Compare Habitica and Instapaper: Which App is the Best?

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.
A fun, RPG-inspired habit tracker that turns your daily tasks into a game. Great for motivation, with strong social features and lots of customization.
Key Features
  • Offline Reading: Save articles and read them anywhere, even without an internet connection
  • Distraction-Free Mode: Clean, text-focused reading experience with adjustable fonts and dark mode
  • Organization: Use folders and tags to keep your reading list tidy
  • Sync Across Devices: Access your saved articles on Android, iOS, and the web
  • Premium Features: Unlock full-text search, unlimited notes, speed reading, and more with a subscription
  • No Ads: Enjoy an ad-free experience, even in the free version
  • Gamified Habit Tracking – Turn daily tasks into RPG-style quests
  • Customizable Avatars & Collectibles – Personalize your character and earn rewards
  • Flexible Task Types – Track habits, dailies, and to-dos
  • Party & Social Features – Team up with friends for accountability
  • Reminders & Widgets – Stay on track with notifications and widgets
Our Rating
7.6
7.8
Total users
0
0
Total ratings
0
0
Average rating
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Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Android
Google Play Store
Downloads
Google Play Store
Downloads
iOS
Apple App Store
Apple App Store
Features
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.

8.2

Habitica is honestly unlike any other habit tracker we've used. It turns your daily tasks into a full-on RPG adventure, which makes building routines way more fun. You can track habits, daily routines, and one-off to-dos, and you get experience, gold, and collectibles for checking things off. It's surprisingly motivating!

  • Gamified Habit Tracking: Every time you finish a task, your character levels up and you get new rewards.
  • Flexible Task Types: You can track habits, daily routines, and one-off to-dos all in one place.
  • Party & Social Features: Team up with friends for extra motivation and shared quests.
  • Customization: Make your avatar your own, collect gear and pets, and join community challenges.
  • Reminders & Widgets: Notifications and home screen widgets help you stay on track.

We did wish there were more advanced stats and better ways to manage tasks (like duplicating or redoing them). We also ran into a few bugs that messed with streaks or notifications. Still, Habitica's features are fun and keep you coming back—especially if you like games. We give features an 8.2 out of 10.

Performance
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.

7.2

Most of the time, Habitica runs smoothly and does what you need. We did run into some slowdowns, bugs, and issues with notifications or widgets—something other users have mentioned too. These problems didn't ruin the experience, but they were a little annoying. With some bug fixes, performance could be even better. For now, we rate it 7.2 out of 10.

Design
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.

8.8

Habitica's design is a breath of fresh air compared to most productivity apps. The retro pixel art and RPG theme make it feel playful and rewarding. The interface is colorful and lively, and we had a lot of fun customizing our avatars.

  • Pixel Art Style: The graphics and RPG touches make Habitica stand out.
  • Customizable Avatars: Tons of ways to make your character unique.
  • Colorful UI: The bright, fun interface actually makes you want to use the app.

Sometimes the UI can feel a bit busy, and we'd love even more options for color coding and icons. But overall, Habitica's design is charming and makes habit tracking feel less like a chore. We rate it 8.8 out of 10.

Value for Money
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.

7.5

Habitica is free to use, with optional in-app purchases for gems and subscriptions. Most features are available for free, and we never felt pressured to pay. Some of us wished there were more ways to earn premium currency without spending money, but overall, the value is fair—especially if you want a fun way to stay productive. We give value for money a 7.5 out of 10.

Ease of Use
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.

7.8

Getting started with Habitica is pretty easy, and the game-like approach makes tracking habits feel less boring. Adding tasks, checking them off, and customizing your avatar are all simple. If you need a little extra motivation, this app really helps.

There is a bit of a learning curve if you want to use all the features, and sometimes the interface can feel overwhelming at first. We also hit a few bugs and slow moments here and there.

Once you get used to it, though, Habitica is user-friendly and rewarding. We'd love to see better onboarding and smoother performance, but overall, ease of use scores a 7.8 out of 10.

Security & Privacy
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.

7.0

Habitica says your data stays private and isn't sold to third parties, which is great. We didn't find much info about advanced privacy or security features, but we also didn't run into any issues. For most people, privacy is handled well, but if you have strict needs, you might want to look a bit deeper. We rate security and privacy at 7.0 out of 10.

Conclusion

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.

If you want to make habit tracking more fun, Habitica is a great pick. The RPG style and social features make it easy to stay motivated, and there's a real sense of progress as you level up and collect rewards. There are a few rough edges—like some missing stats and the occasional bug—but overall, Habitica is one of the most enjoyable productivity apps we've tried.

Our Recommendation