Comparison

EARLY vs Protocols

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

Protocols

Features
Read full description

Turn science-backed health research into a daily routine you can actually follow. Protocols gives you ready-to-use protocols for sleep, circadian rhythm, light, movement, nutrition, focus, recovery and longevity — organized into one timeline on your iPhone. No more taking notes from 3-hour podcasts. No more scattered health advice. Pick a protocol, build your day, and track what you actually do. EVERY ACTION HAS A SOURCE Protocols is built around evidence, not anonymous health claims. Open any action, tip or blueprint to see its SOURCES & EVIDENCE section, including: • Publisher and publication year • Evidence tier • Original research or institutional source • Direct link to the source The library currently includes 96 open-access sources, including peer-reviewed studies and public health resources. Examples include research on caffeine and sleep, creatine, vitamin D, sleep hygiene, physical activity and circadian rhythm. 198 SCIENCE-BACKED ACTIONS Build your routine from practical actions covering: • Sleep & recovery • Circadian rhythm • Morning light • Exercise & movement • Nutrition • Focus & cognitive performance • Cold exposure • Heat & sauna • Breathing • Longevity BUILD YOUR DAILY PROTOCOL Create a timeline that fits your actual day. • Drag and reorder actions • Set times and reminders • Combine protocols into one routine • Add custom actions • See the friction and effort of your day • Check off actions as you complete them LEARN FROM WELL-KNOWN PROTOCOLS Explore routines inspired by public work and published practices associated with: • Andrew Huberman • Peter Attia • Bryan Johnson • Matthew Walker • Wim Hof • Tim Ferriss • David Goggins • Naval Ravikant • Joe Dispenza Each blueprint is presented as an organized routine rather than a replacement for professional medical advice. TRACK WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS Log your mood and energy alongside your daily actions. Over time, Protocols helps you see patterns between your routines and how you feel. VOICE & TEXT DIARY Capture an observation, idea or result in seconds. Keep your health experiments in one place instead of scattered across notes and apps. PRIVATE BY DEFAULT Protocols is local-first. • No account required • Your routine and history stay on your device • Offline-first • No cloud tracking FREE Explore the library with: • 50 actions • 25 tips • 2 blueprints • 7 days of analytics • Full source citations and bibliography PRO Unlock: • 198 actions • 100 tips • 32 blueprints • Custom actions • Widgets • Calendar sync • Mood & diary • 91-day analytics WHO IT'S FOR • People interested in evidence-based health • Biohackers and health optimizers • Athletes focused on recovery • Knowledge workers optimizing sleep and focus • Anyone interested in longevity and healthspan EDUCATIONAL, NOT MEDICAL ADVICE Protocols is an educational directory and habit-tracking tool. It does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting fasting, cold exposure, sauna, intense exercise or other significant changes to your health routine. Privacy: https://www.protocols.monster/legal/privacy Terms: https://www.protocols.monster/legal/terms Sources: https://www.protocols.monster/legal/sources Support: https://www.protocols.monster/contact

Screenshots

EARLY4 screens
Protocols4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Protocols at every 4 days against EARLY's every 4 weeks. EARLY's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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 and Protocols sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EARLY ships an update every 4 weeks, Protocols every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
EARLY versus Protocols: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEARLYProtocols
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (146 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews36.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings146 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTimeular GmbHZordon Intelligence

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

Protocols

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
3 purchases

Protocols

Subscriptions2
  • PRO monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • PRO Annual (BEST VALUE)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • PRO Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is EARLY free?
EARLY is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Protocols free?
Protocols is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do EARLY or Protocols have ads?
Both EARLY and Protocols show ads.
Which is updated more often, EARLY or Protocols?
EARLY ships an update every 4 weeks, and Protocols every 4 days. Most recently, EARLY was updated on October 14, 2026 and Protocols on October 18, 2026.

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