Things 3 vs Routine - Detailed Comparison

Quick Summary

Things 3 Strengths

Task Management: Organize your tasks easily with deadlines, priorities, and reminders.
Project Organization: Group tasks into projects with subtasks and sections for better management.
Calendar Integration: See your calendar events alongside your to-dos for effective planning.
Quick Task Entry: Add tasks quickly while working in other apps, even using Siri for hands-free entry.

Routine Strengths

Timeline Agenda: Offers a detailed view of the day's plan with timestamps, including meeting and event reminders, with options to time-block tasks.
Week Calendar: Provides a 5-day, week, and month view for task planning, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
Console Capture: A desktop feature for capturing events, notes, and tasks outside the application, ideal for GTD enthusiasts.
Centralized Workspace: Combines tasks, notes, and calendar in one space.

Things 3 Screenshot

Routine Screenshot

Feature Comparison

Feature	Things 3	Routine
Platforms	Available only on iOS platforms (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac).	macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web
Integrations	Zapier, including Slack, Gmail, Trello, Notion, Google Calendar, and Google Tasks	Syncs with multiple calendar services and task managers like Todoist and Google Tasks.
Calendar	No built-in calendar	Google Calendar, Notion, Slack, Zapier, Siri, Gmail
Task Management	Offers labels, tags, and recurring tasks	No
Natural Language Processing	No	Offers task creation with date assignment via drag-and-drop
Analytics	No	No
Time Blocking	Not Available	Available
Time Zones	No	Yes
Scheduler	Yes	No
Notifications	Yes	Yes
Pricing	One Time Payment at $50	$12 per month, annually
Customer Support	Good	Average

Video Overview

Things 3 Video

Routine Video

Things 3 Overview

Things 3, a distinguished entrant in the productivity tools arena, is acclaimed for its elegant design and powerful organizational capabilities. It's a task management app that combines simplicity with a rich set of features, making it a favorite among users who appreciate both aesthetics and functionality. With its intuitive interface, Things 3 allows for effortless management of to-dos, reminders, and projects, all within a visually pleasing environment. The tool stands out for its unique task categorization approach and seamless synchronization across devices, ensuring users can stay organized wherever they go.

Pricing Details

Things 3 requires purchasing separate applications for different Apple devices: $49.99 for macOS, $9.99 for iPhone and Apple Watch, and $19.99 for iPad, totaling around $80 for the full suite.

Routine Overview

Routine is a productivity tool that sets itself apart with its all-in-one approach, combining elements of task management, note-taking, and calendar integration into a single platform. Designed to cater to the needs of busy professionals and individuals seeking to streamline their organizational process, Routine offers a comprehensive solution for managing daily tasks, appointments, and notes. Its unique selling point is the integration of these features within an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for users to track their to-dos, schedule their days, and store important information in one place. This level of integration is particularly useful for those who prefer a unified system to manage various aspects of their work and personal life.

Pricing Details

(i) Free Version: Available for students and hobbyists, though with limited features. (ii) Professional Plan: Priced at $12 per month. (iii) Business Plan: Costs $15 per user per month. (iv) Believer Plan: Priced at $10 monthly or $8 per month for an annual commitment, totaling around $96 annually

Things 3 Key Features

Task Management: Organize your tasks easily with deadlines, priorities, and reminders.
Project Organization: Group tasks into projects with subtasks and sections for better management.
Calendar Integration: See your calendar events alongside your to-dos for effective planning.
Quick Task Entry: Add tasks quickly while working in other apps, even using Siri for hands-free entry.
Customizable Tags: Use tags for easy categorization and searching of tasks.
Cross-Device Syncing: Keep your tasks updated across all your Apple devices with Things Cloud.

Routine Key Features

Timeline Agenda: Offers a detailed view of the day's plan with timestamps, including meeting and event reminders, with options to time-block tasks.
Week Calendar: Provides a 5-day, week, and month view for task planning, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
Console Capture: A desktop feature for capturing events, notes, and tasks outside the application, ideal for GTD enthusiasts.
Centralized Workspace: Combines tasks, notes, and calendar in one space.
Organization: Utilizes categories and tags for better event and task management.
Daily Plan: Helps in crafting focused daily tasks and important events.

Conclusion: Which Tool Should You Choose?

Both Things 3 and Routine offer unique features and benefits for productivity and workflow management. The best choice depends on your specific needs, team size, and workflow preferences.

Choose Things 3 if:

Task Management: Organize your tasks easily with deadlines, priorities, and reminders.
Project Organization: Group tasks into projects with subtasks and sections for better management.
Calendar Integration: See your calendar events alongside your to-dos for effective planning.

Try Things 3

Choose Routine if:

Timeline Agenda: Offers a detailed view of the day's plan with timestamps, including meeting and event reminders, with options to time-block tasks.
Week Calendar: Provides a 5-day, week, and month view for task planning, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
Console Capture: A desktop feature for capturing events, notes, and tasks outside the application, ideal for GTD enthusiasts.

Try Routine