Things 3 is a calm, fast and beautifully designed to-do app for Apple devices, and it has won an Apple Design Award. You sort tasks into Today, Upcoming, Anytime and Someday, group them into projects and areas, and plan each day yourself. For people who enjoy organizing their own work, it is a solid choice.
Next Moves Lab shares the calm. The difference is who decides. You write down what is on your mind, and it picks the next task for you, with the reason and a small first step.
The short version
- Things 3 is a solid pick if you use Apple devices and enjoy organizing your own work.
- Next Moves Lab is the better fit if you have plenty of tasks but stall when it is time to choose one.
Side by side
Price
- Things 3
- One-time purchase per app (Mac, iPhone, iPad); see the App Store
- Next Moves Lab
- $9.99 a month, 30-day money-back guarantee
Who decides the order
- Things 3
- You, by planning Today and Upcoming
- Next Moves Lab
- It does, and shows you the reason
How the morning starts
- Things 3
- You choose what goes into Today
- Next Moves Lab
- The first task is already waiting
What you see
- Things 3
- Your Today list and projects
- Next Moves Lab
- One task and a small first step; the rest waits in Later
Goal for the week
- Things 3
- Not built in
- Next Moves Lab
- One goal; tasks that move it rank first
Rules for your day
- Things 3
- Not built in
- Next Moves Lab
- Set once, like "no calls before 10", and followed every time it plans
Follow-ups
- Things 3
- You add them
- Next Moves Lab
- Suggested from what you finished; tap Yes or No
When Things 3 is a solid choice
- You live on Apple devices. Things feels native everywhere Apple runs, with widgets, Siri and Shortcuts.
- You like a tidy system. Areas, projects, headings and tags give you a clear, lasting structure.
- You want it fast and offline. As a native app, it is quick and works without a connection.
Where Next Moves Lab wins
- A long Today list becomes one task. If you keep adding to Today and then do not know where to start, Next Moves Lab hands you one task and a first step of a couple of minutes. You can swap the pick.
- You get the reason. Each pick says why it won, such as a deadline, your goal for the week, or a client waiting.
- Your week has a point. Set one goal for the week, and tasks that move it rank first.
- Your rules are kept. Set "admin on Fridays" once, and every plan respects it.
- Follow-ups come to you. Finish a quote or an invoice and it suggests the follow-up. You tap Yes or No.
- It runs in any browser. That includes Windows and Android.
Using both
You can keep Things as your long-term list and use Next Moves Lab for the working day. Copy what matters this week across and let it decide the order.
Common questions
Do I still plan my day?
No. You tell it your time and energy, and it sizes today to fit. At most three tasks are in play, and the rest wait in Later until they matter.