People still pay for Things 3 because task software is sticky because trust, speed, and ubiquitous capture matter more than the database schema. The recurring cost buys recurrence edge cases, notifications, sync conflicts, calendar APIs, mobile capture, and backups, not just the visible interface.
REPLACEMENT BRIEF
tasks
Can AI replace Things 3?
Capture tasks into areas and projects with tags and deadlines, schedule or repeat them, work from a focused today view, and keep history locally.
Build the personal version →AT A GLANCE
- price
- varies
- replaceable scope
- personal desktop task manager
- build time
- one sitting
what AI can build
Capture tasks into areas and projects with tags and deadlines, schedule or repeat them, work from a focused today view, and keep history locally.
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.
Editorial catalog estimate · not a completed build
The honest tradeoff
why people still pay
what you lose
xexceptional native design, Apple-device sync, shortcuts, and long-term maintenance
xperfect mobile sync
xcalendar and email integrations
xshared workspaces
xbehavioral coaching polish
Start with existing software
prior art · use these instead of building, if you'd rather
EVIDENCE LEDGER
What this page can prove
The verdict judges replaceability. The evidence level records what DeepFeather actually checked.
Editorial catalog estimate · not a completed build
Mac license · one-time
known limits · exceptional native design, Apple-device sync, shortcuts, and long-term maintenance; perfect mobile sync
Build promptcatalog estimate
the prompt
Catalog estimateBuild a personal replacement for Things 3 in an empty repository. Use Tauri 2, React, TypeScript, SQLite, and desktop notifications; do not offer alternative stacks. The core loop is: capture tasks into areas and projects with tags and deadlines, schedule or repeat them, work from a focused today view, and keep history locally. Make the first run work locally with one documented command. Store all user data locally by default and make export straightforward. Put secrets in .env, ship .env.example, and never commit credentials. Create inbox, today, upcoming, someday, and completed views with fast keyboard capture. Support projects, tags, due dates, start dates, priorities, notes, subtasks, and attachments. Implement robust daily, weekly, monthly, and custom recurring rules with tests. Add a focus view with one active task, timer, and optional desktop notification. Provide search, saved filters, undo, and a completed-task archive. Export and import a documented JSON format and make automatic local backups. Include clear empty, loading, success, and recoverable error states. Add input validation, safe filenames, and graceful handling of unavailable APIs. Write focused tests for the core transformation and one end-to-end happy path. Create a README with setup, architecture, permissions, data location, and backup steps. Do not add accounts, billing, telemetry, analytics, or a hosted control plane. Deliberately leave out team assignment and comments. Deliberately leave out two-way calendar or email synchronization. Deliberately leave out native mobile apps and cloud accounts. Finish by running the tests and listing the exact commands used.
The prompt stays readable first. Choose a launch option when you are ready.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter) or copy it raw · improve it via PR
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questions
Can AI replace Things 3?
Likely for the core workflow, based on an editorial catalog judgment. This entry is not a verified build yet; use the prompt as a starting point and validate the result against your own acceptance criteria.
How much does Things 3 cost?
Things 3's pricing is usage-based or varies by plan. Use the linked pricing source for the current amount; the catalog last checked it on 2026-07-31.
What do I lose by replacing Things 3?
Honestly: exceptional native design, Apple-device sync, shortcuts, and long-term maintenance; perfect mobile sync; calendar and email integrations; shared workspaces; behavioral coaching polish. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Things 3?
Yes — Vikunja (Mature open-source task and project manager with lists, kanban, and recurring work.). Using prior art is also a valid exit; the prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.