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OmniFocus vs OmniFocus 3

OmniFocus logo

OmniFocus

Software

Professional-grade task management for power users

From
$99.99/year
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

  • Each has a real cost: OmniFocus exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support; 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
  • They diverge on capability: OmniFocus covers Review mode, OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where OmniFocus and OmniFocus 3 differ
AttributeOmniFocusOmniFocus 3
Starting price$99.99/year$39.99/year
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, WebMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web
Founded19891993

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 OmniFocus

  • Review mode
  • Forecast view
  • Tags
  • Apple Calendar
  • Siri
  • Shortcuts
  • OmniPlan
  • Macos support

Only in OmniFocus 3

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

Both cover

  • Custom perspectives
  • Automation

What people use each for

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

OmniFocus

  • Schedulingnot OmniFocus 3
  • Appointment bookingnot OmniFocus 3
  • Time trackingnot OmniFocus 3
  • Resource managementnot OmniFocus 3
  • Team coordinationnot OmniFocus 3

OmniFocus 3

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

Where each one falls short

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

OmniFocus

  • Exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support
  • No collaboration features make it unsuitable for team task management or delegation
  • Setting up repeating tasks is cumbersome with multiple configuration options
  • Lacks AI-powered features for advanced project management, load balancing, or contextual awareness

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

OmniFocus

$99.99/year
  • Subscription$99.99/year
    • All Pro features
    • Web access
    • Cloud sync
  • Standard (Perpetual)$74.99/one-time
    • Basic task management
    • Projects and contexts
    • Perspectives
  • Pro (Perpetual)$149.99/one-time
    • Custom perspectives
    • Advanced automation
    • Plugins support

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 OmniFocus if

  • You need review mode.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web.
  • You also want forecast view.
OmniFocus 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 OmniFocus or OmniFocus 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. OmniFocus starts at $99.99/year 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, OmniFocus or OmniFocus 3?
OmniFocus starts at $99.99/year and OmniFocus 3 at $39.99/year.
Does OmniFocus or OmniFocus 3 run on more platforms?
OmniFocus runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web. OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
What is OmniFocus best used for?
OmniFocus is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what OmniFocus 3 is typically brought in for.
What can OmniFocus do that OmniFocus 3 cannot?
OmniFocus covers Review mode, Forecast view, Tags, Apple Calendar. OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Quick entry. Both handle Custom perspectives, Automation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus offer a free tier?

No, OmniFocus does not offer a free tier. It requires purchase or subscription: $99.99/year subscription or one-time perpetual licenses at $74.99 (Standard) or $149.99 (Pro).

Source
OmniFocus: What is the free trial period for OmniFocus?

OmniFocus offers a 14-day free trial allowing full access to all features before requiring payment.

Source
OmniFocus: What platforms does OmniFocus support?

OmniFocus is exclusive to Apple ecosystem: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and web access. Not available on Windows or Android.

Source
OmniFocus: Can teams collaborate in OmniFocus?

No, OmniFocus lacks collaboration features and is designed as a solo task management tool. Users cannot delegate tasks, share projects, or assign work to team members.

Source
OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus support Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology?

Yes, OmniFocus is built specifically to support GTD with projects, contexts (tags), folders, perspectives, and a focus view for prioritization. It includes weekly review support and automation features.

Source
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