Things 3 alternatives: 4 free & open-source picks
Compare recorded free and open-source options, their capabilities and operating requirements. Source dates are shown below; licenses, hosted limits and project activity can change.
A local task manager with timeboxing, Pomodoro, and no account begging to be created
licenseMIT
runson your machine
installUse the browser/PWA or install a packaged desktop or mobile build
dataTasks, projects, time records, and settings are local-first in browser or app storage; optional synchronization and backups use the user's chosen WebDAV or Dropbox account
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs Things 3Super Productivity is busier and more time-tracking-oriented than Things and lacks its exceptionally polished native Apple quick-capture and planning flow.
facts verified 2026-08-10
A capable Todoist replacement once you accept becoming its hosting department
licenseAGPL-3.0+
runsyour machine or their cloud
installUse the paid hosted service or deploy the free server with Docker Compose, a package, or the standalone binary
dataTasks, projects, users, and settings live in SQLite, MySQL/MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, with attachments in a persistent files directory, on the selected host
the catch vs Things 3Vikunja feels like a hosted web task system and cannot match Things’ native offline polish, frictionless capture, or elegant Today and Upcoming experience.
setupThe free path requires a server or Docker, persistent volumes, secrets, and normally a reverse proxy with TLS
facts verified 2026-08-10
Things minus the polish tax, provided every device in sight has an Apple logo
licenseproprietary, free
runson your machine
installPreinstalled on iPhone, iPad, and Mac; enable iCloud or another supported reminders account for synchronization
enginesOptional Apple Intelligence can suggest or auto-categorize reminders on supported devices; ordinary task management does not require AI
dataStructured reminder records live in iCloud or another configured reminders account and are cached on Apple devices; iCloud provides account-level restore rather than user-visible task files
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs Things 3Apple Reminders is less coherent and polished than Things for organizing Areas, multi-step projects, headings, start dates, deadlines, and the Today-to-Upcoming flow.
facts verified 2026-08-10
A polished free task manager, paid for with a Microsoft account rather than money
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installInstall the Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android app, or use the web app, and sign in with a Microsoft account
dataTasks are stored as structured records on Microsoft's Exchange Online servers and surface in Outlook Tasks across synchronized clients
the catch vs Things 3Microsoft To Do lacks Things’ refined Areas-and-project hierarchy, headings, start-versus-deadline distinction, and Apple-native interaction polish.
setupRequires a Microsoft account
facts verified 2026-08-10
latest recorded source check 2026-08-10 · check current terms at the source
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Productivity | MIT | one-click install | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android | 21,156 | 2026-08 |
| Vikunja | AGPL-3.0+ | docker to self-host | web, macos, windows, linux, self-hosted | 5,000 | 2026-08 |
| Apple Reminders | proprietary, free | one-click install | macos, ios | — | — |
| Microsoft To Do | proprietary, free | they host it | web, macos, windows, ios, android | — | — |
People still pay for Things 3 because task software is sticky because trust, speed, and ubiquitous capture matter more than the database schema. The recurring cost buys recurrence edge cases, notifications, sync conflicts, calendar APIs, mobile capture, and backups, not just the visible interface.
Questions about these alternatives
Is there a free alternative to Things 3?
Yes: Super Productivity, Vikunja, Apple Reminders and 1 more. These are recorded free or open-source options. Compare their feature limits, licenses, hosting costs and current availability before choosing.
Should I just build my own Things 3?
Our verdict is YES. The core loop is small enough for a capable coding agent to produce a useful local version in one sitting. For Things 3, build a polished personal task manager with areas, projects, tags, deadlines, and a today view. The hard boundary is exceptional native design, apple-device sync, shortcuts, and long-term maintenance, plus cross-device reliability and workflow polish. Review the scope, implementation prompt and trade-offs in the Things 3 build guide.
