Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microsoft Project VS Things

Compare Microsoft Project VS Things and see what are their differences

Microsoft Project logo Microsoft Project

Microsoft Office Project gives you robust project management tools with the right blend of...

Things logo Things

Things is an easy to use task manager.
  • Microsoft Project Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-18
  • Things Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17

Microsoft Project features and specs

  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem
    Microsoft Project integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Office 365, Teams, and SharePoint, making it easier to manage projects within a familiar ecosystem.
  • Advanced Scheduling
    The software offers robust scheduling tools, including Gantt charts, which help in planning and tracking project timelines effectively.
  • Resource Management
    Microsoft Project provides detailed resource management features, allowing project managers to allocate resources and monitor workloads efficiently.
  • Customization
    The platform allows for extensive customization to fit various business needs, including custom fields, project templates, and visual reports.
  • Cloud-based Support
    With Microsoft Project Online, users can access project data from anywhere, facilitating better collaboration among distributed teams.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Project

  • Complexity
    The software has a steep learning curve, which can be challenging for new users or smaller teams without dedicated project management expertise.
  • Cost
    Microsoft Project can be expensive, especially for smaller organizations, as it requires a subscription to Microsoft 365 in addition to the software license.
  • Limited Agile Support
    While it excels in traditional project management methodologies, Microsoft Project offers limited support for Agile project management practices.
  • Lack of Real-time Collaboration
    While Microsoft Project Online improves on this, the desktop version lacks real-time collaborative features found in other modern project management tools.
  • Performance
    The software can become slow when dealing with very large projects, complex datasets, or numerous integrations.

Things features and specs

  • User Experience
    Things is known for its clean, intuitive, and beautifully designed user interface, making it easy to use.
  • Integration with Apple Ecosystem
    Seamlessly integrates with macOS and iOS devices, offering features like Handoff and deep Apple Calendar integration.
  • Powerful Task Management
    Supports projects, areas, headings, and tags, providing a robust system for managing complex tasks and workflows.
  • Quick Entry
    Provides a quick entry function allowing users to capture tasks efficiently, which can later be categorized and detailed.
  • Updates and Support
    Regularly updated with new features and enhancements, backed by reliable customer support.
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
    Offers extensive keyboard shortcuts for power users to navigate and manage tasks quickly.
  • Natural Language Processing
    Allows users to input tasks using natural language, which is then intelligently parsed and scheduled.

Possible disadvantages of Things

  • Cost
    Things requires a one-time purchase for each platform (macOS, iOS), making it relatively expensive compared to some subscription-based competitors.
  • Platform Limitation
    Only available on Apple devices (macOS and iOS), making it inaccessible for users on Windows, Android, or other platforms.
  • No Collaboration Features
    Lacks built-in collaboration tools, which can be a drawback for teams looking to share and manage tasks collectively.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic interface is user-friendly, fully utilizing advanced features can require time and a deeper understanding.
  • Limited Automation
    Offers fewer automation options and integrations compared to some competitors like Todoist or Microsoft To Do.

Analysis of Microsoft Project

Overall verdict

  • Microsoft Project is considered a good option for organizations and teams that require robust project management capabilities, especially those that are already using Microsoft products. However, it might have a steep learning curve for new users and may not be the best fit for smaller teams or simpler projects due to its complexity and cost.

Why this product is good

  • Microsoft Project is a widely used project management software that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for planning, executing, and tracking projects. It provides features such as Gantt charts, project scheduling, resource management, and collaboration capabilities, which make it a strong choice for handling complex projects. Its integration with other Microsoft Office products also enhances its functionality, providing a seamless experience for users already within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Recommended for

    Microsoft Project is recommended for medium to large organizations, project managers, and teams managing complex projects that require detailed planning, scheduling, and resource management. It is particularly suitable for users who prefer a software that integrates well with other Microsoft tools and services.

Analysis of Things

Overall verdict

  • Things is widely regarded as an excellent productivity tool, especially for Apple ecosystem users. It combines elegance with functionality, making it a top choice for those who prefer a minimalist but powerful task manager.

Why this product is good

  • Things by Cultured Code is highly acclaimed for its clean, intuitive design and effective task management features. It provides a seamless user experience with its natural language input, powerful integration with macOS and iOS, and features like projects, areas, deadlines, and reminders that help users organize their tasks efficiently. The app is particularly praised for its focus on simplicity and ease of use, which allows users to focus on their tasks without being overwhelmed by features.

Recommended for

    Things is ideal for individuals who are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem and appreciate a minimalist design approach. It's perfect for users who prefer a straightforward, no-frills task management system that emphasizes ease of use, efficiency, and aesthetic appeal.

Microsoft Project videos

Microsoft Project Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Microsoft Project 2020: Project Management Overview
  • Review - Project Tools Review: Microsoft Project vs. Smartsheet

Things videos

Brandon's Cult Movie Reviews: THINGS

More videos:

  • Review - Things 3: Full Review (2019)
  • Review - OmniFocus vs. Things 3 review: which is best for you?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft Project and Things)
Project Management
45 45%
55% 55
Task Management
33 33%
67% 67
Work Management
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
19 19%
81% 81

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft Project and Things

Microsoft Project Reviews

10 Best Software For Project Management in 2022
Let’s start the selection with one of the most popular project management programs: MS Project. This tool, developed by Microsoft, is often used in universities on practical assignments, as well as in large companies. It includes all the necessary functionality for working on a project: planning, resource allocation and analysis.
Source: medium.com
12 BEST Wrike Alternatives for Project Management in 2022
Microsoft project Integrated planning tools help you seamlessly keep track of your projects. The tool offers a powerful, visually enhanced way to manage a wide range of projects and programs efficiently.
Source: www.guru99.com
18 Valuable Wrike Alternatives To Crush Project Management In 2022
It depends on your needs and your team. As its name suggests, Microsoft Project includes features designed for experienced project managers handling complex work. Wrike’s templates make it a better choice for teams less experienced or less focused on project work.
Source: snacknation.com
29 Best Alternatives to Dapulse (Now Monday.com)
Microsoft Project is a project management software with a rich history of helping teams achieve their business goals. It is designed to help project managers and teams complete complex projects in just a few simple steps.
10 of the Best Microsoft Project Alternatives
Trying to find a happy median between the most basic project management tools and a high-end app like Microsoft Project, Workzone claims to have a solution that is “just right”. Their project dashboard offers a view of all projects currently active, allowing everyone on the team to stay caught up. Other features like their to-do lists, commenting system, and its reporting...

Things Reviews

11 Ayanza Alternatives
Things 3 is a multi-award-winning personal task manager that assists you in keeping track of your tasks. The environment of the application is attractive with a fresh new look, delightful integrations, and powerful features. It has been completely effective to boost efficiency with easy to use and is attractive to the eye. The themes are a creative and powerful feature that...
Five of the Best To-Do Apps for iOS
Things 3 is one of the few to-do apps that's not subscription based, and it costs $9.99 to purchase. Things 3 is also available for Mac and iPad, though each app must be purchased individually.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Things seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 58 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microsoft Project mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Microsoft Project yet. Tracking of Microsoft Project recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Things mentions (58)

  • We don't need startups, we need Digital-Mittelstand
    Correct: https://culturedcode.com/things/ Looks like the different apps (desktop, mobile, iPad) have different prices, but all are one-time payments of $10-$50. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Essential Software for Mac Users: Three Recommended Efficient Tools
    Things 3is an award-winning task management application known for its clean, elegant interface and intuitive usability. It employs a minimalist design style, allowing users to easily add, organize, and view tasks, helping individuals efficiently manage daily affairs. While Things 3 does not support team collaboration features, it provides a smooth user experience on macOS as a personal task management tool. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Show HN: I built a task manager that separates "Do" & "Due" dates
    How badly do Twos want to SEO rank on searches for Things? https://culturedcode.com/things/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: What macOS apps/programs do you use daily and recommend?
    Alfred - Productivity App for macOS [1] iTerm2 - macOS Terminal Replacement [2] Dropshare App - upload anything anywhere on macOS [3] Mimestream - A native macOS email client for Gmail [4] Things - To-Do List for Mac & iOS [5] [1] https://www.alfredapp.com [2] https://iterm2.com [3] https://dropshare.app [4] https://mimestream.com [5] https://culturedcode.com/things. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Ready to advance from Evernote, looking at Obsidian
    Currently, I use Things (https://culturedcode.com/things/) for tasks and Evernote for notes, and experimented with Freeform (I love the visual aspect and simplicity). At work, I've used Notion, Mural, Miro, LucidChart, Quip, and many other collaboration-based knowledge systems. I never researched the best of personal knowledge systems until now. Source: almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft Project and Things, you can also consider the following products

Wrike - Wrike is a flexible, scalable, and easy-to-use collaborative work management software that helps high-performance teams organize and accomplish their work. Try it now.

Todoist - Todoist is a to-do list that helps you get organized, at work and in life.

Asana - Asana project management is an effort to re-imagine how we work together, through modern productivity software. Fast and versatile, Asana helps individuals and groups get more done.

TickTick - TickTickis a cross-platform to-do list app & task manager helps you to get all things done and make life well organized.

Basecamp - A simple and elegant project management system.

Remember The Milk - Remember The Milk is a task and time management application for mobile devices.