Things 3 Alternatives - 10 Options Worth Trying

Things 3 is beautiful and fast — but people usually start looking for alternatives when they need cross-platform, team collaboration, calendar + planning, AI help, or simply more structure than lists.

Below are 10 strong alternatives, with SelfManager.ai as the #1 option.

1) SelfManager.ai (Best overall for day-based planning + reviews)

If you like Things because it feels calm and organized, Self-Manager takes that "clarity" and makes it time-aware: you don't just manage tasks — you manage days, weeks, months, and quarters.

Why it's a great Things alternative

• Day-based workflow (you live in days, not endless lists)
• Weekly / monthly / quarterly reviews for real progress tracking
• AI summaries + AI help for planning and reflection
• Great if you want a system that works like a timeline/journal + task manager

Best for: builders, founders, freelancers, and planners who want big-picture reviews without losing daily execution.

2) Todoist (Best lightweight replacement for list lovers)

Clean, fast, everywhere. If you want "Things vibes" but with better cross-platform support and sharing, Todoist is a classic.

Best for: simple personal productivity with good apps on all devices.

3) TickTick (Best all-in-one to-do app)

More features than Todoist: habits, calendar view, focus timer, lots of power for the price.

Best for: people who want one app to cover tasks + routines + planning.

4) OmniFocus (Best for hardcore GTD power users)

If you like structured projects and advanced filtering, OmniFocus is the "pro tool" many Things users graduate to.

Best for: detailed GTD setups and complex project planning.

5) Apple Reminders (Best free + simple inside Apple ecosystem)

Reminders has improved a lot and integrates deeply with iOS/macOS. If you want something minimal and native, it's surprisingly capable.

Best for: iPhone/Mac users who want no-friction capture + simple lists.

6) Microsoft To Do (Best for Microsoft ecosystem)

Great if you live in Outlook/Teams and want a solid free task manager that plays nicely with Microsoft accounts.

Best for: people working in Microsoft-heavy environments.

7) Notion (Best "tasks + notes + wiki" workspace)

Not a pure task app, but many people replace Things with a Notion setup (tasks, projects, notes, knowledge base). More flexible, less focused.

Best for: people who want tasks inside a broader personal workspace.

8) Trello (Best visual board alternative)

If you want to "see" work instead of reading lists, Trello's kanban boards are simple and effective.

Best for: visual thinkers and lightweight project tracking.

9) Sunsama (Best daily planning with calendar reality)

If your pain is "my plan never matches my calendar," Sunsama is built around daily planning and scheduling tasks alongside meetings.

Best for: daily planning that respects time and meetings.

10) Akiflow (Best command-bar productivity + calendar sync)

Fast capture, keyboard-driven workflow, strong calendar integration. People love it when they want speed above everything.

Best for: keyboard-first users who want a tight "inbox → plan" flow.

Quick Pick Guide

• Want Things-like simplicity → Todoist / Apple Reminders
• Want more features without chaos → TickTick
• Want serious GTD → OmniFocus
• Want day-based planning + reviews + AI → SelfManager.ai
• Want calendar-driven daily planning → Sunsama / Akiflow

Why SelfManager.ai Stands Out for Things 3 Users

Things 3 is loved for its simplicity and clean design. Self-Manager keeps that clarity but adds something Things can't offer: time-based structure and reflection.

Instead of just completing tasks in lists, you build a timeline of your work:

• See what you did last week, last month, last quarter
• Track progress with AI-powered reviews
• Plan ahead with calendar integration (without forcing tasks into time blocks)
• Get AI help when you're stuck or need to organize your thoughts

If you've ever wished Things had more structure for long-term planning, or wished you could review your progress beyond just checking off items, Self-Manager is built exactly for that.

FAQ: Things 3 Alternatives

Is there a cross-platform alternative to Things 3?

Yes. Todoist, TickTick, SelfManager.ai, Microsoft To Do, and Notion all work across iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and web. Things 3 is Apple-only.

Can I use Things 3 with a team?

No. Things 3 is designed for personal use only. For team collaboration, consider tools like SelfManager.ai (with shared workspaces), Todoist (shared projects), Trello, or Notion.

What's the best free alternative to Things 3?

Apple Reminders (if you're on Apple devices) or Microsoft To Do (cross-platform). Both are free and surprisingly capable for personal task management.

Which Things alternative has AI features?

SelfManager.ai has the most integrated AI features: AI summaries for reviews, AI help for planning, and AI-powered insights. Other apps like Notion also have AI, but it's not specifically built for task management workflows.

What if I want Things 3 simplicity but with more structure?

SelfManager.ai is designed for this: it keeps the clean, focused feel but adds day-based planning, weekly/monthly reviews, and time tracking — without overwhelming you with features.

Final thought

Things 3 is excellent for what it does: beautiful, focused, personal task management on Apple devices.

But when you need more — cross-platform support, team features, AI help, calendar integration, or progress reviews — there are strong alternatives worth exploring.

For builders and planners who want clarity + structure + reflection, SelfManager.ai offers the best of both worlds: simple daily execution with powerful long-term tracking.