Things 3

Things 3 is the task manager Cultured Code bootstrapped from Stuttgart, Germany, releasing the original Things in 2007 and Things 3 — a complete redesign — in 2017. The app won the Apple Design Award for Mac, iPhone, and iPad in the same year, becoming the first app to win all three simultaneously. Cultured Code has run as a small team of roughly 10 people for nearly 20 years, funding development entirely from one-time app sales with no subscription, no VC, and no external pressure. Things 3 is built on a thoughtful implementation of GTD (Getting Things Done): projects organize tasks, areas of responsibility organize projects, and a dedicated "Today" view surfaces what actually needs attention right now. The visual design — generous whitespace, subtle animations, custom typography — set a standard for native Mac and iOS app quality that influenced an entire generation of productivity apps. Things is consistently cited as one of the most beautifully designed apps ever made for Apple platforms, and its longevity proves that excellent native software can sustain a small team indefinitely.