Softwr

Productivity · head to head

OmniFocus 3 vs Slack

OmniFocus 3 logo

OmniFocus 3

Productivity

Professional task management for complex workflows

From
$39.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Slack logo

Slack

All industries

Where work happens

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Slack has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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; Slack 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • They diverge on capability: OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Slack covers Channels.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where OmniFocus 3 and Slack differ
AttributeOmniFocus 3Slack
Starting price$39.99/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, WebWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
CategoryProductivityAll industries
Founded19932009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 OmniFocus 3

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

Only in Slack

  • Channels
  • Direct messaging
  • Voice & video calls
  • Screen sharing
  • File sharing
  • Search
  • Workflow builder
  • Slack Connect

What people use each for

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

OmniFocus 3

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

Slack

  • Team communicationnot OmniFocus 3
  • Project coordinationnot OmniFocus 3
  • Customer supportnot OmniFocus 3
  • Remote worknot OmniFocus 3
  • Cross-functional collaborationnot OmniFocus 3

Where each one falls short

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

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

Slack

  • 90-day message history limit on free plan results in important conversations disappearing
  • Per-user pricing becomes expensive quickly for larger teams
  • Notification overload with 78% of employees feeling overwhelmed by notifications
  • Mobile app performance issues including lag and slow syncing
  • Huddles limited to 50 people and cannot be recorded
  • Requires dedicated video conferencing service for formal meetings and webinars

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Slack

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Slack review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Slack if

  • You need channels.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want direct messaging.
Slack review

Questions people ask

Is OmniFocus 3 or Slack better?
Neither clearly leads. OmniFocus 3 starts at $39.99/year and Slack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OmniFocus 3 or Slack?
Slack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $39.99/year for OmniFocus 3 and Free for Slack.
Does OmniFocus 3 or Slack run on more platforms?
OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web. Slack runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Slack for free?
Yes. Slack has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus 3 starts at $39.99/year.
What is OmniFocus 3 best used for?
OmniFocus 3 is most often used for getting things done style task and project management on apple devices, capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cycles, syncing a personal task database across mac, iphone, ipad and watch. Of those, getting things done style task and project management on apple devices and capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cycles are not what Slack is typically brought in for.
What can OmniFocus 3 do that Slack cannot?
OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Custom perspectives. Slack covers Channels, Direct messaging, Voice & video calls, Screen sharing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Slack: Does Slack have a free plan?

Yes, Slack offers a free plan indefinitely with no credit card required. Free users get 90-day message history, up to 10 app integrations, and 1:1 huddles.

Source
Slack: What are Slack's pricing plans?

Slack offers Free, Pro ($7.25/user/month with annual billing), Business+ ($12.50/user/month), and Enterprise Grid (custom pricing). Monthly billing costs approximately 20% more than annual.

Source
Slack: Does Slack support offline use?

Slack is a cloud-based platform and does not support robust offline work. Internet connectivity is required to access messages and collaborate.

Source
Slack: What integrations does Slack support?

Slack integrates with 43+ apps on average per team, including Google Drive, ChatGPT, Vercel, Asana, GitHub, and many others through their app marketplace.

Source
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Related pages

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