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Software · head to head

Granola vs Things 3

Granola logo

Granola

Software

AI notepad that transcribes meetings and merges transcripts with user notes

From
Free
Rated
-
Things 3 logo

Things 3

Software

The award-winning personal task manager

From
$9.99/one-time
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Granola has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Granola free plan limits note access to 30 days; older notes become inaccessible unless upgraded; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Granola and Things 3 differ
AttributeGranolaThings 3
Starting priceFree$9.99/one-time
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft TeamsmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS
FoundedUnknown2004

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 Granola

Nothing recorded that Things 3 does not also cover.

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.

Granola

  • Automatic meeting documentation without dedicated note-takernot Things 3
  • Action item extraction and task assignmentnot Things 3
  • Meeting context retrieval via AI agent queriesnot Things 3
  • Multi-language meeting transcriptionnot Things 3
  • Compliance-friendly note generation for regulated industriesnot Things 3

Things 3

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

Where each one falls short

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

Granola

  • Free plan limits note access to 30 days; older notes become inaccessible unless upgraded
  • Premium pricing not published on main website; requires account signup or sales contact
  • Requires local computer audio; not suitable for purely phone-based calls via traditional phone lines
  • Note retention limits may affect long-term project documentation

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

Granola

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited note-taking
    • 30-day note retention
    • No credit card required
  • Premium$null/month
    • Access and search notes older than 30 days
    • Specific pricing not detailed on available pages

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 Granola if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.

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 Granola or Things 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Granola 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, Granola or Things 3?
Granola has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Granola and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
Does Granola or Things 3 run on more platforms?
Granola runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
Can I use Granola for free?
Yes. Granola has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
What is Granola best used for?
Granola is most often used for automatic meeting documentation without dedicated note-taker, action item extraction and task assignment, meeting context retrieval via ai agent queries, multi-language meeting transcription. Of those, automatic meeting documentation without dedicated note-taker and action item extraction and task assignment are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Granola do that Things 3 cannot?
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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