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Mendeley vs OmniFocus 3

Mendeley logo

Mendeley

Software

The free all-in-one reference manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OmniFocus 3 logo

OmniFocus 3

Software

Professional task management for complex workflows

From
$39.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mendeley has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mendeley free plan is capped at 2GB storage; unlimited storage requires the MAX plan at $14.99/month or $165/year; OmniFocus 3 apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mendeley and OmniFocus 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Mendeley and OmniFocus 3 differ
AttributeMendeleyOmniFocus 3
Starting priceFree$39.99/year
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web
FoundedUnknown1993

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 Mendeley

Nothing recorded that OmniFocus 3 does not also cover.

Only in OmniFocus 3

  • GTD-based task organization
  • Projects and subprojects
  • Contexts and tags
  • Custom perspectives
  • Automation
  • Quick entry
  • Sync across devices
  • Deferred and due dates

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Mendeley

No use cases recorded yet. See the Mendeley review.

OmniFocus 3

  • Getting Things Done style task and project management on Apple devicesnot Mendeley
  • Capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cyclesnot Mendeley
  • Syncing a personal task database across Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watchnot Mendeley

Where each one falls short

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

Mendeley

  • Free plan is capped at 2GB storage; unlimited storage requires the MAX plan at $14.99/month or $165/year

OmniFocus 3

  • Apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • Web access is not included with a perpetual licence and costs an extra $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
  • The Pro perpetual licence costs $149.99 against $74.99 for Standard
  • Future major upgrades are a paid discount rather than free for perpetual licence holders
  • The $99.99 per year subscription is the only option that bundles Pro plus web access

Pricing, plan by plan

Mendeley

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Mendeley review.

OmniFocus 3

$39.99/year
  • Standard$39.99/year
    • Mac and iOS apps
    • Cloud sync
    • Core features
  • Pro$99.99/year
    • Everything in Standard
    • Advanced automation
    • Perspective management

Which should you pick?

Choose Mendeley if

  • You want to start without paying.
Mendeley review

Choose OmniFocus 3 if

  • You need gtd-based task organization.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
  • You also want projects and subprojects.
OmniFocus 3 review

Questions people ask

Is Mendeley or OmniFocus 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Mendeley starts at Free and OmniFocus 3 at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mendeley or OmniFocus 3?
Mendeley has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mendeley and $39.99/year for OmniFocus 3.
Does Mendeley or OmniFocus 3 run on more platforms?
Mendeley runs on Web. OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
Can I use Mendeley for free?
Yes. Mendeley has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus 3 starts at $39.99/year.
What can Mendeley do that OmniFocus 3 cannot?
OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Custom perspectives.
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