Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Focus@Will vs Things 3

Focus@Will logo

Focus@Will

Productivity

Subscription streaming of instrumental music channels intended to be worked to rather than listened to

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 Focus@Will has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Focus@Will the central claim, that this music aids concentration more than other instrumental music, rests largely on work the vendor commissioned or published itself, and a buyer has no independent way to test it before paying.; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • They diverge on capability: Focus@Will covers Channels by style, Things 3 covers Today view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

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 (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 Focus@Will

  • Channels by style
  • Session timer
  • Vocal-free catalogue
  • Browser and mobile
  • Single-purpose subscription

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

  • An open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention.not Things 3
  • Timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session.not Things 3
  • People who find their own music library distracting precisely because they know every track too well.not Things 3
  • Study and revision sessions where silence turns out to be worse than background sound.not 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 central claim, that this music aids concentration more than other instrumental music, rests largely on work the vendor commissioned or published itself, and a buyer has no independent way to test it before paying.
  • Everything it does has a free substitute, since instrumental playlists on any streaming service cost nothing, so the subscription is defended only by curation, which is the hardest kind of value to demonstrate.
  • It is a single-product subscription from a small vendor with no larger business underwriting it, so a service like this can change hands, change terms or stop with little notice and no obvious successor.
  • Delivery is by streaming, so weak connectivity, aeroplanes and commutes are simultaneously where you most want it and where it is least dependable.
  • Nothing accumulates in the account, which means there is no export problem but also nothing that makes renewal feel necessary, so it is among the first subscriptions cancelled whenever costs are reviewed.

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 channels by style.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want session timer.
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 an open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention., timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session., people who find their own music library distracting precisely because they know every track too well., study and revision sessions where silence turns out to be worse than background sound.. Of those, an open-plan office where you want to mask conversation without lyrics competing for your attention. and timed work blocks where the audio also acts as the clock for the session. are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Focus@Will do that Things 3 cannot?
Focus@Will covers Channels by style, Session timer, Vocal-free catalogue, Browser and mobile. Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Focus@Will: How is this different from a focus playlist?

The vendor's position is that the selection and sequencing are designed against attention research rather than assembled by taste. Whether that difference is audible to you is the whole question, and it is subjective.

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
Focus@Will: Does it work offline?

Treat it as a streaming service that needs a connection. If you work on aeroplanes or in poor coverage, check the current apps before subscribing rather than after.

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
Focus@Will: Can a team use it?

It is sold to individuals. There is no admin console or central billing of the kind an organisation would need, so a team means several personal subscriptions.

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
Focus@Will: Can I use the music in videos or streams?

No. A personal listening subscription does not grant synchronisation or broadcast rights, so it must not sit behind published content.

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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