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

Productive vs Routine Planner

Productive 4.6★ · Free + IAP 40
Winner Routine Planner
Routine Planner 4.7★ · Free to download 85

For most users, Routine Planner offers a more stable and user-friendly experience at a more reasonable price, making it the better choice over Productive, which is plagued by recent price hikes and bugs.

Full reviews: Productive · Routine Planner

Productive, despite its long history, is currently facing significant backlash due to drastic price increases and unaddressed bugs, making its paid tiers a poor value. Routine Planner, while having some free-tier limitations and occasional glitches, is widely praised for its effectiveness, intuitive design, and ability to help users, especially those with ADHD, build and maintain routines.

Head to head

Features & Customization edge: Routine PlannerR2R3R6R8
Productive Productive offers features like setting goals for specific days or intervals R2R6 and tracking streaks R15. However, users desire more customization, such as adding their own measurements for goals R8 and setting routines for specific intervals like 'every other day' R6. Some recent updates have forced users to pick from predefined habits, which is seen as annoying R3.
Routine Planner Routine Planner is praised for its ease in creating routines and its pre-made options for tasks . It allows users to set timers for each task, helping with time management . Users appreciate the flexibility to move, change, or skip tasks without penalty . However, some wish for more advanced features like transition times between tasks or a widget for checklists .
Ease of Use & UI edge: Routine PlannerR3R11R15R19
Productive Productive is generally found to be simple and easy to use with a creative UI R11R15. However, some users find its interface unintuitive and dislike the dark mode, wishing for a light mode option R19. The app also forces users to define goals in a specific way, which can be annoying R3.
Routine Planner Routine Planner is highly praised for its simple, sleek, and aesthetic design, making it easy and enjoyable to use . Many users, including those with ADHD, find it particularly helpful for staying on task and organized . However, some users with zoomed screens find the app unreadable , and the new update has made the timer screen cluttered .
Reliability & Performance tieR1R10R21R22
Productive Productive has significant issues with bugs, including the timer not working correctly R10R21, changes not showing without restarting the app R10, and the app occasionally breaking streaks R22. Some users who purchased lifetime access are now being asked to purchase plans R1, and long-time users are unable to log in without repurchasing .
Routine Planner Routine Planner users report frequent glitches, freezing, and crashing . Some users experience issues with routines not tracking or being deleted after updates . The app can also be slow to load and has issues with notifications and alarms . However, some users note that minor glitches are fixed quickly .
Price & Value edge: Routine PlannerR1R2R4R7
Productive Productive has seen massive price increases, with annual subscriptions jumping from $15-35 to $60-80, and even up to $300 R4R7R9R10. Many users find these prices outrageous and not justified by the app's features or lack of updates R7R9R10. The free version is very limited, allowing only 5 habits R2R11, and constant upsell screens are annoying R11.
Routine Planner Routine Planner also has limitations in its free version, typically allowing only one or two routines R56R65R71R96. Many useful tools are behind a paid subscription . Some users feel misled about it being a free app . However, some long-term users find the free version sufficient for basic needs , and others are happy to pay for the premium subscription, finding it worth the cost .
Customer Support & Business Practices edge: Routine PlannerR1R14R16R24
Productive Productive is criticized for poor customer support, with emails going unanswered . Users report issues with auto-charging despite canceling trials or subscriptions R14 and being unable to log in to previously purchased lifetime versions R1. The app's pricing changes are seen as sneaky and a 'cash grab' R16R24. There are also concerns about user and metadata tracking .
Routine Planner Routine Planner's customer service receives mixed reviews; some users report poor support and unanswered emails , while others note that developers are open to feedback and fix minor glitches quickly . There are reports of issues with free trials leading to unexpected charges .
Pick Productive if

You prioritize a simple, visually creative UI for basic habit tracking and are willing to pay a premium, or if you specifically need to set goals for non-daily, discretionary intervals and are not deterred by recent price hikes and bugs R2R11R15.

Pick Routine Planner if

You need an effective, aesthetically pleasing, and non-punitive app to build and maintain routines, especially if you struggle with organization or ADHD . It's also suitable if you are looking for a more reasonably priced premium experience or can manage with the limitations of a free tier .

Evidence note: The evidence for Productive is heavily skewed negative due to recent, drastic price increases, which dominate many reviews. While Productive has a higher lifetime rating, recent reviews indicate a significant decline in user satisfaction due to pricing and unaddressed bugs. Routine Planner's reviews are generally positive, with some common complaints about free-tier limitations and occasional glitches.

Frequently asked

What are the subscription costs for Productive?
Productive's annual subscription costs have recently increased significantly, with users reporting prices ranging from $60 to $80 per year, and some even mentioning $300 per year, up from previous prices of $15-35 per year R4R7R9R10.
How many routines can I create for free in Routine Planner?
In the free version of Routine Planner, users are typically limited to creating one or two routines R56R65R71R96.
Does Productive have a free trial?
Yes, Productive offers a 7-day free trial, but users report issues with being auto-charged even after canceling or after a year, without active subscriptions R14R18.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 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. [R2] Productive 4/5 · US Exactly what I was looking for: I wanted an app that would let me set daily goals, but also goals that could be 3x per week at my discretion which day or on set days. I didn't think there would be an app that would perfectly meet my needs, but this one does. Perfect and worth the 3.99 for the paid app that lets you have more than five reminders. Update after lots of use: The only reason I dropped
  2. [R3] Productive 3/5 · US New annoying feature: I redownloaded this app lately so that I can create my create my own custom app. But the app now forces you to define your goal so that it can force you to pick a habit from a list of predefined ones which is annoying. Not everyone cares about existing habits in the app. Other than that it is a pretty good app
  3. [R6] Productive 3/5 · US Needs improvement: While I enjoy this app, there are some updates that have long been needed that haven’t happened. For instance, not being able to set a routine at a regular regular interval (every other day). After years, they have not added this feature and it’s making it hard to continue to use this app. For the price I would have expected better updates. Won’t be renewing next year.
  4. [R8] Productive 5/5 · US idea suggestion: i absolutely love this app. i’ve even using it and things i always wanted to be habits are now habits. one suggestion, and it’s really not a big deal, is to allow the user to add their own measurements. for example for a reading goal, the user could enter chapters scenes etc. many of the habits i have or want to have don’t fit well with the pre-determined list of measurements
  5. [R11] Productive 4/5 · US Great app, wish they didn’t upsell plans so much: I really enjoy using this app for its simplicity and creative UI. It’s exactly what I need. However, one part I find annoying is that everytime I open the app, they show me the screen asking me to upgrade to their paid plan. I’m on the free one and I wish I had more habits to track for free, but that’s okay. At least don’t show me this paid plan ev
  6. [R15] Productive 5/5 · US Great Little App: I can’t use paper habit trackers because I HATE looking at the little empty boxes for a whole month. This does the job perfectly, without the blatant display of my intermittent failures. It tells me when I’ve done so many tasks in a row, and pops up a little celebration screen when I do a good job. I recommend starting small - one or two habits at first. It’s easy to work with if
  7. [R19] Productive 4/5 · US Light Mode PLEASE!: I love the functionality of this app but it is such an eyesore! Please at the very least have an option for a light mode - the black is so depressing and unmotivating 😞
  8. [R1] Productive 1/5 · US So much for lifetime: I purchased the lifetime app and am now being told I need to purchase plans.
  9. [R10] Productive 1/5 · US Has bugs. Too expensive.: They just more than doubled their yearly subscription and have not been fixing bugs or introducing new features. App looks the same after two years. Timer doesn’t work half the time. You have to quit and restart for your changes to show. Finally cut the cord and found a new app. So much happier.
  10. [R21] Productive 4/5 · US Great App but Expensive: I have used this app premium version for two months now. It has been amazing. It is exactly what I need. A habit tracker where I can actually analyze the data to see which habits I still need to work on. I gave it 4 stars because I’ve been having issues with its timer feature. If I turn on the timer and move to another app, the timer stops working. If I play music or a v
  11. [R22] Productive 2/5 · US Good app, but overpriced.: I used this app for a year and found it had a positive impact on my life. However, with the annual $80 renewal approaching, I reconsidered whether it was worth the cost. I discovered other apps on the App Store that offer a similar, if not better, experience for much less. While the app works about 85% of the time, it occasionally breaks streaks without reason, experienc
  12. [R4] Productive 1/5 · US Huge price increase: The app developer owes an explanation for more than doubling the price of the annual subscription. What additional value will the app bring? What additional features will be added? Make it make sense. I’ve been a loyal subscriber for many years and am very likely to cancel my subscription unless I can justify the cost based on additional features.
  13. [R7] Productive 1/5 · US Okay, but not $80 okay: The app was fine when I used it but I can’t justify paying $80 a year for a check the box app. I can write my own list and check a box truth be told.
  14. [R14] Productive 1/5 · US SCAM: Though the app itself was moderately helpful, you will be auto charged despite any “free” trial. They will also auto charge you a year later, which I found out last month, despite having no active Apple subscription or a web account. The emails are bogus. I filed a complaint through Paypal to get a refund. Unless you want to give money to them annually forever, don’t use.
  15. [R16] Productive 1/5 · US Pricey, deleting: I used this for many years and paid but they tripped the price. I’m using paper for tracking habits now. Goodbye. The only thing these people care about now is money.
  16. [R24] Productive 1/5 · US $16/month for habits, wow so bad.: They scam you in pricing. VERY OVERPRICED and scammy founders. Just do any research and you’ll see the greed these clowns are.
  17. [R9] Productive 3/5 · US Too expensive: The app was a 5 star before. It did everything I needed for $30 a year. But they recently changed prices to $80 per year, which is outrageous. Deleted the app. Sad to see it go, but I’m not paying that price :/
  18. [R56] 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
  19. [R65] 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?
  20. [R71] Routine Planner 3/5 · GB Love: I love this app and recommend it if you have time concentrating on tasks!!!! My first day and already addicted just don’t like how it gives me a limit on my things!
  21. [R96] Routine Planner 4/5 · US It’s good: I just wish they let you make more than two routines for free. Also it’d be cool if it would give you an option, to change the times automatically instead of manually; if you spent less or more time on a part of a routine. Overall awesome app. 👍
  22. [R18] Productive 1/5 · US Not free: Trail is 7 days. Waste of download space

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store