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We try different tools, planners, and habit trackers, but after a couple of weeks, we find ourselves searching for a new suitable application again. Motivation is not an infinite source, but rather a fluctuation between the loss of emotional involvement, meaning, and a sense of comfort.

This article is for those who want not just to do more but to understand how to stay engaged without burning out. We will explore how gamified productivity can support internal motivation, and select the 7 best Habitica alternatives that will help you stay focused, create good habits, and enjoy the process.

Key Learnings

Habitica pioneered gamified habit tracking, turning productivity into a role-playing game experience.
Modern habit apps now prioritize emotional engagement and support, helping users stay motivated through self-awareness and flexible task management.
The RPG format doesn’t appeal to everyone, as some users prefer less game-like structures and a stronger focus on intrinsic motivation.

Habitica Review: Key Features and User Experience

Habitica is an example of a gamified productivity app. It transforms the completion of everyday tasks into a role-playing game (RPG). Each time you complete tasks, your character gains experience, gold, and rewards. The app unites users in guilds, adds friendly competition, and includes quest elements.

What users like:

A clear reward system that makes task completion more engaging and fun.
The convenience of tracking both tasks and habits in one place.
A built-in sense of community through shared goals and group participation.

Common user feedback:

The interface has a retro design that may take some time to navigate.
Motivation can fluctuate once users adapt to the points-based system.
Limited analytics for tracking long-term habit trends.
Few built-in options for reminders or recurring task management.

Disclaimer: Feedback is gathered and analyzed from platforms such as Trustpilot, Reddit, the App Store, and independent online reviews.

What to Consider When Choosing a Habit App?

Modern habit tracker apps have long outgrown simple to-do lists. The extended features of applications include trackers that help build habits, analyze progress, and integrate new patterns into life. The key selection criteria include:

Personalization and adaptability

Research shows that apps with the ability to customize features to your needs, such as habit trackers, preferences, frequency, and notification style, are more popular.

Emotional feedback

Not only is the possibility of quick rewards important, but also the opportunity for reflection, understanding, and reinforcement of internal growth. This gives an understanding that the new habit actually works.

Integration with everyday life

To establish a habit, the app should easily fit into your life: sync with any devices (iOS, Android, Smart Bracelets, and Apple Watch), calendars, and help in everyday life, rather than existing separately.

Analytics and meaningful feedback

It's not enough for the app to just collect data. It's important to see the connection between actions and well-being. The app should not just build charts, but clearly visualize data that will show patterns of habitual behaviors.

Cost and functionality

A transparent payment model, where there is an understanding of which features exactly are being charged for, and there is a sense of real benefit from using premium features.

Comparison of Habitica Alternatives

When choosing Habitica alternatives, we used several criteria:

user experience (UX)
motivation support features
psychological habit formation tools
and user reviews.

This allowed us to look not only at how well each app worked, but also at how it made people feel and how it affected the long-term success of the habits.

App	Best for	Key Features	Pricing	Platform
Liven	Mindful habit formation	AI-journal, emotion tracking, mood-based routines, insight tracking	Free trial, then Weekly plan from $7.99 and Monthly from $34.99	iOS / Android / Web
Todoist	Structure and focus	Task lists, task management, project management, and set reminders	Free tier; Pro at US $4/month (US $48/year) / Business US $6/user/month (US $72/year) (annually billed)	iOS / Android / Web
TickTick	Time management	Pomodoro, habit tracking, focus analytics	Free tier; Premium ~US $27.99–35.99/year or ~US $2.80–3.99/month	iOS / Android / Web
Fabulous	Mindful rituals	Science-based programs, coaching	Free version available; Premium ~US $39.99/year or US $19.99/month (varies)	iOS / Android
Notion	Flexibility and creativity	To-do lists, project tracking, and customized templates	Free personal plan; Paid plans & enterprise tiers (for habit tracking templates many are free)	iOS / Android / Web
Loops Habit Tracker	Minimalism	Simplicity, good habits, no distractions	Completely free and open-source	Android
Streaks	Apple users	Integration with Apple Watch, automation	One-time purchase ~US $4.99-5.99 (iOS/macOS)	iOS

Disclaimer: App pricing may change over time, so always refer to the official app website for the most up-to-date information.

Liven

Liven is a self-discovery companion. It combines habit tracking, an AI companion, journaling, scientific foundation and education, a mindful structure, and tools for emotional reflection. Instead of gamifying behavior, Liven helps understand the reason behind why some habits stick while others don't.

Unique value proposition:

Focusing on meaning rather than entertainment.
App helps connect emotions with actions and form not only healthy habits through mindful steps, but also navigate difficult moments and learn from them.
The AI companion can be used as a support tool between therapy sessions.

👉 Try Liven if it's important for you to not only tracking habits and behavioral patterns but also understand their origin.

Get your personalized plan for a calmer mind!

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Todoist

Todoist is a classic among task management apps. It's suitable for those who love clear structure, project management, and progress visualization. Its ability to add tasks, set reminders, and track progress makes it a popular productivity tool.

Unique value proposition:

Focusing on systematicity and efficiency rather than a game-based approach.
Good for people who like minimalism and clear visuals.
Convenient for team collaborations and project management, helping to define clarity and priorities.

According to Reddit users, "Todoist helps not only to complete tasks, but also to stay focused on important tasks."

TickTick

TickTick app is a combination of tracking habit and a Pomodoro timer, allowing you to establish priorities. It's suitable for focused bursts of work, building a reward system not in coins, but in a sense of completion.

Unique value proposition:

TickTick is focused on productivity that is organized. There are no quests or rewards in it.
Focuses on being efficient and managing your time.
Good for people who want to stay focused and reach their goals without having to play a role-playing game.

Fabulous

Fabulous focuses on the psychology of habits. It's a gamified productivity app based on behavioral science research. The app helps you build morning routines, cultivate gratitude practices, and set break reminders.

Unique value proposition:

Built on step-by-step formation of new habits and emotional well-being without a game format.
The app is based on structured programmes.
Good for people who need gentle help and steps that make sense to them mentally, instead of a system of points and levels.

Notion

Notion is better known as a project management tool, but over time it has also become a universal habit tracker. Thanks to customizable templates, you can create, track tasks, analyze data, and combine different tasks within a single application.

Unique value proposition:

Notion allows you to build individual schemes for habit tracking and goals.
Suitable for people who like structure and the freedom to make their own choices
Good for people who want to do both work and personal tasks in the same space.

Loops

Loops is a simple and effective app for tracking habits on Android. Pleasant and intuitive interface with straightforward functionality. Helps stay motivated and track good habits.

Unique value proposition:

Everything is maximally simple and intuitive.
Suitable for those who want to focus on the essence and get rid of distracting elements.

Note: It's available only on Android.

Streaks

Streaks is popular among Apple Watch users. It helps you keep track of your habits, set reminders, and see how you're doing in real time. A visual display of progress and integration with the Health app on iPhone.

Unique value proposition:

An easy-to-use app that doesn't include gamification
No distractions allow focus on habit tracking.
Great choice for quick management of habits without complex mechanics.

Note: It's available only on iOS.

How to Choose "Your" App

When picking a habit tracker, don’t rely only on ratings or popularity. The real key is choosing an app that matches how your mind works: your motivation style, level of structure, and even how you like to process progress.

Everyone has different triggers that keep them engaged. What energizes one person might feel overwhelming to another. Once you understand your natural tendencies, you can choose a tool that not only motivates you but also helps you stay consistent and calm.

Here’s how to match your type with the right app:

The Explorer: Curious, spontaneous, and drawn to novelty. Explorers thrive on self-discovery and visual inspiration. Apps like Liven or Fabulous suit them best, turning habit-building into a way to learn more about their emotions and daily patterns.
The Analyst: Logical and detail-oriented. Analysts value structure, measurable progress, and clarity. Tools like Todoist or TickTick appeal to them with their task hierarchies, progress tracking, and built-in metrics.
The Minimalist: Calm, focused, and simplicity-driven. Minimalists prefer distraction-free design and a sense of ease. Loops or Streaks are ideal options with their clean layouts and intuitive tracking that makes progress feel effortless.

How to Make Any Habit System Sustainable

Link the habit to a trigger from everyday life. For example, if you want to meditate, do it before your morning coffee. Apps with a "create cues" feature will help you choose an appropriate signal notification or visual reminder (icon, color label, or visual reminder of the action)
Record even small successes. This way, the brain will receive dopamine reinforcement, reinforcing motivation. Set up a reward system, let the app show progress, unlock levels, or praise you for consistency.
Write down observations. A journal or built-in notes feature allows you to notice how emotions, reactions, and other changes evolve. This is a great way to understand what exactly helps you stay engaged.
Plan periods of rest. A habit should not turn into a meaningless action. Allow yourself a day of "pause" to avoid burnout. Most trackers allow you to schedule flexible breaks without losing motivation.
Use visual anchors. If the app doesn't let you add photographs or phrases, try something else. Put a note on the screen, set a reminder with a motivational note, or change the wallpaper on your phone. The most important step is to make a visual cue that will help you remember your aim.

Psychology Behind Gamified Productivity

Gamification elements do indeed increase engagement because they promote rapid dopamine production, which is responsible for pleasure and reward anticipation. However, if a person performs tasks automatically, without feeling an inner sense of meaning, this effect quickly fades. Motivation that relies only on external rewards does not develop long-lasting behaviours.

A 2024 study supports this insight: motivation drops when reward systems aren’t aligned with personal values or goals. This reflects the Self-Determination Theory, which shows that genuine, long-term motivation grows when people experience three key needs such as autonomy, competence, and connection with others.

That’s why the most effective Habitica alternatives encourage mindfulness, emotional awareness, and personal reflection. The best apps today combine ease of use, emotional support, and meaningful insights that help users stay consistent for the right reasons.

Find a Tool that Fuels Your Motivation

When we choose habit apps, it's important to remember that they are just tools. Results appear when a habit is developed, not just when an item on a to do list is checked off.

Gamified tools like Habitica can make progress more engaging, while other apps such as Liven, TickTick, or Todoist focus on structure, reflection, or emotional balance. The key is to choose what resonates with your motivation style.

Look for a tool that helps you stay connected with yourself, lets you track your growth, overcome procrastination, and see genuine meaning behind your daily actions. The right app is about self-awareness and steady, mindful progress.

References

Laëtitia Gosetto, Gilles Falquet, & Ehrler, F. (2025). Personalizing mobile applications for health based on user profiles: A preference matrix from a scoping review. PLOS Digital Health, 4(8), e0000978–e0000978. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000978
Torous, J., Linardon, J., Goldberg, S. B., Sun, S., Bell, I., Nicholas, J., Hassan, L., Hua, Y., Milton, A., & Firth, J. (2025). The evolving field of digital mental health: current evidence and implementation issues for smartphone apps, generative artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. World Psychiatry, 24(2), 156–174. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21299
BJ Fogg. (n.d.). Tiny Habits. https://tinyhabits.com/

FAQ

What is better than Habitica for long-term habits?

If you want to do more than collect points and want to make real, healthy habits, pay attention to Liven and Fabulous. They help people build habits that last by getting them to think about and feel things, not just by using game mechanics.

Are there free Habitica alternatives?

Yes, both Loops and TickTick have free versions with basic features for keeping track of habits and tasks. This is a good choice if you're just starting to make a habit system.

Which app helps with ADHD?

Liven and TickTick are good for people with ADHD because they help stay focused, manage attention, and create routines that are good for dopamine, focus, attention, cognitive strategies, and external cues. This is especially important when concentration levels decrease.

Can Habitica be combined with other applications?

Yes, it can. You can use Habitica to get motivated through gameplay and Liven to reflect on and analyse things. This mix helps find a balance between outside stimulation and inner awareness.

Is gamification effective?

Yes, if it doesn't replace internal motivation but supports it. The best gamified productivity tools link feelings and actions, which helps you not only finish tasks but also understand their meaning and progress.

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7 Habitica Alternatives That Help You Stay Consistent

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