Compare HabitNow and Instapaper: Which App is the Best?
HabitNow is a flexible habit and routine tracker with powerful scheduling, reminders, widgets, and detailed progress stats. Free to use, with a one-time premium upgrade for unlimited features. | Instapaper is a simple, no-fuss app for saving and reading articles offline. It's easy to use, looks clean, and helps you keep your reading organized. | |
| 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. | 9.2 Winner in this category | 7.6 |
| 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. | 9.0 HabitNow delivers a comprehensive set of features for habit and routine tracking. We especially appreciate the flexible scheduling options—daily, weekly, monthly, and custom routines—which make it easy to adapt the app to any workflow. Widgets and reminders are reliable, and the built-in timer and Pomodoro tools are a great boost for productivity. Progress tracking is motivating, with detailed stats and streaks that help keep us on track. The free version covers most basic needs, though it does limit the number of habits and tasks you can track. Upgrading to premium unlocks unlimited habits, advanced customization, and additional widgets. While we'd like to see features like account sync and even more robust alarm reliability, HabitNow offers an impressive feature set for both new and experienced users. Winner in this category | 7.5 Instapaper does what you need: save articles, read them offline, and organize with folders and tags. You can pay for extras like searching your saved stuff or adding more notes, but most people won't need that. Some things are missing or work better on iPhone than Android, and sometimes syncing is slow. But overall, it covers the basics really well. |
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 9.0 HabitNow performs reliably in daily use. The app is fast, responsive, and stable, even when tracking a large number of habits and tasks. We experienced smooth navigation and quick loading times throughout our testing. While there are occasional reports of alarms or notifications not firing as expected, and some widget update quirks, these issues are relatively rare and do not significantly impact the overall experience. HabitNow delivers strong performance for a productivity app of its kind. Winner in this category | 7.5 Instapaper is fast and works well most of the time. We didn't have crashes, and reading is smooth. Sometimes syncing is slow or articles take a while to show up, especially on Android. But for everyday use, it's reliable. |
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 9.2 Design is one of HabitNow's standout qualities. The interface is clean, modern, and easy to navigate, making it simple to set up and manage habits or routines. We enjoyed the customizable themes and icons, which allow for a personalized look and feel. Widgets are visually appealing and integrate well with the Android home screen. While we'd love to see even more color options and better support for system fonts or accessibility settings, the overall design is both attractive and highly functional. HabitNow strikes a great balance between aesthetics and usability. Winner in this category | 8.0 We like how Instapaper looks. It's clean and simple, so you can just read without distractions. You can change the font or switch to dark mode if you want. The Android app could look a bit more modern, but it's still nice to use. |
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 9.5 We think HabitNow offers excellent value for money, especially with its one-time premium upgrade that unlocks unlimited habits, advanced customization, and additional widgets. The free version is generous enough for most users to get started, and there are no ads or forced subscriptions. Compared to other habit trackers that require ongoing payments, HabitNow's pricing model is refreshingly fair. While some may wish for a slightly higher free limit, the premium upgrade is well worth it for anyone serious about habit tracking and productivity. Winner in this category | 7.0 The free version is great—you get all the basics and no ads. The paid plan costs more now and doesn't add a lot unless you really need the extra features. If you just want to save and read, stick with the free version. If you want more, think about if it's worth it for you. |
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 9.3 We found HabitNow remarkably easy to use, with a clear and intuitive interface that makes setting up habits and routines quick and painless. Adding, editing, and organizing tasks is straightforward, and the onboarding process is smooth for new users. Widgets and reminders are easy to configure, and the app's layout keeps everything accessible without clutter. There are a few minor quirks, such as needing to manually mark tasks as done after using the timer, or occasional confusion with backup and import features. However, these do not detract significantly from the overall experience. HabitNow is a great choice for anyone looking for a straightforward and effective habit tracker. Winner in this category | 8.0 It's really easy to get started with Instapaper. Saving and reading is simple, and you don't have to mess with a lot of settings. Sometimes it's hard to find certain features on Android, and syncing can be a bit slow, but most of the time it just works. |
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 9.0 We appreciate that HabitNow takes privacy seriously by storing your data locally on your device and not requiring an account for basic use. The lock screen feature adds an extra layer of privacy for sensitive routines and notes, and backups can be created and exported manually, giving you full control over your data. While some may wish for account-based sync or cloud backup, the current approach ensures your information stays private. There are no intrusive ads or unnecessary permissions, making HabitNow a trustworthy choice for privacy-conscious users. Winner in this category | 7.5 Instapaper doesn't show ads or track you much, which we like. You do need an account to sync your articles, but we didn't see any big privacy problems. It's not the most private app ever, but it feels safe enough for everyday use. |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | HabitNow Daily Routine Planner stands out as a flexible and feature-rich app for building habits and managing daily routines. Its clean design, powerful customization, and motivating progress tracking make it a top choice for anyone serious about self-improvement. While the free version has some limits, the one-time premium upgrade offers excellent value for unlocking the app's full potential. | If you want an app that just lets you save and read articles without any hassle, Instapaper is a great pick. It's not perfect—sometimes things are a bit slow or missing on Android, and the premium plan costs more now. But for most people, the free version is more than enough. We use it all the time and think you might like it too. |
| Our Recommendation | ||
