Around
Things 3
| Feature | Around | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10.99/mo | From $9.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Best For | remote-teams, quick-standups, pair-programming, distributed-teams | apple-users, gtd-practitioners, individuals, design-lovers |
| Founded | 2020 | 2009 |
| Floating Video | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Leveling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Noise Cancellation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Screen Sharing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reactions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Virtual Backgrounds | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inbox | ✗ | ✓ |
| Today View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Areas And Projects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Headings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Quick Entry | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Around Pros
- Lightweight and fast
- Minimal floating interface
- Good noise cancellation
- Reduces meeting fatigue
✗ Around Cons
- Limited features vs Zoom
- Smaller user base
- No recording on free
✓ Things 3 Pros
- One-time purchase (no subscription)
- Stunning Apple-native design
- GTD workflow built in
- Keyboard shortcuts and natural language
✗ Things 3 Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- No collaboration features
- No web version
The Verdict
Around is built for remote teams and quick standups, with a focus on floating-video and auto-leveling. Things 3 targets apple users and gtd practitioners and leads with inbox and today-view.
Pricing is close: Things 3 starts at $9.99/mo versus $10.99/mo for Around — not a deciding factor on its own.
Around has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Things 3 requires a paid subscription from day one.
Things 3 edges out on user ratings (4.8 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Bottom line: Things 3 has a slight overall edge — but if lightweight and fast matters most to you, Around may still be the right call.