PalomaApple Reminders vs Things 3: which should you use?
These two aren't really competing for the same job. Things 3 is a carefully designed personal planner you buy once per device, built for projects and areas of responsibility. Apple Reminders is a free capture tool that happens to include geofenced location alerts — the one capability Things deliberately doesn't have.
| Feature | Apple Reminders | Things 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | One-time purchase, per platform |
| Location reminders (arrive / leave) | Yes | Not supported — official workaround is Reminders or Shortcuts |
| Projects, areas, headings | Lists and smart lists only | Yes, its core strength |
| Design and keyboard workflow | Functional | Apple Design Award winner |
| Typed natural-language dates | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch — all included | Apple only, purchased separately per device |
| List sharing / collaboration | Yes, via iCloud | No, single-user by design |
| Subscription required | No | No |
Where Apple Reminders wins
It's free, it's on every Apple device you already own, it shares lists with family, and it does location reminders — which Things simply doesn't. For anyone whose main need is "remind me at a time or a place," Reminders is the complete answer at zero cost.
Where Things 3 wins
Things is one of the best-designed task managers ever shipped on Apple platforms. Areas, projects, headings, a genuinely fast keyboard flow, and no subscription. If you plan multi-step work rather than just capturing errands, it's worth the money — and Reminders won't come close.
The gap neither one closes
Things has no location reminders at all, and Reminders makes the place a separate step you fill in after writing the task. Paloma exists for that specific gap on iPhone: type "drop off the parcel when I leave home" and it reads the errand, the place, and the trigger from the sentence, then keeps the place for next time. It's not a planner and doesn't try to replace Things.
Questions
Does Things 3 have location reminders?
No. Cultured Code's own guidance for location-based needs is to use Apple's Reminders app instead, or build a Shortcuts automation that watches a geofence and edits a Things to-do.
Is Things 3 worth it when Apple Reminders is free?
If you plan actual projects, yes for a lot of people — Things' areas, projects, headings, and keyboard-driven flow are well beyond what Reminders does. If you mostly capture single to-dos and location alerts, Reminders covers it at no cost.
Is Things 3 a subscription?
No. Things is a one-time purchase, bought separately for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple Reminders is free on all of them.
Can I use both together?
Plenty of people do — projects and planning in Things, and Apple Reminders (or a dedicated app) for the geofenced "remind me when I get there" alerts Things doesn't support.
The reminder Things can't set.
Paloma does location reminders from a typed sentence, on iPhone.
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