Comparison

Three Things vs Start Now

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Three Things

Read full description

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 — 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 — 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 — 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

About

Start Now

This app helps you overcome procrastination by focusing on starting tasks with a simple, one-tap timer. Track your progress and build consistency with a clean, minimalist design.

Highlights
  • One-tap focus timer
  • Unlimited task creation (Pro)
  • Progress tracking
  • Daily and weekly stats
  • Gentle reminders
  • Minimalist design
Features
Read full description

Stop waiting. Start doing. Start Now helps you overcome procrastination by making it easy to begin. Instead of overwhelming to-do lists and complicated productivity systems, simply choose what you want to work on, tap Start, and build momentum one focused session at a time. Whether you're studying, working, cleaning, reading, writing, or tackling a personal project, Start Now helps you stop overthinking and start making progress. No complicated productivity system. No endless planning. Just action. Features: • One-tap focus timer • Create unlimited tasks (Pro) • View your progress • Track daily and weekly stats • Build consistency over time • Gentle reminders • Beautiful minimalist design Why you'll love Start Now: • Start a focus session with a single tap • Create and organize tasks that matter to you • Track every completed work session automatically • View your daily, weekly, and all-time progress • Stay motivated by seeing your consistency grow • Enjoy a clean, distraction-free interface designed to keep your attention where it belongs Built for real life: You don't need the perfect plan before you begin. Progress is built through small, consistent actions, and Start Now is designed to help you take that first step whenever you're ready. Use Start Now for: • Studying and homework • Work and side projects • Reading • Writing • Creative projects • Household tasks • Daily routines • Building better habits Start Now Pro: Upgrade to Start Now Pro to unlock unlimited tasks and support the continued development of the app. More premium features will be added over time at no additional cost for active subscribers. Privacy first: Your focus sessions and progress belong to you. Start Now is designed to help you spend less time managing productivity and more time actually getting things done. Small steps lead to big results. Start now. Terms of Use (EULA): https://startnowapp.framer.website/terms Privacy Policy: https://startnowapp.framer.website/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Three Things4 screens
Start Now4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Start Now at 3 against Three Things's 1. Start Now also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Three Things sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Start Now sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Three Things versus Start Now: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThree ThingsStart Now
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKatja Nina KolariCHIAMAKA N EKWEGH

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Three Things

One-time1
  • Three Things Premium$9.99
1 purchases

Start Now

Subscriptions1
  • Start Now Pro Annual$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Three Things free?
Three Things is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Start Now free?
Start Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Three Things or Start Now have ads?
Neither Three Things nor Start Now shows ads.

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