Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Twist VS Things

Compare Twist VS Things and see what are their differences

Twist logo Twist

Check fewer notifications, do more meaningful work. Twist is the team communication app for calmer, more organized, and more productive teamwork.

Things logo Things

Things is an easy to use task manager.
  • Twist Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-17
  • Things Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-17

Twist features and specs

  • Asynchronous Communication
    Twist is designed for asynchronous communication, which can help teams focus on deep work without constant interruptions.
  • Threaded Conversations
    The platform organizes discussions into threads, making it easier to follow and reference past conversations.
  • Searchable History
    Twist offers robust search capabilities, allowing users to easily find past messages and files.
  • Integrations
    Twist supports integrations with other tools like Google Drive, Trello, and GitHub, streamlining workflows.
  • Focus on Work-Life Balance
    Twist promotes a healthier work-life balance by reducing the pressure to respond immediately, unlike real-time chat tools.

Possible disadvantages of Twist

  • Learning Curve
    New users may find the interface and the concept of asynchronous communication challenging to get used to initially.
  • Limited Real-Time Capabilities
    For teams that require instant communication, Twist's emphasis on asynchronous messaging can be a drawback.
  • Less Popular
    Compared to other collaboration tools like Slack, Twist has a smaller user base, which might limit community support and third-party integrations.
  • Cost
    While there is a free version, advanced features are available only in the paid plans, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious teams.
  • Notification System
    Some users report that Twist's notification system can be less intuitive or less immediate compared to real-time chat platforms.

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 Twist

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Twist is considered a good tool for teams that value clear, organized communication without the constant interruption of real-time chat. It is particularly beneficial for remote and distributed teams who work across different time zones.

Why this product is good

  • Twist is popular due to its focus on asynchronous communication, which helps reduce the pressure of constant notifications and the 'always-on' culture that traditional real-time chat applications can foster. It offers organized and threaded conversations, making it easier to follow discussions and find necessary information. Its clean and user-friendly interface, along with integrations with other productivity tools, further adds to its appeal.

Recommended for

    Twist is recommended for teams and organizations that prioritize deep work and need a communication tool that supports async workflows. It is especially suited for remote teams, freelancers, and any groups aiming to minimize distractions while maintaining effective communication.

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.

Twist videos

Twist | Full Review: Slack Killer?!

More videos:

  • Review - These are still LEGAL! Twist Disposable Pods Review!
  • Review - Twist Review: Features, Pricing & Thoughts

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 Twist and Things)
Communication
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
29 29%
71% 71
Project Management
14 14%
86% 86

User comments

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Reviews

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

Twist Reviews

15 Best Instant Messaging Apps for Business
Twist organizes all team communication in one central location. Team conversations can be grouped by channels that can be public or private, and messages can be sent without interfering with thread discussions.
Source: clariti.app
14 of the Best Slack Alternatives for 2022
Twist is the communication software ideal for asyncronous teams. Its model moves away from real-time conversations into "deeper, structured communication" via their "Threads" feature. Instead of a group chat, users must designate a specific "thread" for conversations related to that topic. One-on-one and small group chat is also available for conversations that don't require...
Twist vs Slack: The Calmer Way to Work
Related articles Twist vs. Email: The More Organized Way to Work What are the benefits of using Twist with Todoist? How guests work in Twist How to use Twist and Todoist together Access & Security FAQs

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 should be more popular than Twist. 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.

Twist mentions (23)

  • Show HN: Dock โ€“ Slack minus the bloat, tax, and 90-day memory loss
    The reasoning behind the product seems incredibly similar to Twist[0]. What would be the key differences besides โ€œnew is always betterโ€? [0]: https://twist.com. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Shopify is acquiring the Threads team
    If you are looking for an alternative thatโ€™s even more async than Threads, check out https://twist.com/ We (Doist) have been developing it since 2015. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • A list of SaaS, PaaS and IaaS offerings that have free tiers of interest to devops and infradev
    Twist.com โ€” An asynchronous-friendly team communication app where conversations stay organized and on-topic. Free and Unlimited plans are available. Discounts are provided for eligible teams. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Atlassian to buy Loom for nearly $1B
    Doist Inc. With Twist (https://twist.com). A sane replacement for slack that focus on making your life easier, and get actual job done by levering the concept of "threads" s first-class citizen that bridge the gap between instant chat where direct communication is needed and task manager where you need to declare a discussion to be open or closed. They side with the "Deep Work" philoshopy, and encourage (written)... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • I don't want this to happen to my own startup. What do you recommend?
    I Use a system like Twist for internal communication that encourages thoughtful responses, allows you to search through it later to get to how decisions were arrived at, and doesn't distract you all day like slack does. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

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

What are some alternatives?

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

Slack - A messaging app for teams who see through the Earth!

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

Mattermost - Mattermost is an open source alternative to Slack.

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

Flock - A faster way for your team to communicate

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