Building solid habits can enhance mental clarity, boost productivity, improve physical health, and even foster a greater sense of well-being. Whether it’s rising with the sun to exercise, studying languages in the afternoon, or setting aside moments for mindful reflection, these seemingly small actions, when repeated consistently, can lead to monumental changes. Here are eight of the best habit-tracker apps that can help you build, develop, and keep track of your habits wherever you are.
Table of contents
The best habit trackers: A quick overview
| App | Best for | Platforms | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaks | iPhone users | iOS, Apple Watch, Mac | $4.99 |
| Habitica | Habit gamification | Web, iOS, Android | Free | $4.99/month |
| Notion | Versatile habit tracking and organization | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Free | $8/month |
| HabitNow | Android users | Android | Free | $9.99 |
| Greatness | Coaching and courses | iOS, Android | Free | $49.99/year |
| Productive | Customizing habits and challenges | iOS, Apple Watch, Android | Free | $3.99/month |
| Todoist | Easy habit tracking and task management | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | Free | $4/month |
| Habitify | Cross-platform habit tracking | Web, iOS, Android | Free | $4.99/month |
How did we review these apps?
We manually reviewed and evaluated these apps, taking into consideration the following criteria:
- User experience. Assessing the ease of navigation, clarity of instructions, and overall smoothness of the user journey.
- Design and visuals. Examining the design quality, visual appeal, and presentation of each app, as aesthetics play a significant role in user engagement.
- Flexibility. Evaluating how well each app adapts to changing circumstances, modifying goals, and adjusting schedules.
- Gamification. Looking at how each app incorporates gamification elements such as rewards, badges, or streaks and their effectiveness in motivating users.
- Mobile app. Checking the availability and functionality of mobile versions, ensuring a seamless experience for tracking habits on the go.
- Customization. Assessing the level of customization available, including personalized habit tracking, customizable reminders, and adjustable settings.
- Updates and active development. Considering the frequency of updates, responsiveness to user feedback, and overall commitment to app improvement.
- Additional features. Exploring unique features that set each app apart, such as integration with other apps, insightful analytics, or unique motivational tools.
- Cost: Analyzing the affordability and pricing structure of each app, including free features, premium options, and overall value for money.
1. Streaks
🥇 Best for: Apple users
✅ Pros:
- Complete habit tracking suite at a low cost
- Repeated tasks during the same day
- Complete statistics dashboard
- Cross-device sync
- Widget for quick access
❌ Cons:
- Limit of 24 tasks
- The widget’s functionality is limited
- The learning curve is high
💻 Platforms: iOS, Apple Watch, Mac
💲 Price: $4.99
Seamlessly integrated into the Apple ecosystem and a superb habit tracker app for Apple users, Streaks lets you track up to 24 daily tasks, aiming to build consistent streaks. Your tasks sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch via iCloud. Set positive habits or break bad ones with flexible daily, weekly, or monthly tracking. Streaks also auto-syncs with Apple’s Health Kit, marking tasks like walking or sleeping based on your activities. With 78 color themes and 600+ task icons, you can customize your experience to your taste.
2. Habitica
🥇 Best for: Habit gamification
✅ Pros:
- Daily, weekly, and monthly goals
- Game-like progression system
- Beautiful retro-RPG visuals
- In-app rewards
- Reminders and widgets
❌ Cons:
- Too much information
- Not suitable for simple habit tracking
💻 Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | Monthly Subscription: $4.99
Habitica transforms habit tracking into an enthralling RPG adventure. With a blend of productivity and gaming, users create avatars, tackle tasks, and earn rewards in a fantastical world. Challenges transform into monster battles, promoting motivation and accountability, especially when teaming up with friends. The app also features a community aspect, with parties, challenges, and guilds that you can join to team up with friends and other Habitica users for extra accountability and motivation.
3. Notion
🥇 Best for: Versatile habit tracking and organization
✅ Pros:
- Several habit tracking templates to choose from
- Complete organization and project management suite
- Customizable down to the detail
- Drag & drop design
- Many available integrations
❌ Cons:
- High learning curve
- Vast array of features that can be overwhelming
💻 Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | Plus: starts at $8/month
Notion stands out as a versatile workspace to boost your productivity, but it can also be an excellent habit tracker app. With numerous habit-tracking templates, it caters to your specific needs. What sets Notion apart is its unparalleled customization. You can tweak every detail, making it one of the most comprehensive suites available. Whether you’re setting reminders, tracking progress, or integrating multimedia, Notion molds to your preferences.
In addition, Notion offers many integrations with third-party tools. You can use 2sync to sync Notion to Google Calendar, Todoist, and more upcoming services.
4. HabitNow
🥇 Best for: Android users
✅ Pros:
- Complete Android app for habit-tracking
- Many customization options
- Notes, alarms, and reminders
- Rich statistics
- Timed activities
❌ Cons:
- Only 7 habits tracked in the free version
- Unavailable for web and Apple devices
💻 Platforms: Android
💲 Price: Free | Premium: $9.99
HabitNow streamlines habit tracking and task management in one place with an eye-pleasing interface. Tailor habits to your schedule with customizable goals and reminders. Easy to use, along with detailed analytics and a digital diary, makes tracking progress as engaging as its light and dark modes. With customizable themes and rewarding achievements, transform routines into rewarding journeys—simple but powerful!
5. Greatness
🥇 Best for: Coaching and courses
✅ Pros:
- Beautiful and minimalist design
- 86 built-in habits
- Daily checklist and reminders
- Monthly calendar view
❌ Cons:
- Coaching programs and courses only available in the paid version
- Costly subscription
💻 Platforms: iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | $49.99/year
Greatness is an excellent and beautiful habit tracker app designed to help you build healthy routines. It offers personalized programs based on your goals, allowing you to set up daily routines for different parts of your day. The app tracks your habits with a checklist and provides statistics on your progress. While it includes audio coaching and courses for various areas of life, these features are only available in the paid version.
6. Productive
🥇 Best for: Customizing habits and challenges
✅ Pros:
- Programs and challenges
- Social features to keep you motivated
- Highly customizable
- ADHD assistance
- Smart reminders
❌ Cons:
- The interface could look better
- Lacks weekend option
💻 Platforms: iOS, Apple Watch, Android
💲 Price: Free | Premium: $6.99/month
With Productive, you can effortlessly set personal goals, use customizable templates for habits, and stay motivated with reminders tailored to your life. With its intuitive interface, tracking your progress is simple, offering visual streaks of success for a dopamine boost. Challenges like “Cut the Clutter” invite friendly competition, adding an extra layer of motivation. While the app is free, the full array of features, including articles and detailed reminders, comes with a subscription.
7. Todoist
🥇 Best for: Easy habit tracking and task management
✅ Pros:
- Useful blend of task management and habit tracker
- Stunning and intuitive interface
- Easy to use yet powerful
- Natural language
- Recurring tasks
❌ Cons:
- Lack of some advanced features
- Reminders only available with a subscription
💻 Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
💲 Price: Free | Pro plan: starts at $4/month
Todoist helps you organize tasks and track habits with ease. Quickly add things to do as they come to mind and set reminders and recurring tasks using natural language. It works on all devices and connects with tools like calendars and email. You can also share tasks or habits with others, making teamwork and routines simpler and more motivating. On iOS, it syncs with Siri, but you can also sync Todoist with Google Calendar and Notion easily.
8. Habitify
🥇 Best for: Cross-platform habit tracking
✅ Pros:
- Cross-platform data syncing
- Sorting by habit areas
- To-do items for your routine
- Social challenges
- Complete statistics
❌ Cons:
- Subscription is a bit costly
- Only 3 habits in the free plan
💻 Platforms: iOS, Android, web
💲 Price: Free | Premium: $4.99/month
Habitify transforms your daily routines into achievable goals. It’s a multiplatform habit tracker that helps you organize your day, from morning runs to nightly reflections. Enjoy tools like a built-in timer, notes, and mood tracking to enhance your habit-building journey. Engage in challenges, compete with friends, and stay motivated. With integrations like Apple Health, Google Fit, and various apps, Habitify creates a personalized experience.
Why should you use a habit tracker app?
While it’s true that we are flooded with apps and surrounded by screens in our everyday lives, this doesn’t necessarily have to be a downside. In fact, when used thoughtfully, technology can be a powerful ally in our quest for self-improvement and personal growth. Here’s why using a habit tracker app can be a game-changer in your journey toward building better habits:
1. Consistent reminders
In the whirlwind of daily life, it’s easy to lose track of the new habits we’re trying to develop. Habit tracker apps act as personal reminders, ensuring that your new routines don’t get lost in the shuffle of daily responsibilities. Whether it’s a nudge to drink more water or a prompt to take a five-minute meditation break, these reminders keep you on track.
2. Visible progress
There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing your progress visually represented. A habit tracker app often comes with features that allow you to track your streaks or visualize your consistency. This visual representation of your efforts can be incredibly motivating and can give you that extra push on days when your willpower is waning.
3. Accountability
Keeping yourself accountable is often half the battle regarding habit formation. With a habit tracker, you have a digital log of your actions, making it harder to forget or overlook a habit you’re trying to establish. Some apps even have social features, allowing you to share your progress with friends or a community, further enhancing this sense of accountability. You don’t want to disappoint your loved ones, right?
4. Customization and flexibility
Everyone’s journey is unique, and some habit tracker apps recognize this. They offer a range of customization options, allowing you to tailor your habit tracking to fit your personal goals and lifestyle. Whether you’re a morning person keen on establishing a sunrise yoga routine or a night owl wanting to dedicate time to reading before bed, these apps can be adjusted to your needs.
5. Insightful data
Over time, a habit tracker app can collect data on your habits, providing insightful patterns and trends. This data can be a valuable tool for self-reflection, helping you to understand your strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and make informed adjustments to your routines.
6. Encouragement and rewards
Many habit tracker apps incorporate elements of gamification, such as earning badges or achieving milestones, which can be surprisingly motivating. These small rewards and acknowledgments serve as positive reinforcement, encouraging you to stick with your habits even when it gets challenging. In time, it becomes a productive game.
7. Less complexity
Finally, habit trackers help in breaking down complex goals into manageable daily actions. For instance, training for a marathon or writing a book can seem daunting, but a habit tracker can help you focus on the daily run or word count, making these larger goals feel more attainable.
Conclusion
In this post, we delved into the transformative power of some of the best habit-tracker apps. They do more than just monitor routines; they foster accountability and motivation, aligning daily actions with overarching goals. This practice is crucial for both personal growth and professional development, making these apps excellent tools for a disciplined, goal-oriented lifestyle.
2sync can help you further by seamlessly syncing Notion with apps like Google Calendar and Todoist, as shown in this post. Its intuitive features, like custom field mapping and selected filtering, make Notion a comprehensive workspace, ensuring your tasks and habits are harmonized across platforms. For an integrated and productive workflow, try your first automation today.
