Comparison

EffortList vs Vane

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

Head to head
About

EffortList

Features
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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.

About

Vane

This app helps you build positive habits with a focus on privacy and simplicity. Track daily or weekly goals, visualize your progress with beautiful statistics, and stay motivated with streaks and reminders. It includes a focus timer for dedicated work sessions.

Highlights
  • Daily & weekly habit tracking
  • Daily dashboard view
  • Calendar view for habit completion
  • Last 4 weeks consistency visualization
  • Streak counter
  • Built-in focus timer
  • Reminders
Features
Read full description

Vane is a calm, no-account, privacy-first habit tracker built around two simple ideas: log your day, watch your progress. No leaderboards. No social feed. No accounts. Just you and the habits you care about. Whether you want to drink more water, work out, read every night, meditate, or finally start journaling, Vane gives you a clean daily dashboard and beautiful statistics that make showing up feel rewarding. FEATURES DAILY & WEEKLY HABITS Track habits that should happen every day, or X times per week (e.g. "Run 3x/week"). Each habit can be a simple check-off or a counter with a target value. DAILY DASHBOARD Your day at a glance. Log progress, edit any day, all in one place. CALENDAR A month-at-a-glance view for each habit, color-coded by completion. LAST 4 WEEKS A pretty visualization of your consistency across the past month, with a percentage so you know exactly how you're doing. STREAKS Keep your fire alive, counted strictly on consecutive successful days. No fudge factor. FOCUS TIMER Built-in Pomodoro timer for habits that need dedicated time, like meditation, study, or deep work. Rings even when the app is in the background. REMINDERS Pick a time and Vane will nudge you. 100% PRIVATE Everything stays on your device. No accounts, no servers, no syncing your data anywhere. VANE PRO Unlock everything Vane has to offer: • Unlimited habits • 6 home-screen widgets in multiple sizes • Yearly statistics • Multiple reminders per habit • Import & export your full history • Restore archived habits • Family Sharing, share Pro with up to 5 family members • Support an independent developer Vane Pro is available as a monthly or annual auto-renewing subscription. The annual plan starts with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers; you won't be charged until the trial ends. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase (or at the end of the free trial). The subscription auto-renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel anytime in Settings, [your name], Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://vaneprivacypolicy.carrd.co/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

EffortList4 screens
Vane4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EffortList at none against Vane's 3. Vane's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads, 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. Vane sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. EffortList asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EffortList ships an update monthly, Vane weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
EffortList versus Vane: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEffortListVane
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerfrancesco gugliuzziFINLEY ALSCHWEIG

In-app purchases

None

EffortList

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Vane

Subscriptions2
  • Vane Pro monthly$1.991 Month
  • Vane Pro annually7 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Vane Lifetime Pro$29.99

Questions

Is EffortList free?
EffortList is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Vane free?
Vane is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do EffortList or Vane have ads?
Neither EffortList nor Vane shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EffortList or Vane?
EffortList ships an update monthly, and Vane weekly. Most recently, EffortList was updated on October 7, 2026 and Vane on October 14, 2026.

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