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Software · head to head

Focus@Will vs Things 3

Focus@Will logo

Focus@Will

Software

Music and sounds designed to enhance focus and productivity

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 Focus@Will has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Focus@Will the App Store listing (seller Dulcetta Inc) states the free trial is limited to 7 days, after which a paid subscription is required to continue using the music and features; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • They diverge on capability: Focus@Will covers Curated focus music, Things 3 covers Today view.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Focus@Will and Things 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Focus@Will and Things 3 differ
AttributeFocus@WillThings 3
Starting priceFree$9.99/one-time
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, Android, MacOS, WindowsmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS
Founded20112004

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 Focus@Will

  • Curated focus music
  • Multiple music channels
  • Built-in focus timer
  • Focus statistics
  • Different music genres
  • Offline access
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Volume control

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.

Focus@Will

  • Productivitynot Things 3
  • Collaborationnot Things 3
  • Task managementnot Things 3
  • Organizationnot Things 3

Things 3

  • Schedulingnot Focus@Will
  • Appointment bookingnot Focus@Will
  • Time trackingnot Focus@Will
  • Resource managementnot Focus@Will
  • Team coordinationnot Focus@Will

Where each one falls short

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

Focus@Will

  • The App Store listing (seller Dulcetta Inc) states the free trial is limited to 7 days, after which a paid subscription is required to continue using the music and features
  • The same listing states a 30 day money-back guarantee applies to the subscription, implying no refund is available after that window

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

Focus@Will

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited access to music
    • Basic 25-min timer
    • Ads
  • Basic$4.95/month
    • Unlimited music access
    • Custom timers
    • No ads
  • Pro$9.95/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support

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 Focus@Will if

  • You need curated focus music.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want multiple music channels.
Focus@Will 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 Focus@Will or Things 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Focus@Will 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, Focus@Will or Things 3?
Focus@Will has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Focus@Will and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
Does Focus@Will or Things 3 run on more platforms?
Focus@Will runs on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
Can I use Focus@Will for free?
Yes. Focus@Will has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
What is Focus@Will best used for?
Focus@Will is most often used for productivity, collaboration, task management, organization. Of those, productivity and collaboration are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Focus@Will do that Things 3 cannot?
Focus@Will covers Curated focus music, Multiple music channels, Built-in focus timer, Focus statistics. 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
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Related pages

More on Focus@Will

More on Things 3

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