Things costs $10/mo.
These cost $0.
2 free alternatives to Things, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for Things is Super Productivity (MIT Open Source). Across this category, 1 self-hostable tool is available (including Vikunja). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $600/year compared to Things's $10/mo subscription.
The catch: Super Productivity timeboxes local tasks well but does not pull a broad set of external task systems into one inbox or automatically place them on the calendar like Akiflow.
Things vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $10/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Productivity | open source | MIT | Local | ★ 23.5k | Things vs Super Productivity → |
| Vikunja | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Self-host | ★ 6k | Things vs Vikunja → |
The picks
2 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Super Productivity
open sourceMITLocal23.5knov 2026Privacy-first task manager combining task lists, Kanban, Pomodoro timers, time tracking, and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and Jira. No account required, works offline.
The catch vs ThingsSuper Productivity timeboxes local tasks well but does not pull a broad set of external task systems into one inbox or automatically place them on the calendar like Akiflow.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilewebone-click install
- install
- Use the browser/PWA or install a packaged desktop or mobile build
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- Tasks, projects, time records, and settings are local-first in browser or app storage; optional synchronization and backups use the user's chosen WebDAV or Dropbox account
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
Vikunja
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Self-host6knov 2026A powerful, open-source task management platform for teams and individuals, offering customizable workflows and seamless integration.
The catch vs ThingsVikunja lacks Any.do’s polished guided daily planner, consumer-grade reminders, calendar experience, and low-friction mobile setup.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopwebself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Use the paid hosted service or deploy the free server with Docker Compose, a package, or the standalone binary
- setup
- The free path requires a server or Docker, persistent volumes, secrets, and normally a reverse proxy with TLS
- your data
- Tasks, projects, users, and settings live in SQLite, MySQL/MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, with attachments in a persistent files directory, on the selected host
- checked
- 2026-11-07
Things Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 2 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Things open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Things?+
The top free alternative to Things is Super Productivity (open source, MIT). Privacy-first task manager combining task lists, Kanban, Pomodoro timers, time tracking, and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and Jira. No account required, works offline. Other popular Things replacements include Vikunja.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Things?+
Yes. Of the 2 free alternatives to Things, 1 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Vikunja (AGPL-3.0+).
How much does switching from Things to a free alternative save?+
Things starts at $10/month per seat ($120/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Super Productivity saves $600 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Things clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Things is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Things or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 2 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Super Productivity.
What is the catch when switching from Things to Super Productivity?+
Super Productivity timeboxes local tasks well but does not pull a broad set of external task systems into one inbox or automatically place them on the calendar like Akiflow.
