Three Things vs PenTimer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Three Things
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Too many tasks. Too little focus. Sound familiar? Three Things is a minimalist daily planner that limits you to just 3 tasks per day. No endless to-do lists. No overwhelm. Just the 3 things that actually matter today. Unlike traditional task managers and productivity apps, Three Things uses intentional constraint to create focus. You pick your 3 priorities each morning, check them off, and build momentum through daily streaks. Why people switch from complex to-do apps: Clarity over chaos β know exactly what matters today instead of scrolling through 50 tasks. Daily streaks and completion tracking keep you consistent without pressure. A 30-second morning routine replaces complicated planning systems. All data stays on your device β no account, no cloud, no tracking. Three Things is the best daily planner for people who are overwhelmed by Todoist, Things 3, or TickTick and want something radically simpler. It works for ADHD focus, daily habit building, goal setting, and anyone who needs fewer choices to get more done. What makes Three Things different from other to-do list apps: Most productivity apps give you unlimited tasks, projects, tags, and filters. That flexibility becomes the problem. Three Things removes the decision fatigue by giving you exactly 3 slots. No categories. No sub-tasks. No priority levels. Just today's 3 most important things. This approach is based on the proven productivity principle that forcing prioritization leads to better output than managing longer lists. When you can only pick 3, you have to choose what actually matters. Built for people who want less, not more: Entrepreneurs and freelancers who need daily clarity without project management overhead. Students managing coursework, study sessions, and deadlines without complex systems. People with ADHD or executive function challenges who benefit from reduced choices. Anyone recovering from productivity app burnout who wants to actually finish things instead of organizing them. Remote workers who need a simple daily focus tool without team features they will never use. Track your progress over time: See your completion rate and daily streaks. Review your timeline of finished tasks. Get insights into your most productive days and patterns. Watch small daily wins compound into real progress over weeks and months. Privacy first β your data stays on your device. No sign-up required. No social features. No data collection. Just a clean, distraction-free planner that opens in seconds and helps you move forward every day. Stop managing tasks. Start finishing them. Privacy: https://www.notion.so/ninakolari/3-Things-Privacy-Policy-27de68c5264080099c60e4a2b26d25b2 Terms: https://www.notion.so/ninakolari/Terms-Conditions-3-things-34ce68c52640800f903ee3f68fb52b19
PenTimer
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PenTimer is a simple focus timer built around the classic 25-minute work and 5-minute break rhythm. Start a session, focus on your task, and stop whenever youβre done. Each session is saved using its real start and end time and stored as an event in Apple Calendar. These sessions are also shown as clear time blocks on a daily timeline, similar to how events appear in the Calendar app. There are no complex settings, no accounts, and no distractions. PenTimer is designed to stay out of your way and help you see how you actually spend your focused time throughout the day. Features Fixed 25-minute work sessions and 5-minute breaks Stop early or let the timer finish naturally Sessions saved as events in Apple Calendar Real start and end times recorded Daily timeline view with clear time blocks No accounts, no tracking, no ads PenTimer works entirely on your device and respects your privacy. Focus, one session at a time.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PenTimer at none against Three Things's 1. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Three Things sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PenTimer asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Three Things | PenTimer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | β |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No β better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad β better |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 0 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Katja Nina Kolari | EMIRHAN SIMSEK |
In-app purchases
Three Things
- Three Things Premium$9.99
PenTimer
No in-app purchases









