8 Best Things Alternatives in 2026 (Tested & Compared)

Why look beyond Things?

Things 3 is Apple-only, and its per-platform pricing adds up fast — two reasons most people start shopping for an alternative. The app itself is excellent: natural language parsing, the Areas-and-Projects hierarchy, and that sliding tick-off animation are genuinely hard to beat. But if you carry an Android phone or touch a Windows machine, Things isn't an option at all — there's no web, Android, or Windows version. And the pricing is a la carte: $9.99 for iPhone/iPad and $49.99 for the Mac app, so going all-in runs roughly $60 up front (prices have shifted over the years, so check current App Store listings).

Things is also deliberately solo. There's no collaboration, shared projects, comments, or two-way integrations — your calendar feed is read-only, and there's no Slack or Zapier hook. If you need GTD-level review workflows, team task sharing, or a tool on every device you own, you'll hit its ceiling quickly. Below are eight alternatives worth your time, each with the honest trade-off that comes with switching.

Quick comparison

Todoist is the all-platform workhorse, OmniFocus is the power-user's GTD machine, and Notion is for people who want tasks, notes, and docs in one place. The rest fill specific niches: Sunsama for daily planning, Trello for visual boards, Taska for small-team lists, Remember the Milk for smart lists, and Apple Notes as the free native option you already own. Here's the detailed breakdown.

1. Todoist — Best for cross-platform users

What does Todoist do?

Todoist is the closest spiritual successor to Things if you need it to run everywhere. It has the same fast quick-add with natural language — type "submit report tomorrow at 5pm every Friday" and it parses the date and recurrence — but adds a web app, Android, Windows, and browser extensions that Things simply doesn't offer.

Key features

• Natural language input for dates and recurrence
• Recurring tasks and reusable project templates
• Shared projects with task assignment
• 100+ integrations (Slack, Google Calendar, Zapier)
• Native apps on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and web

Pricing

Free tier covers 5 active projects. Pro is $4/mo (billed annually) and Business is $6/mo per user.

Why choose Todoist over Things?

It syncs on every platform, costs a fraction of Things up front, and the free plan is actually usable for solo task tracking. You also get the integrations and collaboration Things flat-out lacks.

The trade-off

It doesn't feel as calm as Things — the design is functional rather than beautiful. The free tier's 5-project cap is tight if you organize granularly, and reminders are a Pro-only feature.

2. OmniFocus — Best for GTD power users

What does OmniFocus do?

OmniFocus is the most serious task system on Apple platforms, built around David Allen's Getting Things Done method with custom perspectives, defer dates, and a formal review workflow.

Key features

• Full GTD workflow with tags (contexts) and scheduled reviews
• Custom perspectives — saved filtered views you build yourself
• Forecast view combining tasks and calendar events
• Location-based reminders
• Repeating tasks with complex rules (e.g. "third Tuesday monthly")

Pricing

Subscription is $9.99/mo or $99.99/year; a web add-on is included on the subscription so you can access tasks outside Apple devices.

Why choose OmniFocus over Things?

If Things feels too shallow — no custom perspectives, no review workflow, limited defer handling — OmniFocus gives you the control serious planners want.

The trade-off

The learning curve is steep, and the subscription outcosts Things' one-time fee within a couple of years. Apps outside Apple's ecosystem are limited to the web add-on.

3. Remember the Milk — Best for smart-list fans

What does Remember the Milk do?

Remember the Milk has been around since 2004 and nails flexible organization through smart lists, tags, and quick-add syntax across every platform.

Key features

• Smart lists built from saved search criteria (e.g. "due this week AND tagged work")
• Tags and Smart Add parsing
• Location-based reminders
• Two-way calendar sync
• Integrations with Gmail, Outlook, and Evernote

Pricing

Free tier with core features; Pro is $39.99/year.

Why choose Remember the Milk over Things?

It's cross-platform, cheaper annually than Things' total cost, and its smart lists rival Things' filtering while adding the reminders Things can't do natively.

The trade-off

The interface feels dated next to Things, and basics like subtasks, daily reminders, and advanced sorting sit behind the Pro paywall.

4. Sunsama — Best for daily planning

What does Sunsama do?

Sunsama isn't a task list — it's a daily planner that pulls tasks from your other tools and walks you through planning each day with time estimates and a guided shutdown.

Key features

• Guided daily planning and end-of-day shutdown rituals
• Time-boxing with estimates versus actuals
• Integrations with Todoist, Asana, Gmail, Trello, and Slack
• Drag tasks directly onto your calendar
• Weekly reflections and focus tracking

Pricing

14-day trial, then Pro is $20/mo or $16/mo billed annually (confirm current rates — Sunsama adjusts pricing periodically).

Why choose Sunsama over Things?

Things stores and organizes tasks but doesn't help you decide what to actually do today. Sunsama forces that daily commitment and pulls work in from everywhere you already track it.

The trade-off

It's the priciest tool here, and it's a planning layer on top of your other tools — you'll likely still keep a task backend like Todoist underneath it.

5. Taska — Best for small team lists

What does Taska do?

Taska is a lightweight, fast task manager for small teams who want shared lists without the overhead of full project software.

Key features

• Shared task lists with real-time sync
• Comments and file attachments on tasks
• Shared team workspaces
• Integrations with common tools
• Mobile apps

Pricing

Free tier; Basic $5/mo and Pro $10/mo per user.

Why choose Taska over Things?

Things has zero collaboration. Taska keeps things simple while letting a team share, comment on, and assign tasks.

The trade-off

It lacks Things' depth for personal organization and its polish. It's a team tool first, so solo users get less from it.

6. Trello — Best for visual workflows

What does Trello do?

Trello uses Kanban boards — cards you drag between columns — which suits people who think in stages rather than flat lists.

Key features

• Kanban boards with drag-and-drop cards
• Checklists, due dates, and attachments on cards
• Power-Ups to add calendar, voting, and more
• Butler automation (rule-based card actions)
• Calendar and timeline views on paid plans

Pricing

Free plan allows up to 10 boards per workspace; Standard $5/mo, Premium $10/mo, Enterprise $17.50/mo (billed annually).

Why choose Trello over Things?

If you want to see work move across stages, Trello's boards beat Things' linear lists. It's also cross-platform and built for collaboration.

The trade-off

Boards get unwieldy under a large personal task load, and there's no natural language quick-add to rival Things.

7. Notion — Best for all-in-one workspaces

What does Notion do?

Notion combines notes, databases, wikis, and task boards into one workspace built from blocks and linked databases.

Key features

• Block-based editor for any content type
• Databases with relations, filters, and multiple views
• Thousands of community templates
• Collaboration, comments, and page permissions
• Web clipper and API access

Pricing

Free for personal use; Plus $10/mo, Business $20/mo per user (billed annually), Enterprise custom.

Why choose Notion over Things?

If your tasks live alongside notes, docs, and project plans, Notion unifies all of it in one place. Things can only ever be a task app.

The trade-off

It's slower to open and you build your own system — which can become a procrastination trap. Mobile quick-capture lags well behind Things' instant add.

8. Apple Notes — Best for free native capture

What does Apple Notes do?

Apple Notes is already on your devices, syncs via iCloud, and handles checklists and quick notes without costing anything extra.

Key features

• Instant iCloud sync across Apple devices
• Checklists and rich formatting
• Shared notes for light collaboration
• Handwriting and scanning on iPad and iPhone
• Folder and tag organization

Pricing

Free with your existing iCloud account.

Why choose Apple Notes over Things?

If you only need light checklists and jotted reminders, you get them for $0 versus Things' roughly $60 total across iPhone and Mac.

The trade-off

No due dates, repeating tasks, smart lists, or real task hierarchy. It's a note app wearing a task-app hat.

The bottom line

If you're leaving Things because of its Apple-only lock-in, Todoist is the obvious landing spot — cross-platform, $4/mo, and fast at capture. If you're leaving because Things is too shallow, OmniFocus gives you GTD depth, while Notion suits anyone wanting one home for tasks and docs. For daily focus, Sunsama stands alone; if budget decides it, Apple Notes is free on devices you already own. Match the tool to the actual reason you're switching, and explore more options in the Task Management hub.