7 Best Things 3 Alternatives in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)
⚡ Quick Verdict
The top Things 3 alternative is Linear — it scores 4.7/10 and is best for software development teams wanting a fast, opinionated issue tracker. Free plan available.
Average
Linear — Our Verdict
The best Things 3 alternatives in 2026 are Linear, Todoist, Monday.com. Linear is our top pick overall — it scores 4.7/10 and directly addresses Things 3's main weaknesses.
- Extremely fast and polished UI
- Built for software development teams
- Strong GitHub integration
Pros
- Extremely fast and polished UI
- Built for software development teams
- Strong GitHub integration
Cons
- Best suited for engineering teams
- Free plan limited to 250 issues
- Less flexible for non-dev workflows
7 Best Things 3 Alternatives in 2026
Switching from Things 3? The most common reasons we hear: Apple-only (no Android or Windows); No real-time collaboration for teams. Each alternative below directly addresses at least one of those pain points. We’ve tested them all — here’s the honest ranking.
Quick pick: If you want the fastest answer — Linear is the best overall Things 3 alternative. See why below, plus 6 other options depending on your specific needs.
Comparison Table
| Alternative | Rating | Free Plan | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linear | 4.7/10 | ✅ | $10/user/month | Extremely fast and polished UI |
| Todoist | 4.7/10 | ✅ | $4/month | Best natural language task parsing |
| Monday.com | 4.6/10 | ✅ | $9/seat/month | Flexible and visually intuitive |
| Notion | 4.6/10 | ✅ | $10/member/month | Extremely flexible and powerful |
| TickTick | 4.6/10 | ✅ | $2.99/month | Most affordable premium plan ($27.99/yr) |
1. Linear {#linear}
⭐ Best Overall Alternative
Rating: 4.7/10 | Free plan: ✅ Yes | Starts at: $10/user/month
Linear stands out as a Things 3 alternative because extremely fast and polished ui. Built for software development teams
Why choose Linear over Things 3?
- Things 3 pain point: Apple-only (no Android or Windows)
- Things 3 pain point: No real-time collaboration for teams
Key differentiator: Core feature set
Best for: Software development teams wanting a fast, opinionated issue tracker
Pricing:
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available |
| Free | $0/mo ($0 annually) |
| Basic | $10/user/month/mo ($10/user/month annually) |
| Business | $16/user/month/mo ($16/user/month annually) |
| Enterprise | Custom/mo (Custom annually) |
Pros:
- ✅ Extremely fast and polished UI
- ✅ Built for software development teams
- ✅ Strong GitHub integration
Cons:
- ❌ Best suited for engineering teams
- ❌ Free plan limited to 250 issues
- ❌ Less flexible for non-dev workflows
→ Full comparison: Linear vs Things 3
2. Todoist {#todoist}
🆓 Best Free Alternative
Rating: 4.7/10 | Free plan: ✅ Yes | Starts at: $4/month
Todoist stands out as a Things 3 alternative because best natural language task parsing. Beautiful, consistent design across all platforms
Why choose Todoist over Things 3?
- Things 3 pain point: Apple-only (no Android or Windows)
- Things 3 pain point: No real-time collaboration for teams
Key differentiator: Core feature set
Best for: Individuals and small teams who want the most polished, natural-language-first task management app
Pricing:
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available |
| Beginner (Free) | $0/mo ($0 annually) |
| Pro | $5/mo ($4/mo billed annually annually) |
| Business | $8/member/mo ($6/member/mo billed annually annually) |
Pros:
- ✅ Best natural language task parsing
- ✅ Beautiful, consistent design across all platforms
- ✅ Available on every device and OS
- ✅ Free plan is genuinely useful
Cons:
- ❌ Limited project management for teams vs. dedicated PM tools
- ❌ Business plan jumps to per-member pricing
- ❌ No built-in time tracking
→ Full comparison: Todoist vs Things 3
3. Monday.com {#monday-com}
🆓 Best Free Alternative
Rating: 4.6/10 | Free plan: ✅ Yes | Starts at: $9/seat/month
Monday.com stands out as a Things 3 alternative because flexible and visually intuitive. Works for many types of teams
Why choose Monday.com over Things 3?
- Things 3 pain point: Apple-only (no Android or Windows)
- Things 3 pain point: No real-time collaboration for teams
Key differentiator: Core feature set
Best for: Teams wanting a flexible, visual work management platform
Pricing:
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available |
| Free | $0 (up to 2 seats)/mo ($0 (up to 2 seats) annually) |
| Basic | $12/seat/month/mo ($9/seat/month annually) |
| Standard | $14/seat/month/mo ($12/seat/month annually) |
| Pro | $24/seat/month/mo ($19/seat/month annually) |
| Enterprise | Custom/mo (Custom annually) |
Pros:
- ✅ Flexible and visually intuitive
- ✅ Works for many types of teams
- ✅ Strong automations on Pro+
Cons:
- ❌ Pricing based on seats (min 3 on Basic)
- ❌ Can get expensive for larger teams
- ❌ Customization may overwhelm new users
→ Full comparison: Monday.com vs Things 3
4. Notion {#notion}
🆓 Best Free Alternative
Rating: 4.6/10 | Free plan: ✅ Yes | Starts at: $10/member/month
Notion stands out as a Things 3 alternative because extremely flexible and powerful. Great for documentation and knowledge bases
Why choose Notion over Things 3?
- Things 3 pain point: Apple-only (no Android or Windows)
- Things 3 pain point: No real-time collaboration for teams
Key differentiator: Core feature set
Best for: Teams needing a flexible all-in-one workspace combining docs, wikis, and databases
Pricing:
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available |
| Free | $0/mo ($0 annually) |
| Plus | $12/member/month/mo ($10/member/month annually) |
| Business | $20/member/month/mo ($18/member/month annually) |
| Enterprise | Custom/mo (Custom annually) |
Pros:
- ✅ Extremely flexible and powerful
- ✅ Great for documentation and knowledge bases
- ✅ Good free tier for individuals
Cons:
- ❌ Can be slow with large databases
- ❌ Steep learning curve for full potential
- ❌ AI features require additional credits
→ Full comparison: Notion vs Things 3
5. TickTick {#ticktick}
🆓 Best Free Alternative
Rating: 4.6/10 | Free plan: ✅ Yes | Starts at: $2.99/month
TickTick stands out as a Things 3 alternative because most affordable premium plan ($27.99/yr). Built-in Pomodoro and habit tracker
Why choose TickTick over Things 3?
- Things 3 pain point: Apple-only (no Android or Windows)
- Things 3 pain point: No real-time collaboration for teams
Key differentiator: Core feature set
Best for: Productivity-focused individuals who want task management, habit tracking, and Pomodoro in one affordable app
Pricing:
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available |
| Free | $0/mo ($0 annually) |
| Premium | $2.99/mo ($2.33/mo billed annually annually) |
Pros:
- ✅ Most affordable premium plan ($27.99/yr)
- ✅ Built-in Pomodoro and habit tracker
- ✅ Cross-platform including Android and Windows
- ✅ Excellent calendar integration
Cons:
- ❌ Free plan limited to 9 lists and 99 tasks per list
- ❌ Less polished design than Todoist or Things 3
- ❌ Team collaboration features basic vs. dedicated PM tools
→ Full comparison: TickTick vs Things 3
6. Asana {#asana}
🆓 Best Free Alternative
Rating: 4.5/10 | Free plan: ✅ Yes | Starts at: $10.99/month
Asana stands out as a Things 3 alternative because polished, intuitive interface. Strong automation capabilities
Why choose Asana over Things 3?
- Things 3 pain point: Apple-only (no Android or Windows)
- Things 3 pain point: No real-time collaboration for teams
Key differentiator: Core feature set
Best for: Growing teams needing structured project tracking with strong automation
Pricing:
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available |
| Personal | $0/mo ($0 annually) |
| Starter | $13.49/user/month/mo ($10.99/user/month annually) |
| Advanced | $30.49/user/month/mo ($24.99/user/month annually) |
| Enterprise | Custom/mo (Custom annually) |
Pros:
- ✅ Polished, intuitive interface
- ✅ Strong automation capabilities
- ✅ Robust reporting features
Cons:
- ❌ Expensive for larger teams
- ❌ Free plan limited to 2 users
- ❌ Can feel complex for simple use cases
→ Full comparison: Asana vs Things 3
7. ClickUp {#clickup}
🆓 Best Free Alternative
Rating: 4.5/10 | Free plan: ✅ Yes | Starts at: $7/member/month
ClickUp stands out as a Things 3 alternative because extremely feature-rich. Generous free tier
Why choose ClickUp over Things 3?
- Things 3 pain point: Apple-only (no Android or Windows)
- Things 3 pain point: No real-time collaboration for teams
Key differentiator: Core feature set
Best for: Teams wanting an all-in-one work platform to replace multiple tools
Pricing:
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available |
| Free Forever | $0/mo ($0 annually) |
| Unlimited | $10/member/month/mo ($7/member/month annually) |
| Business | $19/member/month/mo ($12/member/month annually) |
| Enterprise | Custom/mo (Custom annually) |
Pros:
- ✅ Extremely feature-rich
- ✅ Generous free tier
- ✅ Replaces multiple tools
Cons:
- ❌ Steep learning curve
- ❌ Can feel overwhelming
- ❌ Performance can lag with large workspaces
→ Full comparison: ClickUp vs Things 3
How We Ranked These Alternatives
We didn’t rank alphabetically or by popularity. Each alternative was evaluated on:
- How directly it addresses Things 3’s weaknesses — especially: Apple-only (no Android or Windows), No real-time collaboration for teams
- Overall feature quality for project management and collaboration tools use cases
- Pricing fairness — value per dollar, not just lowest cost
- Reliability and reviews — G2, Capterra, and real user data
Our Top Pick: Linear
Linear is the most well-rounded Things 3 alternative for 2026. Extremely fast and polished UI. Built for software development teams And unlike Things 3, it strong github integration.
Related Reading
- Things 3 Full Review
- Things 3 Pricing Breakdown
- Things 3 vs Linear
- Things 3 vs Todoist
- Best Project Management Tools for Teams
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Things 3?
Is Linear better than Things 3?
Why do people switch away from Things 3?
Try Linear yourself
See current pricing and features on the official site.