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Productivity · head to head

Spark Mail vs Things 3

Spark Mail logo

Spark Mail

Productivity

AI-assisted email client from Readdle with a Smart Inbox and team collaboration features

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 Spark Mail has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Spark Mail several sync features route mail metadata and, for some features, credentials through Readdle servers, which is a materially different trust model from a local-only IMAP client.; Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features
  • They diverge on capability: Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox, Things 3 covers Today view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Spark Mail and Things 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Spark Mail and Things 3 differ
AttributeSpark MailThings 3
Starting priceFree$9.99/one-time
Pricing modelPer user per monthUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, WebmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS
FoundedUnknown2004

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

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 Spark Mail

  • Smart Inbox
  • AI Copilot
  • AI Summaries
  • Team collaboration
  • Send later and snooze
  • Multi-account unified inbox

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.

Spark Mail

  • A freelancer juggling Gmail and Outlook accounts who wants one AI-assisted inboxnot Things 3
  • A small support team sharing a single inbox with internal notes before replyingnot Things 3
  • Someone who wants drafts and summaries generated without switching to a new mail hostnot Things 3
  • A user who wants notification triage without writing their own filtersnot Things 3

Things 3

  • Schedulingnot Spark Mail
  • Appointment bookingnot Spark Mail
  • Time trackingnot Spark Mail
  • Resource managementnot Spark Mail
  • Team coordinationnot Spark Mail

Where each one falls short

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

Spark Mail

  • Several sync features route mail metadata and, for some features, credentials through Readdle servers, which is a materially different trust model from a local-only IMAP client.
  • It is a client over accounts you still pay for elsewhere, so the total cost is Spark plus whatever Gmail, Outlook or Fastmail plan you already hold.
  • The free tier lacks AI Copilot and summaries, so the features it is best known for sit behind the paid plan.
  • Team features are basic next to dedicated shared-inbox tools like Front or Help Scout, so a support team scaling past a few agents will likely outgrow it.
  • Windows and Android versions have historically lagged the macOS and iOS apps in feature parity.

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

Spark Mail

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Unlimited accounts
    • Smart Inbox
    • Basic send later
  • Premium$7.99/month
    • AI Copilot and summaries
    • Unlimited snooze and send later
    • Priority support
  • Premium Teams$10/month
    • Shared inboxes
    • Delegation and internal comments
    • Admin controls

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 Spark Mail if

  • You need smart inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want ai copilot.
Spark Mail 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 Spark Mail or Things 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Spark Mail 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, Spark Mail or Things 3?
Spark Mail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Spark Mail and $9.99/one-time for Things 3.
Does Spark Mail or Things 3 run on more platforms?
Spark Mail runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web. Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
Can I use Spark Mail for free?
Yes. Spark Mail has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
What is Spark Mail best used for?
Spark Mail is most often used for a freelancer juggling gmail and outlook accounts who wants one ai-assisted inbox, a small support team sharing a single inbox with internal notes before replying, someone who wants drafts and summaries generated without switching to a new mail host, a user who wants notification triage without writing their own filters. Of those, a freelancer juggling gmail and outlook accounts who wants one ai-assisted inbox and a small support team sharing a single inbox with internal notes before replying are not what Things 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Spark Mail do that Things 3 cannot?
Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox, AI Copilot, AI Summaries, Team collaboration. Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Spark Mail: Does Spark host my email?

No. It is a client that connects to Gmail, Outlook, iCloud or any IMAP account; you still need a mail host.

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
Spark Mail: Does Spark store my email credentials on its servers?

For some features, including cross-device snooze and send-later sync, yes. It is part of how those features stay consistent across devices.

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
Spark Mail: Is there a one-time purchase option?

No, Spark is subscription only for individuals and teams; the base client is free but AI and unlimited scheduling need Premium.

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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