Things 3 vs Einfall: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Things 3 and Einfall comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Things 3 wins this matchup. Our overall Productivity pick is ChatGPT. Our free Productivity pick is Google Calendar. Pick Einfall if you need note-taking.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Things 3
Award-winning task manager for Apple
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful design (Apple)
- • You want powerful organization
Einfall
Capture thoughts instantly, organize later
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
- • You want no account or sign-up required, start capturing immediately
- • You want one-time payment with no subscription, no lapsing access to your own thoughts
| At a Glance | Things 3 | Einfall |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $9.99/onceiPhone | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Productivity | Note-Taking |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 3.9/5 |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Things 3 or Einfall?
Choose Things 3 if
Award-winning task manager for Apple
- You want beautiful design (Apple)
- You want powerful organization
- Your work is productivity-shaped, not note-taking-shaped
Choose Einfall if
Capture thoughts instantly, organize later
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want no account or sign-up required, start capturing immediately
- You want one-time payment with no subscription, no lapsing access to your own thoughts
- Your work is note-taking-shaped, not productivity-shaped
| Feature | Things 3 | Einfall |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 29 reviews | ★3.9/5 148 reviews |
| Categories | ProductivityProject Management | Note-TakingProductivity |
In-Depth Analysis
Things 3
Award-winning task manager for Apple
Things 3 is a rare premium app that respects your wallet: one-time purchases of $49.99 (Mac), $19.99 (iPad), and $9.99 (iPhone) with zero subscription fees.
Watch out
Each platform is sold separately. If you want Mac + iPad + iPhone, that is $79.97 total, not a single purchase. There is no bundle discount.
Strengths
- +Beautiful design (Apple)
- +Powerful organization
- +One-time purchase
- +Good keyboard shortcuts
- +Fast and reliable
Weaknesses
- -Apple only (no Windows/Android)
- -Significant upfront cost
- -No collaboration
- -No web version
- -Limited integrations
Key features
Einfall
Capture thoughts instantly, organize later
At $29.99 one-time for Unlimited, Einfall is aggressively generous compared to subscription-based capture inboxes, and the Free tier with 15 routing actions offers real utility at $0.
Watch out
Free tier includes only 15 routing actions; using a 16th requires $29.99 for Unlimited.
Strengths
- +No account or sign-up required, start capturing immediately.
- +One-time payment with no subscription, no lapsing access to your own thoughts.
- +Complete privacy: no data collection, no server, everything processed on-device.
Weaknesses
- -Only available on Apple devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad), no web, Windows, or Android support.
- -Free tier limits routing actions to fifteen uses; after that a purchase is required to route thoughts beyond that number.
Key features
Pricing: Things 3 vs Einfall
| Plan | Things 3 | Einfall |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $49.99 once Mac | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $9.99 once iPhone | $29.99 one-time Unlimited |
| Tier 3 | $19.99 once iPad | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Things 3 pricing and Einfall pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Einfall has a free tier. Things 3 is paid only.
Go with: Einfall
Want the highest-rated option?
Things 3: 4.4/5 (29 reviews). Einfall: 3.9/5 (148 reviews).
Go with: Things 3
Value user reviews?
Things 3: 29 reviews (4.4/5). Einfall: 148 reviews (3.9/5).
Go with: Einfall
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Things 3 is paid. Einfall is freemium. Einfall lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Things 3 is a productivity tool. Einfall is in note-taking. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Things 3 is rated higher: 4.4/5 vs 3.9/5.
Key Takeaways
Things 3
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 3.9/5
- Our pick for this comparison
Einfall
- Has a free tier
- Larger review base (148 reviews)
- Better fit for note-taking
The Bottom Line
Things 3 wins this matchup. Our overall Productivity pick is ChatGPT. Our free Productivity pick is Google Calendar. Einfall has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Things 3 or Einfall better?
Things 3 is rated in our evaluation. Things 3 is paid and Einfall is freemium.
What are Things 3 and Einfall used for?
Things 3: Award-winning task manager for Apple. Einfall: Capture thoughts instantly, organize later.
What does Things 3 cost vs Einfall?
Things 3 is a paid tool. Einfall is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.