth and likes OF better. After writing this, I may be leaning back over to T3. HELP!

[timothylinn]

It is a complete cop out to dodge the question of pricing when you have to know that OmniFocus’ rentalware scheme is an immediate deal killer for many users.

[j.l.]

@Productivity with Peter, could you do a video tutorial series about how to use Things 3 and Omnifocus 3, explaining the step by step to learn how to use each app? I really need to understand how to manage my multiple projects with this amazing apps. Thanks you so much for your help 😀

[suprememax]

amazing comparison! I'm still very much on the fence but this helps a lot! Thanks!

[ElProductivista]

Great comparison! I am moving to a mixed setup with a Mac and a Windows machine and I currently use and love Omnifocus hability to postpone a task and not see it until it's relevant. Any recomendation on a multi-platform tool that has this feature?

[RipperStudio]

Do you have any suggested Task Managers for Android/ Windows??? I currently use Trello but am looking to explore other options. Thank you.

[ophiophagush.]

Nice vid. If I was only ever on Mac, I’d go Omnifocus. But needed cross platform so went with Nozbe. Things3 is beautiful, best designed. Both Nozbe & Things win because they are more or less the same across platforms, Omnifocus loses points on mobile experience. OF & Things 3 are the best two mac only no doubt.

[alir.]

Hey Peter, great job on the comparisons? Ever heard of Pagico 9? I wonder if we could get a comparison of that one as well. Thank you!