Things 3 Alternatives: Top 5 in 2026

What Are the Best Things 3 Alternatives?

Speakwise leads for Apple users who need AI-extracted action items from meetings with automatic Notion sync on iPhone. Todoist offers the most complete cross-platform task manager with natural language input and team collaboration. OmniFocus provides deeper GTD features for power users who need Things-level design with more advanced options. TickTick delivers habit tracking, calendar views, and a Pomodoro timer alongside task management at a lower price. Apple Reminders now handles subtasks, tags, and smart lists for free within the Apple ecosystem.

Why Look for Things 3 Alternatives?

Things 3 is one of the best-designed task managers ever built. But its limitations push users toward alternatives.

Apple-only with no web version: Things 3 works on Mac ($49.99), iPhone ($9.99), and iPad ($19.99) only. There is no Windows, Android, or web app. Switching platforms means losing your entire system.
No collaboration features: Things 3 is a personal task manager. You cannot share tasks, assign items to team members, or create joint projects.
No AI capabilities: Things 3 has no AI features for smart scheduling, priority suggestions, or task extraction from other sources like meetings or email.
Separate purchases per platform: The full suite costs roughly $80 across all Apple devices. While there is no subscription, the upfront cost is significant.
Limited integrations: Things 3 connects to calendar and Shortcuts but lacks native integrations with Notion, Slack, or other modern productivity tools.

Professionals who get tasks from meetings need more than manual entry. AI-powered capture fills that gap.

Alternative #1: Speakwise - Best for Capturing Meeting Tasks on iPhone

Speakwise extracts action items directly from conversations using AI-powered transcription on iPhone. With 94% action item extraction and 95%+ transcription accuracy across 100+ languages, it captures the tasks that Things 3 users currently type in manually after every meeting.

Why Choose Speakwise Over Things 3?

Automatic task capture from meetings: Things 3 requires you to remember and type every task. Speakwise records conversations and extracts action items automatically. Nothing falls through the cracks.
Full meeting context: Speakwise tasks include the complete conversation transcript. Things 3 tasks are bare entries without context about why or how they were assigned.
AI-powered summaries: Every meeting gets structured key points, decisions, and action items. Things 3 has no AI features and no summarization capability.
Notion integration: Action items and transcripts sync to Notion automatically. Things 3 has limited integration options beyond Apple's ecosystem.

Key Features

One-Tap Recording: Capture any meeting on your iPhone instantly. Use AirPods for hands-free, discrete recording during coaching sessions, client meetings, or team discussions where pulling out a task manager would be disruptive.
Long Recording Support: Multi-hour board meetings, conference sessions, offsites.
Works Offline: Construction sites, secure boardrooms, planes - record without WiFi. Sync when you're back.
AI Action Item Extraction: Identifies and extracts action items. Detects who is responsible, deadlines mentioned, and relevant context from natural conversation flow.
95%+ Transcription Accuracy: Advanced noise cancellation maintains accuracy in coffee shops, conference rooms, and open offices. Captures every task commitment made during discussions.
100+ Language Support: Native transcription for Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, Hindi, and dozens more. Handles multilingual meetings seamlessly.
Native Notion Sync: Action items, transcripts, and summaries export automatically to Notion pages. According to internal user data, 82% of users choose Speakwise for this integration.

Pricing

Free Trial: Full access to all features
Premium: $59.99/year - unlimited transcription, AI summaries, Notion sync, 100+ languages

When to Choose Speakwise

You use an iPhone and most of your tasks come from meetings and conversations
You spend time after meetings typing tasks into Things 3 and often miss items
You want AI to capture action items you would otherwise forget
You use Notion for project management and want automatic task delivery
You handle multilingual conversations with international clients

When Not to Choose Speakwise

You need a traditional task manager with areas, projects, and recurring tasks
Your tasks come from typed sources rather than conversations
You need a desktop-first task management experience
You want the GTD methodology with specific task states and review workflows

Alternative #2: Todoist - Best Cross-Platform Task Manager

Todoist is the most direct Things 3 alternative that works everywhere. Its natural language processing, clean interface, and cross-platform availability make it the standard recommendation for users leaving the Apple-only Things ecosystem.

Key Features

Natural language input understands "meeting tomorrow at 2pm" instantly
Cross-platform on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, and web
Labels, filters, and priority levels for task organization
Team collaboration with shared projects and task assignment
Recurring tasks with flexible scheduling rules

Pricing

Beginner is free with 5 projects and basic features. Pro costs $5/month or $48/year with 300 projects, calendar layout, and AI features. Business at $8/user/month adds team workspaces and shared templates.

When to Choose Todoist

Choose Todoist if you need Things 3 functionality on non-Apple platforms. Its natural language input and clean design feel familiar. Team collaboration adds what Things 3 lacks entirely.

When Not to Choose Todoist

Skip Todoist if you want AI meeting capture, built-in calendar views on the free plan, or the design polish that makes Things 3 special. Todoist's 2025 price increase also makes it less competitive on value.

Alternative #3: OmniFocus - Best for GTD Power Users

OmniFocus offers the deepest implementation of Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology on Apple devices. It provides the granular control and review workflows that Things 3 simplifies away.

Key Features

Full GTD implementation with contexts, perspectives, and review
Custom perspectives for filtered task views
Defer dates, due dates, and sequential project support
Forecast view combining tasks with calendar events
Mac, iPhone, iPad, and web access

Pricing

OmniFocus costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year for access on all platforms including the web version. A 14-day free trial is available.

When to Choose OmniFocus

Choose OmniFocus if you practice GTD and need more structure than Things 3 provides. Its perspectives and review features support complex task systems.

When Not to Choose OmniFocus

Skip OmniFocus if you want simplicity. Its power comes with complexity that casual task managers find overwhelming. No Android or Windows support.

Alternative #4: TickTick - Best Value with Extra Features

TickTick matches Things 3 on task management basics and adds a calendar view, habit tracker, and Pomodoro timer. It costs less and works on every platform.

Key Features

Built-in calendar view for visual daily planning
Habit tracker for building routines alongside tasks
Pomodoro timer for focused work sessions
Cross-platform on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and web
Natural language input for quick task creation

Pricing

Free with basic task management. Premium at $35.99/year(about $3/month) with all features including calendar, habits, and Pomodoro.

When to Choose TickTick

Choose TickTick if you want more features than Things 3 at a fraction of the cost. Its calendar view, habit tracking, and cross-platform support add value that Things 3 does not offer.

When Not to Choose TickTick

Skip TickTick if you prioritize design refinement and simplicity above all else. Things 3's interface is more polished, though TickTick is catching up.

Alternative #5: Apple Reminders - Best Free Apple Option

Apple Reminders has evolved into a capable task manager with subtasks, tags, smart lists, and Siri integration. It replaces Things 3 basics for users who want free, built-in task management.

Key Features

Subtasks, tags, and smart lists for organization
Siri integration for voice task creation
Location-based and time-based reminders
Shared lists for family and team collaboration
Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iCloud sync

Pricing

Apple Reminders is completely free on every Apple device. iCloud sync included at no cost. No subscription, no in-app purchases.

When to Choose Apple Reminders

Choose Apple Reminders if you want free task management within Apple's ecosystem. Its recent updates bring subtasks, tags, and smart lists that cover most basic needs.

When Not to Choose Apple Reminders

Skip Apple Reminders if you need advanced project hierarchy, AI features, or cross-platform access. It lacks the depth and design refinement that Things 3 provides.

How to Choose the Right Things 3 Alternative

1. Determine Where Your Tasks Come From

If tasks come from meetings and conversations, Speakwise captures them automatically with AI. If you type tasks from personal planning, Todoist or TickTick replaces Things 3 directly.

2. Check Platform Requirements

Things 3 is Apple-only. If you need Windows or Android, Todoist, TickTick, or ClickUp work everywhere. If you stay on Apple, Speakwise, OmniFocus, and Apple Reminders are strong options.

3. Evaluate Methodology Needs

GTD practitioners benefit from OmniFocus. Simple list users work well with TickTick or Apple Reminders. Meeting-heavy professionals need Speakwise's automatic capture.

4. Compare Long-Term Costs

Things 3 costs $80 once. Apple Reminders is free forever. TickTick Premium is $35.99/year. Speakwise is $59.99/year. Todoist Pro is $48/year. OmniFocus is $99.99/year. Choose based on the value each delivers.

5. Consider Integration Needs

Speakwise syncs with Notion natively. Todoist integrates broadly with 60+ apps. Things 3 connects through Apple Shortcuts. OmniFocus stays within its own ecosystem. Match your tools to your workflow.

Speakwise gets your hours back.

✓Built for in-person meetings, interviews, and site visits.
✓Trusted by recruiters, consultants, agents, and field pros.
✓One tap to record. Notion-ready summary in minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Things 3 still worth buying in 2026?

Things 3 remains one of the best-designed task managers for Apple users. Its one-time purchase model saves money compared to annual subscriptions. However, it lacks AI features, collaboration, and cross-platform access that modern workflows demand. If you use only Apple devices and prefer manual task management with beautiful design, Things 3 is still excellent. For meeting-based task capture or cross-platform needs, alternatives deliver more value.

What is the best free alternative to Things 3?

Apple Reminders is the best free alternative for Apple users, with subtasks, tags, smart lists, and Siri integration built into every device. TickTick's free tier offers cross-platform task management with basic features. Speakwise's free trial gives full access to AI action item extraction from meetings with Notion sync. For traditional task management, Apple Reminders is the clear winner. For capturing tasks from conversations, Speakwise's trial is unmatched.

Can I use Things 3 and Speakwise together?

Yes. Record meetings with Speakwise and extract action items automatically. Then create corresponding tasks in Things 3 for your personal GTD system. However, the most efficient workflow uses Speakwise with Notion, where action items sync automatically. This eliminates the manual step of transferring meeting tasks into a separate app.

Which Things 3 alternative is best for meeting tasks?

Speakwise is purpose-built for meeting task capture. It records conversations with 95%+ accuracy, extracts action items, and syncs everything to Notion. Things 3, Todoist, and TickTick all require you to manually type tasks during or after meetings. Speakwise automates this entire process on iPhone.

How long does it take to switch from Things 3?

Things 3 supports export through its Shortcuts integration. However, most alternatives require manual task recreation. For meeting-based task capture, you can start using Speakwise immediately - download the app, record your next meeting, and get AI-extracted action items in minutes. No migration needed for new meeting tasks.

Final Verdict

Things 3 remains beautifully designed for personal Apple task management. But it cannot capture the tasks that matter most - the ones born in meetings and conversations.

For iPhone users whose action items come from discussions, Speakwise automates what Things 3 requires you to do manually. AI transcription, automatic action item extraction, and Notion sync create a meeting-to-task pipeline that no traditional task manager can match.

Todoist works best for cross-platform users leaving the Apple ecosystem. OmniFocus suits GTD power users. TickTick offers the best value with extra features. Apple Reminders handles basics for free.

Download Speakwise from the App Store and see how one-tap recording, AI transcription, and Notion integration can replace your current workflow.