Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Things 3 · ✅ tasks
Things 3 vs Vikunja
A capable Todoist replacement once you accept becoming its hosting department Here is how Vikunja ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Things 3 (paid subscription) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Things 3 vs Vikunja Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Things 3 (Paid) | Vikunja (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | Paid tier | $0 / mo |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0+ |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopwebself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 5.0k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Things 3 to Vikunja
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Vikunja feels like a hosted web task system and cannot match Things’ native offline polish, frictionless capture, or elegant Today and Upcoming experience.
How to deploy Vikunja
Use the paid hosted service or deploy the free server with Docker Compose, a package, or the standalone binary
What it takes to run
The free path requires a server or Docker, persistent volumes, secrets, and normally a reverse proxy with TLS
Where your data lives
Tasks, projects, users, and settings live in SQLite, MySQL/MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, with attachments in a persistent files directory, on the selected host
Why fork Vikunja instead of vibe-coding a Things 3 clone?
The core loop is small enough for a capable coding agent to produce a useful local version in one sitting. For Things 3, build a polished personal task manager with areas, projects, tags, deadlines, and a today view. The hard boundary is exceptional native design, apple-device sync, shortcuts, and long-term maintenance, plus cross-device reliability and workflow polish.
Things 3 vs Vikunja FAQ
Is Vikunja a good free alternative to Things 3?+
Yes. Vikunja is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0+) replacement for Things 3. A capable Todoist replacement once you accept becoming its hosting department
What is the catch when switching from Things 3 to Vikunja?+
Vikunja feels like a hosted web task system and cannot match Things’ native offline polish, frictionless capture, or elegant Today and Upcoming experience.
How do I install or self-host Vikunja instead of Things 3?+
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
