Focusmate
Things 3
| Feature | Focusmate | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $6.99/mo | From $9.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Best For | remote-workers, freelancers, students, adhd-professionals | apple-users, gtd-practitioners, individuals, design-lovers |
| Founded | 2016 | 2009 |
| Video Coworking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Session Booking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Accountability Partner | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Session History | ✓ | ✗ |
| Community | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inbox | ✗ | ✓ |
| Today View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Areas And Projects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Headings | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Quick Entry | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Focusmate Pros
- Powerful accountability through social presence
- Free plan includes 3 sessions/week
- Global community available 24/7
- Proven to reduce procrastination
✗ Focusmate Cons
- Requires camera on (can feel awkward)
- Limited to 25/50/75 min sessions
- Depends on partner availability
✓ 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
Focusmate is built for remote workers and freelancers, with a focus on video-coworking and session-booking. Things 3 targets apple users and gtd practitioners and leads with inbox and today-view.
Pricing is close: Focusmate starts at $6.99/mo versus $9.99/mo for Things 3 — not a deciding factor on its own.
Focusmate 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.
Bottom line: Things 3 has a slight overall edge — but if powerful accountability through social presence matters most to you, Focusmate may still be the right call.