Comparison

GSD Task Manager vs Next Thing

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

Head to head
About

GSD Task Manager

Features
Read full description

GSD ("Get Stuff Done") helps you answer one question: what should I work on next? Every task is framed on two honest axes — urgent and important — and lands in one of four quadrants: Do First, Schedule, Delegate, Eliminate. The Eisenhower matrix is a decades-old decision tool, and GSD keeps it that way: one calm surface, one decision at a time. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT Your tasks live on your device. GSD works fully offline, with no account, no sign-up, and nothing sent anywhere. Optional sync is there if you want it — sign in with Apple, Google, or GitHub and your tasks stay in step across iPhone, iPad, and the GSD web app. Your choice, never a requirement. CAPTURE WITHOUT BREAKING STRIDE Type one line. Shorthand does the sorting: • !! marks urgent and important — straight to Do First • ! urgent, * important • #tags organize as you type Share a link or text from any app and it becomes a task. A Home Screen widget keeps today's focus in view. DEPTH UNDER A CALM SURFACE The grid stays simple; the power sits one layer down. • Subtasks, tags, notes, and due dates with reminders • Recurring tasks — daily, weekly, monthly • Dependencies: see what's blocked and what's blocking • Built-in time tracking with estimates and timers • Snooze, archive, and auto-archive to keep the board honest FIND ANYTHING Smart views slice your tasks the way you think — Today's Focus, This Week, Overdue Backlog, Ready to Work — or build your own with filters. A command palette puts every task and screen one tap away (⌘K with a keyboard). PROGRESS, MEASURED HONESTLY A dashboard shows completion trends, quadrant balance, tracked time, and upcoming deadlines. No badges, no manufactured rewards, no pressure to open the app — just an accurate picture of how you're doing. DESIGNED FOR iOS, NOT PORTED Native SwiftUI throughout. Swipe actions, context menus, dark mode, and an iPad layout built for the larger canvas. VoiceOver labels, Dynamic Type, and Reduce Motion respected everywhere. No ads. No tracking. No attention engineering. Capture what matters, decide once, and get back to your day.

About

Next Thing

This app helps you focus on one task at a time using the simple Ivy Lee Method. Prioritize your top tasks each evening and tackle them sequentially the next day, reducing stress and boosting effectiveness. Ideal for those who find traditional to-do lists overwhelming.

Highlights
  • Ivy Lee Method task prioritization
  • Single-task focus
  • Evening task selection
  • Daily habit building
  • Lock screen widgets
  • Home screen widgets
  • Focus bell reminders
Features
Read full description

Most productivity apps make you more stressed, not less. Endless lists, complex systems, notifications pulling you in every direction. Next Thing is different: one list, one task at a time. Built on the Ivy Lee Method, a century-old system famously used by Charles Schwab, Next Thing strips productivity down to its most powerful form. Each evening, choose your most important tasks and rank them in order of priority. The next day, focus on one thing at a time. That's it. We've heard from users with ADHD that this single-task approach is a game changer. No overwhelming lists, just the next thing in front of you. How it works: - Add tasks to your list anytime a thought crosses your mind - Each evening, pick your top 6 and rank them by priority - The next day, focus on one task at a time. Done or skip. Nothing else. - Build the habit with streaks and satisfying completion moments - Optional morning and evening reminders, off unless you turn them on NEW: Projects Some work is bigger than a day. Tap the pill in the corner to switch to Projects mode, with the same calm, one-thing-at-a-time focus. - Break projects into tasks and subtasks - Add owners, start dates, and due dates - Progress rings fill as you check off subtasks - Rank your projects and see each one's next step on your focus screen - Check off the next step with one tap, right from the focus screen - Archive finished projects and restore them anytime Free to use, including one active project. Upgrades are one-time purchases. No subscription, ever. Ivy Lee Pro: - Live Activity and Dynamic Island - your current task, always in view - Lock screen widgets - see your #1 task without unlocking your phone - Home screen widget - see your #1 task without opening the app - Focus bell - set a reminder to check in on your current task - Streaks heatmap - track your consistency over time - Recurring tasks - daily habits auto-return to your list - Custom app icons and focus screen themes - Unlimited task list Projects Pro: - Unlimited active projects Complete: - Everything in Ivy Lee Pro and Projects Pro, for less than buying both Already own Pro from an earlier version? Thank you. Projects Pro is included, free. Your privacy matters. No account required, no login, no data sharing. Your tasks live on your device and nowhere else. Stop managing your productivity system. Start doing your next thing.

Screenshots

GSD Task Manager4 screens
Next Thing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GSD Task Manager at none against Next Thing's 1. GSD Task Manager also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Next Thing's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence and ads 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. Next Thing sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. GSD Task Manager asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GSD Task Manager ships an update every 9 days, Next Thing every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
GSD Task Manager versus Next Thing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGSD Task ManagerNext Thing
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVinny CarpenterJEREMIAH DANIEL ROBERTS

In-app purchases

None

GSD Task Manager

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Next Thing

One-time1
  • Next Thing Pro$2.99

Questions

Is GSD Task Manager free?
GSD Task Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Next Thing free?
Next Thing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do GSD Task Manager or Next Thing have ads?
Neither GSD Task Manager nor Next Thing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GSD Task Manager or Next Thing?
GSD Task Manager ships an update every 9 days, and Next Thing every 11 days. Most recently, GSD Task Manager was updated on October 24, 2026 and Next Thing on October 9, 2026.

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