Needs Bars vs OnTopic Memory + Hearing
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Needs Bars
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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Are there things you need to remember to do regularly, that don’t make sense in a to-do list or as calendar events? Needs Bars can give you a visual cue for when you have gone too long without doing something. Needs Bars is useful for things which you know are important, but don’t have a way of feeling it until it’s too late. It’s like the hunger bar in video games, but for anything you like. I know for this developer, todos and reminders don’t work because you miss the notification or they pile up. Some things don’t need to be done at an exact time, you just need to do them fairly regularly. Needs Bars can be helpful for different people in different ways. Some things that others take for granted and can just feel, are things that you would benefit having an external reminder for. For example, maybe you become very focused and would like something that reminds you to eat. The same concept can apply to short and long periods of time. Other examples include: • Staying in touch with family and friends • Self-care like reading, face masks, playing games • Musical instrument practice • Taking a vacation from work • Trying a new recipe At the moment, Needs Bars is a free and basic proof of concept. It already includes: • Syncing between devices • Dark mode • Home screen and lock screen widgets so you can always see your bars If Needs Bars is popular enough I will add paid subscription features to support development: • Custom bar colors • Color changing as the bar gets low • More than 6 bars • Apple Watch app • Slider for editing bar fullness • IFTTT integration for depleting and filling bars • Quick actions from bars like contacts or opening Books app • Completely customizable theming with any art you like, think early Tumblr and MySpace
OnTopic Memory + Hearing
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ONTopic Memory & Hearing is an app designed to assist people with short-term memory issues or those experiencing hearing difficulties. While having a conversation with someone, it can be frustrating when hearing loss occasionally causes you to miss certain words or phrases. Short-term memory issues can also affect conversations to the point where the entire subject could disappear from the mind at any time leaving people in an awkward, uncomfortable position. This app uses your device’s microphone to analyze your conversation and displays a LIVE TRANSCRIPT to assist with recalling parts of your conversation when necessary. We have integrated an INSTANT PLAYBACK function which allows you to instantly hear the last ten, twenty, thirty or sixty seconds of your conversation. This is beneficial to those who prefer to wear an earbud as it enables discreet instant playbacks at the tap of a button.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Needs Bars at Free against OnTopic Memory + Hearing's $0.99. OnTopic Memory + Hearing's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On ads, in-app purchases 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
Needs Bars is free to download; OnTopic Memory + Hearing costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Needs Bars | OnTopic Memory + Hearing |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Fergal Armstrong | Outerspacious Software LLC |
In-app purchases
Needs Bars
No in-app purchases
OnTopic Memory + Hearing
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Needs Bars free?
Is OnTopic Memory + Hearing free?
Do Needs Bars or OnTopic Memory + Hearing have ads?
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