# Atomic vs Protocols

The clearest difference is ads: Atomic at none against Protocols's shown. Atomic also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). Protocols's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Atomic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase 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.

Atomic ships an update every 2 weeks, Protocols every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Atomic | Protocols |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atomic-habit-tracker/id6470944782/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **34** | — |
| Positive reviews | 89.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 80 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kanbon GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1649220122) | [Zordon Intelligence](https://appshunter.io/developer/6804453043) |

## What reviewers say

### Atomic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atomic-habit-tracker/id6470944782)

Effortlessly build and sustain habits with a focus on personal growth. This app offers a minimalist design, dark mode, and clear visualizations to support your journey. Enjoy tailored insights and complete control over your data with a strong commitment to privacy.

**Highlights:** Habit building and tracking, Goal setting, Dark mode support, Clear visualizations, Tailored insights, Privacy-focused design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Atomic Pro | $12.99 | one-time |


### Protocols

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/protocols-lifehacker-os/id6810311562)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PRO monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| PRO Annual (BEST VALUE) | $29.99 | per year |
| PRO Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Atomic free?

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

### Is Protocols free?

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

### Do Atomic or Protocols have ads?

Protocols shows ads; Atomic does not.

### Which is updated more often, Atomic or Protocols?

Atomic ships an update every 2 weeks, and Protocols every 4 days. Most recently, Atomic was updated on October 30, 2026 and Protocols on October 29, 2026.

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