Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Focusmate vs Things 3

Focusmate logo

Focusmate

Productivity

Virtual co-working platform for accountability and productivity

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 Focusmate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Focusmate the free plan caps sessions at 3 per week; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • They diverge on capability: Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Things 3 covers Today view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Focusmate and Things 3 differ
AttributeFocusmateThings 3
Starting priceFree$9.99/one-time
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS
Founded20172004

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 Focusmate

  • 25-minute work sessions
  • Partner matching
  • Video co-working
  • Goal setting and tracking
  • Session history
  • Reflection notes
  • Weekly sessions
  • Mobile-friendly

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.

Focusmate

  • Virtual co-working sessionsnot Things 3
  • Accountability partnershipsnot Things 3
  • Focus and productivitynot Things 3

Things 3

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

Where each one falls short

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

Focusmate

  • The free plan caps sessions at 3 per week
  • Unlimited sessions require the Plus plan at $8 per month billed annually or $12 per month billed monthly
  • The Business plan is priced by quote with no published rate

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

Focusmate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 sessions per week
    • No credit card required
  • Plus$8/month
    • Unlimited sessions
  • Business$null/mo
    • For enterprises, small businesses, learning communities

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 Focusmate if

  • You need 25-minute work sessions.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want partner matching.
Focusmate 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 Focusmate or Things 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Focusmate 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, Focusmate or Things 3?
Focusmate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Focusmate and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
Does Focusmate or Things 3 run on more platforms?
Focusmate runs on Web, IOS, Android. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
Can I use Focusmate for free?
Yes. Focusmate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
What is Focusmate best used for?
Focusmate is most often used for virtual co-working sessions, accountability partnerships, focus and productivity. Of those, virtual co-working sessions and accountability partnerships are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Focusmate do that Things 3 cannot?
Focusmate covers 25-minute work sessions, Partner matching, Video co-working, Goal setting and tracking. Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Focusmate: Does Focusmate offer a free plan?

Yes. Focusmate's free plan includes up to 3 sessions per week at no cost, with no credit card required. Session duration is approximately 25 minutes each. Upgrade to Plus to unlock unlimited sessions.

Source
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
Focusmate: What is the difference between Plus monthly and annual billing?

Focusmate Plus costs $12 per month when billed monthly, or $8 per month when billed annually. Annual billing provides a 33 percent discount compared to monthly billing.

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
Focusmate: What features are included in Focusmate Business?

Business is designed for enterprises, small businesses, and learning communities, but specific features and pricing are not listed publicly. Contact Focusmate directly for details on Business plan capabilities and costs.

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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