Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Things VS OpenClaw

Compare Things VS OpenClaw and see what are their differences

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Things logo Things

Things is an easy to use task manager.

OpenClaw logo OpenClaw

The AI that actually does things. Your personal assistant on any platform.
  • Things Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17
  • OpenClaw Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-05-09

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.

OpenClaw features and specs

  • Open-Source
    OpenClaw is open-source, allowing for transparency and community-driven development.
  • Interoperability
    OpenClaw is designed to work with a variety of platforms and systems, enhancing its applicability.
  • Cost-Effective
    Being open-source, it can be more cost-effective for organizations as there are no licensing fees.
  • Customizability
    Users can modify the software to fit their unique needs and integrate into their specific workflows.

Possible disadvantages of OpenClaw

  • Learning Curve
    Users may face a steep learning curve, especially those unfamiliar with open-source projects.
  • Support Limitations
    Limited official support may be available, potentially requiring reliance on community forums for assistance.
  • Security Concerns
    Open-source projects can have vulnerabilities if not regularly updated and maintained.
  • Dependency on Community
    Development and bug fixes are largely dependent on community contributions, which can be inconsistent.

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 OpenClaw

Overall verdict

  • OpenClaw appears to be a capable AI-focused tool, but as with any emerging service, its quality depends heavily on your specific needs and how well its features align with your workflow. Independent reviews and hands-on testing are recommended before committing.

Why this product is good

  • Positioned in the growing AI tools space, which can offer automation and productivity benefits
  • Web-based platforms like this typically provide accessibility across devices without heavy setup
  • May offer specialized features tailored to AI-driven tasks or workflows

Recommended for

  • Users exploring AI-powered automation and productivity tools
  • Developers or teams looking to integrate AI capabilities into their projects
  • Early adopters willing to test emerging platforms and provide feedback

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?

OpenClaw videos

OpenClaw Explained in 12 Minutes (for beginners)

More videos:

  • Review - Mac Mini M4 + OpenClaw Is Dangerous
  • Tutorial - OpenClaw Full Tutorial for Beginners โ€“ How to Set Up and Use OpenClaw (ClawdBot / MoltBot)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Things and OpenClaw)
Task Management
100 100%
0% 0
AI
0 0%
100% 100
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
56 56%
44% 44

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 OpenClaw

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.

OpenClaw Reviews

We have no reviews of OpenClaw yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Things might be a bit more popular than OpenClaw. We know about 58 links to it since March 2021 and only 42 links to OpenClaw. 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
View more

OpenClaw mentions (42)

  • AI Coding Tip 020 - Create a Second Brain
    Set up OpenClaw or a local LLM (Ollama or LM Studio) to index your vault and answer questions via Telegram or WhatsApp, as a private assistant that never sends your data to the cloud. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Securely Deploying OpenClaw on a VPS With Enterprise Grade Access Control
    This post is that missing piece. It covers the mental model, the decisions you'll face, the risk surface, and the traps that waste hours. It's opinionated. I built and hardened an OpenClaw deployment on a Linux VPS, and these are the things I wish someone had laid out for me before I started typing commands. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Hijacking OpenClaw with Claude
    If you've come this far to read my post I'm assuming you know what OpenClaw is ยฏ_(ใƒ„)/ยฏ I mean it's not like it has the largest growing repo in history ยฏ_(ใƒ„)/ยฏ. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Stop Configuring the Same LLMs Over and Over: Introducing LLMC
    Take Claude Code: while you can use other models, there is a persistent nudge suggesting that things "just work better" if you stay within the Anthropic paid subscription. We see similar patterns with GeminiCLI, Qwen Code, and OpenClaw. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Meet Friedrich Niche: The OpenClaw Personality That Refuses to Make You Comfortable
    He is part of famous-souls, a drop-in personality pack for OpenClaw agents. One SOUL.md file, and your assistant stops being a yes-machine. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

ChatGPT - ChatGPT is a powerful, open-source language model.

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

OpenClaw Direct - Hosted OpenClaw, Fully Managed. No technical skills needed. We handle the tech so you can start chatting with your AI assistant right away.

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

Manus - AI agent bridges thoughts and actions, excelling in work and life tasks like personalized travel, stock analysis, insurance comparisons, and supplier sourcing, autonomously completing tasks and providing insights while users rest.