Zero-Friction Tasks vs. Things 3
Things 3 is one of the most beautiful task managers on iOS and macOS — but it costs $9.99 for iPhone and $49.99 for Mac, and it only works in the Apple ecosystem. Zero-Friction Tasks is free, works on iPhone and Windows, and syncs in real time.
Quick Verdict
Choose Zero-Friction Tasks if…
- ✓ You use both iPhone and Windows
- ✓ You want a free alternative to Things 3
- ✓ You want instant capture with Alt+Space on Windows
- ✓ You need sync without iCloud or Apple ID
Choose Things 3 if…
- → You are fully in the Apple ecosystem (Mac + iPhone)
- → Beautiful design is your top priority
- → You want Areas, Projects, and Tags with rich organization
- → You are happy paying one-time for Mac + iPhone apps
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Zero-Friction Tasks | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | No account ever | iCloud account |
| Price | Free forever | $9.99 iPhone + $49.99 Mac |
| iPhone app | ||
| Windows app | Full Windows support | Apple only |
| Android app | On roadmap | Not available |
| Real-time cross-device sync | iPhone ↔ Windows live sync | Apple devices only via iCloud |
| End-to-end encryption | On-device before sync | Depends on iCloud settings |
| iOS Widgets (Lock Screen) | Home + Lock Screen | Home + Lock Screen |
| Global hotkey capture | Alt+Space on Windows | Mac Quick Entry only |
| Works offline | ||
| Natural language input |
* Comparison based on Things 3 v3.x as of March 2026. Features subject to change.
The Price Gap
Things 3 uses a premium one-time pricing model: $9.99 for iPhone and $49.99 for Mac. That is $59.98 to get the full experience — which is fair for the quality, but steep compared to free alternatives.
Zero-Friction Tasks is free. You get the full core experience — instant capture, real-time sync, iOS Widgets — without spending a cent.
Apple-Only vs. Cross-Platform
Things 3 is deeply integrated with Apple's ecosystem: Shortcuts, Focus modes, Reminders import. But that integration comes with a hard constraint — it only works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
If you work on a Windows PC, Things 3 is simply not an option for your desktop. Zero-Friction Tasks was designed from the start for people who use both iPhone and Windows — it syncs in real time between both platforms.
Design Philosophy
Things 3's design is legendary — it is consistently cited as one of the most beautiful productivity apps ever made. If design is your top criterion, Things 3 is hard to beat.
Zero-Friction Tasks takes a different approach: it optimizes for speed of capture. The philosophy is that the best task manager is the one with the least friction between you and writing down the task — which is why the Alt+Space global hotkey is central to the Windows experience.
Try Zero-Friction Tasks Free
Free on iPhone and Windows. No account, no setup, no credit card.
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