Compare Loop Habits and PaperSpan: Which App is the Best?

	PaperSpan	Loop Habits
	A reliable read-it-later app with clean formatting and offline reading. Great for organizing articles by category, though the interface feels dated. Read It Later Productivity	A free, privacy-focused habit tracker that combines powerful features with elegant simplicity. In our review, we found it offers everything needed for effective habit building without the clutter of unnecessary features or ads. Habit Tracker Productivity
Key Features	Clean Reading Experience – Articles displayed in distraction-free format Offline Reading – Access saved articles without internet connection Audio Playback – Listen to articles with text-to-speech feature Smart Organization – Auto-categorization and folder management Cross-Platform Sync – Save from desktop, read on mobile devices Kindle Integration – Send articles directly to Kindle devices	Flexible Habit Tracking: In our review, we found that Loop supports various tracking frequencies including daily, weekly, and monthly goals (like "3 times per week" or "once every other week"). Detailed Analytics: The app provides comprehensive statistics and graphs that clearly visualize your progress over time, including habit strength calculations and historical data. Customizable Widgets: During testing, we particularly appreciated the variety of home screen widgets that allow quick habit tracking without opening the app. Privacy-Focused: All data is stored locally on your device with no account required. The app works completely offline and includes export options to CSV and SQLite formats. Smart Reminders: Each habit can have its own notification schedule, with the option to make notifications "sticky" until you respond. Clean Interface: We found the minimalist design keeps you focused on building habits without unnecessary distractions.
Our Rating	7.2	9.3
Total users	0	0
Total ratings	0	0
Average rating	— ⭐	— ⭐
Entry Level Price	Free	Free
Android	Downloads	Downloads
iOS		-
Features	7.3 PaperSpan is pretty good at the basic stuff. It takes messy web articles and makes them actually readable, which is honestly the main thing you want from an app like this. No ads, no random pop-ups, just clean text that's easy on the eyes. Saving Articles: Click one button and it's saved. The app even sorts them into categories automatically, which actually works most of the time. Clean Reading: Articles look way better in the app than on the original websites. No clutter, just the content. Offline Reading: Download stuff to read on the subway or plane. Really handy when your internet is spotty. Listen to Articles: The text-to-speech thing is useful if you want to "read" while doing dishes or whatever. Works Everywhere: Save on your computer, read on your phone. It syncs pretty well most of the time. Kindle Thing: You can send articles to your Kindle, which is nice if you prefer reading on e-ink. The annoying part is that sometimes the text gets cut off halfway through an article, so you have to switch to the web view to finish reading. Also, the search could be better. It's a solid app for basic use, but if you want fancy features, you might be disappointed. We'd give it 7.3 out of 10.	8.5 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. 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.
Performance	6.9 Performance is PaperSpan's biggest weakness. When everything works correctly, the app is fast and responsive. Article saving is quick, reading is smooth, and offline functionality is excellent. The problem is consistency—too many things go wrong too often. The most common issues we encountered include sync problems between devices, network connectivity failures during signup, and the frustrating text view cutoff that interrupts reading sessions. The discontinued Chrome extension also limits desktop integration significantly. These aren't dealbreaking problems, but they add up to an inconsistent user experience. The positive news is that recent ratings have improved significantly (4.13/5 for the last 100 reviews compared to 3.8/5 overall), indicating the developers are actively addressing these issues. Performance score: 6.9/10.	9.5 Throughout our testing, Loop demonstrated exceptional performance with near-instant response times and minimal resource usage. The app's efficiency is particularly impressive given its extensive tracking and visualization capabilities. Key performance aspects: Quick Startup: Launches rapidly and loads data instantly Smooth Navigation: No lag when switching between views or scrolling through history Low Resource Usage: Minimal battery drain and memory consumption Reliable Widgets: Home screen widgets update promptly without issues The 9.5 rating acknowledges Loop's outstanding optimization and reliability.
Design	6.2 PaperSpan's design prioritizes function over form, which works well for the reading experience but falls short everywhere else. The article reader itself is excellent—clean typography, perfect spacing, and smart image handling make reading genuinely enjoyable. Reading Interface: Distraction-free design that puts your content front and center. Article Formatting: Excellent text sizing and spacing that's comfortable for extended reading sessions. Navigation: Simple menu structure that anyone can understand immediately. The problem is everything outside the reading experience. The overall interface looks and feels outdated compared to modern apps. Multiple users mentioned this in reviews, and we completely agree—PaperSpan desperately needs a visual refresh. The functionality is solid, but the dated appearance undermines the user experience. Design score: 6.2/10.	9.0 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.
Value for Money	8.1 This is where PaperSpan absolutely excels. The free version is genuinely useful—not a crippled demo designed to force you into paying. You get article saving, clean reading, offline access, and basic organization without any artificial restrictions. It's refreshingly honest in a world of manipulative freemium models. The premium subscription at €10.99 monthly unlocks audio playback, enhanced search, Kindle integration, and improved syncing. For heavy readers who use these features daily, it's reasonably priced. Casual users will find the free version more than sufficient for their needs. What impressed us most was user feedback describing PaperSpan as "the only read later app providing all the features for free." While not entirely accurate, it speaks to how generous the free tier feels. The pricing is fair and transparent—no hidden costs or misleading trials. Value for money score: 8.1/10.	10 Loop Habit Tracker delivers exceptional value as a completely free, ad-free, and open-source application. During our testing, we were consistently impressed by the quality and completeness of features available without any monetary commitment. Value highlights: No Premium Tier: All features available to everyone Zero Ads: Clean, uninterrupted experience Regular Updates: Continuous improvements without subscription No Hidden Costs: Complete functionality without in-app purchases The perfect 10.0 rating reflects Loop's outstanding commitment to providing a premium-quality habit tracker completely free of charge.
Ease of Use	7.8 PaperSpan gets this right from the first minute. The app is genuinely intuitive—no complex setup, no overwhelming feature lists, just straightforward functionality that works exactly as you'd expect. Within minutes of downloading, you're saving and reading articles effortlessly. The basics are seamless. Save articles with one click from your browser, and the automatic categorization handles organization without any input from you. Reading controls are exactly where you'd expect them, and switching between text and web view is instant when needed. We did encounter some frustrating technical issues. Network connectivity problems during signup affect multiple users, and we experienced sync delays between devices. The text cutoff issue can be annoying mid-article. These problems don't break the app, but they create unnecessary friction in what should be a smooth experience. Ease of use score: 7.8/10.	9.2 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.
Security & Privacy	6.8 Security and privacy aren't PaperSpan's strongest selling points, mainly because there's limited transparency about how your data is handled. The app stores your reading data on their servers for syncing across devices, which is standard practice but means your reading habits and saved articles aren't kept locally. What concerned us most was the lack of detailed privacy documentation. For an app that handles your reading preferences, article URLs, and potentially sensitive saved content, clearer communication about data protection would be reassuring. We didn't encounter obvious security problems during testing, but the transparency gap is noticeable. Most users probably won't find this problematic for everyday use, but privacy-conscious readers might want to dig deeper into the terms of service or consider alternatives with more transparent data practices. Security and privacy gets 6.8 out of 10.	9.8 Privacy is where Loop truly shines. As an open-source app with a strict privacy-first approach, it sets a high standard for data protection in habit tracking apps. Key privacy features: Zero Data Collection: No personal information gathered or transmitted Offline Operation: Functions fully without internet access Local Storage: All data stays on your device Minimal Permissions: Only requests essential Android permissions Transparent Code: Open-source nature allows security verification The 9.8 rating acknowledges Loop's exceptional privacy practices, with the tiny deduction only because some users might want optional cloud backup.
Conclusion	After using PaperSpan for a while, we'd actually recommend it to most people. Yeah, it looks a bit old and has some annoying bugs, but it does the main job really well. If you commute a lot or just want to actually read those articles you save instead of letting them pile up forever, this app helps. It's not fancy, but it works, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.	Loop Habit Tracker proves that simplicity and power can coexist perfectly in a habit tracking app. Its thoughtful design and robust feature set create an experience that's both sophisticated and accessible to everyone. The app's commitment to user privacy and freedom sets it apart - being completely free, open-source, and offline-first. The distraction-free interface and reliable performance make it a pleasure to use daily, while comprehensive analytics keep you motivated. While there's room for improvements in areas like habit categorization and cloud sync, the core functionality is exceptional. With an average rating of 9.3 across our review categories, Loop stands out as a premium-quality app that puts users first. For anyone seeking a reliable, privacy-focused habit tracker that emphasizes substance over flash, Loop Habit Tracker is our top recommendation.
	Install PaperSpan	Install Loop Habits
Our Recommendation