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Productivity · head to head

AnyList vs OmniFocus 3

AnyList logo

AnyList

Productivity

Grocery list and recipe app with fast list sorting and cross-household sharing, sold as a paid subscription

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OmniFocus 3 logo

OmniFocus 3

Productivity

Professional task management for complex workflows

From
$74.99/mo
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AnyList it requires a paid subscription for full functionality, competing directly against Bring and Samsung Food, which are free for a similar core task.; OmniFocus 3 apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • They diverge on capability: AnyList covers Real-time list sync, OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AnyList and OmniFocus 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where AnyList and OmniFocus 3 differ
AttributeAnyListOmniFocus 3
Starting priceOn request$74.99/mo
Pricing modelPer user per yearone-time
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web
FoundedUnknown1993

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AnyList

  • Real-time list sync
  • Store-layout sorting
  • Recipe import
  • Meal planning calendar
  • Barcode scanning
  • Multiple list support

Only in OmniFocus 3

  • GTD-based task organization
  • Projects and subprojects
  • Contexts and tags
  • Custom perspectives
  • Automation
  • Quick entry
  • Sync across devices
  • Deferred and due dates

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AnyList

  • A household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already addednot OmniFocus 3
  • Someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layoutnot OmniFocus 3
  • A home cook who saves many recipes online and wants ingredients converted into a list automaticallynot OmniFocus 3
  • A family planning meals for the week who wants that plan linked directly to a shopping listnot OmniFocus 3

OmniFocus 3

  • Getting Things Done style task and project management on Apple devicesnot AnyList
  • Capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cyclesnot AnyList
  • Syncing a personal task database across Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watchnot AnyList

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AnyList

  • It requires a paid subscription for full functionality, competing directly against Bring and Samsung Food, which are free for a similar core task.
  • Store-layout sorting has to be configured per store, which takes upfront setup time before it pays off.
  • Recipe import quality depends on how a source website is structured, similarly to other recipe-import tools.
  • It lacks the appliance integration that Samsung Food offers for households with Samsung smart kitchen hardware.
  • A household unwilling to pay may find a free competitor covers their needs adequately, making the subscription hard to justify.

OmniFocus 3

  • Apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • Web access is not included with a perpetual licence and costs an extra $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
  • The Pro perpetual licence costs $149.99 against $74.99 for Standard
  • Future major upgrades are a paid discount rather than free for perpetual licence holders
  • The $99.99 per year subscription is the only option that bundles Pro plus web access

Pricing, plan by plan

AnyList

On request
  • AnyList Complete$9.99/year
    • Full recipe manager
    • Store-layout item sorting
    • Meal planning calendar

OmniFocus 3

$74.99/mo
  • Standard License$74.99/mo
    • Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro access
    • All 4.x updates included
    • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Pro License$149.99/mo
    • Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro access
    • All 4.x updates included
    • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Subscription (all platforms + web)$99.99/year
    • Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, web access
    • All Pro features
  • Web-only Subscription$4.99/month
    • Web access only

Which should you pick?

Choose AnyList if

  • You need real-time list sync.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want store-layout sorting.
AnyList review

Choose OmniFocus 3 if

  • You need gtd-based task organization.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
  • You also want projects and subprojects.
OmniFocus 3 review

Questions people ask

Is AnyList or OmniFocus 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. AnyList starts at On request and OmniFocus 3 at $74.99/mo, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AnyList or OmniFocus 3?
AnyList starts at On request and OmniFocus 3 at $74.99/mo.
Does AnyList or OmniFocus 3 run on more platforms?
AnyList runs on iOS, Android, Web. OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
What is AnyList best used for?
AnyList is most often used for a household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already added, someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layout, a home cook who saves many recipes online and wants ingredients converted into a list automatically, a family planning meals for the week who wants that plan linked directly to a shopping list. Of those, a household that grocery shops together and wants a list that instantly reflects what a partner already added and someone who wants their shopping list automatically ordered to match their regular store layout are not what OmniFocus 3 is typically brought in for.
What can AnyList do that OmniFocus 3 cannot?
AnyList covers Real-time list sync, Store-layout sorting, Recipe import, Meal planning calendar. OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Custom perspectives.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AnyList: Is AnyList free?

There is a free trial, but full ongoing use requires a paid subscription.

OmniFocus 3: How much does OmniFocus cost?

OmniFocus offers perpetual licenses at $74.99 (Standard) or $149.99 (Pro) for one-time purchase, or subscriptions at $99.99/year for all platforms plus web, or $4.99/month for web-only access.

Source
AnyList: How is it different from Bring?

AnyList charges a subscription for a more capable recipe manager and store-layout sorting; Bring is free with a simpler feature set.

OmniFocus 3: Does OmniFocus offer a free trial?

OmniFocus includes a 14-day free trial for download, and a 30-day money-back guarantee applies to perpetual licenses.

Source
AnyList: Does it support recipe import?

Yes, it can import recipes from websites and convert ingredients into shopping list items.

OmniFocus 3: What platforms does a single OmniFocus license cover?

A single OmniFocus perpetual license includes access across Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.

Source
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