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Database & Data Management · head to head

Oracle Database vs Things 3

Oracle Database logo

Oracle Database

Database & Data Management

The world's most complete, reliable, and secure database

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 Oracle Database has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Oracle Database high licensing costs for Enterprise Edition with option packs potentially doubling the effective per-processor cost; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • They diverge on capability: Oracle Database covers PL/SQL, Things 3 covers Today view.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Oracle Database and Things 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Oracle Database and Things 3 differ
AttributeOracle DatabaseThings 3
Starting priceFree$9.99/one-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsOn-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, UnixmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS
CategoryDatabase & Data ManagementProductivity
Founded19772004

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Oracle Database

  • PL/SQL
  • Real Application Clusters
  • Data Guard
  • Advanced Compression
  • Partitioning
  • In-memory Database
  • Multitenant Architecture
  • Oracle Cloud

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.

Oracle Database

  • Transaction processingnot Things 3
  • Data storagenot Things 3
  • Application backendnot Things 3
  • Reportingnot Things 3
  • Data analyticsnot Things 3

Things 3

  • Schedulingnot Oracle Database
  • Appointment bookingnot Oracle Database
  • Time trackingnot Oracle Database
  • Resource managementnot Oracle Database
  • Team coordinationnot Oracle Database

Where each one falls short

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

Oracle Database

  • High licensing costs for Enterprise Edition with option packs potentially doubling the effective per-processor cost
  • Requires skilled database administrators for proper setup, configuration, and maintenance
  • High hardware requirements increase infrastructure costs; less suitable for resource-constrained environments

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

Oracle Database

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Oracle Database review.

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 Oracle Database if

  • You need pl/sql.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on On-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix.
  • You also want real application clusters.
Oracle Database 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 Oracle Database or Things 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Oracle Database 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, Oracle Database or Things 3?
Oracle Database has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Oracle Database and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
Does Oracle Database or Things 3 run on more platforms?
Oracle Database runs on On-premises, Oracle Cloud, Linux, Windows, Unix. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
Can I use Oracle Database for free?
Yes. Oracle Database has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
What is Oracle Database best used for?
Oracle Database is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Oracle Database do that Things 3 cannot?
Oracle Database covers PL/SQL, Real Application Clusters, Data Guard, Advanced Compression. Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Oracle Database: What is the licensing cost of Oracle Database Enterprise Edition?

Oracle Database Enterprise Edition is priced at 47,500 USD per processor as of April 2026. Named User Plus licensing costs 950 USD per user. Pricing varies based on licensing metric chosen.

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
Oracle Database: Does Oracle Database offer a free tier or trial?

Oracle Database offers Oracle Database Free Edition, a no-cost version for development and testing. However, no free trial is available for paid editions.

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
Oracle Database: What are the deployment options for Oracle Database?

Oracle Database can be deployed on premises or through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Pricing and features vary based on deployment model selected.

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
Oracle Database: What database management capabilities does Oracle Database provide?

Oracle Database is a converged, multi-model database management system offering in-memory computing, NoSQL, and MySQL database options with comprehensive data management and security features.

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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