Consultants managing client deliverables, research, and project managementneed tools that keep up with their workflow. Here's how Melo and Things 3 compare for this specific use case.
What consultants need from a productivity tool
Consultants deal with client deliverables, research, and project management daily. The ideal tool for this workflow needs to be fast (no waiting for pages to load), flexible (different projects require different layouts), and smart (AI that understands your specific context). Privacy matters too — consultants often handle sensitive information.
Each client engagement requires a completely different set of documents and context
Deliverables, research, meeting notes, and timelines live in separate tools
Confidential client data passes through multiple cloud services
Context-switching between client projects destroys deep thinking time
Things 3 for consultants
Award-winning task manager for Apple devices. While Things 3 is a capable tool, consultants often find it limiting when they need to work with multiple content types simultaneously. Things 3's approach works for generic use cases, but the specific demands of client deliverables, research, and project management require more flexibility.
Melo
Things 3
Scope
Full spatial workspace — notes, tasks, AI, web, calendar
Pure task management — todos, projects, areas
AI
Workspace-aware AI that helps prioritize and plan
No AI features
Content
Rich content tiles — web embeds, notes, clipboard alongside tasks
Task entries with basic notes and checklists
Organization
Spatial canvas — see everything in visual context
List-based — areas, projects, headings
Data
Local-first with AI integration
Local with iCloud sync
Why consultants pick Melo
Create a board per client engagement in Melo. Tile deliverables, research, meeting notes, and AI on one canvas. Switch clients by switching boards — each with its own spatial context. Local-first means client-sensitive data never touches a third-party server.
For consultantsspecifically, Melo's spatial canvas means you can design a workspace that mirrors how you think about client deliverables, research, and project management. Tile your key documents, tasks, web references, and AI chat on one board. Switch between project contexts by switching boards. Everything stays local, fast, and private.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melo faster than Things 3?
Melo is local-first — your data lives on your Mac with zero server round-trips. This means sub-50ms response times for everything. Things 3 relies on cloud infrastructure, which introduces latency, especially with larger workspaces.
How do consultants use Melo differently?
Consultants typically create boards organized around their client deliverables, research, and project management. They tile relevant documents, tasks, web references, and AI chat specific to their workflow. The spatial layout lets them design a workspace that matches how they naturally think about their work.
Is Melo more expensive than Things 3?
Melo is a one-time $29.99 lifetime license — no subscription. Many competitors charge $10–15/month with no ownership option. Over a year or two, Melo typically costs less, and the lifetime license means zero recurring fees.
How does Melo's AI work?
Melo's AI is built into the canvas as a tile. It sees your notes, tasks, calendar, and tiled web pages — giving it full context about your workspace. You can ask it to summarize, draft, brainstorm, or organize, and it responds with answers grounded in your actual work.
Is Melo free?
Melo is a one-time lifetime license ($29.99). There's no free tier and no subscription — you pay once and get full access to everything from day one, no feature gating, all future updates included.