Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Things VS Routine

Compare Things VS Routine and see what are their differences

Things logo Things

Things is an easy to use task manager.

Routine logo Routine

Todo and notes taking app for busy professionals
  • Things Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17
  • Routine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-19

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.

Routine features and specs

  • Comprehensive Task Management
    Routine provides a robust set of features for task management, including to-do lists, deadlines, and project tracking, which helps users stay organized and keep track of their responsibilities.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all skill levels and ensuring a smooth user experience.
  • Cross-Platform Sync
    Routine allows users to synchronize their tasks and schedules across multiple devices, ensuring they can access their information anytime, anywhere.
  • Integration with Other Apps
    Routine offers integration with popular apps and services, such as calendars and email clients, which can streamline workflows and centralize task management.
  • Customizable Notifications
    Users can set up personalized reminders and notifications, ensuring they never miss important deadlines or meetings.

Possible disadvantages of Routine

  • Subscription Cost
    Routine operates on a subscription-based model, which might be a barrier for some users who are looking for a free task management solution.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly design, the multitude of features can initially be overwhelming, requiring some time for new users to learn and adapt.
  • Internet Dependency
    The platform requires an internet connection for syncing and accessing information, which can be a limitation for users in areas with unreliable internet access.
  • Occasional Bugs
    As with any software, users may encounter occasional bugs or glitches that can hinder productivity and require technical support.
  • Feature Overload
    Some users may find the extensive range of features to be excessive if they only need basic task management capabilities, making the platform unnecessarily complex.

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 Routine

Overall verdict

  • Routine is considered a good tool for individuals who value consolidating their productivity processes into a single platform. It has received positive feedback for its user-friendly interface and efficiency enhancements, although individual experience may vary.

Why this product is good

  • Routine (routine.co) is known for being a productivity tool designed to help users manage their tasks, events, and notes seamlessly in one place. It emphasizes ease of use and aims to improve productivity by integrating with other popular tools and providing a unified workspace.

Recommended for

  • Freelancers and remote workers looking to streamline their productivity processes
  • Teams needing a unified tool to manage tasks and schedules
  • Individuals seeking to integrate various productivity apps into one cohesive system

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?

Routine videos

Routine: A New Daily Planner - App Review

More videos:

  • Review - SKKN by Kim Kardashian: Reaction to Her Skincare Routine & My Review (First Impression) | Susan Yara
  • Review - My ultimate anti-ageing evening routine with Dermatica AD

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Things and Routine)
Task Management
85 85%
15% 15
Productivity
72 72%
28% 28
Project Management
81 81%
19% 19
Todos
93 93%
7% 7

User comments

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

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

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.

Routine Reviews

  1. Nick
    ยท User ยท
    It's look pretty!

    It's even a little more clunky than Notion.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Sunsama, Taskade
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Usability
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    $12/month

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Things seems to be a lot more popular than Routine. While we know about 58 links to Things, we've tracked only 4 mentions of Routine. 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

Routine mentions (4)

  • A replacement for Apple Calendar, Notes, Reminders and Contacts
    I'd like it to be an all-in-one solution as I'd rather not pay 2 or 3 subscriptions for it. routine.co seems to fit the bill, but it also looks far from mature. Are there any other all-encompassing solutions? Source: over 3 years ago
  • New planner app (alternative to Sunsuma, Akiflow, Amie)
    Here's a link with the sneaky referral code https://routine.co. Source: about 4 years ago
  • What apps do you use the most on iPhone?
    The one that summarize texts, check routine.co also. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Launch HN: Routine (YC W21) โ€“ Tasks, notes and calendar all in one product
    Definitely agree. Looks like what you are describing is Routine (http://routine.co) :). - Source: Hacker News / over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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

Sunsama - Calendar and scheduling for teams

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

Superlist - Superlist is a beautifully designed task management app for individuals and teams, combining to-do lists, collaboration, reminders, and AI meeting notes in one place.

Trello - Infinitely flexible. Incredibly easy to use. Great mobile apps. It's free. Trello keeps track of everything, from the big picture to the minute details.