Best Things 3 Alternative in 2026

Things 3 is a masterclass in task manager design — clean, fast, and opinionated in the best way. But it is stuck in a manual, Apple-only world. There is no AI, no email integration, no cross-platform access, and no automation. Users who switch to Android, move to Windows, or simply want their task manager to do more than store GTD-style lists consistently look for alternatives that combine the simplicity of Things with the intelligence of modern AI.

Why people look for Things 3 alternatives

• −Apple-only: no Android, Windows, or Linux support
• −One-time purchase model means no ongoing updates without buying new versions
• −No AI features or automation of any kind
• −No email or calendar integration beyond basic system calendar sync
• −Beautiful but entirely manual — you manage your tasks, not an AI

What GAIA replaces from Things 3

• ✔Cross-platform task management on any device or OS
• ✔Natural language task creation via conversation
• ✔Email-to-task automation replacing manual inbox processing
• ✔AI-driven prioritization replacing GTD-style manual area sorting

Where GAIA goes further

• +Works on Windows, Linux, Android, and web — not Apple-only
• +Proactive AI eliminates manual task triage and entry
• +Email integration connects inbox to task list automatically
• +Open-source and self-hostable for data privacy
• +Free tier available; no one-time Apple-ecosystem purchase required

How to migrate from Things 3 to GAIA

1. 1Export tasks from Things 3 via the File > Export menu
2. 2Import tasks into GAIA's task manager or connected Todoist account
3. 3Connect Gmail for automatic task creation from email
4. 4Download GAIA apps on your non-Apple devices

Frequently Asked Questions

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