Productivity · head to head
Things 3 vs Microsoft 365
Things 3
Productivity
The award-winning personal task manager
- From
- $9.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
Microsoft 365
Productivity
Productivity apps with built-in AI, security and cloud storage in one plan
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Microsoft 365 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Things 3 no team collaboration, task sharing, or task assignment features; Microsoft 365 free web tier caps storage at 5GB; Basic tier is $1.99/month for only 100GB
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Things 3 and Microsoft 365 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Things 3 | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9.99/one-time | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS | Web |
| Founded | 2004 | Unknown |
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 Things 3
- Today view
- Projects and areas
- Quick entry
- Tags
- Calendar integration
- Apple Calendar
- Siri
- Shortcuts
Only in Microsoft 365
Nothing recorded that Things 3 does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Things 3
- Schedulingnot Microsoft 365
- Appointment bookingnot Microsoft 365
- Time trackingnot Microsoft 365
- Resource managementnot Microsoft 365
- Team coordinationnot Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365
No use cases recorded yet. See the Microsoft 365 review.
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
Microsoft 365
- Free web tier caps storage at 5GB; Basic tier is $1.99/month for only 100GB
- Family plan tops out at 6 people and AI features cannot be shared across family members even on paid plans
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
Microsoft 365
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft 365 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.
Questions people ask
- Is Things 3 or Microsoft 365 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time and Microsoft 365 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Things 3 or Microsoft 365?
- Microsoft 365 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9.99/one-time for Things 3 and Free for Microsoft 365.
- Does Things 3 or Microsoft 365 run on more platforms?
- Things 3 runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS. Microsoft 365 runs on Web.
- Can I use Microsoft 365 for free?
- Yes. Microsoft 365 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Things 3 starts at $9.99/one-time.
- 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 Microsoft 365 is typically brought in for.
- What can Things 3 do that Microsoft 365 cannot?
- Things 3 covers Today view, Projects and areas, Quick entry, Tags.
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