Fantastical vs Sorted 3: Which Tool Is Better?

What is Fantastical

Fantastical is a renowned calendar application that has earned a strong reputation among Apple device users for its innovative features and user-friendly design. Known for its natural language processing capabilities and aesthetic interface, Fantastical offers a blend of traditional and advanced functionalities, making it a popular choice for those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem.

This app not only excels in calendar management but also integrates several smart features to enhance the overall experience of planning and scheduling. Here’s a detailed look at the features that define Fantastical and its place in the realm of productivity tools.

Key Features of Fantastical

• Multilingual Support: Accessible in multiple languages for a wide range of users.
• Flexible Viewing Options: Offers daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views for different scheduling needs.
• Attractive Interface: Known for its visually engaging design.
• Natural Language Input: Create events and reminders easily using everyday language.
• Calendar Syncing: Supports iCloud, Google Calendar, Exchange, and more for seamless integration.
• Reminders and Task Management: Integrates Apple’s Reminders for efficient event and task handling in one app.

What is Sorted 3

Sorted 3 is a task management application known for its efficient scheduling and time management capabilities. It allows users to organize tasks and sub-tasks, set reminders, and categorize them for better management. A notable feature is its time-blocking technique, which lets users allocate specific time slots for tasks, aiding in daily planning. The app also prioritizes tasks based on urgency and importance. While Sorted 3 excels in task organization and planning, it may not offer the depth required for more complex project management. It’s available on iOS and macOS, with pricing for extra features.

Key Features of Sorted 3

• Auto-Schedule: Automatically schedules tasks based on priorities and deadlines, helping users manage their time efficiently.
• Time Blocking: Allows for allocating specific time slots to tasks, aiding in maintaining focus and productivity.
• Hyper Scheduling: Combines calendar events and tasks in one view, offering a comprehensive overview of the day’s agenda.
• Task Management: Includes features for organizing tasks, setting reminders, and creating sub-tasks, making it versatile for various needs.
• Magic Select: Facilitates easy selection and manipulation of multiple tasks at once, enhancing user experience in task management.
• Customizable Views: Offers different views like list, day, and 3-day views, catering to personal preferences in organizing and viewing tasks.

Fantastical vs Sorted 3: Features

Features	Fantastical	Sorted 3
Integrations	Syncs with multiple calendar services and task managers like Todoist and Google Tasks.	– (NA)
Calendar	Offers customizable views and “Calendar Sets” for managing different groups of calendars.	Yes
Platforms	iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch	macOS, iOS
Task Management	Integrates with task managers to display tasks within the calendar.	Auto-scheduling, time blocking, task prioritization
Natural Language Processing	Yes	No
Time Blocking	Available	Yes
Analytics	No	No
Meeting Scheduler	Yes	No
Time Zones	Yes	No
Reminders	Yes	Yes
Customer Support	Average	Average
1:1 User Onboarding	No	No
Pricing	$4.75 per month, paid annually	$15: iOS, and $25: MacOS

Fantastical vs Sorted 3: Pricing

Fantastical Pricing

Fantastical offers both a free plan with basic features and a premium plan with additional capabilities. The pricing for the premium plan varies depending on the number of users:

(i) Individual Premium Plan: $4.75 per month when billed annually. This plan includes features like home screen widgets, notifications, multiple time zone scheduling, customizable templates, and Apple Watch support.

(ii) Family Premium Plan: $7.50 per month for 5 users when billed annually. This plan offers the same features as the Individual plan but accommodates multiple users, making it suitable for family or small team usage.

Sorted 3 Pricing

Sorted 3 offers two pricing tiers:

(i) Free Version: Provides access to core features of the app.

(ii) Pro Version: Available for iOS at $14.99 and for macOS at $24.99

Fantastical vs Sorted 3: Reviews

Fantastical Review

Fantastical is appreciated for its user-friendly experience and robust features, including effective task and time-blocking capabilities, and natural language input for event addition. However, its premium version is required for full functionality, and it may not be as rapidly evolving as some AI-integrated calendar apps. Moreover, its focus on the Apple ecosystem limits its cross-platform utility. Despite these drawbacks, Fantastical remains a solid choice for Apple users seeking a reliable and well-designed calendar app.

Sorted 3 Review

Sorted 3 is a task management app that excels in auto-scheduling, time-blocking, and prioritizing tasks, making it efficient for daily planning. It integrates tasks, calendar events, and notes into a unified timeline, which is helpful for managing a busy schedule. However, it may fall short for users looking for more advanced project management features or those who prefer extensive integrations with third-party apps. Available on iOS and macOS, Sorted 3’s interface is user-friendly but might not cater to all user preferences in terms of customization.

Which One Should You Pick

Consider Fantastical if

1. You Want an Intuitive Calendar Interface: Choose Fantastical if you’re seeking an easy-to-use calendar app that works seamlessly across various Apple devices.
2. You Need Light Task Management: If you require basic task management integrated with your calendar, Fantastical’s ability to combine tasks with time-blocking features might suit your needs.
3. You Prefer Natural Language Inputs: Fantastical is ideal for those who appreciate the convenience of adding events using natural language, making scheduling faster and more intuitive.

Consider Sorted 3 if

1. You Need Basic Task Management: If you’re looking for a simple tool to manage daily tasks with features like auto-scheduling and time-blocking, Sorted 3 could be suitable. However, it may not be ideal for complex project management.
2. You Prefer an Integrated Calendar View: Sorted 3 is good for those who want to view tasks and calendar events together, though its calendar functionalities are basic compared to specialized calendar apps.
3. You Use iOS or macOS: Sorted 3 works well for Apple device users, offering synchronization between iOS and macOS, but lacks support for other platforms like Android or Windows.

Best Fantastical and Sorted 3 Alternatives

• Akiflow: Akiflow is a time management app offering time blocking, task scheduling, and integrations with various tools. It focuses on productivity and organization through a unified task and appointment interface.
  Akiflow Price: $19 per month, paid annually
• Sunsama: Sunsama is a daily planner that helps professionals stay focused & productive by combining tasks, calendars, & emails. It offers features like guided planning, timeboxing, & automatic syncing.
  Sunsama Price: $16 per month, annually.
• Things 3: Things by Cultured Code is a sleek task manager for Apple devices. It offers intuitive organization for personal tasks and projects, featuring to-do lists, schedules, and reminders, all within an elegant interface. This app is designed for seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem.
  Things 3 Price: One Time Payment at $50