An interesting comparison video, thanks. I’m a FacileThings user, having originally watched your video review. I agree with some of your comments, especially around the user interface and lack of native application/offline mode. However, I think the emphasis that many task managers put on ease of capture is often to the detriment of ongoing management of the action lists. I’ve linked FacileThings to Braintoss, so have a quick way to add tasks by note, photo or voice, or alternatively use the email option to add tasks. It’s not perfect, but does solve the problem for me. In your video, you mentioned some of the project management capabilities of Nirvana, but didn’t showcase some of the features of FacileThings projects, which can either be sequential or parallel. The sequential projects can have multiple subprojects, each with their own actions. The top action from each of the subproject appears in the Next Actions list. For parallel projects, actions can be organised using a Kanban view, allowing you to choose which actions are for “to do” (waiting), “doing” (appears in the Next Action list) or “done” (completed). In my comparison of FacileThings and Nirvana, I found the FacileThings implementation to be a lot more powerful. I also found that items that are captured in FacileThings support more functionality. Notes support markdown for rich text, lists, hypertext links etc. You can also add files attachments and checklists. I think Nirvana only supports plain text and does not have file attachments or checklists. You can also associate tasks with people which go on the Waiting For list, but all the tasks for a specific person also appears in the Collaborators view, so you can quickly see everything you need to discuss with that person. The ability to link an action to a project, an area, or a goal, helps to tie the “ground level” perspective that all task managers have, with the higher levels of focus the GTD book describes, and the analytics feature helps to see what areas of focus are taking your time, and if all (or any of) the tasks you’re doing are actually helping you achieve your goals. I know this review deliberately avoided third party integrations, but FacileThings has some powerful features here too. I have both my personal and family Outlook.com calendars connected (Google Calendar is also supported), which has a two-way sync with FacileThings. I’ve also linked my Evernote account, and you can configure it so that notes added (or captured) to your Evernote Inbox automatically appear in the Clarify list and can be processed in the same way as any other item. FacileThings suffers from not having the up-front, glossy apps like Todoist or TickTick, but if you can work past the UX limitations, it's a very powerful tool. The team behind it may be small, but it is in constant development and we get monthly updates.
7:24 the filter is not applied to each item in the left menu. It is not applied to the inbox, what makes sense as it is possible not clearified correctly.
5:03 I am missing this feature so hard,too. Nirvana enables you to going through the form by pressing tab, enter, escape and so on but is not that fast and intuitive like editing text.
I have used Facile things for last 3 years. GTD since 2011. I have tried many apps but Facile Things have stuck with me. The best features of Facile is: 1. Weekly review feature. Most people struggle with weekly review and it is good to have reminder and a guided process. 2. Collaborator section. We can filter tasks grouped by each person. It is great when you interact to someone and quickly can pull up a list. 3. Good with personal / professional filter that is on top of horizon of focus. Improvment areas: 1. Mobile app is terrible. I never use it. 2. Do not really work offline
I love Nirvana, BUT... No calendar and no integrations. I really would like to start using Sunsama with Nirvana but Nirvana is a very closed system with zero integrations with outside systems. Todoist on the other hand is the recognized leader in the to-do space everyone integrates with them.
Do you both believe Todoist is the “best” platform to use for the GTD system?? I have been managing my GTD system on paper for quite a long time now and have started to really look for the best way to manage it digitally. Your thoughts and input would be SOO appreciated!! 🙏🏼 Thank you!!
@@celiagallegos for me it is until I find something better. I use projects and within that I use sections for my next, someday, waiting and reference. For non project tasks I use a project called "no project". I can then create favorites called all next, all waiting and all someday that group these items from all projects. Like I said it's not as good as Nirvana but the Nirvana team is asleep at the wheel. I've been toying with the idea of creating my own app... Mmmm
@@vapeurdepisse ooooh, how exciting!! 😃 I think I am going to start setting up my GTD system in Todoist . I’ve seen several videos where it seems to be the most user friendly. It’s wayyyy too much to manage on paper! Lol.
@@celiagallegos if you need any help with your setup, check out my Todoist Power User Course. It's based on GTD and provides a full-fledged productivity system that I used for over 3 years: lucasprigge.com/todoist-course/
Long-time Nirvana user here. I agree with your review - Nirvana is a lean and mean, well-oiled productivity machine. Once a project hits Nirvana, it gets done. A *huge* upside of purpose-built GTD apps is that they don't allow you to fiddle: No priority field, colors etc. PS: I'm envious of the higher horizons in FacileThings. PPS: Nirvana has excellent keyboard navigation, on all clients.
Have you used Nirvana or FacileThings? Share your experiences in the comments. 👇
An interesting comparison video, thanks. I’m a FacileThings user, having originally watched your video review. I agree with some of your comments, especially around the user interface and lack of native application/offline mode.
However, I think the emphasis that many task managers put on ease of capture is often to the detriment of ongoing management of the action lists. I’ve linked FacileThings to Braintoss, so have a quick way to add tasks by note, photo or voice, or alternatively use the email option to add tasks. It’s not perfect, but does solve the problem for me.
In your video, you mentioned some of the project management capabilities of Nirvana, but didn’t showcase some of the features of FacileThings projects, which can either be sequential or parallel. The sequential projects can have multiple subprojects, each with their own actions. The top action from each of the subproject appears in the Next Actions list. For parallel projects, actions can be organised using a Kanban view, allowing you to choose which actions are for “to do” (waiting), “doing” (appears in the Next Action list) or “done” (completed). In my comparison of FacileThings and Nirvana, I found the FacileThings implementation to be a lot more powerful.
I also found that items that are captured in FacileThings support more functionality. Notes support markdown for rich text, lists, hypertext links etc. You can also add files attachments and checklists. I think Nirvana only supports plain text and does not have file attachments or checklists. You can also associate tasks with people which go on the Waiting For list, but all the tasks for a specific person also appears in the Collaborators view, so you can quickly see everything you need to discuss with that person.
The ability to link an action to a project, an area, or a goal, helps to tie the “ground level” perspective that all task managers have, with the higher levels of focus the GTD book describes, and the analytics feature helps to see what areas of focus are taking your time, and if all (or any of) the tasks you’re doing are actually helping you achieve your goals.
I know this review deliberately avoided third party integrations, but FacileThings has some powerful features here too. I have both my personal and family Outlook.com calendars connected (Google Calendar is also supported), which has a two-way sync with FacileThings. I’ve also linked my Evernote account, and you can configure it so that notes added (or captured) to your Evernote Inbox automatically appear in the Clarify list and can be processed in the same way as any other item.
FacileThings suffers from not having the up-front, glossy apps like Todoist or TickTick, but if you can work past the UX limitations, it's a very powerful tool. The team behind it may be small, but it is in constant development and we get monthly updates.
Thanks for sharing, great additions and this will help a lot of people make up their minds. 👍
7:24 the filter is not applied to each item in the left menu. It is not applied to the inbox, what makes sense as it is possible not clearified correctly.
Facile things mobile app does not work. And lacks the review process feature???????
Amazing comparison with all the details I wanted to learn! Thank you.
5:03 I am missing this feature so hard,too. Nirvana enables you to going through the form by pressing tab, enter, escape and so on but is not that fast and intuitive like editing text.
I have used Facile things for last 3 years. GTD since 2011. I have tried many apps but Facile Things have stuck with me.
The best features of Facile is:
1. Weekly review feature. Most people struggle with weekly review and it is good to have reminder and a guided process.
2. Collaborator section. We can filter tasks grouped by each person. It is great when you interact to someone and quickly can pull up a list.
3. Good with personal / professional filter that is on top of horizon of focus.
Improvment areas:
1. Mobile app is terrible. I never use it.
2. Do not really work offline
Love the way you made a decision as to which one you feel is better. I like it when people do that rather than leaving you on the fence.
3:38 good points, I am with you. Capturing could be easier.
I am not missing file integration as gtd is a document management system.
I love Nirvana, BUT... No calendar and no integrations. I really would like to start using Sunsama with Nirvana but Nirvana is a very closed system with zero integrations with outside systems. Todoist on the other hand is the recognized leader in the to-do space everyone integrates with them.
Fair point!
Do you both believe Todoist is the “best” platform to use for the GTD system??
I have been managing my GTD system on paper for quite a long time now and have started to really look for the best way to manage it digitally.
Your thoughts and input would be SOO appreciated!! 🙏🏼 Thank you!!
@@celiagallegos for me it is until I find something better. I use projects and within that I use sections for my next, someday, waiting and reference. For non project tasks I use a project called "no project". I can then create favorites called all next, all waiting and all someday that group these items from all projects. Like I said it's not as good as Nirvana but the Nirvana team is asleep at the wheel. I've been toying with the idea of creating my own app... Mmmm
@@vapeurdepisse ooooh, how exciting!! 😃 I think I am going to start setting up my GTD system in Todoist . I’ve seen several videos where it seems to be the most user friendly. It’s wayyyy too much to manage on paper! Lol.
@@celiagallegos if you need any help with your setup, check out my Todoist Power User Course. It's based on GTD and provides a full-fledged productivity system that I used for over 3 years: lucasprigge.com/todoist-course/
I bet the maker of FacileThings would do an interview if you reached out to him.
Long-time Nirvana user here. I agree with your review - Nirvana is a lean and mean, well-oiled productivity machine. Once a project hits Nirvana, it gets done.
A *huge* upside of purpose-built GTD apps is that they don't allow you to fiddle: No priority field, colors etc.
PS: I'm envious of the higher horizons in FacileThings.
PPS: Nirvana has excellent keyboard navigation, on all clients.
very helpful comparisson. thanks!