Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Things VS AFFiNE

Compare Things VS AFFiNE and see what are their differences

Things logo Things

Things is an easy to use task manager.

AFFiNE logo AFFiNE

All in one KnowledgeOS, Open alternative to Notion&Miro.
  • Things Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17
  • AFFiNE Affine-Website
    Affine-Website //
    2024-07-25

Things

$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Startup details
Country
Germany

AFFiNE

Website
affine.pro
$ Details
free $6.75 / Monthly (Affine Cloud)
Platforms
Mac OSX Google Chrome Windows
Startup details
Country
Singapore
Founder(s)
Jiachen He,and other two founders.
Employees
20 - 49

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.

AFFiNE features and specs

  • Write
    Notion like block-based page editor
  • Draw
    Miro like free style canvas
  • AFFiNE AI
    AI copilot for reading,drafting,reviewing,brainstorming,diagraming and more
  • Database
    Airtable like structured data management๏ผˆbeta๏ผ‰

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.

Analysis of AFFiNE

Overall verdict

  • AFFiNE is a robust platform, particularly valuable for those seeking a well-rounded, adaptable productivity tool. It offers a wide array of features that support efficient project management through its intuitive interface. Overall, AFFiNE is considered a good choice for those in need of a reliable productivity and collaboration tool.

Why this product is good

  • AFFiNE is known for its user-friendly design, offering a range of productivity tools that streamline workflow processes. Its features cater to both individual and team-based tasks, making it versatile for various project management needs. The platform integrates well with other software, providing seamless communication and collaboration. Additionally, AFFiNE is consistently updated based on user feedback, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of its users.

Recommended for

    AFFiNE is recommended for freelancers, small-to-medium businesses, and project managers who require effective task management and team collaboration solutions. It is especially suited for organizations looking for an easy-to-use platform that can scale with their growth and adapt to various workflow requirements.

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?

AFFiNE videos

AFFiNE AI: Notion Meets Infinite Canvas!

More videos:

  • Review - Work Culture Life At New Affine
  • Review - Affine - Notion Killer?!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Things and AFFiNE)
Task Management
80 80%
20% 20
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
80 80%
20% 20

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Things and AFFiNE.

What makes your product unique?

AFFiNE's answer:

AFFiNE is unique because it combines flexibility with strong privacy protections, making it ideal for users who value both control over their workspace and data security. The platformโ€™s canvas feature allows for a highly customizable layout, enabling users to visually organize information in a free-form, drag-and-drop manner. This flexibility supports diverse workflows, from brainstorming and project planning to note-taking and task management, making AFFiNE a versatile tool adaptable to personal and professional needs.

What sets AFFiNE apart even further is its commitment to privacy with a local-first approach. This means data is stored locally on usersโ€™ devices, safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring full offline access. As an open-source platform, AFFiNE also invites community contributions and customization, allowing users to shape the tool to fit their specific requirements. This blend of privacy, flexibility, and user-driven development creates a truly unique productivity solution.

User comments

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Reviews

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

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.

AFFiNE Reviews

15 Best Free Daily Planner Apps for 2024 (Features, Price)
AFFiNE is an innovative and comprehensive free daily planner app designed to help you organize, manage, and collaborate on tasks, projects, and information. As a next-generation knowledge base, AFFiNE combines the best features of most daily planner apps like Notion and Miro into one powerful, flexible, and user-friendly platform. It focuses on data security, privacy, and...
Source: affine.pro
5 Best Open Source Alternatives to Notion
One of the standout features of AFFiNE is its ability to seamlessly switch between paper mode and whiteboard mode (Page and Edgeless), making it a versatile tool for brainstorming, planning, and collaboration. AFFiNE has a sleek and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use, and it's highly customisable to suit your needs.
Source: affine.pro
The 5 Best Open Source Miro Alternatives in 2024
One of the standout features of AFFiNE is its ability to seamlessly switch between paper mode and whiteboard mode (Page and Edgeless), making it a versatile tool for brainstorming, planning, and collaboration. In addition to this, it creates different workspaces for managing various types of data. Whether itโ€™s your personal blog, a team repository, or a personal repository....
Source: affine.pro

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Things should be more popular than AFFiNE. 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.

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 / over 1 year 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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AFFiNE mentions (32)

  • Notion leaks email addresses of all editors of any public page
    I'd say Affine or Obsidian. Obsidian is built on-top of just markdown files, so you can do whatever you want with them. E.g. If you need multiplayer editing you could use 3rd party solutions or even something like HedgeDoc. Affine is more closer to Notion and self-hostable. Obsidian: https://obsidian.md/ Affine: https://affine.pro/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Notion leaks email addresses of all editors of any public page
    I wrote a more detailed comparison of Notion vs Obsidian here: https://bryanhogan.com/blog/notion-obsidian-comparison I kinda dislike where Notion is heading though, forcing more and more things on their users without any ways to disable them. But yes, it's capable to do what you are looking for. Maybe Affine could also work though, you can self-host it and it's more customizable: https://affine.pro/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • AFFiNE vs AppFlowy: Open-Source Notion Clones
    AFFiNE is a workspace that merges docs, whiteboards, and databases into one tool. The editor supports block-based writing similar to Notion, but adds an infinite canvas (whiteboard) mode where blocks can be freely positioned. It's built with TypeScript/React and uses PostgreSQL and Redis for the self-hosted backend. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Notion Releases Offline Mode
    I made the jump to AFFiNe (https://affine.pro/) a few months ago and have really liked using it. I am able to self host and have found it to be a _nearly_ 1:1 replacement for Notion. Affine's database implementation isn't nearly as nice though - but they are workable and they are improving. My biggest gripe is that the OSS project is very oriented around a hosted product rather than the self hosted - so things... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Tell HN: Notion Desktop is monitoring your audio and network
    Affine : https://affine.pro/ You can self host too if you like. Not all features as Notion but comes very close. Seems more private too compared to Notion. I am also looking for more private and secure Notion alternatives. My company doesnโ€™t allow using Notion. I like templates, tasks, scrum etc. Which I use for personal use. But I am reluctant on saving any personal information in it. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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

Logseq - Logseq is a local-first, non-linear, outliner notebook for organizing and sharing your personal knowledge base.

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

Obsidian.md - A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

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

Craft Docs - The writing app you've been waiting for