7 Best Things 3 Alternatives in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)
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.
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
- −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
What is the best free alternative to Things 3? +
Is Linear better than Things 3? +
Why do people switch away from Things 3? +
AI Stack Picks writes and verifies long-form AI tool reviews for AI Stack Picks.