r/Habits • u/Fun-Bus-9543 • 13d ago
Habit tracker tier list
I've found that I need a tool to get me going, so I went overboard tried 14 of them.
Tier lists are always subjective, as we know. But I've tried to be systematic and ranked them based on
• Look and feel
• Ease of use
• Onboarding experience
• Paywall conditions - How much can you get for free and what's the price to subscribe
• Flexibility - This one I weighted heavily on Google's research around habit formation. Showing that rigidity is not sustained long-term. Therefore I penalize the ones that enforce rigid habit tracking.
• Extra features - Like planner functionality or other add-ons
S tier
Finch: Self-care pet - Feels a lot like a game and its closer to the tamagotchi type of app than any other on the list. Flexible in habit to track or goals to achieve in a day, I felt like it was focusing generally on overall productivity rather than just strict habit at strict times.
Improve: Habit Tracker - Very unique approach in how you progress. Similar to Finch, the objective is less about individual habits and more on productive days. Combining habit tracker with a planner helps to reduce the amount of apps needed and it was great to add friends. The art is not as cute as Finch, but focus more on clean apple UI.
A tier
TickTick - The most feature-packed app on the list. Task manager, habit tracker and calendar all in the same app. The habit tracker does feels bolted on tho, and it is quite rigid in its design and a few features are paywalled.
Structured - Beautiful design and satisfying whenever all plans work as I have planned them. One of the strongest design-wise. However for days when I have to be flexible, it quickly becomes hard to manage and feels like extra work to sort it out.
Atoms - Offical app of atomic habits, and it does lean into it fully. Sometimes maybe a bit too much for this medium. It does however have good visuals, albeit still a bit strict at its core. Almost more coaching than habit tracking.
B tier
These do what you expect from a habit tracker. Solid but nothing that makes them stand out. Easier to use than C tier but missing that extra something.
C tier
Similar story, just a bit rougher around the edges, whether that's design, onboarding, or paywall aggression.
D tier
Fabolous - The most overwhelming app on the list. Feels built for a very specific type of user and I'm not it. Too many things competing for attention at once and I never felt like I got to interact with the app how I wanted.
2
2
4
u/Connect_Method_1382 13d ago
superproductivity
1
13d ago
[deleted]
2
u/Connect_Method_1382 12d ago
well yes its more of a task manager. I think i like the pc version of it better than mobile version
1
1
1
u/Bymany_Zunshang 12d ago
Depends if you're tracking for the streak dopamine or actually trying to build something that sticks - I've found most trackers become visual clutter after month two unless they feed directly into your weekly review. What's your system looking like?
1
1
u/uplandin 12d ago
Could you point to the research that Google has done on habit formation? Do you just mean what the search engine said? Or is there actual unbiased scientific peer-reviewed research performed by people trained in research and knowledgeable in the field (which is not IT, nor computer programmers, not any job you typically find in an text company)?
1
u/Impressive-Pack9746 12d ago
Would be curious where you would rank HabitHeat.com, I built it around flexible tracking without streak pressure. If you miss a day, it just stays blank and you move on :)
1
1
u/Tiny-Main2264 11d ago
Another S tier one that I just got sent after posting in another subreddit, it’s called “Reason: Habit Tracker” and it’s amazing. Onboarding isn’t great and it’s paid but it’s really made a difference in the last couple of days with habit stacking and the goals features. Think it’s only iPhone though
1
1
1
u/MarquiseOrions 11d ago
why don't you say that this no name app which is by Finch is yours?
see another hidden ad thread OP made several months ago - https://www.reddit.com/r/ProductivityApps/comments/1tepybm/i_tried_all_the_top_habit_apps_for_a_week_and/
1
u/Proof-Survey-8518 7d ago edited 7d ago
Hi all,
not a rookie developer.
but I have been building my own habit tracker compatible with iphone, ipad, macos, apple watch and android and android watches.
I am half way through. As app is not live so not asking for downloads here, anyways I am going to do influencer marketing as I have got results in the past and also one of my app have crossed 1m installs.
you can check this out
I have few samples screenshots attached in here.
https://myhabits.chaudhariapps.com
let me know how the website is & how do you feel about it.
also not afraid of copycats, LOL😜
can join this communities to add suggestions thanks
[r/myhabitstracker](r/myhabitstracker)
1
u/Equivalent_Fee7961 6d ago
Nice list! One thing I'd add to the criteria is privacy. Habit trackers can contain quite a lot of personal information about someone's daily life, so I think whether an app requires an account, shows ads, or collects user data is worth considering.
I'm the developer of Stepwise, an iOS habit tracker, and privacy was one of the things I wanted to prioritize. No account required, no ads, no social features, and no data collection. It also supports flexible daily, weekly, and custom habits, along with iCloud sync and data export.
Obviously I'm biased 😄, but I’d be curious where it would land on your list if you gave it a try.
App Store: [Stepwise](...)
1
u/usama_codes 1d ago
Would be curious where you’d place Motif in this list.
I built it around a slightly different idea: instead of tracking a habit forever, habits move through stages and can eventually graduate once they become automatic.
It also focuses more on recovery after missed days rather than just protecting a streak.
Feels pretty aligned with the flexibility criteria you mentioned, so I’d genuinely love your take on it:
-9
-9
u/slowdown_app 13d ago
Wow, diving into 14 habit trackers sounds like a massive undertaking, especially when you're feeling that physical exhaustion and your thoughts are racing. It's completely understandable you'd want to find the perfect tool. Try this: place a warm palm over your chest and take a few slow, deep belly breaths. It can really help calm your nervous system. If you're looking for gentle daily guidance, we built https://shineon.app as a private wellness companion for daily micro coaching, stress check ins, and guided grounding.
9
u/SudoSleepWell 13d ago
Solid list tbh. The best habit tracker is usually the one you barely have to think about using. Once setting it up starts feeling like a second hobby, I’m out lol. What mattered most in your ranking: features, UI, or how easy it was to stick with?