Best Things 3 alternatives in 2026
8 direct alternatives to Things 3, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Curated by Louis Corneloup · Updated Why people consider alternatives to Things 3
Things 3 represents the refined evolution of task management for Apple. This version with refined design and features-premium to-do for discerning users. The polish is evident. The features are complete. Here are the real cost and limitation gotchas that push teams to look elsewhere:
- •Each platform is sold separately. If you want Mac + iPad + iPhone, that is $79.97 total, not a single purchase. There is no bundle discount.
- •No web app means you cannot access your tasks from a Windows PC, Chromebook, or any non-Apple device. If you switch platforms, your investment is lost.
- •Major version upgrades (Things 2 to Things 3) have historically been paid upgrades with no discount for existing users. Things 3 launched in 2017 at full price. A future Things 4 would likely require repurchasing.
- •No API or third-party integrations. You cannot connect Things to Zapier, Shortcuts automations are limited, and there is no way to programmatically add tasks from other apps (beyond basic URL schemes and Mail to Things).
The 8 alternatives below cover the same core job (task management) with different trade-offs. Ranked by real-signal score: G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review.
8 alternatives to Things 3
Ranked by real-signal composite (rankingScore + community + reviews) and direct relevance to Things 3.
- 1
Asana
FreemiumCheaper than Things 3Orchestrate work from tasks to initiatives with projects and automation
Direct alternative4.5(51,834)Compare Things 3 vs Asana → - 2
Todoist
FreemiumCheaper than Things 3Organize work and life with natural language task capture
Direct alternative4.6(3,451)Compare Things 3 vs Todoist → - 3
TickTick
FreemiumCheaper than Things 3Task manager, calendar, habits, and Pomo timer in one app
Direct alternative4.7(234)Compare Things 3 vs TickTick → - 4
OmniFocus
PaidMaster your tasks with powerful Apple-based GTD organization
Direct alternative4.6(86)Compare Things 3 vs OmniFocus → - 5
Sandbar
PaidCapture and organize thoughts with your voice
Direct alternativeCompare Things 3 vs Sandbar → - 6
Google Drive
FreemiumCheaper than Things 3Cloud storage and collaboration with 15GB free
Direct alternative4.8(28,494)Compare Things 3 vs Google Drive → - 7
Slack
FreemiumCheaper than Things 3Central hub for workplace communication and collaboration
Direct alternative4.5(61,908)Compare Things 3 vs Slack → - 8
Google Workspace
PaidBattle-tested at scaleAll-in-one business productivity suite with real-time collaboration
Direct alternative4.6(64,912)Compare Things 3 vs Google Workspace →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Things 3?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to Things 3 are Asana, Todoist, TickTick. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to Things 3?
Yes. Asana is one of the freemium alternatives to Things 3 listed here (Orchestrate work from tasks to initiatives with projects and automation). Other freemium options are flagged in the list below.
Why do people look for Things 3 alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from Things 3: pricing that scales aggressively, missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in task management. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for Things 3 versus each alternative.
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