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Many Displays vs Things

Many Displays and Things are both personal productivity tools. Many Displays is aimed at developers and freelancers, while Things is aimed at freelancers. Only Many Displays has a free plan.

Many Displays

Mac menu bar app that restores windows after sleep, unlock or replug

Things

Award-winning to-do app for Apple devices

PricingPaidPaid
Starting priceNot publishedNot published
Free planYesNo
Free trial14 days15 days
Built forDevelopers, Freelancers, Creators, Small businessesFreelancers
Platformsmacosmacos, ios
Country—DE · 2007
Rating——

Choose Many Displays if

Mac users with docks or several external monitors, especially identical ones, who are tired of rearranging windows after every sleep.

  • Works with zero setup: no layouts to name, save or trigger
  • Built specifically for identical monitors that macOS swaps
  • No network access, analytics or account inside the app

Look elsewhere if: People who want keyboard tiling or saved workspace presets rather than automatic restore (Rectangle, Moom).

Choose Things if

Apple users wanting a beautiful personal task manager.

  • Beautiful, calm design
  • One-time purchase
  • Fast and reliable

Look elsewhere if: Teams or Windows/Android users.

Many Displays vs Things pricing

Many Displays

  • Free trial$014 days with every feature, no account or card
  • Licence$19One-time; 1 person, up to 3 Macs, 12 months of updates
  • BusinessCustomOne licence per employee; volume pricing by email

Things

  • Mac$49.99One-time purchase
  • iPhone & Apple Watch$9.99One-time purchase
  • iPad$19.99One-time purchase

Many Displays · Key features

  • Automatic window restore after wake, unlock, login or monitor replug
  • Identical monitors told apart by system UUID and physical port
  • One remembered layout per combination of displays
  • Restores arrangement, resolution, refresh rate, rotation and HDR first
  • Reads the window server list in about 20 ms instead of polling apps
  • Remembers and restores windows on other Spaces, not just the visible one

Cons

  • macOS only, with no Windows or Linux version
  • Cannot move windows between Spaces on macOS 14.5 and later
  • Updates after the first year require buying a new licence

Things · Key features

  • Areas, projects and headings
  • Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday
  • Quick entry with natural dates
  • Tags and filters
  • Calendar events alongside tasks
  • Free Things Cloud sync

Cons

  • Apple only
  • No collaboration
  • No web app

Many Displays vs Things: FAQ

Do Many Displays and Things have a free plan?

Many Displays has a free plan. Things has no free plan, a 15-day free trial.

Which is better for small businesses, Many Displays or Things?

Many Displays lists small businesses as a core audience, while Things is aimed more at freelancers.

Not sure yet?

Many Displays vs Things (2026): Pricing and Features