TaskSpot vs Things: Simple Task Management vs Premium Mac App
Things and TaskSpot both focus on simplicity, but they serve different ecosystems. Things is a premium Mac and iOS app known for beautiful design. TaskSpot is a free web-based tool that works everywhere. Which one fits your needs?
Comparison Summary
TaskSpot is a minimalist, free-forever task manager built for daily planning. Five views—Today, Tomorrow, Backlog, Done, and Deleted—keep you focused without distractions, with the core workflow centered on Today and Tomorrow. Works on any device with a browser.
Things is a premium task management app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Known for beautiful design and thoughtful features, but limited to Apple devices and requires paid apps.
Quick verdict: Choose TaskSpot if you want free, cross-platform access. Choose Things if you're all-in on Apple devices and don't mind paying for premium apps.
Who This Is For
This comparison helps:
- Apple users deciding between premium native and free web-based tools
- Cross-platform users who need access on non-Apple devices
- Anyone seeking a free alternative to Things
- Daily planners comparing premium vs. free solutions
- Users looking for cross-platform access without device limitations
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Platform Availability
TaskSpot: Web-based and works on any device with a browser—Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android. Universal access regardless of your device.
Things: Native apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad only. Limited to Apple ecosystem. No web access or Android/Windows support.
Winner: TaskSpot for cross-platform access; Things for Apple ecosystem integration.
Pricing
TaskSpot: Free forever with all essential features. No credit card required, no limitations on core functionality.
Things: Paid apps for each platform. Mac app, iPhone app, and iPad app are separate purchases. Pricing varies by platform and region.
Winner: TaskSpot for free access; Things for premium native experience.
Simplicity and Design
TaskSpot: Clean, minimal interface focused on six views (Today, Tomorrow, Upcoming, Backlog, Done, Deleted) with priorities, urgency flags, and due dates. Features keyboard shortcuts (j/k/x/e), drag-and-drop, daily streaks, and morning briefing emails. Simple and functional.
Things: Beautiful, thoughtful design with attention to detail. Known for excellent user experience and design quality.
Winner: Things for design quality; TaskSpot for simplicity.
Daily Planning Focus
TaskSpot: Built specifically for daily planning. Today and Tomorrow views help you focus on immediate priorities. The Backlog captures everything else without cluttering your daily view. Done and Deleted views help you track completed tasks.
Things: Offers Today view and planning features. Daily planning works well, but the interface is more complex with areas, projects, and tags.
Winner: TaskSpot for dedicated daily planning workflow.
Learning Curve
TaskSpot: Start immediately. No tutorials needed. The five-view structure (Today, Tomorrow, Backlog, Done, Deleted) is intuitive from the first use.
Things: Well-designed but requires understanding areas, projects, and tags. More complex than simple task lists, though still simpler than many task managers.
Winner: TaskSpot for immediate usability.
Organization Features
TaskSpot: Simple organization through views (Today, Tomorrow, Backlog, Done, Deleted) with priorities, urgency flags, and due dates. No complex hierarchies.
Things: Supports areas, projects, tags, and headings. More organization options than TaskSpot, but adds complexity.
Winner: Things for organization features; TaskSpot for simplicity.
Apple Integration
TaskSpot: Standalone web app. No Apple integration. Works independently of any ecosystem.
Things: Native Apple apps with system integration. Works seamlessly with macOS and iOS, but limited to Apple devices.
Winner: Things for Apple ecosystem integration; TaskSpot for cross-platform access.
Mobile Experience
TaskSpot: Web-based and fully responsive. Works on any device with a browser—no downloads needed.
Things: Native iOS apps for iPhone and iPad. If you're on Apple devices, the native experience is excellent.
Winner: Things for native Apple apps; TaskSpot for universal browser access.
Setup and Configuration
TaskSpot: Zero setup. Sign up and start adding tasks immediately.
Things: Requires purchasing and downloading apps for each platform. Setup is minimal once apps are installed, but requires upfront purchase.
Winner: TaskSpot for instant start; Things for seamless setup if you're already on Apple devices.
Offline Access
TaskSpot: Requires internet connection. Web-based access only.
Things: Native apps work offline. Great if you need offline access to your tasks.
Winner: Things for offline access; TaskSpot for web-based convenience.
Philosophy
TaskSpot: Minimalism and accessibility. Free, web-based tool that works anywhere, on any device.
Things: Premium quality and design. Native Apple apps with beautiful design and thoughtful features, but limited to Apple ecosystem.
Winner: Depends on your philosophy—accessibility vs. premium design.
When to Choose TaskSpot
Choose TaskSpot if you:
- Use multiple platforms: You need access on Windows, Android, or non-Apple devices
- Want free forever: You prefer free tools over paid apps
- Want web-based access: You prefer using a browser over native apps
- Focus on daily planning: You plan your day each morning and want dedicated Today/Tomorrow views
- Want instant start: You don't want to purchase or download apps
- Need cross-platform: You access tasks on multiple device types
- Prefer simplicity: You want the simplest possible task management
When to Choose Things
Choose Things if you:
- Use only Apple devices: You're all-in on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
- Want premium design: You value beautiful, thoughtful app design
- Prefer native apps: You want the native macOS/iOS experience
- Need offline access: You want to access tasks without internet
- Don't mind paying: You're comfortable purchasing apps for each platform
- Want organization features: You need areas, projects, and tags for complex organization
- Value Apple integration: You want apps that integrate seamlessly with macOS and iOS
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | TaskSpot | Things |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | ✅ Minimal | ⚠️ Moderate |
| Best For | Cross-platform planning | Premium Apple users |
| Philosophy | Accessibility | Premium design |
| Setup Time | ✅ Zero | ⚠️ Moderate* |
| Complexity | ✅ Low | ⚠️ Moderate |
| Free Features | ✅ All features | ❌ Paid |
| Platform Support | ✅ Any device | ❌ Apple only |
| Offline Access | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
*Requires app purchase
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TaskSpot really free?
Yes. TaskSpot offers all essential features for free, forever. No credit card required, no account requirements beyond a basic email signup. You can manage tasks with priorities, urgency flags, and due dates; use Today/Tomorrow views; access your Backlog; and track completed tasks in Done and Deleted views without paying anything.
Can I use TaskSpot on my Mac or iPhone?
Yes. TaskSpot is web-based and fully responsive. It works seamlessly on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and any device with a browser. Simply visit taskspot.app in Safari or any browser—no app download needed.
Does Things work on Android or Windows?
No. Things is designed for Apple devices only—Mac, iPhone, and iPad. There's no Android or Windows version. If you need cross-platform access, TaskSpot is the better choice.
Which is better for daily planning?
TaskSpot is designed specifically for daily planning with dedicated Today and Tomorrow views. Things offers Today view and planning features, but TaskSpot's workflow is more focused on daily planning.
Can I migrate from Things to TaskSpot?
Yes. While there's no automatic import tool, you can manually move your tasks. Focus on migrating your "Today" tasks first, then add Tomorrow tasks, and finally move everything else to your Backlog.
Does TaskSpot have offline access?
No. TaskSpot is web-based and requires an internet connection. If offline access is essential, Things is the better choice.
Which app is simpler?
TaskSpot is simpler by design. It focuses solely on task management with three clear views. Things offers more organization features (areas, projects, tags), which adds complexity.
Can I use both apps?
Absolutely. Some people use TaskSpot for cross-platform access and Things for premium native Apple experience. Choose the tool that fits each use case.
Try TaskSpot
If you need cross-platform access or want task management without paying for premium apps, TaskSpot might be exactly what you need. It's free, requires zero setup, and works on any device with a browser.
Get started with TaskSpot for free—no credit card required. See if free cross-platform simplicity beats premium Apple apps for your workflow.
Looking for more comparisons? Check out our TaskSpot vs other task managers guide.