Comparison

Hours Tracker vs Next Thing

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hours Tracker

Log and analyze time spent on tasks and projects with custom categories and planning features. Organize entries, view statistics between dates, and sync data via iCloud. Supports Touch ID and CSV export.

Highlights
  • Custom task/project categories
  • Plan and record time spent
  • Statistical time analysis
  • Organize and edit entries
  • iCloud syncing and backup
  • CSV export via email
Features
Read full description

HoursTracker is a simple, intuitive time logging tool designed to keep track of the time you spend on tasks and projects. You can plan ahead and then record how much time you spend and analyze the total time statistically. Features: - Custom task/project categories - Customize the icon of the project category - Add tasks and plan/count how much time you spend - Easily record time - Organize the project in every second - Organize all your entries, whether it's to complete them, edit the time or change the project at any time - Select and view statistics between two dates - Display total time (seconds), display total time (hours) - The timeline shows the record details for each month - iCloud syncing and backup - Touch ID - Export CSV via email - Adapts to dark themes

About

Next Thing

This app helps you focus on one task at a time using the simple Ivy Lee Method. Prioritize your top tasks each evening and tackle them sequentially the next day, reducing stress and boosting effectiveness. Ideal for those who find traditional to-do lists overwhelming.

Highlights
  • Ivy Lee Method task prioritization
  • Single-task focus
  • Evening task selection
  • Daily habit building
  • Lock screen widgets
  • Home screen widgets
  • Focus bell reminders
Features
Read full description

Most productivity apps make you more stressed, not less. Endless lists, complex systems, notifications pulling you in every direction. Next Thing is different: one list, one task at a time. Built on the Ivy Lee Method, a century-old system famously used by Charles Schwab, Next Thing strips productivity down to its most powerful form. Each evening, choose your most important tasks and rank them in order of priority. The next day, focus on one thing at a time. That's it. We've heard from users with ADHD that this single-task approach is a game changer. No overwhelming lists, just the next thing in front of you. How it works: - Add tasks to your list anytime a thought crosses your mind - Each evening, pick your top 6 and rank them by priority - The next day, focus on one task at a time. Done or skip. Nothing else. - Build the habit with streaks and satisfying completion moments - Optional morning and evening reminders, off unless you turn them on NEW: Projects Some work is bigger than a day. Tap the pill in the corner to switch to Projects mode, with the same calm, one-thing-at-a-time focus. - Break projects into tasks and subtasks - Add owners, start dates, and due dates - Progress rings fill as you check off subtasks - Rank your projects and see each one's next step on your focus screen - Check off the next step with one tap, right from the focus screen - Archive finished projects and restore them anytime Free to use, including one active project. Upgrades are one-time purchases. No subscription, ever. Ivy Lee Pro: - Live Activity and Dynamic Island - your current task, always in view - Lock screen widgets - see your #1 task without unlocking your phone - Home screen widget - see your #1 task without opening the app - Focus bell - set a reminder to check in on your current task - Streaks heatmap - track your consistency over time - Recurring tasks - daily habits auto-return to your list - Custom app icons and focus screen themes - Unlimited task list Projects Pro: - Unlimited active projects Complete: - Everything in Ivy Lee Pro and Projects Pro, for less than buying both Already own Pro from an earlier version? Thank you. Projects Pro is included, free. Your privacy matters. No account required, no login, no data sharing. Your tasks live on your device and nowhere else. Stop managing your productivity system. Start doing your next thing.

Screenshots

Hours Tracker4 screens
Next Thing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Next Thing at 100% against Hours Tracker's 0%. Next Thing also leads on price (Free vs $2.99). Hours Tracker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (14 vs 17.6). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Next Thing is free to download; Hours Tracker costs $2.99 up front. Next Thing sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Hours Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hours Tracker ships an update monthly, Next Thing every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Hours Tracker versus Next Thing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHours TrackerNext Thing
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer永文 胡JEREMIAH DANIEL ROBERTS

Customer experience

Hours Tracker

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Next Thing

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Hours Tracker

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Next Thing

One-time3
  • Ivy Lee Pro$3.99
  • Projects Pro$5.99
  • Next Thing Complete$7.99

Questions

Is Hours Tracker free?
Hours Tracker costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Next Thing free?
Next Thing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Hours Tracker or Next Thing have ads?
Neither Hours Tracker nor Next Thing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hours Tracker or Next Thing?
Hours Tracker ships an update monthly, and Next Thing every 3 weeks. Most recently, Hours Tracker was updated on November 2, 2026 and Next Thing on October 31, 2026.

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