# The North 40 vs Strive Planner

The clearest difference is update cadence: Strive Planner at every 9 days against The North 40's every 8 months. Strive Planner also leads on review sentiment (96% vs 86%) and ratings volume (60 vs 19). The North 40's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The North 40 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Strive Planner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for The North 40 against 4.8 for Strive Planner. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 60 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of The North 40's written reviews are positive against 96% of Strive Planner's.

The North 40 ships an update every 8 months, Strive Planner every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The North 40 | Strive Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-north-40/id6468917728/reviews) | **[4.8 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strive-planner-a-simpler-way/id6472100413/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **60** |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews | **95.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Addison Ballif](https://appshunter.io/developer/1710913323) | [Weiss Solutions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1800998275) |

## What reviewers say

### The North 40

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-north-40/id6468917728)

This app helps you set SMART goals and manage daily tasks with a planner and schedule system. It allows you to link contacts and goals to events, track progress, record notes, and includes a simple budgeting feature to keep you focused and productive.

**Highlights:** SMART goal setting, Daily planner and schedule, Contact and goal linking to events, Progress tracking, Note-taking, Simple budgeting system

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


### Strive Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strive-planner-a-simpler-way/id6472100413)

This app helps you connect your daily tasks and events to your overarching goals. It focuses on the 'why' behind your productivity, ensuring your actions align with your aspirations.

**Highlights:** Goal connection to daily events, Weekly planning, Task management, Productivity focus on 'why'

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $64.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The North 40 free?

The North 40 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Strive Planner free?

Strive Planner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The North 40 or Strive Planner?

Strive Planner is rated higher. The North 40 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Strive Planner averages 4.8 from 60 ratings.

### Do The North 40 or Strive Planner have ads?

Neither The North 40 nor Strive Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The North 40 or Strive Planner?

The North 40 ships an update every 8 months, and Strive Planner every 9 days. Most recently, The North 40 was updated on October 24, 2026 and Strive Planner on October 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*