Intenca Progress vs Things 3: Pragmatism vs Polish

Anyone who's used Things 3 for years knows the feeling. Loved it. Still respect it.

But here's a familiar scenario: bouncing between a Mac and an Android phone, frustrated that your task manager only lives on half your devices. You start thinking about what you actually need from a goal management tool — and that's how Intenca Progress came to be.

Before we get into the comparison, let's say this upfront: "best" is subjective. Things 3 is a masterpiece of design. Progress was built because we needed something different. Both are valid.

What is Things 3?

Things 3 is a beautiful, Mac-first task manager from Cultured Code. It's been around for over a decade, and it shows — the polish is incredible. Every animation, every interaction feels intentional. It's the gold standard for what a well-designed productivity app looks like.

But it's Mac and iOS only. No web app. No Android. And at $50+ for the Mac version (plus the iPhone and iPad versions sold separately), it's not cheap.

What is Intenca Progress?

Intenca is a suite of intentional technology apps we're building. Progress is the goal management piece — designed around life goals, not just daily tasks.

The idea is simple: you define your Areas of Interest, break them into projects and tasks, and track your progress over time. No guilt when you miss a day. No streaks punishing you for being human. Just positive, forward motion.

It works on any device with a browser. That matters more than most people expect.

Design & Polish

Things 3 wins here. No contest.

Things 3 is beautiful in a way that makes you want to open it. The typography, the spacing, the smooth gestures — it's a pleasure to use. Cultured Code spent years refining every pixel, and it shows.

Progress is functional. Clean, minimal, but not at the Things 3 level. We're a small team, not a design studio. The interface is simple by design — we wanted it to get out of your way, not impress you with animations.

That being said, there's something to be said for an app that doesn't demand your attention with its own beauty. Sometimes you just want a tool that works.

Cross-Platform Access

Progress wins here.

Things 3 is trapped in the Apple ecosystem. No web app, no Windows, no Android. If you're all-in on Apple, this might not matter. But if you use multiple platforms — and many people do — it's a dealbreaker.

Progress is a web app. Works everywhere. Phone, tablet, laptop, whatever. Use it on your Mac at home and your Android phone on the go. Same data, same experience.

Philosophy & Approach

This is where the two diverge most.

Things 3 is built around the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology. It's about capturing, organizing, and completing tasks. It's a productivity tool, pure and simple. You tick things off, you feel good, you move on.

Progress is built around life goals. It's not about getting more done — it's about getting the right things done over time. Skill accumulation, knowledge tracking, long-term growth. The task management is there, but it serves the larger goal, not the other way around.

If you want to manage your daily workflow, Things 3 is excellent. If you want to manage your life direction, Progress might make more sense.

Day-to-Day Experience

Here's a concrete example. In Things 3, the typical workflow is: open the app, see your inbox with items piling up, tag things by priority, and start checking boxes. It feels productive. You're moving fast, completing tasks, clearing the deck.

But at the end of the week, you can't point to what you actually made progress on. You did a lot of stuff — but toward what?

With Progress, you start your day by looking at your Areas of Interest — programming, writing, health. Under each area, you see the projects and tasks that move you forward in that direction. Your MIT (Most Important Task) is pinned at the top. You do that first. Everything else is secondary.

The difference is subtle but real. Things 3 makes you feel efficient. Progress makes you feel directed.

Who Should Use What

If you're a freelancer or professional who needs to manage client work, deadlines, and project stages — Things 3 is probably the better tool. It shines in that environment.

If you're someone trying to learn a new skill, build a side project, or figure out what you want to do with your time — Progress might serve you better.

And if you use both macOS and Android, or switch between devices — the cross-platform factor alone might make the decision for you.

Pricing

Things 3 is a premium product at a premium price. Around $50 for Mac, $20 for iPhone, $20 for iPad. No subscription, which is nice — you buy it once and you own it.

Progress is a subscription, but more affordable. There's a free tier to try it out, and the paid plan is reasonable. We wanted to keep it accessible.

Different models for different audiences.

Let's be honest: the subscription model exists because we're actively building Progress. Every subscription funds new features, improvements, and server costs. Things 3 is finished — you pay once and get a mature product. Trade-offs on both sides.

The Catch

We built Progress, so there's bias. You should know that.

Things 3 has a decade of refinement behind it. It's stable, reliable, and deeply vetted by thousands of users. Progress is newer. It works, but it doesn't have that long track record yet.

On the flip side, Things 3 isn't evolving much anymore. It's mature — practically finished. Progress is actively developed. New features, improvements, and refinements happen regularly.

Integration & Ecosystem

Things 3 integrates with everything Apple — Reminders, Calendar, Siri, Shortcuts. It's deeply woven into the ecosystem. If you live in Apple's world, Things 3 becomes part of your muscle memory.

Progress is more focused. It integrates with what matters for goal tracking — but it doesn't try to replace your calendar or notes app. It does one thing and does it well.

That focus is intentional. We didn't want to build another everything app. We wanted a tool that stayed out of the way and let you focus on your goals.

Final Verdict

Use Things 3 if you're in the Apple ecosystem, you value design polish above all else, and your productivity needs are task-focused.

Use Intenca Progress if you want cross-platform access, a life-goal-oriented approach, and a tool that grows with you.

Or use both. We won't tell.

For another angle, see how Progress compares to Apple Reminders — a surprisingly capable option on its own turf.

Now, about that tool we mentioned. Intenca is a suite of intentional technology apps we're building. Progress is the goal management piece — it's about skill and knowledge accumulation over streaks or rigid scheduling. You define your areas of interest, track your growth, and move forward without guilt when life gets in the way. No punishment for missing a day — just positive momentum.

If that sounds like what you need, give it a try: Try Intenca Progress

Good luck, stranger.