Database & Data Management · head to head
Couchbase vs Things 3

Couchbase
Database & Data Management
The modern database for enterprise applications
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -

Things 3
Productivity
The award-winning personal task manager
- From
- $9.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Couchbase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Couchbase the free tier is a single node with 8 GB of storage and forum support only; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
- They diverge on capability: Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, Things 3 covers Today view.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Couchbase and Things 3 actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Couchbase
- JSON Document Model
- SQL++ Query
- Full-text Search
- Eventing
- Analytics
- Mobile Sync
- Multi-dimensional Scaling
- Kafka
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.
Couchbase
- Running a distributed NoSQL document database as a managed servicenot Things 3
- Mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud databasenot Things 3
Things 3
- Schedulingnot Couchbase
- Appointment bookingnot Couchbase
- Time trackingnot Couchbase
- Resource managementnot Couchbase
- Team coordinationnot Couchbase
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Couchbase
- The free tier is a single node with 8 GB of storage and forum support only
- Node rates are hourly and quoted as starting figures, from $0.15 an hour on Basic to $0.49 on Enterprise
- The Developer Pro and Enterprise plans require 3 nodes, so the hourly rate multiplies before any usage
- Backup storage is billed separately at $0.07 per GB a month, and analytics backups at $0.14
- Support response time is a plan feature, at 8 hours on Developer Pro against 30 minutes on Enterprise
- AI and analytics run as separately priced planes at up to $0.86 an hour per node
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
Couchbase
Free- CommunityFree
- Full features
- Community support
- Self-managed
- Capella FreeFree
- Managed service
- Limited resources
- Cloud hosted
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 Couchbase if
- You need json document model.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web.
- You also want sql++ query.
Choose Things 3 if
- You need today view.
- You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
- You also want projects and areas.
Questions people ask
- Is Couchbase or Things 3 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Couchbase 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, Couchbase or Things 3?
- Couchbase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Couchbase and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
- Does Couchbase or Things 3 run on more platforms?
- Couchbase runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Docker, Web. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
- Can I use Couchbase for free?
- Yes. Couchbase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
- What is Couchbase best used for?
- Couchbase is most often used for running a distributed nosql document database as a managed service, mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud database. Of those, running a distributed nosql document database as a managed service and mobile sync and offline first applications backed by a cloud database are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
- What can Couchbase do that Things 3 cannot?
- Couchbase covers JSON Document Model, SQL++ Query, Full-text Search, Eventing. Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceThings 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.
SourceThings 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.
SourceThings 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.
SourceThings 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.
SourceRelated pages
Other head to heads
- Couchbase vs Cockroach Labs
- Couchbase vs PostgreSQL
- Couchbase vs Airtable
- Couchbase vs Amazon Aurora
- Couchbase vs Elasticsearch
- Couchbase vs PlanetScale
- Couchbase vs Azure SQL
- Couchbase vs ClickHouse
- Couchbase vs DuckDB
- Couchbase vs DynamoDB
- Couchbase vs MariaDB
- Couchbase vs Oracle Database
- Couchbase vs Amazon RDS
- Couchbase vs Amazon Redshift
- Couchbase vs Apache Druid
- Couchbase vs Cassandra
- Couchbase vs CouchDB
- Couchbase vs Firebolt
- Couchbase vs Todoist
- Couchbase vs OmniFocus 3
- Couchbase vs Brain.fm
- Couchbase vs TickTick
- Couchbase vs Akiflow
- Couchbase vs Any.do
- Couchbase vs Focus@Will
- Couchbase vs Forest
- Couchbase vs Google Workspace
- Couchbase vs Hubstaff
- Couchbase vs Remember The Milk
- Couchbase vs Structured
- Couchbase vs Tana
- Couchbase vs Time Doctor
- Couchbase vs 7-Zip
- Couchbase vs Bear
- Couchbase vs Bear Notes
- Couchbase vs BoldSign
- Things 3 vs Cockroach Labs
- Things 3 vs PostgreSQL
- Things 3 vs Airtable
- Things 3 vs Amazon Aurora
- Things 3 vs Elasticsearch
- Things 3 vs PlanetScale
- Things 3 vs Azure SQL
- Things 3 vs ClickHouse
- Things 3 vs DuckDB
- Things 3 vs DynamoDB
- Things 3 vs MariaDB
- Things 3 vs Oracle Database
- Things 3 vs Amazon RDS
- Things 3 vs Amazon Redshift
- Things 3 vs Apache Druid
- Things 3 vs Cassandra
- Things 3 vs CouchDB
- Things 3 vs Firebolt
- Things 3 vs Todoist
- Things 3 vs OmniFocus 3
- Things 3 vs Brain.fm
- Things 3 vs TickTick
- Things 3 vs Akiflow
- Things 3 vs Any.do
- Things 3 vs Focus@Will
- Things 3 vs Forest
- Things 3 vs Google Workspace
- Things 3 vs Hubstaff
- Things 3 vs Remember The Milk
- Things 3 vs Structured
- Things 3 vs Tana
- Things 3 vs Time Doctor
- Things 3 vs 7-Zip
- Things 3 vs Bear
- Things 3 vs Bear Notes
- Things 3 vs BoldSign
