Comparison

EARLY vs EffortList

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

Head to head
About

EARLY

This app offers a streamlined approach to time tracking, helping users understand how they spend their hours. It provides insightful reports and customizable features to boost productivity and improve work-life balance.

Highlights
  • One-tap time tracking
  • Real-time productivity data
  • Customizable reports and charts
  • Easy entry editing
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Calendar view for reviews
  • Integrations with popular tools
Read full description

Discover a better way to track your time with EARLY. EARLY will help you own your time and maximise your productivity at work. Instantly start tracking your activities within the EARLY app and unlock actionable insights to optimise your workflow, improve work-life balance, and achieve your goals. What is EARLY? Effortless Tracking • Track time with one tap — spend 90% less time logging your hours. Boosted Productivity • Get precise, real-time data on how you allocate your time to improve focus and reduce distractions. Reports • Visualise and analyse time distribution with customisable charts and reports that reveal trends, patterns, and opportunities for easy improvement. Easy Editing • Quickly adjust, add, or delete entries so that your logs are always accurate. Cross-Device Sync • Seamlessly track time across your devices for consistent, updated logs wherever you are. Calendar • View time entries in a calendar format for easy daily and weekly reviews, where time tracking becomes key to your routine. Integrations • Sync with JIRA, Toggl, Harvest, Zapier, and many more to streamline time tracking within your existing workflow.

About

EffortList

Features
Read full description

Effortlist brings simplicity back to task management. Designed for people who want to get things done without wrestling with complicated features, Effortlist focuses on what matters: organizing your tasks efficiently across all your devices. Seamless Multi-Device Sync your tasks sync instantly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac through Firebase. Check off a task on your phone during your commute, and it's already updated when you open your laptop. No manual syncing, no conflicts, no lost data - it just works. Project-Based Organization Group related tasks into projects with an intuitive tab-based interface. Each project maintains its own task list, making it easy to focus on one area at a time. Whether you're managing work deadlines, home improvements, or personal goals, keep everything organized without overwhelming complexity. Smart Task Management • Create tasks with a simple tap or keystroke • Add detailed subtasks for complex items • Mark tasks as focused to highlight priorities • Completed tasks automatically move to the bottom • Reorder tasks with drag-and-drop simplicity Built for Real Work Effortlist handles the realities of task management: tasks that move between projects, changing priorities, and the need to quickly capture ideas without disrupting your flow. The app maintains data integrity even when switching between devices rapidly or working offline. Privacy-Focused Design Your data syncs through your personal Firebase account with anonymous authentication available. No social features, no public profiles, no distractions - just you and your tasks. Enable Apple Sign In for additional security and account recovery options. Thoughtful Details • Automatic order normalization prevents display glitches • Smart conflict resolution handles simultaneous edits • Keyboard shortcuts for power users • Clean, native interface that follows iOS and macOS design guidelines • Dark mode support for comfortable viewing anytime Perfect For: • Professionals juggling multiple projects • Students organizing assignments and deadlines • Anyone who's tired of overcomplicated task apps • People who need reliable sync between devices • Users who value privacy and data ownership No Subscriptions, No Complexity Effortlist is a one-time purchase with no recurring fees. All features are included from day one. No premium tiers, no artificial limitations, no ads. Just a well-crafted tool that respects your time and privacy. Whether you're managing a complex work project or simply keeping track of daily errands, Effortlist provides the perfect balance of power and simplicity. It's task management that gets out of your way and lets you focus on what needs to be done.

Screenshots

EARLY4 screens
EffortList4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EffortList at none against EARLY's 2. EffortList also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. EARLY sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.00 per month. EffortList asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EARLY ships an update every 4 weeks, EffortList monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
EARLY versus EffortList: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEARLYEffortList
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (146 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews36.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings146 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTimeular GmbHfrancesco gugliuzzi

Bugs and requests

EARLY

Reported bugs

30 issues
  • Login flow bugs (user does not exist/already exists)
  • App logs out frequently
  • App disconnects from internet
  • Inputting entries via iOS app is difficult
  • Stuck during setup
Show 25 more
  • Tracker pairing issues
  • App gets stuck during setup
  • Cannot create an account (bouncy scroll)
  • App logs out and gives constant errors trying to log back in
  • UI doesn't load properly
  • Hardware die doesn't activate consistently
  • App crashes when expanding/editing entries
  • iPad app is a scaled iPhone app, not optimized
  • Cannot submit more than 1000 characters in iOS app entries
  • Tracker not pairing with phone app
  • Mac app buggy, Bluetooth buggy, iOS app buggy
  • Cannot edit activities properly, glitches out
  • Cannot delete activities
  • Cannot 'forget' device
  • App has to remain open to register task changes
  • App complains about connectivity
  • Undo button placement issue on iPhone
  • Unclear which device handles Bluetooth
  • Tracker won't connect to the app
  • Cannot pause and restart timers
  • App refuses to keep changes to hours/events
  • App is cloud-based, no offline access
  • App would not save activities
  • UI constantly gives errors on iPhone 6S
  • Editing tasks locks in incorrect time

Requested features

15 requests
  • Home screen widgets
  • Dark mode
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Customizable colors
  • Set and manage goals
Show 10 more
  • Direct tracker connection to services
  • More integrations with other apps
  • iPadOS app support
  • Siri integration/voice commands
  • Ability to restart timers
  • Offline functionality
  • Badge indication on app icon for running timer
  • Ability to edit time blocks
  • More advanced analytics
  • Lifetime subscription option

EffortList

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

EARLY

Subscriptions2
  • Personal Pro$14.001 Month
  • Personal Pro$139.001 Year
None

EffortList

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is EARLY free?
EARLY is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EffortList free?
EffortList is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do EARLY or EffortList have ads?
EARLY shows ads; EffortList does not.
Which is updated more often, EARLY or EffortList?
EARLY ships an update every 4 weeks, and EffortList monthly. Most recently, EARLY was updated on October 14, 2026 and EffortList on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons