Lately vs Meridian
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lately
This app helps chronic latecomers manage their time effectively. It features visual timers, smart travel estimations, and multiple alerts to ensure you leave on time for any activity. Earn rewards for punctuality and set recurring timers for daily routines.
- Visual Timer on lock screen, dynamic island, and watch
- Smart Travel Time Estimation with traffic updates
- Multiple alerts before leave time
- Alarm at leave time
- Points and Badges for punctuality
- Recurring Timers for routines
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You know that feeling when you look at the clock and realize you should've left 10 minutes ago? Yeah. Me too. That's why I built this. Lately is a lateness app for people who are always running late. Whether it's time blindness, ADHD, or you just can't seem to get out the door, this actually works. Here's what it does: - Visual Timer on your lock screen, dynamic island, and watch so you always know when you need to leave - Travel Time Estimation so you stop underestimating how long trips actually take - Smart Travel Time that updates as you move and accounts for your travel method and traffic - Multiple Alerts leading up to the leave time (because one reminder has never been enough) - Alarm at leave time for when you've completely spaced out or in executive dysfunction paralysis - Points and Badges for arriving on time (surprisingly motivating) - Recurring Timers for your regular routines (don't have to set it up every time) No destination? No problem. You'll still get a visual timer, notifications, and alarm — whether you need to leave, make a call, or start anything on time. I made this because I was tired of feeling so guilty and stressed. If you're tired of being late, give it a shot. Terms: https://www.getlately.app/terms Privacy: https://www.getlately.app/privacy
Meridian
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Track daily and weekly habits through living visual metaphors — orbits, moons, tides, blooms, constellations, and columns. Every rep you log lights up your metaphor. No account. No ads. Your data stays on your device. • Six beautiful metaphors — each habit gets its own animated progress visual • Daily and weekly goals — set targets like “3× per week” or “once a day” • Interactive widgets — log a rep from Home Screen or Lock Screen without opening the app • Completion heatmap — see your consistency over the last two weeks • Streaks and stats — current streak, longest streak, and 7-day history per habit • Hold to reorder — arrange habits the way you want on your Today list • Privacy-first — offline SwiftData storage; no analytics or third-party tracking WIDGETS: Add at least one habit in the app, then add a Meridian widget from the iOS widget gallery. Tap the metaphor to log progress. Meridian is built for people who want a habit tracker that feels rewarding to look at — not just another checklist.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Meridian at none against Lately's 3. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Lately sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Meridian asks for nothing beyond the download.
Lately ships an update every 3 weeks, Meridian every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lately | Meridian |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (47 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 93.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 47 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 233 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Erik MacInnis | Maximillian Hum |
In-app purchases
Lately
- Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Lifetime Subscription$24.99
Meridian
No in-app purchases









