The Top 6 Habit Tracking Apps in the U.S.

Written by Belen Paoletti (Specialist in Emotional Branding, Expert in Research & Consumer Insights, and Data Marketing Strategist)
Art by Valentina Taraborelli

In recent years, habit-tracking apps have become one of the most popular categories in productivity, driven by people’s need to stay organized, remain motivated, and reduce mental load. These tools are not just about planning tasks; they act as support systems to build healthier routines, increase discipline, and enable sustainable behavior change over time. By combining reminders, visual metrics, and in some cases gamification features, they make habit tracking both simpler and more engaging. In this way, they not only encourage consistency but also strengthen overall well-being and the sense of personal progress.

Against this backdrop, we conducted an in-depth analysis of six of the most representative apps in the category: HabitNow, Habitica, Productive, Daily Planner, Streaks, and Habitify. Our research combined two perspectives: a quantitative review of average ratings and number of reviews on the App Store and Google Play, and a qualitative analysis of hundreds of user comments across app stores, forums such as Reddit, and reviews from specialized media and YouTube creators. This methodology allowed us to identify both the most appreciated features and the most common criticisms, as well as highlight testimonials that reflect real user experiences.

The result is a detailed assessment that brings together data and insights to provide a complete picture of how these apps are perceived by their communities and how effective they are in delivering on the promise of helping people build better habits.

1. HabitNow 

Highlights

Users overwhelmingly praise HabitNow’s clean and intuitive interface and comprehensive feature set. The app allows extensive customization of habits and to-dos, including setting daily/weekly/monthly goals and using categories/lists. The streaks and statistics motivate users by visualizing progress, and there are no intrusive ads in the free version. Many appreciate that a one-time premium upgrade unlocks all features (no subscription), which is seen as affordable and fair. HabitNow’s flexibility (e.g., adding recurring tasks without paywall) and ease of use make it a top choice for building routines. A Spanish user calls it “por mucho, la aplicación de hábitos y tareas más práctica que he usado… muy intuitiva y eficiente… interfaz simple y minimalista” (“by far the most practical habits and tasks app… very intuitive, efficient, with a simple, distraction-free interface”). Overall, users find HabitNow reliable and highly useful for productivity and habit-tracking.

Criticism

The most frequent criticism focuses on the reminder/alarm functionality. Several users report that habit alarms/notifications can misbehave—for example, alarms still ring even after a task is marked completed or skipped, or notifications come in late. This appears related to phone battery optimization settings, but it caused frustration. Some users also suggest feature improvements, such as adding a notes section for each day, providing a desktop version, and improving the alert system. A premium user noted that progress color-coding on the calendar could be more intuitive (partial completions were marked in a confusing way). However, these issues are relatively minor against the overall positive sentiment.

Testimonials

• “Definitely recommend. The free version is more than adequate… the premium one-time flat rate is a deal—most apps charge more per month than this app’s one-time fee.” – A satisfied user praising HabitNow’s value for money (Google Play review).
• “Súper recomendada… muy intuitiva y eficiente, con funciones muy útiles… La interfaz es simple y evita distracciones.” – Leonela (5★ review on Google Play, translated from Spanish: “Super recommended… very intuitive and efficient, with very useful functions… The interface is simple and avoids distractions.”).
• “Only have three negative things… if you finish a task early or skip it, the alarm will still sound… I can’t get it to stop notifying me if I have already completed the task… notifications are always late.” – A user pointing out alarm notification bugs (Google Play review). 

2. Habitica

Highlights

Users who enjoy gamification absolutely love Habitica’s RPG-like approach to habit tracking. They report that turning tasks into a game (earning XP, gold, items for completing habits, and losing health for missed tasks) makes building habits fun and engaging. Many say Habitica keeps them motivated longer than traditional habit apps—for example, one student noted it was “ridiculously effective” in keeping them on track during virtual classes, where other to-do apps had failed. The social features (parties, guilds, challenges) add accountability and support, which some users find very helpful. Positive reviews highlight that the core app is free to use (optional subscription for perks), making it accessible. Habitica is praised for its rich feature set (habits/dailies/to-dos system, character customization, quests) that turns self-improvement into a collaborative game. One user wrote, “Very fun way to reward yourself for staying on track… This app helps daily work feel less onerous and reduces the stress of remembering all the little things”. Others mention it’s great for people with ADHD or those who need an extra push, as it “makes building routines way more enjoyable.”

Criticism

The most common criticism is that Habitica’s interface and UX can be overwhelming or clunky. Some find the app “a little messy and difficult to navigate,” especially for new users—the wealth of features and menus can have a learning curve. A Medium case study noted the menu system can feel overwhelming (too many options). There have also been syncing delays reported between the mobile and web versions by some users. In older reviews, people mentioned occasional bugs or lag. Overall, while gamification is Habitica’s strength, a minority of users who prefer a straightforward tracker might find it too complex or “gamey” for their tastes.

Testimonials

• “This app is awesome you guys! I’m earning points like crazy… It’s fun to check it off and hear it make noises and give you points!… The only negative is it’s a little messy and difficult to navigate, or I would’ve given it five stars.” – SuziQ (4★ review on App Store).
• “Habitica has been a big help! I have all my school assignments on my To-Do list… other apps aren’t engaging, I delete them after losing interest. I didn’t have this problem with Habitica, because it’s part game and part productivity tracker.” – Pandabooks (5★ review on App Store).
• “It takes a few weeks with this app to realize how unique it is… If you like a negative consequence for not fulfilling your task, this app does it in a fun, safe way.” – Annastacia (5★ review on Google Play – She describes how she fine-tuned a habit with rewards for success and mild penalties for failure, and found it very effective).
• “I LOVE the app, but the alerts/reminders stopped working… and that’s the whole point! Support was slow and just told me to reinstall and check permissions (tried that, even got a new phone, still nothing). Very disappointed.” – Ashley (Google Play review, decided not to renew subscription). (Though this specific complaint was for a minority, it underscores that technical issues can seriously affect user experience.)

3. Productive

Highlights

On iOS, users often call Productive “life-changing” for building good habits. Many credit it for helping them overcome procrastination or even depression by keeping them accountable in a gentle way. A highly upvoted review notes that Productive doesn’t punish you for missing a habit (no harsh negative feedback), which the user found encouraging compared to other apps that “become frustrating and cause self-criticism” when you fail. The app’s flexibility is a big plus: you can schedule habits for broad times of day (morning/afternoon/evening) rather than exact times, and it won’t break your streak as long as you complete it by day’s end. Users love the customization (choose habit icons, colors, order) and the widgets. Productive also offers rich statistics and an in-app timer, which power-users appreciate for tracking duration of habits. The interface is clean and easy to use. Notably, the “Programs” and challenges (guided habit programs and community challenges) are seen as motivating by some. In summary, many iOS users say it’s “the best habit app… worth every cent” and praise its balance of simplicity and depth.

Criticism

The price and subscription model draw the most criticism. Many users feel the app is too expensive and would prefer a one-time purchase. Several Android users stated they were not willing to pay $30/year or more for it, especially given free alternatives. Another common complaint (especially on Android) is that the app, despite its premium pricing, was missing features or had bugs. For example, early reviews mention the lack of a widget (on Android) and that the app felt “basic” for the price. Some noted an over-emphasis on streaks: because the app encourages maintaining streaks, one user admitted it tempted them to check off habits they hadn’t actually done just to keep the streak going. On the technical side, a serious issue reported is notification failures—e.g., reminders not firing, which undermines the app’s purpose. One user was “very disappointed” that habit alerts stopped working and support couldn’t fix it. Another Android user said the same bug persisted across reinstalls and even a new phone. Slow support response was an issue in that case. Some users also wish for more advanced habit options or a built-in way to track “bad habits” (currently one must invert the logic). The Android version’s lower 3.7★ rating reflects these frustrations: high cost, feature gaps, and some persistent bugs.

Testimonials

• “Great tool… helped me, far more than any other app, to take control of my life. Especially useful creating a healthy lifestyle and conquering depressive habits I never could before. The accountability is there without pressure—unlike other apps that send obnoxious reminders or negative feedback.” – Taylinr (5★ review on App Store).
• “A well designed app, but I’m not willing to spend $30 a year… It focuses too much on streaks, which makes it easy for me to cheat just to continue the streak. Also doesn’t help set specific goals. Just too steep a price for what it is, and needs a couple improvements.” – Alex (3★ review on Google Play).
• “My yearly subscription is up and I will not be renewing. I LOVE the app, but the alerts/reminders stopped working very early on, and to me that’s the whole point!  …I’ve done all the troubleshooting, even got a new phone and still nothing. Very disappointed.” – Ashley (2★ review on Google Play).
• “I’m 16 and I got this to keep track of chores and habits. It’s exactly what I needed… flexible enough that as long as I complete my habit that day, it doesn’t break my streak, while still keeping habits tied to times of day. …My only complaint is having to pay a subscription for more habits. I would gladly pay once, even $20, but I can’t do an ongoing subscription. Otherwise, this app is just about perfect for me.” – CheekySweetie (4★ review on App Store).

4. Daily Planner (Habit Tracker)

Highlights

Users generally like the all-in-one planning approach. Many mention that the app is well-organized and helped them become more productive by combining habit tracking with tasks/agenda. One reviewer said “since I downloaded this app I’ve been way more productive than before… now I’m living my best life,” and emphasizes it’s usable even without paying (the core is free). The iOS app offers a wide range of planner templates (for routine, ADHD, work, study, meal plans, etc.), which users find helpful for customizing to their needs. Users appreciate the simple, pleasant UI and that it’s easy to navigate for planning their day and tracking habits. The ability to set reminders at specific times for each habit is noted as useful. Those who use it for free love that it’s functional without a subscription—“the cherry on top is that this app is totally free… perfect for anyone,” according to a 5★ review. In short, versatility (many uses beyond habits) and user-friendliness are key highlights.

Criticism

A frequent complaint is the presence of ads and paywalled features (especially on Android). While the app is free, ads appear very often—e.g., “there are A LOT of ads, like to add a new habit you need to watch an ad, and even accidental taps trigger ads.” This can frustrate users unless they purchase the ad-free version. Relatedly, many advanced templates or themes are marked “VIP,” which some users feel leaves only boring basics for free (though you can customize some elements for free). On the Android side, some users experienced bugs: one mentioned a hydration tracker that doesn’t reset daily, affecting habit completion stats. Another left a scathing review about the app being “terrible, poorly programmed”—settings for habit frequency and colors not saving (resetting to default values each time), which made it unusable for them. That review also noted the Android version lacked social/accountability features that a friend’s iPhone app had. The developer did respond that they addressed those issues in updates. In summary, excessive ads (for free users) and some early bugs or feature discrepancies between platforms are the main negatives.

Testimonials

• “Amazing! …This helped me be way more productive & a better version of myself…  You should definitely download this, and the cherry on top is it’s totally free! Even if you’re broke, a student, or whatever, this is perfect for anyone!” – tftdtfyhuh (5★ review on App Store).
• “I like the idea of this app, it’s really organized… it helped me reach the habits I wanted. Now, the thing I don’t like is that there is A LOT of ads. To put a new habit, you need to watch ads, and if you accidentally touch somewhere, it sends you to an ad. It also asks ‘rate this app’ a lot too.” – Yareli Ortiz (3★ review on Google Play).
• “There seems to be a bug with the hydration tracker. It doesn’t reset each day and if you reset it manually, it marks the previous day incomplete… I would buy this app if that got fixed. The other parts work; just that bug in that part.” – Teddy Y (4★ review on Google Play).
• “Terrible app… It doesn’t save settings. Every time I edit a habit, it resets it to daily instead of weekly or monthly. Won’t let me change the color (keeps reverting to the awful pink). And, unlike my friend’s app (on iPhone), there’s no way to connect with friends for accountability. Don’t waste your time.” – Melissa Brown (1★ review on Google Play). (Developer replied that the issues were being solved in updates).

5. Streaks

Highlights

Streaks is widely regarded as an excellent, polished habit tracker for iOS. Users love its simple, uncluttered design that “gets out of the way” and lets you focus on completing tasks. Despite the simplicity, it is surprisingly powerful. Reviews frequently mention the automatic integrations: Streaks can auto-track certain habits via the Apple Health app (e.g., steps, workouts, etc.) and via Siri/Shortcuts, reducing manual input. This automation is a highlight for those who don’t want to constantly open the app. The Apple Watch app is praised as one of the best: it allows quickly marking off tasks on the watch, which users find convenient. Streaks also supports negative habits (track things you want to quit) and timed habits (e.g., a 5-minute meditation). Users appreciate the extensive customization (dozens of themes and hundreds of icons) to personalize each habit. Streaks initially limited to 6 habits (hence the name “streak”, six), then 12, and now up to 24 habits, which many say helps but also keeps you from overloading yourself. Perhaps most importantly, no subscription is required—it’s a one-time purchase app, and many reviews mention being happy to pay upfront rather than dealing with subscriptions. It was even described as “worth every cent… it’s simple and it works” (AppsHunter summary of user reviews). Overall, Streaks is seen as a “truly great app” that effectively motivates users to maintain daily routines, in a friendly way.

Criticism 

Given its 4.8★ rating, criticisms are relatively few and minor. A small number of users have specific feature requests or edge-case issues. For example, one user said Streaks didn’t fully meet their specialized need of tracking medication timing via NFC tags without the app open—they found the Shortcuts integration required the app to be active, which was inconvenient for that purpose. They still called Streaks a good app overall and were “glad it’s a one-time purchase,” but it wasn’t a silver bullet for them. Some users new to Streaks initially expected more complex tracking (like arbitrary reminders or detailed logs), and found that Streaks focuses on daily habit consistency and intentionally avoids becoming a general to-do app. This design choice (limited number of tasks, each either done or not done each day) might not suit those looking for a comprehensive task manager—but for most habit-tracking purposes, users find it sufficient and even liberating. In short, the only recurring “complaint” is that Streaks can’t do everything—it’s specialized, which is a pro for most, but a con for a few with very specific workflows. There are virtually no complaints about stability or UI; the app is known for being stable and well-supported (developers release updates frequently with fixes and improvements).

Testimonials

• “Streaks has genuinely transformed my daily routine… If you’re struggling to build healthy habits or optimize your day, I couldn’t recommend it more!” – App Store user review (Editors’ Choice blurb echoes this sentiment, noting it “helps you become a better person” with its design).
• “I’m here to say it holds up extremely well! Streaks hits that perfect balance between simplicity and functionality… I adore all the customization and various widgets. The Apple Watch app is fantastic. My only wish is a quicker way on the watch to show only unfinished tasks, but other than that… it’s truly great and I hope it continues to motivate me to better myself every day!” – colin514 (5★ review on App Store).
• “Highly recommended. It’s simple and it works. I’ve now reduced my coffee intake by 70% with Streaks, something I struggled with for 5 years. It’s a life-changing app to me.” – Otávio’s quote (via AppleVis user) and similar quotes on the App Store.
• “Glad this app is a one-time purchase vs constant subscription fees… It doesn’t meet my needs for the singular function I bought it for, so not for me (yet). I hope in the future to see a fix that allows a Shortcut to log to Streaks even if the app isn’t open.” – Exasperated0 (4★ review on App Store, describing a niche Shortcuts/NFC use-case).

6. Habitify

Highlights

Habitify is often praised for its elegant and “beautiful” design. One Product Hunt reviewer even called it “the most beautiful habit tracker available.” Users like that it’s simple yet effective, focusing on core habit-tracking without distraction. A standout feature is how Habitify lets you group and schedule habits by time of day (morning, afternoon, night) or by category/goal—users with complex routines find this extremely helpful for organization. The app provides smart reminders and detailed analytics, which habit enthusiasts appreciate for tracking long-term progress. Cross-platform support is a big plus: Habitify is available on iOS, Android, Mac, Web, and even Wear OS. Many reviews mention that having data sync across devices (and integration with Apple Health for automated tracking) makes it convenient to keep up with habits anywhere. The widgets on iOS and a full Mac app add to this convenience. Users who invest in premium say it’s worth it for the unlimited habits and features, especially since the app is constantly updated. In summary, users highlight Habitify’s organizational capabilities, polished interface, and cross-device flexibility as major strengths.

Criticism

While most users are happy, some common critiques do emerge. The free version is quite limited—you can only track a few habits (3 habits on free tier), which many users say isn’t enough to truly test the app. This pushes users toward premium, which is a subscription (monthly ~$5 or yearly ~$35) or a relatively pricey lifetime purchase. Some users who prefer totally free apps might give up due to this limitation. Another criticism (noted by a few Android users) is that the mobile app can sometimes be slow or occasionally glitchy when loading data. However, these reports are not widespread, and the team appears responsive. Finally, like any subscription app, a segment of users complain about the cost—“too expensive for serious tracking unless you pay”—though others argue it’s justified by the quality. It’s worth noting that Habitify does not have major complaints about crashes or data loss; the criticisms are mostly about paywall and performance on older devices.

Testimonials

• “Habitify is a fantastic, no-nonsense habit-tracking app that keeps things simple yet effective. The iOS widgets are super handy, and the macOS version adds seamless cross-device functionality.” – User review highlighted on Toolfinder.
• “The app’s clean and intuitive design has garnered praise… ‘the most beautiful Habit Tracker available.’” – Summary of user sentiments (Product Hunt review).
• “Most users agree that its organizational capabilities and cross-platform support make it worth the investment.” – Synthesis of reviews (Latenode blog).
• “Although Davetech Co. also offers a premium version, the free version is very complete… It lets you track habits by minutes, distances or other metrics.” – (From a topthreeguide review summarizing that Habitify’s free tier, while limited in number of habits, is feature-rich for those habits).
• On Reddit, a user wrote: “Habitify (Davetech co.) – Great habit tracker. I love the statistics I get for my habits, I love the dynamic island functionality, I love the minimalistic interface.” (This mirrors many users’ positive feedback about the app’s look and data visualization.)