# Essential Launcher vs Project Planner

The clearest difference is rating: Project Planner at 4.9 against Essential Launcher's 4.6. Project Planner also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 11 days) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Essential Launcher sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Project Planner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Project Planner holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 18 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of Essential Launcher's written reviews are positive against 82% of Project Planner's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Essential Launcher ships an update every 11 days, Project Planner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Essential Launcher | Project Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-launcher/id6590616999/reviews) | **[4.9 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/project-planner-milestones/id6737195092/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **36** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | **88.9% of reviews** | 81.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 41 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Patrik Racskai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1728193737) | [Yassine Zeriouh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1299539816) |

## What reviewers say

### Essential Launcher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-launcher/id6590616999)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Discounted | $0.99 | per month |
| Annual Discounted | $3.99 | per year |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual | $12.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Free | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime | $5.99 | one-time |


### Project Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/project-planner-milestones/id6737195092)

This app provides a structured approach to project management by breaking down large goals into manageable phases and tasks. It offers visual progress tracking, a focus mode for active milestones, and AI integration for task creation and management. Designed for clarity and visual appeal, it helps users stay organized and motivated to complete their projects.

**Highlights:** Three-tier hierarchy: Projects, Milestones, Tasks, Visual progress tracking with progress bars, Active milestone focus mode, Milestone status tracking (Draft, Planning, In Progress, etc.), AI-powered project and task management, Cross-device iCloud synchronization, Customizable project icons and colors

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Essential Launcher free?

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

### Is Project Planner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Essential Launcher or Project Planner?

Project Planner is rated higher. Essential Launcher averages 4.6 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Project Planner averages 4.9 from 18 ratings.

### Do Essential Launcher or Project Planner have ads?

Neither Essential Launcher nor Project Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Essential Launcher or Project Planner?

Essential Launcher ships an update every 11 days, and Project Planner every 5 days. Most recently, Essential Launcher was updated on November 5, 2026 and Project Planner on November 8, 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.*