I used to be a Things man, until I got an iPad and wanted a to-do app that could sync between it and my iPhone. That’s when I switched to Omnifocus, and I haven’t looked back since.
This isn’t a Things versus Omnifocus review – those have been done long in breadth by writers better versed than I – this is a broad impression of both apps and why I’ve chosen one over the other.
Getting Things Done in Same but Different Ways
Things and Omnifocus are both iOS apps built upon the Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity system created by David Allen. But the two apps present the same principles in different ways; Things is slim and elegant, while OmniFocus is full-bodied and muscular.
Things is simpler, and strikes me as an app that anyone can use and pick up as a to-do app, even if they don’t know about or use GTD. OmniFocus sticks more rigidly to GTD, which makes it more difficult for non-GTD practitioners to use, but which makes it a better fit for GTD-ers.
Elegance vs. Power
OmniFocus requires a steeper learning curve but offers more flexibility and power with the corresponding complexity. This isn’t to say that using OmniFocus is a daunting task, indeed I’d say that the Omni Group has found a balance between complexity, power and ease of use with OmniFocus’ design for the iPhone and iPad.
Things is elegant and easier to use from the start, but it doesn’t has the flexibility that OmniFocus possesses. Generally, adding a task requires less work in Things, but tasks are better sorted in OmniFocus.
For example, the due date setting in Things is limited to date only, so that the task shows up during the entire day in the Today list. Due dates in OmniFocus however, let you input specific times for when the task is due. It sounds like a little thing, but helps when I have a list of things to do during and after work, and I don’t want the after work tasks to show up during my workday when I can’t act on them.
OmniFocus has its drawbacks as well; Things is beautiful in a way that OmniFocus is not, and I miss the lack of a dedicated Someday/Maybe space, which is a part of the GTD process and present in Things.
Sync Seals the Deal
While I enjoy Things’ elegance, OmniFocus’ ability to sync over the air seals the deal for me. OmniFocus syncs your to-do lists with their servers, so what I do on my iPhone OmniFocus app is automagically mirrored when I open my iPad OmniFocus app. Despite having switched devices, it’s as if I never left.
At the moment, you can only sync Things through Wi-Fi when your devices are on the same network. Things Cloud Sync is currently in beta and open via invite only.
Why Pay $19.99 for an iPhone App?
Neither Things nor OmniFocus are cheap apps, but Things is more affordable than OmniFocus. Things for iPhone costs US$9.99, while Things for iPad costs US$19.99. In contrast, Omnifocus for iPhone costs US$19.99, and the iPad version costs US$39.99. Both Things and OmniFocus have Mac versions which cost US$49.99 and US$79.99 respectively. A full suite of Things will cost you nearly US$80, while the OmniFocus suite will cost you near US$140.
So why pay so much for a to-do app?
I can’t answer for you, but the answer is easy for me: My memory sucks. I often remember things to do only to forget them moments later. So I need a dependable device to offload what’s in my head into. Omnifocus does that for me, and it keeps me productive by helping me remember what I need to do, when I need to do it.
To borrow from the famous photography quote which says ‘the best camera is the one that’s with you’; the best information capture tool is the way that’s with you and my iPhone is always with me. I’ll admit that OmniFocus for the iPad was an extravagant buy on my part, but I enjoy reviewing my tasks using the iPad’s larger screen – it’s as if seeing more of the screen helps me see the larger view.
One app winning a place on my iPhone doesn’t mean the other app has lost. After using the two apps for some time; two years with Things for iPhone, half a year with OmniFocus for iPhone & iPad, I still enjoy the both of them – they’re just tools with diverse emphasis.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I also recommend you ti give shot on Remember The Milk (RTM). It has great interface and syncs with both iPad, iPhone, Mac, Blackberry (this is the best feature for me) and any PC or tablet which have a web browser.
Besides, it is much cheaper.
2do is cheaper still and excellent.