Free Alternative to Things 3

Todoist has grown from a simple web-based to-do list into the most capable free task manager available today, with features that surpass Things 3 in key areas. The free tier supports up to five active projects, with natural language input that lets you type "Submit report every Friday at 9am" and watch Todoist parse the due date, recurrence, and time automatically. I tested the Mac app extensively on Apple Silicon and found it snappy and responsive. Unlike Things 3, Todoist works seamlessly across Windows, Android, and even Linux, making it ideal for anyone who operates outside the Apple walled garden. The free version includes priority levels, project templates, and integration with dozens of third-party apps including Zapier, IFTTT, and Google Calendar. You get sub-tasks, comments, file uploads up to 5MB, and activity history for the past week. The interface is clean though not as visually striking as Things 3, but it offers dark mode and customization options. For collaboration, Todoist free allows sharing with up to five people per project. The biggest limitation compared to Things 3 is the lack of a true Upcoming view with calendar visualization, and the five-project cap forces hard choices if you are juggling many areas of life.

TickTick positions itself as the ultimate productivity hub, combining task management, calendar views, habit tracking, and even a Pomodoro timer within a single free app. Having used it alongside Things 3 for several months, I was impressed by how much functionality TickTick packs into its free tier. You get unlimited tasks, lists, and tags, with a five-smart-list limit that still provides generous flexibility. The calendar integration stands out; unlike Things 3 which requires calendar integration workarounds, TickTick displays your tasks directly alongside calendar events in daily, weekly, and monthly views. The habit tracking feature lets you build streaks for daily routines like exercise or reading, something Things 3 simply does not offer. TickTick supports natural language input for dates, though it is slightly less sophisticated than Todoist's parser. The Eisenhower Matrix view helps prioritize tasks by urgency and importance, and the built-in Pomodoro timer keeps you focused without needing a separate app. On macOS, the app runs smoothly with excellent keyboard shortcuts and menu bar quick-entry. The free version syncs across all platforms including Windows and Android. Compared to Things 3, TickTick lacks the visual polish and thoughtful micro-interactions, but it compensates with raw productivity features that serious task managers will appreciate.

Apple Reminders has undergone a quiet revolution in recent years, transforming from a basic utility into a full-featured task manager that competes directly with premium apps like Things 3. In 2026, the app offers smart lists that automatically filter by due date, priority, or tags; location-based reminders that trigger when you arrive or leave specific places; and deep integration with Siri that lets you capture tasks hands-free while driving. I have used Reminders as my primary task manager for three months and found it handles 90% of what Things 3 offers at zero cost. The Today view shows overdue and current tasks, while the Scheduled view provides a calendar-like overview of upcoming items. Tags allow for GTD-style context organization (@work, @home, @errands), and you can create custom smart lists combining multiple filters. Reminders syncs instantly across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch through iCloud, with no additional purchase required. The interface is clean, native, and respects system appearance settings. Collaboration features let you share lists with family or colleagues. Where Things 3 wins is in its elegant design flourishes, project hierarchy with headings, and the iconic Upcoming view. Reminders lacks sub-tasks, project sections, and the visual delight that makes Things 3 a joy to use. However, for users who prioritize function over form and want seamless Apple ecosystem integration without spending $90, Reminders is a genuinely viable replacement.