Compare Loop Habits, HabitNow, and Habitive: Which App is the Best?

Habitive has all the basic features you'd want in a habit tracker, plus some nice extras. It's not trying to do everything - it focuses on helping you build habits without getting complicated.

What we liked most:

1. Unlimited Habits

This is where Habitive really shines. Most free habit trackers only let you create 3-5 habits, but Habitive lets you create as many as you want. No artificial limits. Unlike HabitKit which restricts free users to just 4 habits, or Disciplined which locks away detailed statistics behind a paywall, Habitive gives you everything upfront.

Setting up a new habit is super simple. Just tap the plus button, pick a name, and choose how often you want to do it each week. That's it.

2. Weekly Goals

Instead of forcing you to do something every single day, you can set flexible goals. Want to exercise 4 times a week? No problem. Want to read every day? That works too.

This makes it much more realistic for most people's lives.

3. Achievement System

The app has a fun game-like system where you unlock achievements as you stick with your habits. It sounds silly, but it actually helps keep you motivated. While not as elaborate as Habitica's full RPG experience, it provides just enough gamification to keep things interesting.

4. Progress Tracking

You can see your stats for each habit - how many times you've completed it, your current streak, and a calendar view of your progress.

5. Home Screen Widgets

You can add widgets to your phone's home screen so you always see your habits. This is great for staying on track, though some users have reported bugs with this feature.

What could be better:

The app doesn't let you organize habits into groups or categories. If you have lots of habits, they can feel a bit scattered. Also, syncing between different devices doesn't work very well. For users who need more organizational features, Loop Habit Tracker offers better categorization and grouping options.

Overall, we give features an 8.5. It has all the essentials and does them well, but could use some organizational tools.

Loop offers an impressive set of core features that focus on effective habit tracking without unnecessary bloat. The standout feature is the sophisticated habit strength calculation that considers both your streaks and overall consistency.

Key features we thoroughly tested include:

• Flexible Tracking Options: The app supports daily, weekly, and monthly goals with customizable frequencies
• Detailed Statistics: Multiple graph types show your progress over time
• Custom Notifications: Individual reminders for each habit with "sticky" notification option
• Home Screen Widgets: Various widget styles for quick habit tracking
• Data Management: Export to CSV and SQLite formats for backup or analysis
• Calendar View: Easy access to historical data and habit completion

However, we did notice some limitations. The app lacks the ability to categorize habits into groups or folders, which can become unwieldy with many habits. There's also no way to track multiple completions of the same habit within a day, and the weekly scheduling could be more flexible. For users who need comprehensive scheduling and timer functionality, HabitNow provides more advanced organizational features.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the features present are thoughtfully implemented and work reliably. We're giving it an 8.5 for features - it excels at core functionality while maintaining simplicity, though there's room for some organizational improvements.

The app runs smoothly most of the time. You can track habits without any delays or crashes.

Marking habits as complete is fast and reliable. You can also check your progress and stats without waiting. The app works offline, so you can use it anywhere, even without internet.

What works well:

• Fast Startup: Opens quickly and is ready to use
• Responsive: Taps and swipes work smoothly
• Efficient: Doesn't slow down even with lots of habits
• Stable: Core features work reliably
• Lightweight: Doesn't use much phone storage or battery
• Consistent: Performance stays good over time

There are some issues though. Several users reported problems with home screen widgets - sometimes adding a widget makes the app stop opening. You have to remove the widget to fix it.

Some people also said the app doesn't work properly on certain phones. This might be due to specific phone models or software versions.

Overall, the main app works great, but the widget feature and device compatibility have some problems. We give performance an 8.8 - generally excellent for daily use, but with some technical issues.

Loop's Material Design implementation stands out for its thoughtful balance between aesthetics and functionality. The interface uses color purposefully to highlight important information while maintaining a clean, distraction-free environment.

Design highlights:

• Clear Data Visualization: Graphs and progress indicators are both beautiful and easy to interpret
• Consistent Patterns: Common actions follow familiar Android design patterns
• Effective Use of Space: Information density is well-balanced across all screens
• Responsive Layout: Adapts smoothly to different screen sizes and orientations

While some might find the design austere, this intentional simplicity helps users focus on their habits. The 9.0 rating reflects excellent execution of Material Design principles with room for minor visual refinements. For users who prioritize visual appeal, HabitKit offers a more elegant GitHub-style visualization that some find more motivating.

Loop Habit Tracker excels in providing a straightforward, intuitive experience without sacrificing functionality. Our testing revealed an app that anyone can start using effectively within minutes.

Standout usability features:

• Simple Habit Creation: Adding new habits takes just a few taps with clear, logical options
• Efficient Daily Use: Main screen provides quick access to all habits with one-tap completion
• Smart Notifications: Reminders can be managed directly from notifications without opening the app
• Intuitive History: Calendar view makes it easy to review and edit past entries
• Accessible Statistics: Complex data presented in easily digestible visual formats

The 9.2 rating reflects the app's excellent usability, with only minor deductions for the initial learning curve of advanced features like custom schedules and the habit strength system. For users who want an even simpler setup process, Habitive offers a 3-click setup that's hard to beat.

For security and privacy, we give Habitive a 9.0 out of 10. The fact that you don't need an account is a big plus - it means the app isn't collecting your personal information.

Even when you do use the app, it keeps your data private. Your habits, progress, and achievements stay on your phone by default. This means your information is much safer from hackers or data breaches.

The app doesn't sell your data to other companies or use it for advertising. Everything stays private and is only used to make the app work.

What we liked about privacy:

• No Data Collection: The app doesn't track what you do
• Local Storage: Your data stays on your phone
• No Tracking: No third-party analytics or tracking tools
• Minimal Permissions: Only asks for what it absolutely needs
• No Account Required: You can use it without giving any personal info

There is one downside though. Since everything is stored locally, if you lose your phone or it breaks, you'll lose all your habit data. There's no backup in the cloud. For users who prioritize maximum privacy, Loop Habit Tracker offers similar offline-first privacy with additional backup options.

We give security and privacy a 9.0. Habitive takes privacy seriously by keeping your data local and not collecting unnecessary information.