Things 3 is widely regarded as the most beautifully designed task manager on Apple platforms. Its GTD-inspired workflow with Areas, Projects, and Headings is a joy to use. But beauty and simplicity come at a cost: Things 3 has no AI, no habit tracking, no analytics, and no cross-platform support. ArcusVision offers AI-generated roadmaps, a vitality system, intelligent focus sessions, and works on any device with a browser.
Things 3 is the best choice for Apple users who want a beautiful, distraction-free GTD task manager. ArcusVision is better for people who want AI-generated goal roadmaps, habit tracking, focus sessions, and progress analytics. Things 3 manages tasks you create; ArcusVision generates the tasks from your goals and helps you execute them.
ArcusVision provides AI-generated roadmaps from goal descriptions, 6 life pillars for balanced planning, a vitality habit tracking system with discipline velocity charts, intelligent focus mode that auto-selects your next task, weekly time blocking with drag-and-drop, an AES-256 encrypted journal, and analytics dashboards. Things 3 focuses exclusively on elegant task management.
Things 3 is a one-time purchase (around $50 for Mac + $10 for iPhone). ArcusVision is currently free during early access and includes AI features, habit tracking, and analytics that Things 3 does not offer at any price. Value depends on whether you need a task manager or a goal execution platform.
Choose Things 3 when you are fully in the Apple ecosystem and want the most refined, distraction-free task management experience available. Things 3 is perfect for GTD practitioners who value elegant design, quick capture, and a calm task management workflow. Its one-time purchase price is also appealing.
Choose ArcusVision when you need more than beautiful task lists. ArcusVision generates roadmaps from your goals, tracks habits through its vitality system, provides intelligent focus sessions, offers progress analytics, and works on any platform. If you want a system that tells you what to work on and why, not just a place to store tasks you already know about, ArcusVision is the better fit.
| Capability | ArcusVision | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Task creation | AI generates tasks from goal descriptions with milestones and dependencies | Manual task entry with natural-language date parsing |
| Platform support | Web-based; works on any device with a browser | Apple-only (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch) |
| Goal framework | 6 life pillars with phased roadmaps and milestone tracking | Areas and Projects for organization; no goal framework |
| Focus sessions | Built-in Pomodoro with intelligent task auto-selection | No focus timer; relies on Today view for daily focus |
| Habit tracking | Vitality system with 5 daily habits, 6-month grid, velocity charts | No habit tracking; repeating tasks are a partial workaround |
| Analytics | Weekly consistency radar, goal progress, focus statistics | Logbook of completed tasks; no analytics or charts |
ArcusVision
AI generates tasks from goal descriptions with milestones and dependencies
Things 3
Manual task entry with natural-language date parsing
ArcusVision
Web-based; works on any device with a browser
Things 3
Apple-only (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch)
ArcusVision
6 life pillars with phased roadmaps and milestone tracking
Things 3
Areas and Projects for organization; no goal framework
ArcusVision
Built-in Pomodoro with intelligent task auto-selection
Things 3
No focus timer; relies on Today view for daily focus
ArcusVision
Vitality system with 5 daily habits, 6-month grid, velocity charts
Things 3
No habit tracking; repeating tasks are a partial workaround
ArcusVision
Weekly consistency radar, goal progress, focus statistics
Things 3
Logbook of completed tasks; no analytics or charts
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Free during early access. No credit card required.