Software Alternatives & Startups

NotePlan VS Things

Compare NotePlan VS Things and see what are their differences

NotePlan

Make plans inside an individual markdown note for every day in your calendar. Use it as a journal for your daily tasks and plan todos in advance. For Mac, iPhone and iPad.

NotePlan Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Things

Things is an easy to use task manager.

Things Landing page
Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Things should be more popular than NotePlan. It has been mentioned 58 times since March 2021.

social mentions
36 vs 58
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

NotePlan
Things
Website noteplan.co culturedcode.com
Pricing
Open source
Company Startup from Germany
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

NotePlan 7 features
Things 7 features
  • Markdown Support
    NotePlan supports Markdown, allowing users to write notes in a clean and easy-to-format manner.
  • Calendar Integration
    It integrates seamlessly with your calendar, providing a consolidated view of notes, tasks, and events.
  • Task Management
    Users can manage tasks and to-do lists directly within the app, making it great for productivity.
  • Cross-Platform Sync
    NotePlan offers cross-platform syncing, enabling access to notes on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices.
  • Daily Notes
    The concept of daily notes helps in journaling and keeping track of daily activities.
  • Tagging System
    An efficient tagging system helps in organizing and finding notes quickly.
  • Quick Capture
    The quick capture feature enables jotting down thoughts and tasks swiftly.

Possible disadvantages

  • Price
    NotePlan is not free and may be considered expensive for casual note-takers.
  • Learning Curve
    The extensive features might require some time for new users to learn and adapt.
  • Limited Platform Availability
    It’s only available on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, leaving out Windows and Android users.
  • No Web Access
    There is no web access, which can be a limitation for some users who prefer browser-based tools.
  • No Collaboration Features
    NotePlan lacks robust collaboration features, which makes it less suitable for team projects.
  • 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

  • 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

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

NotePlan
Things

Overall verdict

  • Overall, NotePlan is a good choice for those who prefer a minimalist yet powerful tool for managing notes and tasks. It effectively caters to individuals looking for a cohesive system that integrates note-taking with scheduling, making it a viable option for personal and professional productivity needs.

Why this product is good

  • NotePlan is a well-regarded productivity tool because it combines the functionalities of note-taking, to-do lists, and a calendar in a single application. Its strengths include seamless integration with macOS and iOS, Markdown support for note formatting, and an intuitive interface that makes it easy to manage tasks and notes. Users appreciate its focus on personal productivity and the ability to link notes with tasks and calendar events, which aids in organizing projects and daily plans efficiently.

Recommended for

    NotePlan is particularly recommended for users who are deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and prefer using apps that offer robust integrations with iOS and macOS. It is ideal for people who like using Markdown for note-taking and those who want a lightweight app that can manage tasks and notes simultaneously in a linked manner. Additionally, individuals who value a clean, distraction-free interface for productivity will likely find NotePlan to be a good fit.

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.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

NotePlan 4 videos + Add
Things 3 videos + Add

NotePlan 3 Review

More videos

  • Review - Noteplan 3 - Link your Notes with Apple's Reminder and Calendar App
  • Review - Walkthrough of NotePlan 3 — Notetaker, calendar, digital bullet journal all in one app
  • Review - The Best Bullet Journal App | NotePlan 3 Review

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

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
NotePlan
Things
100% 100%
0% 0%
12% 12%
88% 88%
24% 24%
76% 76%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using NotePlan and Things. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

NotePlan no reviews yet
Things no reviews yet

We have no reviews of NotePlan yet. Be the first one to post

  • 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...

  • Five of the Best To-Do Apps for iOS
    www.macrumors.com · Feb 2020

    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

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

NotePlan 36 mentions
Things 58 mentions
  • Ask HN: YAML or Markdown for Personal Notes?
    Https://noteplan.co, if you're on a macOS/iOS device. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What Process/Applications Do You Use for Todo/Knowledge Management?
    I'm using NotePlan (https://noteplan.co) and loving it. It's a macOS/iOS app (there's a somewhat limited Web version). IMO, the best balance between PKM and task manager/calendar management. I've also tried Amplenote... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: How do you manage ideas, tasks, notes and other stuff?
    I've been using NotePlan (https://noteplan.co) with the Projects + Reviews plugin. It's been a game changer for me. The (almost) perfect combination of tasks + notes. I also manage my personal stuff with it. It's a paid macOS app but,... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago

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  • 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... - 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

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Alternatives to NotePlan and Things

When comparing NotePlan and Things, you can also consider the following products.