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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Routine Planner vs Productive

Routine Planner 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner Routine Planner
Productive 4.6★ · Free + IAP 55

Routine Planner is the better choice for users seeking a structured routine app with strong ADHD support, despite its recent glitches and subscription model, while Productive struggles with high pricing and persistent technical issues.

Full reviews: Routine Planner · Productive

Routine Planner excels in providing structured routines, particularly for users with ADHD, and offers a lifetime purchase option, but it has been plagued by recent glitches and a limited free tier. Productive, while praised for its simple design, faces significant backlash over its high and increasing subscription prices, frequent technical bugs, and poor customer service.

Head to head

Features and Functionality edge: Routine PlannerR1R3R4R15
Routine Planner Routine Planner is highly praised for its ability to help users manage executive dysfunction and ADHD by providing a sequential flow for tasks and timers, making it easier to stay on track and build habits R3. Users appreciate the structured approach and the ability to map out time for tasks . However, recent updates have introduced significant issues, such as the inability to move tasks around or skip steps without marking others complete R19, and problems with automatic progression to the next step R1. Some users also wish for separate volume controls for voice and music, and improved voice quality R15. The app also has limitations like pale skin as default for emojis with no option to change R4 and a lack of transition time for tasks, which can be difficult for ADHD users .
Productive Productive is valued for its simple, clean, and user-friendly interface, which helps users stay organized and motivated . Users like the Pomodoro timers and notifications . However, the app has several functional shortcomings, including the inability to edit habits , a cumbersome process to mark tasks as done, sometimes requiring a percentage input instead of a simple check-off , and a lack of integration with Apple Health or calendar for reading and exercise habits . The goal timer feature does not work in the background , and recurring tasks have limited options . Some users also find the forced goal definition and predefined habit lists annoying .
Ease of Use and Reliability tieR2R12R13R14
Routine Planner Routine Planner is generally considered easy to navigate and set up routines . Many users find it helpful for managing their daily energy and staying focused . However, recent updates have led to significant reliability issues, with users reporting constant glitches, freezing, and crashing R13R14. Some users experience notification problems, such as notifications in Chinese R2 or excessive notifications R12R13, and the app sometimes tells users their routine is already complete when it's not . The app also has display issues with zoomed screens .
Productive Productive is praised for its simple and intuitive interface . However, it suffers from frequent glitches, with users reporting the app freezing when trying to check off habits , getting stuck on launch or update screens , and notifications not working consistently . There are also reports of issues with subscription not showing up in the app after purchase R75R91 and significant data loss after updates . The app also has a new annoying feature where it forces a premium upsell screen every time it's opened .
Price and Value edge: Routine PlannerR5R6R7R18
Routine Planner Routine Planner offers a free tier, but many core features, such as creating more than two routines, are paywalled R5R18R27. The subscription price is a major point of contention, with users calling it "outrageously priced" at $36 a year R7R48. Some users feel the one-week free trial is insufficient to properly evaluate the app R6. Despite the high price, some users find the lifetime subscription option to be worth it R47.
Productive Productive faces widespread criticism for its high and frequently increasing subscription prices. Users report prices ranging from $6 a week R64 to $100 a year , with many noting a significant jump from previous annual rates of $14.99 or $17 to $59.99, $80, or even $100 . This price increase has led many long-term users to cancel their subscriptions . Users feel the app does not justify such high costs, especially given its limitations and bugs . The app also has a paywall before users can even try the interface .
Customer Support tieR55R75R91R109
Routine Planner Reviews for Routine Planner do not frequently mention customer support. One user reported emailing support three times about an account issue with no response, despite developers responding to App Store reviews R55.
Productive Productive receives strong criticism for its customer service. Users report slow and useless support, with some not hearing back after reaching out about subscription issues R75R91. There are also complaints about a lack of a clear way to communicate with the developer R109.
Pick Routine Planner if

You have ADHD or executive dysfunction and need a highly structured, sequential routine app with timers to stay on task and build habits R3. You are willing to pay for a subscription, potentially a lifetime one, for a tool that significantly helps with time management and organization R47.

Pick Productive if

You prioritize a simple, clean, and intuitive habit tracking interface and are primarily looking for basic habit tracking and motivation . You are not deterred by high subscription costs or frequent premium upsell screens .

Evidence note: The evidence for customer support is thin for Routine Planner, with only one review directly addressing it. For Productive, the evidence regarding price increases is very strong and consistent across many recent reviews.

Frequently asked

What are the subscription costs for Routine Planner and Productive?
Routine Planner costs around $36 per year, but also offers a lifetime subscription option R7R47R48. Productive has much higher and frequently increasing prices, with users reporting annual subscriptions ranging from $59.99 to $100, and weekly options as high as $6 R64.
Do these apps offer a free version or trial?
Both apps offer a free tier, but with significant limitations; Routine Planner allows only two routines for free R5R18R27, and Productive limits users to about five habits without a premium subscription . Routine Planner offers a one-week free trial, which some users find insufficient R6. Productive also has a free trial, but users report encountering a paywall before they can even see the app's interface .
Are there any major bugs or glitches in these apps?
Both apps suffer from significant bugs and glitches; Routine Planner users report constant freezing, crashing, inability to move tasks, and issues with automatic step progression R1R13R14R19. Productive users frequently experience the app freezing when checking off habits, getting stuck on launch screens, and inconsistent notifications .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Routine Planner 1/5 · US App issues: This app is kinda good, however, the option to not automatically go to the next step doesn’t work. Whether I select to have it automatically or not go to the next step, it goes to the next step automatically no matter what. I would rather press play for each step when I’m ready rather than having it go automatically when I select it not to.
  2. [R3] Routine Planner 3/5 · US Helped me so much!: Helped me manage my executive dysfunction. Its quite severe. I have ADHD but thrive on routines, but ADHD makes it hard. I use routinery everyday, morning, night, and throughout the day for micro-routines. helps me stay on task and make sure I don’t bedrot or forget to brush my teeth. Its been a major tool in my life. thank you! Edit: Recent AI features are disapointing, wish
  3. [R4] Routine Planner 1/5 · US Pale skin is default for emojis: Huge turn off for myself and others who have tan skin. This app does not let you change skin colour of the emojis either. In other apps you can long press hold to swap emojis out for a different skin colour and that’s not an option here. This is why apps use the default yellow skin versus pale Caucasian skin. While it’s not great that is more inclusive than just ma
  4. [R15] Routine Planner 3/5 · US Pretty good: Please make the voice and music volume controlled separately. if i turned on the volume of my music, i can’t hear the voice also please improve the quality of the voices, lots of great AI options now the one here is very grating and sounds outdated
  5. [R2] Routine Planner 4/5 · US Awesome: Love this app everyone should have but why are notifications in chinese
  6. [R12] Routine Planner 3/5 · US How I felt: It was boring, but if you miss a minute, you get notifications like crazy But other than that, you do get your work done
  7. [R13] Routine Planner 2/5 · US Why I don’t really like this app: I kinda liked it at first then at 2:27 am on a school night it just kept setting off my phone even tho the timer was set for 6 am then every time I would get on to it and try to check my things off I froze and wouldn’t work until I fully exit out of the app I hate this app now
  8. [R14] Routine Planner 5/5 · US Ugh: Every time I finish a routine it starts glitching and the app will take up different amounts of the screen and flip the text like it’s upside down. When I try and click the dine button nothing happens
  9. [R5] Routine Planner 4/5 · US It’s nice: It’s nice, the only thing is I have to pay for more than 2 routines. But also very helpful.
  10. [R6] Routine Planner 3/5 · US One week trial: There just wasn’t enough time for me to properly set up my routine within one week of downloading the app. Between learning how the app worked, setting up routines, assigning time blocks, and trying to adjust to the system, it felt more trifling and stressful than helpful. I would’ve much preferred at least a 30-day free trial so I could actually put real effort into learning and u
  11. [R7] Routine Planner 1/5 · US Outrageously priced: Heading said In App Purchase , but the truth is you get one week then it’s $36 a year . F that . Deleted
  12. [R18] Routine Planner 3/5 · US !!read!!: i love this app because it helps to keep me organized. however, i have to join a membership in order to have more than one routines
  13. [R55] Routine Planner 1/5 · GB Potential but poor customer service: The app has potential and lots of things it can improve on. However, customer service is really bad. i’ve emailed them 3 times to sort out my account email membership to no response yet the developers respond asap to reviews on here. The focus is on looking great outwards but when they actually get contacted about app issues they go silent Developer giving som
  14. [R75] Productive 3/5 · US Used to love…: I have been using this app for a few years but noticed after I purchased my subscription through the web, it did not show up in the app even when logged in with the same credentials. I reached out to support and never heard back. I really do love the app but have since cancelled. If this ever gets fixed I’ll be back.
  15. [R91] Productive 1/5 · US Terrible customer service, useless app: Subscribed on their website, but couldn’t convince the iOS app that I had paid. Customer service was slow and useless.
  16. [R109] Productive 1/5 · US Developer doesn’t care about customer: There isn’t a way to communicate with developer. Subscription is over price and it doesn’t offer light theme which is more comfortable
  17. [R47] Routine Planner 5/5 · US App for Good: App helps with executive function and when used in combination with the companion app Puff, helps slowly and steadily rewire you neurologically for a more focused and productive life. They respect user privacy with opt-in settings. And if you have subscription fatigue, you can purchase a lifetime subscription (worth it). Cannot praise this app enough, it’s a life/changer for healthy
  18. [R48] Routine Planner 3/5 · GB Good little app but my god: app designers really need to chill the f out with these subscription prices. you used to purchase an app once, and be done with it. this isn’t like netflix where I can explore an ever-expanding platform of entertainment. when you bought a program for your PC, you bought it once and outright owned it. justifying nearly £30 to have the app for only a YEAR before hav
  19. [R64] Productive 1/5 · US Greedy app: This app is just there to take your money. Not going to pay $6 a week to have custom habits…
  20. [R27] Routine Planner 3/5 · GB Good: Hi love this app so much!!but looking at reviews saying you can make as many routines. I am only allowed to make two?
  21. [R19] Routine Planner 1/5 · US Update: I used to use this app every day and I loved it. That was until the update. Now I can’t move my tasks around. If I try to move one up it just makes it skipped. 0/10

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store