Things 3 vs Friday: Comprehensive 2024 Comparison

What is Things 3

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.

Key Features of Things 3

• 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.

What is Friday

Friday.app is a digital workplace platform designed to enhance productivity and organization for teams. It offers features like customizable homepages, task management, goal tracking, and asynchronous communication tools, aiming to streamline workflows for small to medium-sized teams.

Key Features of Friday

• Customizable Dashboard: Friday allows users to personalize their dashboard with widgets that show tasks, calendars, and other important information at a glance. This customization ensures that every team member can quickly access what’s most important to them, enhancing productivity and focus.
• Integrated Task Management: With task management features, Friday helps teams organize, prioritize, and track work progress. This integration means tasks and projects are easily accessible, facilitating better planning and execution.
• Goal Setting and Tracking: Goal tracking functionality enables teams and individuals to set objectives, monitor progress, and adjust strategies. This feature supports accountability and ensures alignment with broader organizational goals.
• Asynchronous Communication Tools: Recognizing the importance of communication, Friday includes tools that support asynchronous updates and check-ins. This reduces the need for constant meetings, making communication more efficient.
• Team Directory: A centralized team directory in Friday aids in keeping everyone connected. This feature makes it easier to find contact information and understand team structures, fostering better collaboration.
• Analytics and Reporting: Friday offers analytics and reporting tools that provide insights into team performance and work habits. This data can inform decision-making, helping to optimize workflows and productivity.

Things 3 vs Friday: Features

Things 3 vs Friday: Pricing

Things 3 Pricing

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.

Friday Pricing

Free: Core features, unlimited core access. Individual: $4/mo, planner, goals. Team: $6/mo, collaboration, reporting. Company: $100/mo, advanced features.

Things 3 vs Friday: Reviews

Things 3 Review

Things 3 is acclaimed for its visually appealing design and efficient personal project management tools, appealing to GTD enthusiasts with features like task filtering via tags. However, its high upfront cost for Apple devices and uncertainty about shifting to a subscription model are downsides. Despite its excellent design and one-time purchase model, the lack of collaboration tools, absence of location-based reminders, and incompatibility with non-Apple products are notable limitations. These factors could be crucial in determining whether Things 3 is the right task management tool for individual needs.

Friday Review

Friday is praised for its well-executed design, serving as a comprehensive work hub rather than a full WorkOS, ideal for aligning team goals and communications. It’s particularly suited for small, high-performance teams, offering features like check-ins, goals, and a planner. Its customizable homepage and streamlined status updates enhance team efficiency, reflecting a solution built by a distributed team for their own challenges, offering a unique approach to work collaboration.

Which One Should You Pick

Consider Things 3 if

1. You Appreciate Minimalism in Design: Things 3 might be suitable if you prefer a simple interface, though some users might find it too basic for complex task management.
2. You Need Basic Task Organization: It’s good for straightforward task organization but lacks advanced features like detailed time tracking or extensive integrations.
3. You Prefer a Non-Overwhelming Approach: Things 3 is a fit if you need a task manager that’s not too complex, though it may not satisfy those needing extensive productivity tools.

Consider Friday if

1. You Seek a Centralized Work Hub: Friday could be a match if you’re looking for a single platform to manage tasks, meetings, and goals. However, if your needs extend to highly specialized tools for project management or creative work, you might find Friday’s functionalities a bit generic.
2. Integration Matters, But Not Deeply: If integrating with commonly used apps like Google Calendar, Slack, or Microsoft Teams is important, Friday offers these capabilities. Still, for more niche or industry-specific integrations, it may not fully meet your expectations.
3. Balanced Approach to Task and Time Management: Friday supports task and time management, which could benefit those with straightforward scheduling needs. However, if you’re in search of advanced time tracking or detailed analytical insights into productivity, Friday’s offerings might seem somewhat basic.

Best Things 3 and Friday Alternative

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