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Productivity · head to head

Bluemail vs Things 3

Bluemail logo

Bluemail

Productivity

Free multi-account email client from Blix with unified inbox, smart filters and calendar

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Things 3 logo

Things 3

Productivity

The award-winning personal task manager

From
$9.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bluemail has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bluemail its AI features are minimal next to Spark or Canary, so users specifically wanting AI drafting or summaries will find it thin.; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • They diverge on capability: Bluemail covers Unified inbox, Things 3 covers Today view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bluemail and Things 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Bluemail and Things 3 differ
AttributeBluemailThings 3
Starting priceFree$9.99/one-time
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS
FoundedUnknown2004

Identical on both: 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 Bluemail

  • Unified inbox
  • Smart filters
  • Colour-coded accounts
  • Integrated calendar
  • Snooze and reminders
  • Business tier

Only in Things 3

  • Today view
  • Projects and areas
  • Quick entry
  • Tags
  • Calendar integration
  • Apple Calendar
  • Siri
  • Shortcuts

What people use each for

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

Bluemail

  • Someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inboxnot Things 3
  • A user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by handnot Things 3
  • An IT team evaluating a lower-cost alternative to Outlook for a mixed-provider organisationnot Things 3
  • A budget-conscious user who does not need AI drafting or PGP encryption, just consolidationnot Things 3

Things 3

  • Schedulingnot Bluemail
  • Appointment bookingnot Bluemail
  • Time trackingnot Bluemail
  • Resource managementnot Bluemail
  • Team coordinationnot Bluemail

Where each one falls short

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

Bluemail

  • Its AI features are minimal next to Spark or Canary, so users specifically wanting AI drafting or summaries will find it thin.
  • The interface exposes a large number of settings and toggles, which makes initial setup slower than more opinionated clients.
  • Business pricing is not published, so an organisation has to go through a sales conversation to learn total cost.
  • Free-tier support is largely community forum and help articles rather than direct responsive support.
  • Some optional cloud features, such as certain sync and backup functions, have historically required a paid add-on despite the base app being free.

Things 3

  • No team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • Apple ecosystem only, with no Windows, Android, or web version
  • No third-party app integrations beyond Apple's ecosystem
  • Cannot attach files or images to tasks, only text notes
  • No time blocking or calendar integration for scheduling tasks into specific time slots

Pricing, plan by plan

Bluemail

Free
  • Bluemail$undefined/month
    • Free for individual use, unlimited accounts
    • Business tier priced per seat, contact sales
    • Optional cloud sync add-ons

Things 3

$9.99/one-time
  • iPhone/Watch$9.99/one-time
  • iPad$19.99/one-time
  • Mac$49.99/one-time

Which should you pick?

Choose Bluemail if

  • You need unified inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want smart filters.
Bluemail review

Choose Things 3 if

  • You need today view.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
  • You also want projects and areas.
Things 3 review

Questions people ask

Is Bluemail or Things 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Bluemail starts at Free and Things 3 at $9.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bluemail or Things 3?
Bluemail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bluemail and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
Does Bluemail or Things 3 run on more platforms?
Bluemail runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
Can I use Bluemail for free?
Yes. Bluemail has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
What is Bluemail best used for?
Bluemail is most often used for someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inbox, a user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by hand, an it team evaluating a lower-cost alternative to outlook for a mixed-provider organisation, a budget-conscious user who does not need ai drafting or pgp encryption, just consolidation. Of those, someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inbox and a user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by hand are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Bluemail do that Things 3 cannot?
Bluemail covers Unified inbox, Smart filters, Colour-coded accounts, Integrated calendar. Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bluemail: Is Bluemail really free?

Yes, for individual use with unlimited accounts; the paid tier is Blue Mail for Business, aimed at teams.

Things 3: Does Things 3 support team collaboration?

No. Things 3 is designed for individual use only with no task sharing, team workspaces, task assignment, or commenting features.

Source
Bluemail: Does it support Gmail and Outlook together?

Yes, it unifies accounts from any of the major providers plus generic IMAP and SMTP in one inbox.

Things 3: What platforms does Things 3 run on?

Things 3 is exclusive to Apple devices: macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and visionOS. There is no Windows, Android, or web version.

Source
Bluemail: Does it have AI features like Spark or Canary?

Only basic smart filtering; it does not offer AI drafting or thread summarisation at the level of those competitors.

Things 3: How much does Things 3 cost?

Things 3 uses a one-time purchase model: $9.99 for iPhone/Watch, $19.99 for iPad, and $49.99 for Mac. Total cost for all platforms is approximately $80 with no subscription required.

Source
Things 3: Does Things 3 sync across devices?

Yes. Things Cloud keeps your to-dos in sync across all your Apple devices automatically. There is no extra cost for cloud synchronization.

Source
Things 3: Can you attach files or images to tasks in Things 3?

No. Things 3 does not support attachments. You can only add notes (text) to tasks.

Source
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