Compare Schedule Planner and Balance: Which App is the Best?
Balance offers highly personalized meditation through adaptive sessions, structured 10-day learning plans, and sleep tools. While iOS users enjoy excellent performance (4.9★), recent Android issues with audio playback are concerning. | To-Do List - Schedule Planner is a comprehensive task management app with 10M+ downloads. It offers calendar views, recurring reminders, cloud sync, and widgets, earning an 8.3/10 in our testing. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each app. |
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| Our Rating Prod Apps's expert review score for each app, based on hands-on testing and research. | 8.2 | 8.3 Winner in this category |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 0 | 0 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 0 | 0 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | — ⭐ | — ⭐ |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the app. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
| Android User rating and stats for the app on Android browser. |  Downloads | Downloads |
| iOS User rating and stats for the app on iOS browser. |  | |
| Features Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each app. | 8.5 Balance delivers a compelling feature set centered around its core promise: personalized meditation guidance. The app's adaptive approach genuinely sets it apart from competitors that simply dump you into a massive library of content. During testing, we answered daily questions about our mood, energy levels, and meditation goals, and the app consistently adjusted our session recommendations accordingly. The structured 10-day Plans form the backbone of the experience, teaching concrete techniques like Breath Focus, Body Scan, and mindful awareness through progressive lessons. We particularly appreciated how the Foundations Plan introduces beginners to meditation fundamentals without overwhelming them, while the Advanced Plan offers deeper practices for experienced meditators. The mid-plan check-ins add another layer of personalization, adjusting the difficulty and focus based on your progress. The Singles library provides practical quick sessions for specific moments—morning wake-ups, stress relief during commutes, or energy boosts before important tasks. Sleep features deserve special mention, with bedtime stories, white noise options, and innovative bilateral stimulation exercises that genuinely helped us wind down. The animated breathing exercises offer visual guidance that makes controlled breathing more accessible than audio-only instructions. However, Balance's feature set is narrower than some competitors. Insight Timer offers over 100,000 free meditations from thousands of teachers, while Balance sticks to its curated, personalized approach. There's no social features, no music-only tracks without guidance, and limited content for specific niches like meditation for kids or highly specialized conditions. The personalization is excellent, but the overall content volume falls short of more comprehensive apps. We rate features at 8.5—strong execution of its core concept, but deliberately limited in scope. | 8.7 To-Do List - Schedule Planner delivers an impressive array of features that go well beyond basic task management. The app truly shines when it comes to flexibility and comprehensive planning tools. Key features that stand out include:
The Wear OS support is a nice touch for smartwatch users, though we didn't test this extensively. Multiple theme options let you customize the look, including a dark mode for nighttime use. However, some limitations prevent a higher score. Many polished features—like additional theme options and advanced scheduling—sit behind the premium paywall. The occasional bug causes recurring tasks to disappear, a frustration multiple users report. Natural language input for quick task entry is missing, as are collaboration features for sharing lists with family or coworkers. Overall: 8.7/10—comprehensive and functional, yet hampered by premium restrictions and occasional bugs. Winner in this category |
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 6.5 Balance's performance is the most troubling aspect of our review, with a clear divide between platforms. The iOS version performed excellently during our testing—sessions loaded quickly, audio played smoothly without interruption, and the app remained stable throughout. This aligns with the iOS App Store's stellar 4.9-star rating across 118,000 reviews. The Android experience, however, reveals serious problems. The app's recent rating of just 3.48 stars over the last 100 reviews (compared to its overall 4.7) tells a concerning story, and user feedback confirms widespread issues. The most common complaint involves audio cutting out or stopping entirely mid-session, sometimes just 5-15 seconds in. Multiple users reported this happening repeatedly even after clearing cache, reinstalling the app, or updating to the latest version. During our Android testing, we encountered occasional stuttering during session downloads and slower loading times compared to iOS. Some users mentioned that meditations would download successfully but refuse to play, or would restart from the beginning after pausing. These technical hiccups completely undermine the meditation experience—there's nothing more frustrating than settling into a practice only to have silence abruptly interrupt your session. Customer support responses to these performance issues have been inadequate according to reviews. Multiple paying users reported contacting support about persistent bugs without receiving helpful solutions or even acknowledgment. This lack of support for a premium subscription app is particularly disappointing. The app does work reliably for many users—the overall ratings remain positive—but the recent decline and volume of complaints about Android performance are red flags. We rate performance at 6.5—excellent on iOS but significantly compromised on Android, bringing down the overall score. Until these technical issues are addressed, Android users should approach with caution despite the generous trial period. | 8.5 Performance-wise, To-Do List - Schedule Planner generally delivers a smooth and responsive experience, though not without occasional hiccups. The app launches quickly—within 2-3 seconds on our test devices (though the multiple ads on launch add annoying delays). Once running, navigation between screens is snappy. Switching from your task list to calendar view or checking completed items happens instantly. Creating new tasks, editing existing ones, and checking items off all feel immediate with no noticeable lag. Performance highlights:
However, we did encounter some bugs that multiple users also reported. The most concerning is recurring tasks occasionally disappearing or not repeating as configured. This happened to us twice during testing, requiring us to manually recreate the tasks. We also experienced one instance where the app crashed when trying to edit a task with many sub-items, though this wasn't reproducible. The ad-loading mechanism in the free version can cause brief freezes, particularly on slower connections. Some users reported that ads occasionally fail to load properly, leaving the close button non-functional and forcing an app restart. The core functionality performs well, with good speed and reasonable resource usage. The bugs are concerning but not constant, affecting usability occasionally rather than consistently. Overall: 8.5/10—generally reliable and fast, though stability issues need addressing. Winner in this category |
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 9.0 Balance presents a clean, modern interface that prioritizes clarity over flashiness. The design immediately communicates calm through its muted color palette, generous white space, and smooth animations. Unlike Calm's nature-focused aesthetic or Headspace's playful illustrations, Balance opts for minimalist sophistication. Navigation proved intuitive during our testing. The home screen prominently displays your next recommended session, making it effortless to continue your meditation journey with a single tap. The Plans tab clearly shows your progress through structured courses, while the Singles library organizes quick sessions by purpose (Relax, Focus, Sleep, etc.). Color coding and clear typography help distinguish between different meditation types without cluttering the interface. The meditation player itself deserves praise for its simplicity. A gentle ambient background accompanies sessions, with controls that fade away during meditation to minimize distraction. The animated breathing exercises use smooth, pulsing visuals that effectively guide your breath rhythm without being overwhelming. Progress indicators show how far you've come in plans without being anxiety-inducing. Minor design inconsistencies did appear—some screens felt slightly cramped on smaller phones, and the settings menu could be more discoverable. The app also lacks the visual personality that makes Headspace or Calm immediately recognizable. Still, Balance's understated elegance serves meditation well by staying out of the way. We rate design at 9.0—polished, functional, and appropriately calming, if not particularly distinctive. Winner in this category | 8.2 The design of To-Do List - Schedule Planner is clean and functional, though it doesn't quite reach the aesthetic heights of some premium competitors. The interface follows a straightforward approach that prioritizes usability over visual flair. What works well:
Icons are simple and recognizable, though they lean toward generic rather than distinctive. Where the design falls short is in refinement and consistency. Ad placements in the free version disrupt the visual flow, sometimes appearing multiple times on launch in ways that feel intrusive. Some users noted that the UI can feel a bit dated compared to modern Material Design standards. The premium upsell prompts with countdown timers feel aggressive and detract from the otherwise clean aesthetic. Animations are minimal—tasks check off smoothly, transitions happen quickly. The widget design works fine but won't win beauty contests. Overall: 8.2/10—solid and usable, but lacking the polish and visual appeal that would make it memorable. |
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 7.5 Balance's value proposition is complicated. The year-long free trial is genuinely generous—it gives you ample time to experience the full app, build a meditation habit, and decide if the personalization approach works for you. Several users specifically mentioned this extended trial convinced them to purchase lifetime access after seeing real benefits, which suggests the trial strategy works as intended. However, once the trial ends, the required subscription feels steep compared to alternatives. At $11.99/month or $69.99/year, Balance costs more than Calm ($14.99/month but often discounted to $70/year) and significantly more than free alternatives like Medito or Insight Timer, which offer extensive meditation libraries at no cost. The lifetime option at $399.99 provides better long-term value if you're committed, but that's a substantial upfront investment. What you're paying for is personalization and structure, not just content volume. If you struggle with choice paralysis in apps with massive libraries, or if you want a guided learning progression rather than self-directed exploration, Balance's curated approach justifies the premium. The daily adaptive recommendations, structured Plans, and ongoing customization require infrastructure that free apps don't provide. Users who found meditation apps overwhelming often praised Balance for solving exactly this problem. The value calculation shifts dramatically depending on your needs. For meditation beginners who need structure and guidance, the year-long trial plus potential lifetime purchase offers solid value. For experienced meditators who know what they want, or budget-conscious users who don't mind browsing large libraries, free alternatives likely make more sense. Technical issues on Android further complicate the value proposition—paying premium prices for an app that frequently stops playing mid-session is frustrating, as multiple recent reviews attest. We rate value for money at 7.5—reasonable for the right user, but expensive compared to excellent free alternatives. | 7.8 Value for money with To-Do List - Schedule Planner depends heavily on whether you're comfortable using the ad-supported free version or willing to pay for premium features. The free version provides genuine utility. You can create unlimited tasks, set reminders, use categories, add sub-tasks, view your calendar, and sync via Google Drive—all without paying. For basic task management needs, this covers the essentials. Many users we saw in reviews were satisfied using the app completely free, especially students and casual users who don't mind occasional ads. However, the ads are a significant detractor. Multiple users complained about intrusive ad placement, with some reporting that ads appear multiple times on every app launch and occasionally glitch, requiring app restarts. The aggressive premium upselling with countdown timer prompts also frustrated several users who felt pressured rather than persuaded. These elements diminish the free experience more than necessary. The premium tier removes ads and unlocks additional themes, wallpapers, and potentially other features, though the exact premium feature list isn't entirely clear from the store listing. Pricing ranges from €1.09 to €57.99, suggesting multiple subscription tiers or a lifetime purchase option. Without clear differentiation of what each tier offers, it's hard to assess whether the premium pricing is fair. Compared to alternatives, the value proposition is mixed. Habitive offers unlimited habits and tasks completely free with no ads. Loop Habit Tracker is open-source and feature-complete at no cost. Even HabitKit provides an ad-free experience in its free tier, though it limits you to 4 habits. For users needing comprehensive task management with calendar integration who don't want to pay, the free tier remains serviceable despite the ads. Premium might be worthwhile for daily users bothered by ads, though it's hard to assess whether the €57.99 tier represents good value without trying it. Overall: 7.8/10—decent free functionality undermined by aggressive monetization and unclear premium benefits. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 9.0 Balance excels at making meditation approachable, even for complete beginners. The onboarding process asks straightforward questions about your experience level and goals, then immediately drops you into your first session. No overwhelming library browsing, no decision paralysis—just a clear path forward. The app's core interaction couldn't be simpler: tap the big button to start your recommended meditation. After each session, quick feedback questions (How did that feel? What's your energy level now?) take seconds to answer and genuinely improve future recommendations. We appreciated how the app never demands long surveys or complicated input—it respects that you came here to meditate, not to manage an app. Navigation remains straightforward throughout. The bottom tab bar provides access to Plans, Singles, and your profile. Within each section, content is logically organized and clearly labeled. The search function works well when you want something specific, though most users will likely stick to the personalized recommendations that appear on the home screen. A few users mentioned in reviews that finding specific past sessions or figuring out how to restart a plan wasn't immediately obvious, and we encountered similar minor confusion. The personalization, while generally helpful, occasionally felt restrictive—sometimes we just wanted to browse all available content rather than having the app decide for us. These are minor friction points in an otherwise smooth experience. We rate ease of use at 9.0—the app successfully removes barriers between you and your meditation practice. Winner in this category | 9.0 Ease of use is where To-Do List - Schedule Planner truly excels. The app's learning curve is remarkably gentle, and we were creating tasks and organizing lists within seconds of first launch. Creating a new task is dead simple: tap the plus button, type your task name, and you're done. Want to add more details? Tap the task to set a reminder, assign it to a category, add priority stars, or break it into sub-tasks. This progressive disclosure approach means beginners aren't overwhelmed, while power users can dive into advanced options when needed. Highlights include:
A few minor friction points exist. The initial setup flow includes aggressive premium prompts that can be confusing for new users trying to access basic features. Some users reported that the tutorial felt unnecessary or difficult to skip. Recurring tasks occasionally behave unexpectedly, requiring users to double-check that repeating items are properly configured. Despite these small issues, the experience remains smooth and intuitive. Most functions work exactly as expected—the hallmark of good usability design. Overall: 9.0/10—excellent accessibility for all skill levels, with only minor stumbling blocks. Winner in this category |
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 8.5 Balance takes a reasonable approach to user privacy, though it's not as privacy-focused as some alternatives like Medito, which operates entirely offline. The app requires an account to sync your progress across devices and enable personalization features, which is standard for this type of service but does mean your meditation data lives on Balance's servers. During testing, we reviewed Balance's privacy policy and found it fairly transparent about data collection. The app collects usage data, meditation preferences, and session completion information to power its personalization engine. This data remains associated with your account and isn't sold to third parties for advertising purposes. The app uses analytics tools to improve the service, which is typical but worth noting for privacy-conscious users. Permissions requested are minimal and appropriate—notification access for meditation reminders, and optional microphone access if you use any interactive speaking exercises (which we didn't encounter in testing). The app works fine with most permissions denied, though you'll miss out on helpful reminders. Data encryption during transmission is standard HTTPS, and Balance claims to use industry-standard security practices for data at rest. The main privacy concern comes from the subscription system—several users reported unexpected charges or difficulty managing their subscriptions, suggesting the billing integration could be more transparent. However, these seem to be payment system issues rather than malicious data practices. For users who want complete privacy, Insight Timer offers more granular privacy controls, while Medito requires no account at all. We rate Balance's security and privacy at 8.5—solid practices but not exceptional in this category. Winner in this category | 7.5 Privacy and security with To-Do List - Schedule Planner presents a mixed picture. The app requires several permissions that may raise concerns for privacy-conscious users, though most are justifiable given its feature set. The app requests access to your calendar, storage, and audio recording capabilities. Calendar access makes sense for integration with your existing schedule. Storage permissions are needed for local data storage and the cloud sync feature via Google Drive. Audio recording is required if you use any voice input features, though this isn't a core function for most users. Cloud sync through Google Drive is optional, which we appreciate. If you're comfortable with Google's data handling, this provides a convenient backup and cross-device access. However, the app doesn't clearly communicate what data is synced or how it's encrypted during transmission and storage. We couldn't find a detailed privacy policy easily accessible within the app or on the developer's website. The developer, BetterApp Tech Co., Limited, is based in Hong Kong. While this doesn't inherently indicate security concerns, users subject to certain data protection regulations (like GDPR) may want to understand how their data is handled across jurisdictions. The app doesn't require account creation for basic use, which is a privacy plus—your tasks stay on your device by default. We didn't find evidence of data being sold to third parties, though the free version includes ads, which typically involves some level of user tracking for ad targeting. The app hasn't been involved in any known security breaches, which is reassuring. The lack of end-to-end encryption for synced data is notable, especially for users storing sensitive work tasks or personal information. Password protection for the app itself is also absent, meaning anyone with access to your unlocked phone can view your tasks. Overall: 7.5/10—adequate for casual use, but concerning for highly sensitive data or privacy-focused users. |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | Balance occupies an interesting middle ground in the meditation app landscape. Its personalized approach and structured learning plans genuinely solve the decision paralysis that plagues apps with massive content libraries, making it particularly valuable for beginners or those who struggle with self-directed practice. The year-long free trial is remarkably generous and provides ample time to experience the benefits without financial pressure. However, the app's recent technical problems on Android cannot be ignored. While iOS users enjoy a smooth, stable experience reflected in the platform's 4.9-star rating, Android users face frustrating audio cutoffs and playback failures that directly undermine the meditation experience. Combined with inadequate customer support responses and subscription management complaints, these issues raise serious concerns about Balance's current quality control, especially given its premium pricing. For iOS users who value personalization over content volume, Balance remains a strong choice worth the year-long trial investment. The adaptive recommendations, calming instructor voices (particularly Ofosu), and structured progression create a guided meditation experience that justifies the premium price for the right audience. The lifetime purchase option at $399.99 offers reasonable long-term value if the approach resonates with you. Android users should proceed with caution and thoroughly test during the free trial period before committing to a subscription. If you encounter audio issues, consider alternatives like Insight Timer for a massive free library with solid performance, Medito for completely free, ad-free meditation with excellent privacy practices, or Calm and Headspace for similarly premium experiences with more stable Android performance. Balance's personalization is genuinely valuable, but only when the app actually works reliably—something it currently delivers consistently only on iOS. | To-Do List - Schedule Planner delivers a solid, feature-rich task management experience that has rightfully earned its place among 10 million users. The app's comprehensive feature set—including calendar views, recurring reminders, sub-tasks, widgets, and cloud sync—covers virtually everything you'd need for personal task management. The recent uptick in ratings to 4.72 stars suggests the developers are responsive to feedback and actively improving the experience. The app's greatest strength lies in its flexibility and depth. Whether you're a student organizing study schedules, a professional managing work projects, or someone trying to keep track of daily routines, the tools are there. The calendar integration provides excellent visualization, the widgets offer convenient quick access, and the categorization system helps keep complex task lists manageable. For users who need comprehensive planning tools in a single app, this delivers. However, we can't ignore the significant drawbacks. The advertising in the free version crosses from acceptable to intrusive, with multiple ads on launch and occasional glitches that force app restarts. The aggressive premium upselling with countdown timers feels pushy rather than persuasive. Most concerning are the recurring bugs where tasks disappear or don't repeat properly—reliability issues that undermine trust in a productivity tool. Privacy-conscious users will also find the permission requirements and unclear data practices concerning. The value proposition depends on your tolerance for ads and willingness to pay. The free version is genuinely usable for basic needs, but the experience is compromised enough that many users will feel pressured toward premium. For those seeking completely free alternatives without these compromises, Habitive offers unlimited features with no ads, while Loop Habit Tracker provides excellent open-source functionality. If you prioritize design and are willing to pay, HabitKit offers superior aesthetics with transparent pricing. We recommend To-Do List - Schedule Planner if you specifically need comprehensive task management with calendar integration and are either willing to tolerate ads or pay for premium. It's a capable tool that does the job well when it works. However, if you're looking for a more polished, reliable, or privacy-focused experience, the alternatives mentioned above may serve you better. The app earns a solid 8.3/10 overall—good enough to be useful, but with room for meaningful improvements in user experience and reliability. |
| Our Recommendation | ||
