OmniFocus for Mac

3.11.7

3.11.7

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After having used Things 3 for a year, I've switched to OmniFocus. I've used previous versions of both apps for many years. Things 3 fails in key areas: 1. No way to easily see which tasks are due and overdue. Things 2 had a switch for that, but 3 doesn't. Major omission. 2. Cultured Code never listens to user feedback, let alone entice communication with their users. OmniGroup on the other hand offers EXCELLENT, attentive support AND listens to their users/customers. 3. Things has no way to save searches. This is particularly problematic since it doesn't has tabs either. Whenever you switch view from f.e. a tag-filtered Today view, to some project, and back again: your Today view is no longer filtered by that/those tag(s): it's back to its default view of everything. OmniFocus on the other hand, has Perspectives, which is like "saved searches on steroids". Immensely useful! One click, and you see your tasks from the exact perspective – filtered exactly like you've configured it. 4. Things 3's sections/headers were a nice, welcome addition to Things 2. But compared to OmniFocus' true, fantastic outlining capabilities: their usefulness is very very small. You can't collapse them, to create a less cluttered view. You can't search for them. They don't do anything else than visually divide your task list into sections. 5. OmniFocus has attachments. Even audio files. Things 3 has none of that. 6. Things 3 dumbed-down their "start-date" feature. And it's not as powerful for postponing projects, as OmniFocus' "defer-dates" feature is. 7. "next actions" in Things 3 is as bad an implementation as it was in Things 2. In OmniFocus, you have true dependencies. Projects can be set as "sequential" – and you'll only see the next action in your action lists. This is HUGE! If you have complete a given client project before you can invoice it, there's no reason that the "send invoice for the project" shows up in your list of admin-work to do. In Things it will. Things is "dumb" that way. Overall, in Things I end up with way too many tasks in the Today view, because everything I don't wanna forget ends up going there. But the result is a constant list of 50-100 tasks in "Today". OmniFocus lets me prioritize and FILTER much better – and more consistently. And OmniGroup is really, IMO, such a cool company worth supporting. For us long-time Mac users, they're one of those developers who has stuck with the Mac, listens to their customers, and develop unique applications that you just KNOW WORKS.

I have found OmniFocus to be amazingly useful. OmniFocus is expert friendly. OmniFocus gives you a number of ways to do something so YOU decide what subset of features you need to use. HINT: You don't have to use every OmniFocus feature. Pick a subset. Even the most basic can be very useful. If your set of task management grows, OmniFocus has the features that will allow handle the growth. This is why I use the term "Expert Friendly". Unlike apps such as Todoist, OmniFocus can start simple, and grow with you as your needs grow. If you are starting out managing tasks, don't overdo it. A hyper-organized list of tasks will NOT make it easier to get them done. Start simple. Finish simple tasks. When over time, your set of tasks grow, consider adding a OmniFocus feature or two. Last, put this app front and center on your Desktop, smart phone, and tablets. Schedule tasks for dates in the future. Check on your list on a daily basis to start. If your day is too busy, reschedule tasks to a later date (life happens, this is normal). When you DO finish a task, give yourself a sense of enjoyment marking that task as done. Even saying to yourself "yay" as you check it off helps. Enjoy!

So the OmniGroup is preparing their users for a subscription based service?
I don't need the webbased app and certainly don't need the $10 a month subscription to access a web function I don't need. I have paid way way too much for the Pro version on iPad, iPhone and Mac. I guess if they force their users to a subscription it is goodbye for me. Over the years I have probably paid over 300 dollars to keep OF current on all my devices.

I think I am not alone in this trend. for years I have bought more and more software and since the last year I find myself deleting more and more apps I hardly use. The subscription model has taken it's toll on me. I am in the process of dumping most of my subscription model based software. Things here I come ...

In the end there is only one solution to the subscription based software. Don't subscribe!

After spending years attempting to acquire specific Omni products, I recently managed to install the pro versions of two iOS and OS X Omni Apps just a month ago. Today Omni announced that if I want access to any new functions I will have to subscribe to the tune of $200 AUD a year for just one App! Such a disappointment! That’s the end of the Omni Ride for me… Just recently I rediscovered TickTick. So once again I’m going to have to spend months transferring all that data in to an other Application! So much for technology saving you time! Not Happy Jan!!!

I used OmniFocus quite extensively for a few years. I was a fan in the beginning, but the more I used it, the more I felt like it was the kind of app that created a bunch of maintenance busywork. The UI feels busy. It takes a bunch of tutorials to figure out how to use it effectively. It's fiddly with a bunch of menu items and checkboxes to configure each entry. It's a tail-wagging app that requires a lot of your attention. I got tired of using it at some point. In my case, I found Todoist to be more flexible, cleaner UI, and minimalistic, all of which I strongly prefer, and it's what I happily use now. Besides, I found that the best way to manage tasks is not to over-track tasks and have less sh!t to do. I found that OmniFocus tended to make me overthink task management with all kinds of bells and whistles, and it made me want to add more and more.

If you are supposed to use due dates only for items that need to be done by the due date and set up your tasks using the deferred date, why don't they show up in the forecast view when the defer date arrives? This baffles the hell out of me. I don't get how this can be used as anything other than a project manager at best.

I was going to give this a 3 since it its not cross platform (Android) AND myopia dominates what is supposed to be an advanced tech company. They are not advanced in their thinking at all. Unfortunately. I like the program and am giving the system a 4 only because a third party has done a Omnifoucs app for Android. However, that it takes a third party and the idiots at Omni run it down, There are some great cross platform task managers that are more powerful than Omni suvch as 2do but Im going to give them a 4 as it's a system that allows you to get you tasks in fast but in some ways too fast as some people go way overboard on the . task entry portion and don't work on getting anything done.

I just contacted OmniFocus Support via eMail because I need some answers concerning ongoing El Capitan Support. Normally I don't 'really read' those auto-responder eMails form any ticketing-System. But that one did catch my attention. The guys at OmniGroup definitely play in a Pro league. Ich ziehe meinen Hut. #respect __________________________ sidenote: OmniFocus 2.9.1 is rock solid on El Capitan — there be dragons at High Sierra

I used Things for quite a while until I switched to OmniFocus. OF is so much more powerful, better interface and more user friendly. Since OF is even cheaper, I do see not see any reason why anyone should get Things. Highly recommended.

OmniFocus is a good tool for planning and managing daily tasks. Good-looking interface, easy to install. Bugs fixed and it works nice with Mac OS Sierra.

was great when apple was the only System usable, but meanwhile there is Windows 10 and Linux .. and better PC Hardware with Ink and touch ... when you want to use different Systems there is Wunderlist the better one

Simply the best GTD app out there for Mac. I've tried so many (Things, Todoist, The Hit List, etc.) and always come back to OmniFocus.

I was an OF user from 1.x through 2.x, including their iPhone and iPad apps. Frustrated with the change in the Mac UI in 2.x, the continued lack of support for tags, and the inability to share lists with others, I went first to Asana, then Todoist, and now Wunderlist. Things I discounted early on as not sufficient for my needs. Wunderlist has limitations in terms of specificity with due dates and viewing subtasks, but its UI is clean, offers tag support, and lists can be shared instantly. So far it's my favorite of the bunch, though I understand todo lists are a personal thing. That said, if OF could update to bring the folder panel back at all times (for dragging and dropping tasks quickly from the Inbox), support for tags, and allow list sharing, I would quiet easily return to it.

Best GTD software ever. I love the hierarchical lists

Nothing to say..It's a full GTD app! having tried Things, Todoist and Wunderlist, I settled with OmniFocus because of the customizable workflow, start dates etc. I just hope syncing will be the same as Things, Todoist and Wunderlist which is very very solid!

About the attachment, it doesn't work between my Desktop and iPhone or iPad. Why?? There is few videos to teach us how it works.

OmniFocus 2.1 is out. Go to Check for Updates in app. Developer states: OmniFocus 2.1 is the first of several planned OmniFocus releases in 2015. It features a new look and new features for OS X Yosemite, as well as a few bug fixes. The file format and syncing remain compatible with all previous versions of OmniFocus, on Mac and iOS. OmniFocus 2.1 requires Mac OS X 10.10 or higher.

I've purchased every major to do list out there from the simple to the advance. Including The Hit List, Things, Clear, To Do Cloud, Wunderlist and OmniFocus. Finally I have come to the realization that the best application for GTD or a To Do list is subjective. What application works wonders for one, is despised by another. I have physically spent hours upon hours transferring data from one application to another because I like some new feature or the looks of the application. Only to find out that it is missing a feature I needed and end up back with the original application. ### Somehow I always end up back at OmniFocus but that would change if the location services on some iOS app's worked better or didn't drain your battery. ### > Anyone looking for a beta tester for their next big release let me know, I am still looking for the perfect application and I use it hard and daily.

Best-in-class software for GTD.

A solid application, if it was released two years ago. There are now a LOT of alternatives out there, and a lot of them have more compelling feature set. Just take a look at Todist, OrganizePro, Pagico, Wunderlist, etc My biggest gripe is probably it's cross-platform support. This is an application build solidly and primarily for the desktop in mind. It's comfortably self-contained (and maybe that's an asset for some). Yes it "does" sync, and it does have mobile apps too (I've used both). But sync in OmniFocus 2 world still relies on clicking buttons, or watching the sync buttons spin. Occasionally (because it's happened to me), OF/OF2 will get confused if you migrate from your desktop to your mobile device before it's finished syncing. You'll then have to make a "version" choice (override server or device). This is OLD school sync issues, and not modern Cloud based thinking. Yes, it's a pretty desktop application to work in, and it gets the job done. It documents projects in a nested format reasonably well. But task/project tracking requirements and needs have moved on. Improvement requests: Improved visual timeline options for projects. Collaboration tools (hey maybe in the "pro" version one day?), improved output (like printing, or emailing projects to people), updated modern cloud sync with no conflict sync errors between devices. More visual options to tighten up the UI. Wow is there a lot of wasted open space).

Quite frankly, OF2 is a turd. Instead of addressing the many workflow problems that make OF a chore to use, all they've really done is a makeover, and unfortunately it's mostly for the worse. Everything is spaced out way too much, and the style settings are completely removed, so you can't do a damn thing about it. The window no longer fits on one half of my 13" Air display (OmniOutliner uses the other half, and I've used them that way for years), and I now see less than half as many tasks as I did before. In short, there's no way I can use this crippled, superficial makeover, nor can I recommend it to anyone. Swing and a miss.

I bought the new version. Right now you get a free upgrade to the Pro version as a repeat user!!!? Good improvements for the largest part. The new interface is pretty good & convenient. There are a few improvements, I’d still like to see - a dark background would be nice. Some of the highlighting goes from unobtrusive, to a little too light. OmniFocus is a stress reducer & easy entry - has nearly as many complex options as you could want to add, whether up front, or in subsequent processing. Its at your fingertips. Definitely worth a robust test drive of the demo to see if it makes your life easier. I think if you give a proper try, you will find it hard to pass up.

OmniFocus v1 was released on January 8, 2008 for $79 and has been on duty for 6 years and 4 months now. This means you paid per year the following amount: • 6 years used: $13.17 • 5 years used: $15.80 • 4 years used: $19.75 • 3 years used: $26.34 • 2 years used (on sale for $39): $19.50 • 1 year used: free upgrade to OmniFocus v2 Am I the only one to think OmniFocus isn't really overpriced? PS: Please don't forget, you get what you for.

No alerts? What's the point of a task management system that doesn't offer alerts as a feature? Especially one which costs $80!!! It's a beautiful app, no doubt, but it's remarkably expensive even with an alert system and without, well....you figure it out.

After half a decade we’ve eventually OmniFocus 2!!! But what a crippled update it is. While the layout looks nicer and more organised, the standard version does not allow for any perspective view. You got to upgrade to the $40 more expensive “Pro” version at $80 to get what you’re used to from version 1, i.e. soon due activities, remaining activities and the like. Is it worth $40 more? Definitely not… but without soon due or available the app is cumbersome to handle. Caveat Emptor!

Finally, after an insanely long wait, OmniFocus 2 is here: http://www.omnigroup.com/omnifocus/#omnifocus-mac-info Pls update this listing accordingly.

Great app, but WAY overpriced! Try iProcrastinate for a great free app...

Well this is a great app… Just a comment, after reading the discussion here about OmniFocus and alternatives, regarding "learning curve", "complicated", etc. etc. etc. – not everybody needs an app like OmniFocus. If you do only errands and your "projects" are things like buying Christmas presents or cleaning up the attic, then OmniFocus probably feels bloated to you and it really is a waste of time and money and you should get another, simpler app. However, if you work as a freelancer, in the creative business, as a scientist – then you've probably made the experience that sometimes one has to neglect errands to focus on large projects (focussing is about saying "no", a wise man said). The usual to-do-apps are potentially dangerous, because they are especially good at errands, and this can lead to procrastination – instead of working on the "big" project, one does just some errands, goes through the to-do-list and has the feeling of "wow, I am productive!", while actually, one isn't touching the really important, harder (because more complicated) work. For managing multiple larger projects OmniFocus proved immensely helpful to me. The key is to split up the projects into smaller tasks, sub-tasks, sub-sub-tasks, because these are easier to approach – this way you don't lose oversight nor run danger of getting blockades (and going back to your to-do-list-procrastination-routine). OmniFocus allows for a maximum of flexibility for splitting up tasks, and offers a clean view with its "outline-like"-layout. The limitation of being able to add only one context is actually a very good thing: if you have more than one context, most probably you should split up your task into sub-tasks. Now some may think it is a waste to spend that much time planing tasks. But for me this helps to decide what tasks are most important and which I can do later (=never). Usually it's the errands that allow for being late or even simply not doing them (well, not a good strategy for paying your taxes of course). Having oversight over your tasks helps freeing up blockades – only that makes research/inventive work possible. For my needs, OmniFocus really isn't too complicated or bloated. Actually quite the opposite, it's cleanly designed and if anything, it could offer some more features (more options for perspective building)… And well, yes, one has to mention it: OmniFocus never crashes, you never lose data, it's just rock stable. Version 2 is scheduled for end of this month, by the way…

I wrote an earlier review which I stand by. BTW @Mathias-Rhein, I found your comments personally insulting. I have been waiting for OF 2 to see if anything has improved, but it is still in the works. In the meantime, I found an alternative that isn't even listed on Macupdate yet: 2do (2doapp.com - I am not affiliated). It has a Mac and an iOS version, syncs for free using iCloud, Dropbox or any WebDAV server you like, and is both powerful and easy to use. It doesn't have all of OF's features, but it also doesn't have the bloat and confusion. Bye-bye OF. BTW, it's half the price of OF.

Just a heads-up: It would appear that the price of OmniFocus, for both MAS and direct download versions, has returned to $79.99.

Sorry OmniGroup, but as much as I applaud OFs functionality, the interface by now just looks outdated. I know 2.0 is in the works, but you are starting to fall behind the iOS interface. It's very annoying coming from the iPad and then firing up OF on the mac desktop and see that old interface. Functionality wise I have to say: I have tried many and always came back to OF since competitors keep lacking important functionality.

I own it. The price is competitive finally. That was a big part of why I bought it - and the fact that I like OmniOutliner, having used it for a decade. Frankly, its a little restrictive to use OmniFocus, in my mind. OmniOutliner would require more set-up, but is more versatile in a lot of ways, though OF is still good & has some built-in tracking modalities that OmniOutliner could not handle as well. I think it could use a make-over to be more useful. I use a lot of GTD tools, but its hard to stick to them or dwell in an environment that meshes well. When I want to write something down - I don't want to futz around with database creation or to think how to design the recording framework in the midst of an idea or when a task needs to be listed. This gets you past that quite well. Although not all the way home if there are more complicated actions or procedures to eventually nuance a task.

If you prefer manage your life with all details somewhere on paper, this is good alternative for the old school. Price high, but not so high as for Things.

Price is currently 39.99$

I'd love to see some of the beauty of the iPad UI reflected in the OF desktop version.

I tested different programs like Things (nice and clean interface) and The Hit List (superb input methods) to see which one would fit my personal task organizing needs. Neither did. When I tried OmniFocus its interface looked quite complex and seemed to lack some polish at first, but after some time I realized how mighty and well-thought-out it this program is. I don't use the GTD methodology but a different approach. Nevertheless OmniFocus is perfectly able to handle it (- unlike Things and THL). IMHO its flexibility is the reason why it's the superior task organizing tool for Mac: I can group tasks into different folders (in my case these are my different "roles" in life) and create endlessly nested subtasks (breaking down big tasks into manageable pieces). Contexts allow to further refine the task structure. Different "views" can be configured, saved and reused in order to quickly gain the perfect overview in different situations. The syncing with the iPhone App works flawlessly, smoothly and reliably. For me this app is almost perfect and really helps me to keep up with a bunch of different tasks and duties using my own methods. The only thing I'm still missing is the possibility to create subtasks within subtasks using the iPhone app. It can show and edit those nested subtasks, but I have to create the nested structure on the desktop app. But that's rather a concern with the iPhone app than with the desktop app. All in all I love this program. Yes, it is relatively expensive but its flexibility makes up for it. It really helped me to increase my productivity.

Software functionality is nice, thought the UI seems to be from the 90s. Needs overhaul. Minor problem for latest version: To use the new "repeating actions" you need OF for iPhone 1.14 (which is not available in the store, yet). Fail. Full Release Notes: v1.10.1: March 16 2012 * OmniFocus 1.10.1 for Mac corrects a problem which resulted in repeated keychain access prompts on OS X 10.6 and earlier. * OmniFocus 1.10 for Mac adds flexible weekly repeats, updates the application icon, and fixes a handful of reported issues. Repeating Actions * Added flexible weekly repeats. When a project or action repeats every week, you can specify the days of the week the item should repeat on. For example: repeat every week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. * Important: Please update to OmniFocus 1.14 for iPhone and OmniFocus 1.5 for iPad before using these new weekday repeats. Older releases of OmniFocus do not understand this new repeat data. If you edit or complete one of these items using a previous release of OmniFocus, you will lose the weekday repeat specification. Miscellaneous * Updated the application icon. * Fixed a bug which resulted in a “Cannot overwrite file” error for some users when adding items to OmniFocus on OS X Lion. * Fixed date parsing in the Inspector for users with a custom time format using period as the delimiter.

This is odd because Mathias-Rhein and I seem to be passing each other on the highway to GTD happiness. I love OF. It has been a life saver for me and I was orig one of the ones who thought it was just to difficult. However with a little attention it became very intuitive and the best thing of all I kept finding new ways to do what I needed to do. But now it seems OF has (without a formal final statement) decided to no longer sync with ical and ical reminders. I use Busy Cal but needed the ical sync to populate my calendar. Of seems to believe that all one needs is their software to operate and that is just not true for many. I am very busy as a parent, manager, wife member of several organization, etc. And while I use OF to plan projects and other things it doe not work as an appointment scheduler. When I could sync my OF tasks into my calendar scheduling was a breeze. Now it back and forth between he two programs or double scheduling and having to fix later. The program that was designed to keep me organized had made it impossible for me to quickly respond to an appointment request??? I should not have to check OF before I can schedule a meeting of my sons soccer team. Many other (especially those that are iPad/iPhone based) programs offer calendar/reminder sync in iCloud. Not sure why this seems to be a deal breaker with OF. There is a life outside OF! And as much as I love this program I may have to drop it if they do not become more responsive to this need. Very sad about this as like I said I love this program or at least I used to. It is also in desperate need of a UI upgrade. MacUpdate: Why or Why can I not change my rating before I submit???? So Annoying!! This should be a 4.5 rating

Well. If You have seen my older rants about OF, take this as a humble apology- Going through the process of what software is fitting my organization concept best I compared OF with Things and THL- the latter has some neat input options but lacks good (and affordable) syncing, Things has the most beautiful interface and looks a lot cleaner compared to OF, but is simply not possible to handle the complexity of my planning efforts, especially at work. The biggest advantages of this not-so-easy-to-get-started-with software is the robust syncing option through any WebDAV and the complexity one can apply to the structure. Sync is fast and robust, no data loss ever until now. Actions can be divided into subtasks and on the top level Folders enable You to group things into logical groups. The view is the most versatile and flexible piece of work: You set all the parameters and then simply save the perspective- this way You can create VERY individual filters that suit the need of the advanced and serious planner. Supposedly, for everyone else the interface is to confusing, as you can also see from the reviews below- these people might be better off with Things... but You will have to settle with mediocre syncing and less power, when the tasks are getting bigger and more complex.

If you're looking for a program with a complicated, unintuitive interface. then this is the one for you. If you're looking for a program that you still won't understand after 6 months of use, then this is it. Go ahead and try to sort your tasks by due date, for example. Nothing happens. Want to sync with iCal? iCal has calendars. OmniFocus has contexts. Are these comparable? No, but OmniFocus requires you to match them up in order to sync. Want to see what's due each day of the coming weeks? Forget it. You can see what's due today and tomorrow, plus "Within the Next Week" and "Within the Next Month" etc. Want to see and arrange tasks on a calendar? No can do. This is the most aggravating piece of software on my Mac.

Greta program, but does have a bit of a learning curve.

Anyone know when 2.0 is coming out? I really want to buy this, but don't want to buy this now and then have to pay another $40 to $50 to upgrade in a few months time.

I think OmniFocus is the best out there.. however it could definitely benefit from a facelift to be more in line with what we "expect" mac apps to feel like.. namely like say "Things"... all in one window.. and feeling simpler.. even if under the hood it idoes not have to be. I really don't like having floating panels "all over the place".. but it'd be mostly ergonomic.. I'm afraid otherwise OmniFocus will lose clients and possibly scare off the new ones and throw them into the arms of "Things" etc.. I almost did go there..

1. Works 2. Syncs 3. Not that complicated to use as I thought 4. A little expensive, but A) see 1. and B) it has several sync choices, some for free

I was an OmniFocus user, but I just migrate to a concurrent software. Why migrating all my data to an other software ? — Because OmniFocus have an interface that's no longer pleasant (the NeXT style is descending, it's grey and the toolbar is outdated in my opinion). — Because the price for getting all apps (iPhone/iPad/Mac) is very high and it's very sad But OmniFocus stays a good software, but perhaps a little outdated when checking the competitor.

It's simply the best GTD app out there! Sync perfectly with WebDAV, the iPhone App is awesome and it really helps you to manage your daily work and life.

Just about everything in life involves a tension between various elements. For instance, in cars there is safety vs cost. For Omnifocus to be useful, it has to have some complexity. However, this complexity apparently puts many people off. I think that if people gave themselves a little time to learn and experiment with Omnifocus, they would find that it is very learnable. For Omnifocus to have the necessary complexity and yet be so learnable, it has to be well thought-out; with that comes expense. Omnifocus has made all the difference in my worklife, and for that I say thank you to the Omni group. It makes me want to tell everyone about it and encourage everyone to take the time to get to know it. Often those things with you can get *now* (instantaneously) have low value; those things which have great value you must cultivate over time.

I find OmniFocus to be indispensable to my daily life. It permits me to keep track of a host of individual duties together with as much associated information as I would like. The information is quickly entered, particularly as the information can be input via contextual menu from other applications. These duties can also be scheduled regarding start- and due-dates, to reoccur or not, and how long they are expected to take. The resulting task-data can be sorted and viewed in many different ways, and these ways can be saved as 'perspectives'. These can be synced among computers at different locations, iPhones, and iPads by various means. I am more productive and with such less stress because I no longer have to hold future responsibilities and their timetables in my head. I won't attempt to review its features further because it has enough facets that to describe them any further would be information overload. A few more things I will say: (1) it will become more useful to you as time goes on because you'll learn how to use it better. This is a testimony to the capabilities of the application rather than to design flaws. Watch it on twitter and visit its forums occasionally after you've started to use it and you'll soon become a power-user. Give yourself some time to learn more about it. (2) Yes, it is expensive, particularly if you also get an iPhone and an iPad version. However, you usually get what you pay for and with Omnifocus you certainly do. I work at a university and like many people have to watch my budget. I could have gotten an educational license for $50, but I paid the full $80 because I appreciate things that are done well. My wife wouldn't like to hear that I paid $30 more than I had to, but I still consider it to be an excellent purchase. (3) You might have noticed that the ratings of both Things and Omnifocus have been falling. Any application of this type takes awhile to learn how to use, and the fact that you need such an application means that you don't have a lot of free time to spend in that way. Also, in order to fit the needs of many different people it has to be designed very well and equipped with a multitude of features. This will add to both the learning curve and the price-tag. Neither are cheap. (4) I once tried Things and The Hit List alongside OmniFocus, and OmniFocus felt more truly organized to me. I like tagging, but there comes a point when you've over-tagged to the point of scattering your focus. With OmniFocus I felt that more structure was available to me, and that it had capabilities that would be there as my needs increased and my tasks grew. I was correct about that. A mitten and a glove do the same thing, but the with the glove one is so much more nimble. OmniFocus is the glove. (5) We're all individuals and the style of some will be matched better by Things or The Hit List. Vive la différence! We can express our appreciation of our favorites without lambasting the others (or without going to their MacUpdate pages and posting negative ratings).

pricing just absolutely unrealistic $79 for single licence then to operate it with my Iphone and Ipad I would need to fork out $49 for Ipad and $29 for iPhone so $159 for a task manager????? That's what Apple charges for OS X or Apple Number $23 + $12 for iPad version omni get real with your pricing

This is an excellent productivity app. I use all three versions of OmniFocus in concert and I couldn't be happier or more productive. Yep, the price is steep, but I don't have an "I wish it did this list" for OmniFocus like I have for my other todo apps.

$79.95!!! Hilarious pricing...

I really badly want to consider this App, but the price tag makes it completely cost-prohibitive for me.

After playing a lot with OF, i think it is quite difficult to get concentration in one task. It is not designed for working hard with a single task, and there is not enough space in each task for text and files, so it is difficult to use for me. I have read that it is possible to concentrate in one task with a combination of views, or with a script. But this is amazing !!!, you pay 80 USD and you still need a third part to get concentration in one task !!!. Amazing !!

Well, I lost track on my projects, with the main competitor I got it solved... sometimes less is indeed more it seems...

Nice, but too complicated... still, I guess it's hard to have both worlds, but Things is doing a far better job for me

No review, just a comment here. Much appreciate reading the reviews below just now, & I agree - there's some kind of input/feedback issue. After a while of using OmniFocus it seemed more than was needed in some ways - excellent for in-depth projects, but for day-to-day, at times overkill.. Then I tested Things & found myself benefiting from using both. Same with the iphone versions. Ok, more expensive to register, but if you're serious about keeping track maybe worth checking into. OmniFocus for monthly/yearly stuff, Things (or Hit List or whatever) for daily/weekly. Fwiw.

After Nearly 2 years of Things I am moving over to OmniFocus I Tried OmniFocus 1.0 when it first came out and hated it. Things interface and simplicity seemed so much better. As of OmniFocus 1.8 they have made a lot of improvements to usability. The problem with Things, I realized after a couple of months of use, is that the sidebar gets really crowded. David Allen's definition of a product is any operation that requires two or more steps. He estimates that most people have between 50 to a 100 of these projects. As you can imagazine that is quite a lot of projects that you have to scroll through and it would be awfully helpful if there was a way to orgaize them. Things solution is pretty lossy to be frank. You can put them in areas of responibility but that doesn't cut down on the clutter at all as you still see an endless list of projects in the sidebar. In contrast to this OmniFocus provides many ways to help your to do list look more managable. Focuses let you weed out anything you don't want to see in the sidebar at the moment. You can then put products into folders and tasks into groups. Very helpful and uncluttered. When you get a Focus that you like you can then save it in the toolbar. At first I wondered why OF didn't just put it in the sidebar similar to how many apps store your smart folders but after using it for a while I have come to like the minalimist approach to the sidebar. One important part of Allen's system is the weekly review. Things really has no way to do this. OF lets you check off everything you have reviewed. Even though OmniFocus might seem more intimidating at first stick with using it instead of going to Things. You will get usued to using it after a while. It's far more powerful and unlike Things it follows David Allen's system. When I started using Things I expected them to make up for it's short comings over time but that hasn't been what has happened. Not a single major short coming has been addressed sinse it's introduction. Many of the updates to Things are focusing on things like delegating work to other people. While this might sound like an important feature it assumes that all the people you work with work on a Mac. Given the Macs market share this obviously is not the case. So basically they are spending all their time working on a feature that very few people can use (offices that are completely Mac based.)

My problem is simple, I would like to concentrate in just one task. Can this be possible with Omnifocus?. My second question is: Can I have enough space for my notes (a ruler is of big help) and files in just one task?. Omnifoucs is nice, but I need some FOCUS. Can we expect that in the 2.0 release?. Any answer is of help, Thanks

Seems like they freezed the development for this app as they are busy working on iPad apps. So unless i'm guaranteed free 2.0 upgrade which seems so close but yet far I'm not purchasing this app.

OMNIFOCUS CHANGED MY LIFE!!! READ THIS BEFORE YOU CONSIDER BUYING THINGS! I just want to make it clear that I am NOT affiliated in any way with the company that makes omnifocus. I have been looking for a computer and iphone based task manager for years that works. I have looked at todo, todos, outlook and many others. Then I stumbled onto OmniFocus and Things. So I decided to try them both out. I am a big fan of omnigroup software so I started with omnifocus. When I first launched omnifocus I thought the interface was nice but I quickly became confused. I was looking for the today button but it was no where to be found. Although it was useable I just wasn't getting it. Then I loaded things. I instantly felt at home. There was my today button. I understood the interface. BUT... After using things for a couple of weeks during the trial, I quickly found that I was limited to how I wanted to organize my data. There were to many steps involved in adding and organizing new data. My todo list eventually became a big mess of unorganized todos. So things was ok for a few todos but got to messy when todos started piling up. But I still thought it was easier to use then omnifocus. So just before I pulled the trigger and bought things I decided to give omnifocus one more try and I am glad I did! I found perspectives within omnifocus. Perspectives allow you to customize omnifocus any way you want to your desired workflow. And let me tell you once you understand perspectives you will see what I mean. I now have set up a Today perspective, one for work, one for home, one for urgent things, etc... and it syncs perfectly to the iphone. When I add a new todo into my planning perspective - project omnifocus automatically adds the proper context to the todo which saves me time. I can view all todos related to work, home, personal, phone calls, waiting on, completed, etc... You can also customize colors and fonts to really make your different todo categories and projects stand out. Now when I look back at things it looks so basic compared to omnifocus. Things has no where near the functionality and customizability. I have always been looking for a solution to organize my life and now I have one that fits me perfectly. I don't have to use some system that was forced on me. This is one I created that works for me. That's the beauty of omnifocus. Set it up they way you like to work. 5 stars all the way!

After trying all the todo and GTD apps out there, OF is the clear winner. Perfect integration with iCal, a clipping service, menubar counter, quick entry, customizable colors, and attentive support from the Omnigroup. Highly recommended.

I've had a chance to use Omnifocus more extensively and this application has far exceeded my expectations. This type of application needs a more thorough analysis before its compared because there are so many features that aren't evident at the start. Thats why first impressions don't really hold weight to me when I read reviews or comparisons with this app. Omnifocus by far is the best task management, todo, application on OSX. Nothing even comes close. If your trying it out and have just tested it for a day, and you already like it, your going to be blown away by the features, functionality, and flexibility. 5 stars. First impressions always lead to the better looking application, but for the people that are serious about getting things done, Omnifocus is the way to go.

By far the best app I've tried for applying the GTD system. Omnifocus is extremely flexible, and I like how I can customize it's appearance, and create very simple, focus views. Support via email has been outstanding, and live phone support is a big plus. I nearly bought "Things" and tested both "Things" and "Omnifocus" but Ominfocus for me was the definitive winner.

What ever I do NO WAY I can make it sync with iCal ... Very awkward app in compare to other applications. I wonder why people rate this so high ... strange.

Rubbish !

Seams like a nice app., however Sales nor Tech Support return messages on their www. Strange .... No idea how someone can give them five star rating ....

This app blows all this other crap out of the water, not even close, things, hitlist, pfft

The tools OmniFocus offers, synchronization, iPhone client, reviewing, outlining, focusing, filtering and sorting, and overall usability make this app the best all-around solution for managing large, complex collections of tasks and projects. I've tried both Things and THL; both are nice apps, well-suited for simple task management. But when trying to deal with *everything* going on in my busy life, all the other apps simply couldn't manage and spiraled out of control. OmniFocus, on the other hand, gives me the tools to stay on top of this mountain of projects. Thank you, Omni Group!

STOP !!! BEWARE do not update, if you heavily rely on syncing between several Macs and/or User Accounts !!! Your Perspectives will end up in a real MESS !!! PMG5 D2GHz / 8GB RAM / MacOSX 10.5.8 OF user since Alpha release ;o)

I've already rated this a Five-Star, so I won't add another rating. OF is just one of the best apps I use. I keep wanting to like Things and The Hit List, but find them to be not nearly as flexible. They may offer better eye candy than OF, but just don't cut it for me in terms of daily use. I find the synching with my iTouch to be excellent and have never had a problem, though it can be a bit slow at times. I especially like that notes transfer in toto from the desktop app to the iPhone app--including html and all attachments. Such a flexible app, configurable in many different ways and really helps me to keep ahead of all my projects and to-dos.

It is a pure crap to be used with an iPod/iPhone ... I am disappointed because usually Omnigroup makes good softwares. OmniFocus works very well and does very well what it is supposed to do in stand alone usage, and offers numerous great features. But, when comes the time to use it with its iPod/iPhone client ... it is really a pain, the synchronisation will just never work whatever you do : deactivate the Firewall, stopp LittleSnitch running if you intalled it, no result it will just never work, if you use an older version, the 1.5, it will just never work too untill you deactivate the Firewall. I am sorry, but it is the ONLY one application that is not working with my iPod. 1password that offers the same features of syncing a database with an iPod/iPhone works perfectly without having to trick a firewall there or to deactivate these other feature here ... So yes i am disappointed especially because even the support will not care and is not able to do soemthing !

This is a nice program, but The Hit List is much better. THL is simpler, and give you the opportunity to concentrate in just one task. The card view in THL is of big help when a task requires to include a lot of information. This feature is missing in Omnifocus. Thinking Rock has also a related feature, so you can concentrate is just one task. I recommend to Omni developpers to think about this for next release, If not, in my case I will use THL or just back to Thinking Rock in the near future.

I began testing both THINGS and OMNIFOCUS last summer and didn't make my final choice until after the near-final version of Things was released a few days ago to those using the beta version. Things is a beautiful program & it is very easy to use. However, my final decision is to go with OmniFocus because of it's superb power. IMO the purpose of a program like this is the ability to organize and view data easily in a number of ways to facilitate planning and actually accomplishing goals. While Things provides a great deal of what I need, the bottom line is that I found it's approach a little too scattered. It was often difficult for me to see all my actions & projects in one view for a given period of time. Because I am an organizer, I would file some tasks in "Someday", others in "Scheduled" and the rest in "Next". When I would try to see where I had an opening for another task or project, I often could not get a clear sense of my planning with Things. It's heavy use of tags is just not to my liking. I prefer the use of contexts, which are like categories. OmniFocus follows the use of contexts. (Things has something similar called "Areas"; but they are just not the same thing in practice.) Things does not allow the use of start dates as well as due dates. Even though it is true that projects should be constructed of single actions that can be accomplished at a given time, the ability of OmniFocus to assign start dates allows tasks to be unavailable until their start date. This approach gets them out of the way until I am ready to review them or focus on them. Also, Things just doesn't use dates well. OmniFocus not only allows easy entry of dates, it also presents the due date more clearly for each task and, because it has an inspector panel, it's easy to see more about repeating items, when items are due for review, etc.l. The final straw that broke the camel's back for me was the difference between the iPhone clients. If iCal had been able to handle to do items better (especially repeating tasks) and present them on the iPhone, I might never have started this journey. Both Things and OmniFocus have iPhone clients; but there's no real comparison. Things, like it's desktop counterpart, is very scattered on the iPhone, while OmniFocus is just as organized on the iPhone as it is on the desktop. Things only allows syncing while on the same wireless network. OmniFocus allows syncing via a number of methods; and since I am a MobileMe subscriber, I use that method, which allows me to sync from anywhere. I'm sure Things will meet the needs of many people; and for those who place a big emphasis on price, it will probably win. For me, time is money; and OmniFocus helps me get the most done.

Just a comment, since I won't rate the program. OmniFocus "should be" the clear leader among GTD applications, particularly given its price and hype. But it is not. In fact -and one reason why I'm not posting a review- I haven't used it since I posted my initial comment about a year ago. I still prefer Thinking Rock 2. Fortunately, people can download both and compare which one works better for their needs. I was so impressed with Thinking Rock that I donated money to that project. Version 2 just made a great program even better. Which brings me back to OmniFocus. Initial releases were buggy. I'm surprised at the jump from 1.03 to 1.5, but it seems that the application has improved quite a bit since the last time I used it, and new features have been added. I just installed the new version and will definitely give it a try. There are many programs that help with Tasks and To-Dos. For my needs, and given that I follow David Allen's GTD methodology, Thinking Rock is still my first choice. I'm always open to new things, and since I already purchased this one I'll give it another try. Speaking of Things, that program looks quite promising.

OmniFocus is a clear leader among GTD apps. There are some strong competitors (such as Cultured Code's Things), but they all fall short in key areas and, in the end, none of them can match the capabilities of OmniFocus. That's not to say OmniFocus is perfect - there's still room for improvement. But it is currently the best GTD app available on the Mac.

iCal sync is painfully slow on an ibook g4. In contrast, like the way Process does a sync. It happens automataically when you create a task with a due date and enable synchronization in preferences (Although it only monitors tasks created in Process, not in iCal). OmniFocus -- even though it offers a comprehensive 2-way sync, takes a long time, and as such it's not something you are going to want to do very frequently. This kind of defeats the purpose of using it for me. A merge between OmniOutliner's hierarchical structuring and Things cool tagging and recurring task features, and Process's syncing and custom column features would be ideal.

Hi, Does anyone have a strategy for snycing OmniFocus with Palm Pilots. I know you can sync with iCal, but I'm wondering how you would configure all 3 so that the Palm accurately kept the same categories as OmniFocus. I could not find any information for this on the Omni website, nor from Palm or Apple. Has anyone developed a good system for this? In lieu of the above, with a Palm based outliner? Thanks

OmniFocus is a well designed and well integrated application. But in the end it's an $80 to-do list. Sure, each to-do item has essentially two labels (a project and a context), which makes it more useful than most, but it's hard to justify the cost for something like that. There are a lot more reasonably priced options for basic to-do lists.

I've been using OF since early alpha releases, and contrary to Granola's experience, it's never lost a single piece of data, even with daily, often multiple, updates operating on the same data file -- fine coding by the Omni team. (Once I thought it had eaten my data, but it turned out that I had a filter still set that I hadn't noticed.) It's a cool app, though more GTD-centric than they might suggest. No support for priorities, for example, and heavy reliance on the Projects & Contexts concept. But if GTD works for you, then, I'd guess, so will OF. There's a learning curve, largely because the thing is very flexible in the way you can view your Stuff; but in the end it does the job elegantly, reliably and stably.

I've been using OmniFocus for the past month or two in its late alpha and beta stages. It's always been very stable and reliable. So far, I've been very happy with the 1.0 release as well. I've tried Things and took a close look at Midnight Inbox and iGTD2, but I think OmniFocus is the best of the bunch in terms of capability and usability. It allows me to view my projects and actions in the most intuitive way. Documentation is sparse but adequate and support from the Omni Group is stellar. The price may seem a bit steep compared to some other GTD apps, but OmniFocus is worth it in my mind. Plus, Omni Group provides some nice discounts. I actually ended up getting OmniFocus for less than most competitors are charging. And OmniFocus is arguably a better app.

I've been playing with GTD applications for some time now. I agree with another person's review about Thinking Rock - although the interface is cumbersome and it's easy for me to get lost in too long a list I have never suffered data loss in that program. I recently copied over items from Omni Outliner Pro 3 to OmniFocus and have tried to use it as my main task program. I have kept up with the changing editions almost daily posted on the Omni website and am shocked that in the past 2 or 3 days I have a (most current) program that keeps losing my data! Yep, a task copied and pasted from Outliner Pro, OR typed in. In both cases and trying 3 times I inputed data, clicked on a different category and when I came back to the recently inputed category all of my new information was gone - each and every time! Wow. I am beginning to think some brilliant soul should invent a way to export our task lists out of 1 buggy GTD program and import them into another more desirable program. How terrible iGTD 2 is only for Leopard. It looks like the guy finally developed a functional interface. What about Midnight Inbox and Frictionless? Has anyone reviewed these products re: ease of use and reliability?

For GTDers this beta is worth following. I used iGTD quite happily and tried most others before that but have to say OmniFocus already gives a clarity of vision I've never seen before. Interaction with iCal is good though not yet as customizable as iGTD (can't yet select, say, just flagged items, afaik). But the main deal is in the actual viewing. For example, click the 'View' button and in that bar set Projects mode to 'start' and then 'due' and then in Contexts mode to 'due and 'due' and then switch between the modes, and (from Dec 14 beta on) you get a very clear choice of future views. The Inspector palette is now better & Perspective switching an added bonus (though it doesn't always remember both views), but as said a very interesting and definite beta development going on - well worth checking out. It's a keeper for me.

I agree w/ ESPIRIDION. This is definitely a beta program. As such, use w/ caution. So far, I've had numerous issues w/ OmniFocus and iCal To-Dos. I'm sure of it might be the new Leopard version of iCal but it definitely needs work on the Omni side. Great upside but be sure to give it ample testing before making it your everyday task manager. Be sure to provide feedback, too. /

Astonishing and life changing software; this one really gets it and is integrates beautifully into the X.5 ui... .

Just a comment since a rating may be misleading. For anyone interested in trying OmniFocus keep in mind that this is PRE-RELEASE software. Reports will enable the Omni people to improve the software. So far it has contained some bugs and unexpected behavior, so consider that before working with critical data or tasks. I do prefer it to the programs the first reviewer mentioned, but I never liked those programs as a GTD implementation. For me Thinking Rock has set the standard, and I have used it as my GTD software. I have also tried the alpha versions of OmiFocus for months now, and look forward to the release version. I made my purchase as soon as it became available.

I've been using OF for the past five months and find it an incredible piece of software. Even in Apha--and now Beta--it is easy to use, intuitive, and keeps getting better. The developers are quick to respond when problems arise and work to resolve issues and bugs. I purchased this within hours of it going for sale.

Now this is the most complex simplicity I've ever used- I tried them all: ReadySetDo!, frictionless, finally iGTD which came very close to what I would consider intuitive and easy organizing--- and now Omnifocus is simply passing them all without effort! You really have to have tried this if You're trying to follow David Allens amazing guide to stress-free productivity, "Getting Things Done!" You don't know it? This program needs no knowledge up front, although having an idea of the logistics behind the structure improves on Your awe for what Omni are about to deliver here in January... Having followed the development process through its earliest alpha stage I have watched this grow into a ful fetched GTD system that is as convenient as it is reliable. To some of You who know what I talk about: - SEEMLESS Ical integration! You choose what calendar the task belongs to- and instantly you have a structure to follow upon in Ical - instant note taking through always-accessible input window -mail support (great to have in combination with Mailtags or Mail 3.0 from Leopard! - saving of individual views for instant focus on what YOU decide -attach (almost) anything to Your actions: addresses, numbers, files, URLS...etcetc - sleek program that does not block your machine while working- so predestined to remain instant- on I could go on and on... the best fighter in the ring (followed by iGTD) Try it, love it, use it to the max- and honour the amazing work of omni- enjoy!