The Best Things 3 and OmniFocus Alternatives for Mac in 2026

Things 3 and OmniFocus have long been the gold standard for macOS task management. But people leave them every day — and usually for good reasons.

Maybe the price point doesn’t fit your budget. Maybe you need features they don’t have (like AI execution). Maybe you want something that syncs across platforms. Whatever your reason, this guide covers the best alternatives for every use case in 2026.

Why People Leave Things 3

Things 3 is arguably the most beautiful task manager ever made for macOS. Its design has won Apple Design Awards. Users love it deeply — until they hit its limits.

The most common reasons people switch:

• No subscription model means no cloud sync option — Things 3’s one-time purchase ($49.99 Mac + $9.99 iPhone + $19.99 iPad) is actually great value, but there’s no official web access or Windows app
• No collaboration features — Things 3 is designed for individuals only
• Limited recurrence options — complex recurring tasks require workarounds
• No AI features — as of 2026, Things 3 has no native AI capabilities
• No Markdown in task notes — the notes field doesn’t render Markdown formatting

A 2024 survey by Productivity Tools Review found that 38% of Things 3 users who switched cited “missing AI features” as a primary reason, up from just 6% in 2022.

Why People Leave OmniFocus

OmniFocus 4 is the power user’s choice: deeply flexible, with sophisticated perspectives, forecast views, and automation via Omni Automation scripting. But its complexity is also its weakness.

Common reasons people switch from OmniFocus:

• Steep learning curve — OmniFocus requires significant setup time before it becomes useful
• Premium pricing — $99.99/year (or $149.99 one-time for Standard) is expensive for individuals
• Overwhelming features — many users use less than 30% of available features, paying for complexity they don’t need
• No AI execution — OmniFocus supports Apple Foundation Models through scripting, but there’s no built-in AI task execution
• iOS-first design — the macOS app sometimes feels like an afterthought compared to the iOS version

The Best Things 3 Alternatives

The strongest Things 3 alternatives in 2026 address the specific gaps that drive users away: AI execution capability, cross-platform access, pricing flexibility, or a combination of all three. Each option below is genuinely native to macOS and Apple platforms, preserving the performance and design quality Things 3 users expect.

1. Quest2Do GTD — Best for AI-Powered GTD Practitioners

Best for: Users who want strict GTD methodology plus AI that actually executes tasks

Quest2Do GTD is the strongest Things 3 alternative for anyone serious about GTD on Apple platforms. Where Things 3 offers elegant simplicity, Quest2Do GTD adds AI execution — the ability to delegate tasks to AI agents that plan, execute, verify, and deliver results.

Verdict: If AI automation matters to you, Quest2Do GTD has no competition. If you want the most beautiful minimal interface and don’t need AI, Things 3 is still excellent.

→ Learn more about Quest2Do GTD’s macOS features

2. Todoist — Best Cross-Platform Alternative

Best for: Users who need Windows, Android, or web access alongside Mac and iPhone

Todoist is the most mature cross-platform task manager, with native apps for every major platform and a robust web interface. Its 2025–2026 AI features (Ramble voice-to-task, Task Assist, Smart Scheduling) make it the strongest AI-feature competitor for Things 3 migrants.

Pricing: Free tier available; $4/month (Pro), $6/month/user (Business)

Strengths vs Things 3:

• Works on Windows, Android, and web
• Team collaboration built-in
• AI task creation via voice (Ramble feature)
• More flexible recurring task options

Weaknesses vs Things 3:

• Less beautiful interface
• No native macOS design feel
• AI features are assistance-focused, not execution-focused

3. Apple Reminders — Best Free Alternative

Best for: Users who want zero cost and deep Apple ecosystem integration

Apple Reminders has undergone dramatic improvement since iOS 16. It now supports tags (for GTD contexts), smart lists, subtasks, and Siri integration that’s tighter than any third-party app can achieve.

Pricing: Free, included with macOS and iOS

Strengths vs Things 3:

• Completely free
• Deepest possible Apple ecosystem integration
• Siri works better with Reminders than any third-party app
• Collaborative lists for household or small team use

Weaknesses vs Things 3:

• No proper project management
• Limited GTD methodology support
• No AI execution features
• No Markdown support

4. TickTick — Best Value Alternative

Best for: Users who want Things 3-level quality at a lower annual cost

TickTick Premium ($35.99/year) competes directly with Things 3 on features while adding calendar integration, Pomodoro timer, and habit tracking. Its design is clean and its macOS app is genuinely native.

Pricing: Free tier; $35.99/year Premium

Strengths vs Things 3:

• Significant cost savings over time
• Built-in Pomodoro timer
• Better calendar view
• Android and Windows support
• Light AI features (smart date parsing, Smart Lists)

The Best OmniFocus Alternatives

1. Quest2Do GTD — Best for Simplifying Without Losing Power

Best for: OmniFocus users who want to escape complexity while keeping strict GTD

The most common OmniFocus complaint is that the system requires constant maintenance. Quest2Do GTD solves this by automating the parts of GTD that OmniFocus leaves manual: AI Clarify handles inbox processing, AI Project Analysis surfaces stalled projects, and AI Execute handles task execution.

Verdict: For GTD purists who find OmniFocus overwhelming, Quest2Do GTD is the natural successor — equally rigorous about methodology, dramatically simpler to use.

2. Notion — Best for Teams Leaving OmniFocus

Best for: Small teams or knowledge workers who want tasks integrated with documentation

Notion combines databases, documents, and tasks in one workspace. For OmniFocus users who feel their tasks should live alongside their notes, Notion’s flexibility is compelling.

Pricing: Free personal; $10/month/user Plus; $15/month/user Business

Strengths vs OmniFocus:

• Tasks and documents in one place
• Excellent team collaboration
• Highly customizable views (board, calendar, gallery)
• AI writing assistance (Notion AI)

Weaknesses vs OmniFocus:

• Not designed for GTD specifically
• Can become disorganized without discipline
• No native macOS design (Electron app)
• Slower than native apps

3. Craft + Reminders — Best for Note-Takers

Best for: Users who want beautiful Markdown notes and task management

Craft (the macOS/iOS document editor) integrated with Apple Reminders creates a surprisingly capable system for knowledge workers. Tasks in Craft sync to Reminders; both live in the Apple ecosystem.

This isn’t a fully fledged GTD system, but for users who found OmniFocus overkill, it’s an elegant minimal approach.

Migration Guide: Moving to Quest2Do GTD

If you’re coming from Things 3 or OmniFocus, migration to Quest2Do GTD takes about 30 minutes.

Step 1: Export your data

• Things 3: File → Export → JSON (contains all tasks and projects)
• OmniFocus: File → Export → OmniFocus Document or Plain Text

Step 2: Import into Quest2Do GTD Quest2Do GTD supports import from Things 3 JSON and plain text task formats. Use the Import function in Settings.

Step 3: Set up AI Clarify Configure your AI Clarify preferences — default contexts, project assignment rules, priority thresholds.

Step 4: Rebuild context structure Quest2Do GTD uses the same GTD context model as Things 3 and OmniFocus. Your @computer, @phone, and other contexts transfer directly.

Step 5: Complete your first AI-assisted weekly review Let AI Project Analysis surface any projects that need next actions after migration.

For a complete feature comparison of all GTD apps for Mac, see our full comparison guide. If you’re specifically comparing AI productivity tools, our Quest2Do GTD vs OpenClaw analysis explores how a dedicated GTD AI tool differs from an open-source AI agent.

Which Alternative Is Right for You?

FAQ: Things 3 and OmniFocus Alternatives

Q: Is there a free alternative to Things 3 that’s still GTD-compliant? Apple Reminders is free and supports basic GTD through tags (contexts) and lists (projects). For fuller GTD support at no cost, Quest2Do GTD’s free tier includes complete GTD five-step workflow and basic AI features.

Q: Can I import my Things 3 data into another app? Yes. Things 3 exports to JSON format. Quest2Do GTD and Todoist both support import. OmniFocus can import Things 3 via scripting. The import process typically preserves tasks, projects, and dates — but tags and areas may need remapping.

Q: Is OmniFocus worth the price for individuals? For power users who genuinely use perspectives, Omni Automation, and custom views, yes — OmniFocus’s $9.99/month subscription is justified. For users who mostly use basic GTD, the complexity-to-cost ratio is high. Quest2Do GTD at $2.99/month offers similar GTD rigor with significantly less complexity.

Q: What’s the closest app to Things 3 in terms of design quality? Quest2Do GTD prioritizes native macOS/iOS design in the same tradition as Things 3. Both are built by small teams focused on Apple platforms, and both use native frameworks rather than cross-platform toolkits.

Q: Do any of these alternatives have offline mode? Quest2Do GTD, Things 3, OmniFocus, and TickTick all work offline with local storage. Todoist requires an internet connection for sync but has offline queue support for task capture.

References

1. Productivity Tools Review. (2024). Annual Survey: Why Users Switch Task Management Apps. productivitytoolsreview.com
2. App Store pricing data verified February 2026.
3. Allen, D. (2015). Getting Things Done (Revised edition). Penguin Books.
4. Things 3 feature list: culturedcode.com/things (accessed February 2026)
5. OmniFocus 4 feature list: omnigroup.com/omnifocus (accessed February 2026)