Needs Bars

Needs Bars

Has it been too long?

1 ratings
1 review
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • March 25, 2022
  • June 2, 2025

Features

Needs Bars screenshot #1 for iPhone
Needs Bars screenshot #2 for iPhone
Needs Bars screenshot #3 for iPhone
Needs Bars screenshot #4 for iPhone
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About

This app provides a visual cue for activities you need to do regularly but don't fit into traditional to-do lists or calendars. It acts like a 'hunger bar' for any habit, reminding you when too much time has passed without completing a task. Useful for self-care, staying connected, or practicing skills.

Visual cue for regular tasks
Syncing between devices
Dark mode
Home and lock screen widgets
Customizable reminders for self-care
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What's New in Needs Bars

1.2.1

June 2, 2025

More reliable syncing, fixed widget appearance on newer iOS versions, clearer bar editing, and other little improvements. The background for the home screen widget now fills in properly on iOS 18. The widget can now take on your home screen tint color too. When a bar is very low, it now fits into its container neatly. It looked a bit squished before. You can now see the bar itself on the bar details screen, so when you press the fill button you can see it filling back up. When you edit a bar duration, it no longer fills it at the same time. It was like this to keep the calculations simple, but now when you edit a bar the progress will be based on the last time you filled it still. If you make a bar shorter than the last time you filled it, it will adjust the last fill time so the progress won't go over 100%. You could use this to adjust the progress of a bar exactly. Set the duration to how full you want it to be, fill the bar, then set duration longer again and the progress will be part way. It's not the same as a proper slider, but it could be helpful for those who really need it. The notes text box is now adjusted to the right size based on the amount of text when you first look at the bar details. Tapping outside of the notes text dismisses the keyboard and saves the changes now, before you had to edit something else or go back to the list. There is a secret screen with information about syncing so I can ask people for debugging information when there are sync problems that don't affect me. Maybe you can find it! With these changes, everything has been tested with iOS 16 and above only, and no longer iOS 15.

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User reviews

Seems promising

This is a great idea and almost exactly what I was looking for. There are a couple features I wish were added. One, I wish the widget bars were labeled. That would make them much more helpful at a glance. Two, I wish I could set the bars to start from a given time. For instance, if I need to eat every four hours I may not need to eat every four hours *starting right now*. So it would be helpful to adjust the start time or time remaining on a given countdown. Even so, I really like the idea behind this app. I hope the dev keeps working on it. :)
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FAQ

What is Needs Bars?

Needs Bars is a free app that provides a visual cue for activities you need to do regularly. It functions like a 'hunger bar' from video games, reminding you when too much time has passed without completing a task.

What kind of habits can Needs Bars track?

Needs Bars is useful for a wide range of habits that don't fit into traditional calendars or to-do lists. Examples include staying in touch with loved ones, practicing a musical instrument, taking breaks, or engaging in self-care activities like reading or playing games.

Does Needs Bars have ads?

No, Needs Bars does not contain advertisements. It is a free app with no ads, allowing for an uninterrupted user experience.

What devices does Needs Bars support?

Needs Bars is available on iPhone and iPad devices. It is designed to work seamlessly across these Apple platforms.

How often is Needs Bars updated?

The latest version of Needs Bars is 1.2.1, which was last updated on June 2, 2025. This indicates regular maintenance and potential feature additions.

What are the potential future paid features for Needs Bars?

Future paid features may include custom bar colors, color changes as bars deplete, more than six bars, an Apple Watch app, a slider for editing bar fullness, IFTTT integration, quick actions from bars, and customizable theming.

What is the age rating for Needs Bars?

Needs Bars has an age rating of 4+. This means it is suitable for children and adults, with no mature content.

What is the user sentiment for Needs Bars?

Needs Bars has a rating of 4.0 stars from 1 rating. This suggests a positive initial reception from its users.