Productivity · head to head
Things 3 vs Brain.fm
Things 3
Productivity
The award-winning personal task manager
- From
- $9.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
Brain.fm
Productivity
Scientifically-designed music to enhance focus and productivity
- From
- $14.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features; Brain.fm monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent)
- They diverge on capability: Things 3 covers Today view, Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Things 3 and Brain.fm actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Things 3
- Today view
- Projects and areas
- Quick entry
- Tags
- Calendar integration
- Apple Calendar
- Siri
- Shortcuts
Only in Brain.fm
- Neuroscience-designed music
- Focus tracks
- Relaxation tracks
- Sleep tracks
- Offline mode
- Multiple genres
- Cross-platform access
- Ad-free experience
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Things 3
- Schedulingnot Brain.fm
- Appointment bookingnot Brain.fm
- Time trackingnot Brain.fm
- Resource managementnot Brain.fm
- Team coordinationnot Brain.fm
Brain.fm
- Knowledge workers requiring focus audio for deep work blocksnot Things 3
- ADHD individuals seeking neurologically-optimised audio for concentrationnot Things 3
- Students preparing for exams with learning and meditation supportnot Things 3
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Brain.fm
- Monthly plan at $14.99/month significantly more expensive per unit than annual plan ($8.33/month equivalent)
- ADHD mode available only with active subscription; no trial access to specialised features
- No offline mode documented; requires internet connectivity for audio delivery
- Content library composition not published (proprietary vs. licensed music distinction unclear)
Pricing, plan by plan
Things 3
$9.99/one-time- iPhone/Watch$9.99/one-time
- iPad$19.99/one-time
- Mac$49.99/one-time
Brain.fm
$14.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Brain.fm review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Things 3 if
- You need today view.
- You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS.
- You also want projects and areas.
Choose Brain.fm if
- You need neuroscience-designed music.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
- You also want focus tracks.
Questions people ask
- Is Things 3 or Brain.fm better?
- Neither clearly leads. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time and Brain.fm at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Things 3 or Brain.fm?
- Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time and Brain.fm at $14.99/month.
- Does Things 3 or Brain.fm run on more platforms?
- Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS. Brain.fm runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
- What is Things 3 best used for?
- Things 3 is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Brain.fm is typically brought in for.
- What can Things 3 do that Brain.fm cannot?
- Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags. Brain.fm covers Neuroscience-designed music, Focus tracks, Relaxation tracks, Sleep tracks.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceThings 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.
SourceThings 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.
SourceThings 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.
SourceThings 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