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Looking for the best habit tracker? Here’s the quick answer:
- Streaks is perfect for Apple users who want a simple, one-time purchase app ($5.99) focused on daily consistency. It integrates seamlessly with Apple Health and supports up to 24 habits.
- Done offers more flexibility, allowing multiple daily check-ins and advanced tracking. It’s free to start, but premium features cost $59.99/year.
Both apps help you build habits, but the choice depends on your needs: simplicity and affordability (Streaks) or flexibility and detailed tracking (Done).
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Streaks | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $5.99 one-time | Free; Premium $59.99/year |
| Platform Support | Apple-only | iOS, macOS |
| Habit Tracking | Once per day | Multiple times per day |
| Customization | 78 themes, 600+ icons | Extensive in premium version |
| Apple Integration | Full Apple Health support | Limited Apple integration |
| Best For | Daily consistency | Flexible, detailed tracking |
Now, let’s dive into the details to help you pick the best fit for your goals.
The 10 Best FREE Habit Trackers in 2024
Streaks: Features, Usability, and Performance
Streaks is all about simplicity and focus, designed to help users build positive habits through a clean and straightforward interface. The app encourages consistency by rewarding users for completing daily tasks in a row, creating a visual sense of achievement that keeps you motivated. Let’s dive into its key features and integrations.
Main Features and Integrations
At its core, Streaks is described as "the to-do list that helps you form good habits". It allows users to track up to 24 habits at once, presenting daily tasks in a clear, easy-to-read format while also keeping tabs on your progress.
One of its standout features is its integration with Apple Health, which enables automatic tracking of health-related goals. Whether it’s steps walked, heart rate, blood pressure, or running, Streaks pulls data directly from Apple Health, so you don’t need to log these metrics manually. This automation makes it especially appealing for health-conscious users.
Customization is another strong point, with 78 color themes and over 600 task icons available. Habits can be tailored to run on daily, weekly, or monthly schedules, and users can even set up "negative tasks" to help break bad habits. Timed tasks are also supported, making it easy to monitor activities like meditation or brushing your teeth.
Streaks also excels in cross-device synchronization. Thanks to iCloud, it works seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and even Apple Vision Pro. Mark a habit as complete on one device, and it updates instantly on all others.
These features highlight the app’s strengths and provide a foundation for evaluating its overall performance.
Pros and Cons
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Winner of the Apple Design Award | $5.99 upfront cost |
| Automatic health tracking via Apple Health integration | Only available for Apple users |
| Highly customizable with 78 themes and 600+ icons | Limited to tracking 24 habits, which might not suit power users |
| Offers detailed streak statistics and completion rates | |
| Excellent Apple Watch app for quick habit updates |
With a 4.8-star rating on the App Store, Streaks has earned high praise from users for its balance of simplicity and functionality. One user shared how the app helped them achieve "more in one day than in the past week" by providing the right level of structure. However, it’s worth noting that the app may not be ideal for everyone. For instance, one reviewer pointed out issues with background app refresh and NFC tag scanning, making it less effective for specific needs like medication tracking.
Who Should Use Streaks
Streaks is perfect for those looking for a straightforward system to track daily progress. It’s especially suited for Apple users who value clean design and seamless integration. The app is a great fit for anyone focused on health and wellness habits, such as exercising regularly, drinking enough water, or maintaining a consistent sleep routine.
Real-life success stories highlight the app’s ability to drive meaningful changes. For example, Ben from Adelaide shared:
"I was smoking 15 cigarettes each day. Streaks helped me to quit smoking by reducing and then eliminating my daily use."
Similarly, Otávio from Chicago said:
"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."
John Voorhees, Managing Editor at MacStories, summed up the app’s appeal:
"Streaks 3.0 succeeds by remaining the same app that so many people have downloaded and enjoy, while also adding a remarkable level of customization and many new features. The app accomplishes this by maintaining its familiar, easy-to-use interface and tucking new features away in ways that are accessible in multiple ways but don't distract from the core experience."
For beginners in habit tracking, Streaks offers a simple yet effective tool that doesn’t overwhelm or require extensive setup. Its visual cues and automatic tracking make it easy to stay on track and build lasting habits over time.
Done: Features, Usability, and Performance
Done builds on the streak-focused simplicity of Streaks but adds its own twist by offering guided, customizable routines for habit tracking. The app emphasizes ease of use and visual progress, aiming to help users create and stick to healthy habits. As the app explains, "Done helps you create healthy routines by helping you set goals, tracking your progress, and then motivating you with streaks/chains, all in a simple, clean package."
Main Features and Customization
Done stands out for its beginner-friendly interface and extensive customization options. Users can either pick from pre-made habit templates or create their own by naming habits, selecting icons and colors, and setting specific goals. These goals can be tailored to daily, weekly, or custom schedules, with options to specify completion counts and times.
The app’s dashboard gives a clear snapshot of daily tasks, upcoming habits, and overall progress. A calendar view highlights streaks with visual clarity, while color-coded graphs track trends over time - whether weekly, monthly, or yearly. For those who want more control over their data, Done allows exporting to CSV format for deeper analysis.
A home screen widget makes it easy to update habits without opening the app. Additionally, Done integrates with Apple HealthKit to track activity-based goals, such as steps or exercise. For users who need extra reminders, the app offers multiple notifications that can be scheduled daily or weekly. However, this feature, along with others, is only available with the premium plan.
Here’s a quick overview of Done’s strengths and weaknesses:
Pros and Cons
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Simple, beginner-friendly interface | Premium plan costs $24.99, with limited features in the free version |
| Tracks both habit building and breaking | Free version restricts users to tracking 3 habits |
| Highly customizable with icons, colors, and schedules | Limited platform integrations compared to competitors |
| Quick habit updates via home screen widget | Reminders are locked behind the paid plan |
| Data export for in-depth analysis | Some users report usability issues after recent updates |
Done currently holds a 3.8 out of 5 rating on the App Store, based on around 2,400 reviews. While many users commend its engaging features and how it positively impacts their routines, some have expressed frustration over recent updates. One reviewer even mentioned they no longer recommend the app due to feature removals and the push toward a costly subscription model.
Who Should Use Done
Done is an excellent choice for users who want a simple interface and appreciate visual progress tracking. It’s particularly useful for those who enjoy structured habit-building tools, whether it’s learning new vocabulary on specific days or establishing a nightly reading routine. The app’s ability to track both habit formation and habit breaking makes it a practical option for anyone seeking broader lifestyle changes.
Visual motivation is a key strength of Done. Its colorful design and streak tracking are reminiscent of the method famously used by Jerry Seinfeld, who relied on a chain of daily tasks to maintain consistency. Considering that only 40% of people stick to their resolutions for more than six months, Done’s approach can be a valuable tool for those who struggle with long-term commitment.
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Real-World Examples and User Scenarios
Looking at real-world scenarios can help you decide which app aligns best with your lifestyle. Here’s how each app supports habit formation through specific, day-to-day examples.
Streaks: Focused on Health and Consistency
Streaks is ideal for those dedicated to maintaining consistent daily habits, especially when it comes to health and fitness routines. The app operates on a simple but powerful idea:
"Working on something every day helps you form a new habit. Don't break the chain, or your streak will reset to zero days." – Streaksapp.com
For example, if you're training for a marathon, Streaks can automatically log your runs through Apple Health. Its flexible scheduling allows you to assign tasks to specific days - like strength training on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and a long run on Sunday. Apple Watch users also benefit from quick-access widgets and complications, making it easy to stay on track.
Streaks is all about building consistency, but if you’re looking for a more gradual, multi-step approach, Done might be a better fit.
Done: Gradual, Multi-Step Habit Building
Done takes a different approach by allowing you to log progress multiple times a day while still maintaining streaks. This makes it perfect for habits that require several actions throughout the day. For instance, a language learner could log vocabulary practice in the morning, a conversation session at lunch, and grammar exercises in the evening.
Research suggests it can take up to three months for a habit to become automatic. Done supports this process with visual progress tracking and a color-coded feedback system. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, the app recommends starting with no more than five new habits at a time, whether daily or weekly.
Done also helps users tackle negative habits alongside positive ones. For example, you could track a daily reading goal while also monitoring efforts to avoid social media after 9 PM. With a 4.0 out of 5 rating from 16.6K users, Done’s structured design resonates with many. For beginners, its evening review feature encourages daily reflection and suggests sharing goals with friends or family to boost accountability.
Both apps excel in their own way, offering practical tools to help users stick to their goals. These examples highlight how their designs cater to different approaches to habit formation.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Streaks vs Done
When deciding between these two habit trackers, it helps to weigh their features, pricing, and target users side by side. Here's a clear breakdown to help you determine which app suits your needs best:
| Feature | Streaks | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $5.99 one-time purchase | Free plan; Premium $59.99/year |
| Platform Support | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro | iOS and macOS desktop app |
| App Store Rating | 4.8/5 with 1.6K ratings | 4/5 stars |
| Primary Focus | Streak maintenance and consistency | Goal setting with progress visualization |
| Tracking Frequency | Once per day per habit | Multiple times per day allowed |
| Apple Integration | Full Apple Health and HealthKit integration | Limited Apple ecosystem integration |
| Customization | Basic customization with widgets | Extensive personalization in premium version |
| Best For | Apple users focused on daily consistency | Users wanting flexible tracking and detailed analytics |
Streaks charges a one-time fee of $5.99, making it a budget-friendly choice for long-term use. Done, on the other hand, offers a free version with limited features and a premium plan at $59.99 per year. Over two years, Done's premium plan totals nearly $120, which is significantly higher than Streaks' one-time cost.
For Apple enthusiasts, Streaks stands out with its seamless integration across Apple devices, including Apple Health and HealthKit. Done, while offering a macOS desktop app for premium users, doesn't provide the same level of Apple ecosystem compatibility.
Streaks focuses on maintaining daily habits through its "don't break the chain" approach, limiting tracking to once per day per habit. Done, however, allows multiple daily check-ins, making it more flexible for users who prefer tracking habits several times a day. Additionally, Done's premium version includes advanced features like mood and energy monitoring, detailed analytics, and unlimited task history.
If you're budget-conscious, Streaks offers excellent value with no recurring fees. Done's free plan is a good starting point for exploring its features, but unlocking its full potential requires a premium subscription.
In short, Streaks is perfect for those who value simplicity and consistency within the Apple ecosystem. Done, meanwhile, caters to users seeking more flexibility and detailed tracking tools. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize streamlined habit tracking or advanced features.
Final Thoughts
Streaks and Done each bring something distinct to the table when it comes to habit tracking. Research suggests that tracking habits can increase goal achievement by 42%. Streaks leans into this with its sleek design and robust customization options, while Done focuses on flexibility and dynamic tracking features.
For Apple enthusiasts, Streaks is a standout choice. Its seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, including Apple Health, makes tracking health-related habits a breeze. Plus, the one-time cost of $5.99 ensures long-term value without recurring fees.
On the other hand, Done caters to those who prefer more flexibility, especially if you need to log habits multiple times a day. It’s available on both iOS and Android, making it ideal for users who want cross-platform compatibility. While the free version is a great starting point, upgrading to premium for $24.99 per year unlocks even more features.
Ultimately, your decision comes down to what fits your lifestyle best. Go with Streaks if you prioritize simplicity, automation, and a one-time purchase. Choose Done if you need versatile, multi-device tracking with the option for frequent habit check-ins.
FAQs
How do Streaks and Done differ in customization and tracking options?
Streaks lets you monitor up to 24 habits with tracking options that include daily, weekly, or monthly routines. You can choose between fixed and variable frequencies, making it a simple yet effective tool for habit tracking.
On the other hand, Done provides more flexibility. It allows you to set custom goals with fixed or variable counts and supports tracking across daily, weekly, or monthly schedules. This makes it a great choice for those looking for more control over their habit-building journey.
Each app serves different needs, so your choice will depend on how much customization you want for managing your habits.
How does Streaks use Apple Health to improve habit tracking for health-focused users?
Streaks works seamlessly with Apple Health, automatically pulling in essential health metrics like steps, heart rate, and other vital stats. This means you don’t have to manually log these details, making habit tracking both precise and hassle-free.
By syncing with your health data, Streaks keeps you aligned with your health goals - whether it’s boosting daily activity or stepping up your fitness game. It’s a handy companion for anyone looking to prioritize their well-being.
Is Done's premium plan worth the price for users looking for advanced tracking and detailed insights?
Done's premium plan provides advanced tools like detailed analytics, customizable widgets, and enhanced tracking features, making it a compelling choice for users aiming to gain deeper insights into their habits. While it comes with a higher price tag, it could be a smart investment for anyone serious about tracking their progress and reaching long-term habit goals.
If you're someone who prioritizes in-depth analytics and added customization, the premium plan might be a great fit for your personal growth journey.