Compare HabitNow, Habitive, TheFor: Habit Tracker, and Disciplined: 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.

TheFor: Habit Tracker covers all the basics - you get unlimited habits for free, streak tracking, reminders, and a clear, motivating overview of your progress. Premium unlocks advanced analytics, backup, color customization, widgets, routines, and a journal—so if you want to go deeper, the option is there.

We did run into a few limitations: there's no way to set monthly or custom frequencies for habits, and backup/sync is only available for premium users and limited to one device. Habit categories or grouping are missing, and we'd love to see more widget options and richer analytics. Still, for most people, the core features are more than enough to build and stick to new habits.

Compared to Habitive which offers unlimited habits completely free, TheFor's freemium model provides more advanced features but at a cost. For users who need comprehensive scheduling and timer functionality, HabitNow offers more robust planning tools.

Disciplined covers the basics of habit tracking well without overwhelming you with unnecessary features. It focuses on what matters most - helping you build and maintain good habits. The app keeps things simple, which many users actually prefer.

Here's what works well:

• Easy Habit Setup: Creating habits with custom schedules and goals is straightforward
• Clear Progress Views: You can easily see how you're doing with visual trackers and calendar views
• Helpful Reminders: Custom notifications that actually help you stay consistent
• Sync Across Devices: Your data follows you from phone to tablet to computer
• Home Screen Widgets: Quick habit checking without opening the app

But there are some limitations. The free version locks away detailed statistics, which frustrates some users. People also want features like grouping related habits together, adding notes to habits, and better streak tracking. While the core tracking works great, the feature set feels a bit basic compared to some alternatives.

That's why we give features a 7.5. It's solid for basic habit tracking but missing some advanced capabilities that power users might want.

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.

Disciplined's performance is generally solid, but there are concerning reports about lag and stability issues that prevent a higher rating. Performance seems to vary depending on your device and how you use the app.

Here's what works well:

• Quick Launch: The app starts fast and navigation feels responsive
• Reliable Core Functions: Basic habit tracking and UI interactions work consistently
• Stable Widgets: Home screen widgets work well without causing system issues
• Smooth Sync: Data synchronization across devices appears to work reliably

But there are performance concerns that impact the rating. Several users report that the latest version became "laggy" on their devices, with one user noting that the app made their phone slow and eventually stopped working. Some mention bugs that prevented them from getting value from the app, especially after paying for premium. These issues appearing in recent reviews suggest ongoing performance challenges that need attention.

We give performance a 7.0 - generally good, but the reported lag issues and occasional bugs prevent a higher score. Users with older devices should be particularly cautious.

Disciplined's design is one of its best features. Users consistently praise the clean, intuitive interface. We love how it keeps things simple and focuses on what matters most.

Here's what makes the design great:

• Clean Layout: No clutter or distractions - just what you need to track habits
• Easy Navigation: Finding and using features feels natural and logical
• Clear Progress: Visual indicators that motivate you to keep going
• Consistent Look: The design feels cohesive throughout the app
• Good Widgets: Home screen widgets that look good and work well

Some users mention areas for improvement, especially around widget customization. One user wished the widget could be more transparent to better match their home screen. The "less is more" approach works well for a habit tracker, though some users might want more visual feedback or customization options.

We give design an 8.5 - excellent for its clean, functional approach, with room for minor aesthetic improvements.

TheFor: Habit Tracker is a great value, especially if you're happy with the basics. Unlimited habit tracking and an ad-free experience are free, which is rare. If you want analytics, backup, customization, widgets, and more, premium is available as a one-time lifetime purchase or a low-cost subscription.

Premium is fairly priced for what you get, but if you only want one advanced feature, it might feel like a lot. We'd also like to see backup and sync work across multiple devices. Still, the free tier is generous, and the premium upgrade is worth it if you want to unlock everything.

For users who want maximum value without any cost, Habitive offers everything completely free. Those seeking a one-time purchase model might prefer HabitNow which provides comprehensive features for a single payment.

Disciplined's value is mixed - users have different opinions about whether the premium features are worth the cost. The pricing strategy and feature distribution significantly impact the overall value.

Here's what's good about the value:

• Free Core Features: Basic habit tracking is free, so you can test the app first
• Lifetime Purchase: One-time payments instead of forced subscriptions
• Reasonable Premium: Prices range from €2.39 to €29.99, which is fair compared to competitors
• No Ads: Clean experience without intrusive advertising

But several factors limit the value rating. Many users are frustrated that basic features like detailed statistics are locked behind the premium paywall. Some feel the free version is too limited, while others mention performance issues and bugs that reduce the perceived value. The fact that some users uninstall due to upgrade prompts suggests the freemium model could be better balanced.

We give value for money a 7.0 - fair pricing for what's offered, but the free version limitations and some user-reported issues impact the overall value perception.

TheFor is refreshingly easy to use. Getting started takes seconds, and adding or checking off habits is as simple as a tap or swipe. The uncluttered interface means you're never lost, and all the essentials are right where you expect them.

We especially liked how intuitive the daily and weekly overviews are—seeing your progress at a glance is genuinely motivating. Some advanced options, like reordering routines or using widgets, could be a bit easier to find, but overall, habit tracking here feels effortless, even if you're new to this kind of app.

This ease of use puts TheFor on par with Habitive in terms of user experience, though Habitive's 3-click setup is slightly faster for new users.

Disciplined is really easy to use. Most users find it intuitive and straightforward. We can't think of a simpler habit tracker to get started with. The app's simplicity is its biggest strength when it comes to ease of use.

Here's what makes it user-friendly:

• Quick Start: You can begin tracking habits almost immediately after installing
• Simple Menus: Clear structure and logical flow between features
• Easy Management: Adding, editing, and tracking habits takes minimal effort
• Intuitive Design: Most functions are easy to discover without tutorials
• Responsive: Smooth interactions and quick response times

But there are some usability issues that prevent a higher rating. Several users find the repeatability settings confusing, especially when setting up habits for quitting bad behaviors. Some also want features like adding notes to habits or grouping related habits together. While the basics are easy to use, some advanced features could use better guidance.

That's why we give ease of use an 8.0. It's extremely user-friendly for basic operations, though some advanced features might take a little time to figure out.

Disciplined's approach to security and privacy seems standard for a habit tracking app, though we found limited specific information about their data practices during testing.

Here's what we know:

• Cross-Device Sync: The app syncs data across devices, suggesting cloud storage or an account system
• Standard Permissions: Requests typical permissions for notifications and basic functionality
• Data Storage: Your habit data is stored and accessible across platforms

But there are some concerns that prevent a higher rating. The app has privacy policy and terms of service on their website, but we couldn't find details about data encryption, third-party sharing, or specific security measures. The fact that it syncs data across devices raises questions about how secure the data transmission and storage are.

We give security and privacy a 7.5 - adequate for basic use, but users concerned about data privacy should check the app's privacy policy for more specific details.