Softwr

Software · head to head

DuckDB vs Things 3

DuckDB logo

DuckDB

Software

Fast in-process analytical database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Things 3 logo

Things 3

Software

The award-winning personal task manager

From
$9.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DuckDB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DuckDB client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • They diverge on capability: DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Things 3 covers Today view.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where DuckDB and Things 3 differ
AttributeDuckDBThings 3
Starting priceFree$9.99/one-time
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, WebAssemblymacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS
Founded20192004

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 DuckDB

  • In-process Execution
  • Columnar Storage
  • Vectorized Execution
  • Rich SQL Support
  • Parquet Support
  • CSV/JSON Import
  • Zero Dependencies
  • Python

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.

DuckDB

  • Analytics and data warehousingnot Things 3
  • OLAP queries and data explorationnot Things 3
  • Data science and machine learning workflowsnot Things 3
  • Multi-format data ingestion and processingnot Things 3

Things 3

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

Where each one falls short

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

DuckDB

  • Client-server setup remains in beta and not recommended for production distributed scenarios

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

DuckDB

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DuckDB review.

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 DuckDB if

  • You need in-process execution.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly.
  • You also want columnar storage.
DuckDB 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 DuckDB or Things 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. DuckDB 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, DuckDB or Things 3?
DuckDB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DuckDB and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
Does DuckDB or Things 3 run on more platforms?
DuckDB runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, WebAssembly. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
Can I use DuckDB for free?
Yes. DuckDB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
What is DuckDB best used for?
DuckDB is most often used for analytics and data warehousing, olap queries and data exploration, data science and machine learning workflows, multi-format data ingestion and processing. Of those, analytics and data warehousing and olap queries and data exploration are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
What can DuckDB do that Things 3 cannot?
DuckDB covers In-process Execution, Columnar Storage, Vectorized Execution, Rich SQL Support. 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.

Source
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
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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on DuckDB

More on Things 3

Keep looking

Other head to heads