The best habit tracker app is the one that matches how you build routines: a simple daily checklist, a visual grid that fills in each day, a game that rewards you, or step-by-step routines. Check whether it supports weekly goals as well as daily ones. Ten apps follow in no particular order, with setup tips after.
Habit trackers work because they make a small promise visible. Ticking a box, filling a tile or keeping a streak alive gives you a nudge on the days your motivation is low, and that nudge is most of what you're after.
The ten apps below are alphabetical and in no particular order, from free open source trackers to guided routine apps and a pay-once Apple app. Each description comes from the app's own website, re-checked today. If you're building habits for work as well as home, these work habits for people who run a business give you ideas worth tracking.
Habit trackers side by side
Yes in the free plan column means the app's own site describes it as free or offers a free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Streaks is marked No because its site describes a one-time purchase rather than a free version.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beeminder | Accountability goal tracker | Accountability through pledges on goals | Yes |
| Coach.me | Habit tracker and coaching | Habit building with coach support | Yes |
| Fabulous | Guided habit app | Guided routines and habit plans | Trial only |
| HabitBull | Mobile habit tracker | Simple tracking on iOS and Android | Yes |
| Habitica | Gamified habit tracker | Game-style rewards for habits | Yes |
| Habitify | Cross-platform habit tracker | Starting free across devices | Yes |
| HabitKit | Visual habit grid | Visual tracking with no account | Yes |
| Loop Habit Tracker | Open-source habit tracker | Android users wanting free charts | Yes |
| Routinery | Step-by-step routine app | Building routines step by step | Yes |
| Streaks | Apple habit app | Paying once rather than subscribing | No |
Ten habit tracking apps
Beeminder
Best for: People who want real accountability, with pledges attached to each goal and premium plans optional for power users.
Coach.me
Best for: Habit builders who also want human coaching options alongside a habit tracker the site describes as free.
Fabulous
Best for: Beginners who want guided routines for building habits, with a trial of the Premium plan before subscribing.
HabitBull
Best for: Mobile users who want a simple habit tracker on iOS or Android that the site describes as free.
Habitica
Best for: Gamers and motivation seekers who want habits and to-dos turned into a role-playing game, free to join with optional extras.
Habitify
Best for: Newcomers who want to track up to three habits free and sync them across phone and web.
HabitKit
Best for: Visual thinkers who like a grid of tiles that fills in each day, free on iPhone and Android with no account needed.
Loop Habit Tracker
Best for: Android users who want reminders, charts and statistics in a completely free, open-source habit app.
Routinery
Best for: Routine builders who work through habits step by step, with some routines free and a 7-day trial of the full plan.
Streaks
Best for: Apple device owners who'd rather pay once than subscribe, for a habit app on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.
Why a weekly target beats a daily one for some habits
Not every habit needs to happen every day. The CDC's page on what counts as physical activity for adults says adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or a mix of the two, and that it doesn't have to happen all at once: 30 minutes a day, five days a week, is the example it gives.
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For habit tracking, that's a useful pattern. A strict daily streak can make one missed day feel like failure, while a weekly target lets you catch up later in the week. If your goals look like this, choose a tracker that lets you set a number per week, not only a tick per day.
Starting a habit tracker without overdoing it
- Choose one to three habits, not ten.
- Make each one small enough to do on a bad day.
- Decide whether each habit is daily or weekly before you add it.
- Set a reminder at the time you're most likely to do it.
- Review your week every Sunday and adjust targets that feel unrealistic.
- Add a new habit only once the first ones feel automatic.
Styles of habit app and who they're for
- Checklists: a quick tick for people who want the least fuss.
- Visual grids: a calendar of filled tiles, satisfying for visual thinkers.
- Games: points and rewards for people who need extra motivation.
- Guided routines: step-by-step sessions for people who like being walked through it.
- Accountability apps: pledges or coaching for people who respond to outside pressure.
When a streak breaks
It will. Everyone misses a day. The trick is to treat a broken streak as information: was the habit too big, the reminder at the wrong time, or the week unusual? Change one thing and start again tomorrow.
If your habits tend to fade by February, my piece on keeping resolutions past the first few weeks covers why, and if walking is on your list, these apps that reward you for walking add a little extra motivation.
Do you make a habit tracker app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on habit tracker apps
Start with a free tracker and one or two habits. The app matters far less than the size of the habit, and most people quit trackers because they set ten goals in the first week.
If you like seeing progress, pick a visual grid. If you need a push, try a game or an accountability app. If you're on Apple devices and dislike subscriptions, a pay-once app is worth a look. And give any app a month before you decide it isn't for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free habit tracker app?
Several apps here are free or have a free plan, including open source options. Pick the one whose style you'll enjoy looking at each day.
How many habits should I track at once?
Start with one to three. You can add more once the first ones feel automatic.
Should I track habits daily or weekly?
Daily works for habits like reading or journaling, while weekly targets work better for things like exercise, where some days will be busier than others.
What happens if I break a streak?
Nothing, unless you let it stop you. Restart the next day and look at what made you miss.
Do habit trackers need an account?
Not always. Some apps here work with no account at all, while others sync through an account across your devices.
Can I set a weekly goal in a habit tracker?
Many apps let you set a target number of days or sessions per week. Check this before you choose if your goals aren't daily.
