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Things 3 vs Fantastical

A detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs.

Things 3 logo

Things 3

Productivity & Notes

Try Things 3
VS
Fantastical logo

Fantastical

Productivity & Notes

Try Fantastical

A
About Things 3

Things 3 is a personal task manager built exclusively for Apple devices — Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Developed by Cultured Code, it's designed around a GTD-inspired workflow that organizes tasks into areas of responsibility, projects, and headings, making it easy to break down complex goals. The app is known for its exceptionally polished design and fluid interactions, offering features like quick entry, natural language date parsing, and calendar integration. It appeals to individuals who want a powerful yet elegant task management system without the clutter of team collaboration features. While it lacks cross-platform support and a web version, its focused approach has earned it a loyal following among Apple users.

B
About Fantastical

Fantastical is a polished calendar and task management app built exclusively for Apple devices, including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. It stands out for its natural language parsing, which lets you type or dictate events in plain English and have them automatically placed on your calendar with the correct details. The app combines calendars, to-dos, and scheduling into a single interface with a clean, thoughtful design. It's particularly popular among Apple power users who manage multiple calendars and want a more capable alternative to the built-in Calendar app. Features like scheduling links, weather overlays, interesting calendars (sports, holidays), and robust recurring event options make it one of the most full-featured calendar apps available on Apple platforms.

Pricing Comparison

Tool
Things 3
Fantastical
Price
$9.99 (iPhone) / $49.99 (Mac)
Free / Premium $4.75/mo
Category
Productivity & Notes
Productivity & Notes
Rating
3.8 (47)
4.2 (36)
Free Plan
No
No
Integrations
7+ apps
8+ apps
Founded
2007
2010

Feature Comparison

Feature
Things 3
Fantastical
Inbox & quick entry
Today & upcoming views
Areas & projects
Headings & checklists
Tags & filters
Calendar integration
Quick Find search
Keyboard shortcuts
Shortcuts & URL schemes
Apple Watch app
Natural language input
Multiple calendar sets
Scheduling links (Openings)
Weather integration
Tasks & to-dos
Conference call detection
Widgets & complications
Focus filters
Travel time

Choose Things 3

Award-winning elegant task manager for Apple platforms

Try Things 3 Free

Read full review

Choose Fantastical

Premium calendar and scheduling app for Apple ecosystem

Try Fantastical Free

Read full review

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Score Comparison

Ease of Use
8.0
9.0
Features
7.0
8.0
Pricing
7.0
7.0
Support
6.0
8.0
Integrations
6.0
8.0
Overall
6.8
8.0
Things 3Fantastical

Our Verdict

Things 3

Choose Things 3 if you're an Apple user seeking an elegant, award-winning task manager for personal productivity.

FantasticalWinner

A premium calendar experience tailored for Apple users who value design and functionality.

Easier to get started
More features
Better support

Things 3 vs Fantastical: The Bottom Line

Both Things 3 and Fantastical are strong productivity & notes tools, but they serve different needs. Fantastical has a higher user rating (4.2 vs 3.8).

Still unsure? Check the full reviews for Things 3 and Fantastical, explore Things 3 alternatives, or use our AI search to describe exactly what you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Things 3 or Fantastical better?

It depends on your needs. Things 3 (3.8★) is from $null/mo, while Fantastical (4.2★) is from $null/mo. Fantastical has a higher user rating.

Can I switch from Things 3 to Fantastical?

Yes. Most SaaS tools offer data export features. Check if Fantastical has a migration guide or import tool specifically for Things 3 users. Many offer onboarding assistance for switchers.

Which is cheaper, Things 3 or Fantastical?

Check the pricing pages of both Things 3 and Fantastical for the most up-to-date pricing information.

What are the main differences between Things 3 and Fantastical?

Things 3 focuses on inbox & quick entry and today & upcoming views, while Fantastical emphasizes natural language input and multiple calendar sets. Both are in the Productivity & Notes category but serve slightly different use cases.