Comparison

Ripples vs Essential Launcher

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

Head to head
About

Ripples

This app helps you build and maintain new habits and achieve your goals. It offers a visual calendar grid to track your progress, detailed metrics, and the ability to log specific amounts for each action. You can also add notes, use Siri shortcuts, and view your progress with widgets.

Highlights
  • Visual calendar grid progress tracking
  • Vital metrics and analytics
  • Track specific amounts and custom units
  • Notes and journal entries
  • Siri shortcuts and automation
  • Interactive widgets
Features
Read full description

Build habits with a visual tracker that makes daily progress easy to see—and easier to continue. Ripples turns every check-in into a clear, color-coded picture of your routines, goals, and consistency. SEE THE PATTERN Use flexible calendar grids to spot streaks, gaps, and trends at a glance. Organize habits into dashboards and create a view that fits your routine. TRACK MORE THAN CHECKMARKS Record simple check-ins or quantities such as pages, minutes, water, distance, money, and custom units. Add a note to any entry and review your history in the Journal. STAY CONSISTENT WITH LESS FRICTION Set multiple reminders, check in from interactive widgets, and build Shortcuts or Siri automations for the routines you repeat every day. UNDERSTAND YOUR PROGRESS See current and best streaks, consistency metrics, totals, averages, and daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly charts. Compare years to understand what changed and where you are improving. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your habits and goals remain visible only to you and sync through end-to-end encrypted iCloud. Start with one habit. Watch the pattern grow. Privacy Policy: https://www.ripples.day/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Essential Launcher

This app offers a minimalist home screen experience designed to reduce distractions and limit screen time. Customize your interface with only essential applications to promote focus and productivity.

Highlights
  • Minimalist home screen
  • Reduce distractions
  • Limit screen time
  • Customize essential apps
  • Clean, intuitive interface
  • Dark and light modes
Features
Read full description

Essential Launcher is a minimalist home screen launcher that helps you focus and reduce distractions. Customize your home screen with only essential apps to cut down on mindless scrolling and limit screen time. The clean, intuitive interface is easy to use, and it supports both dark and light modes for a seamless experience. Perfect for those looking to boost productivity and simplify their digital life. Download today and regain your focus. Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V2q86lW5MKWbM4hDaeGUx59BKQpUAEE6AX-rF2nNiFo End User License Agreement (EULA): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C3C-AGsoerPLP0E0VjLOxl6qFjQ7DFztrHqGkkEh4t0

Screenshots

Ripples4 screens
Essential Launcher4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Ripples at 235 against Essential Launcher's 36. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Ripples sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Essential Launcher sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ripples holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ripples has 235 ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Ripples's written reviews are positive against 88% of Essential Launcher's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ripples ships an update fortnightly, Essential Launcher every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Ripples versus Essential Launcher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRipplesEssential Launcher
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (235 ratings) — better4.6 (36 ratings)
Positive reviews92.8% of reviews — better88.2% of reviews
Number of ratings235 — better36
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMykola HarmashPatrik Racskai

Customer experience

Ripples

All ratings235 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral1.3%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews138 reviews
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.2%
Negative5.1%

Essential Launcher

All ratings31 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.7%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.8%

Bugs and requests

Ripples

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Notifications not working reliably
  • UI bugs causing app to become unusable
  • Restore purchases not functioning
  • Pro features not unlocking after purchase
  • Lifetime purchase redemption not working

Requested features

12 requests
  • Check-in reminders/notifications
  • Apple Watch app and complications
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Weekly and monthly habit tracking
  • Filtering by categories or tags
Show 7 more
  • Smaller board sizes for better screen visibility
  • Easier bulk check-in for past dates
  • Notes field for individual check-ins
  • Habit reordering functionality
  • Compact main menu view
  • Track amounts with custom units (e.g., pages read)
  • Square widgets

Essential Launcher

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Ripples

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Plus Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time3
  • Powerpack$9.99
  • Powerpack Family$17.99
  • Ripples Plus Lifetime$24.99
6 purchases

Essential Launcher

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Discounted$0.991 Month
  • Annual Discounted3 Days trial$3.991 Year
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Annual3 Days trial$12.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime FreeFree
  • Lifetime$5.99

Questions

Is Ripples free?
Ripples is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Essential Launcher free?
Essential Launcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ripples or Essential Launcher?
Ripples is rated higher. Ripples averages 4.7 out of 5 from 235 ratings, while Essential Launcher averages 4.6 from 36 ratings.
Do Ripples or Essential Launcher have ads?
Neither Ripples nor Essential Launcher shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ripples or Essential Launcher?
Ripples ships an update fortnightly, and Essential Launcher every 11 days. Most recently, Ripples was updated on October 30, 2026 and Essential Launcher on October 30, 2026.

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