Comparison

Simple Routine vs Dots

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

Head to head
About

Simple Routine

Features
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Simple Routine - Daily Task Manager Transform your daily habits with Simple Routine, a minimalist and intuitive task management app designed to help you build lasting routines. KEY FEATURES: Effortless Task Management • Create and customize your daily tasks • Simple swipe gestures: right to complete, left to skip • Quick task editing with a single tap • Clean, distraction-free interface Streak Tracking • Monitor your daily progress with a motivating streak counter • Track your best streaks and challenge yourself to improve • Visual heatmap calendar to view your consistency Progress Visualization • Beautiful heatmap calendar showing your daily achievements • Track completed tasks and monitor your progress over time • Easily identify patterns in your routine Personalization • Dark and light mode support • Clean, modern interface Smart Features • Tasks automatically reset each day • Incomplete tasks marked as skipped at day's end • Persistent task templates for consistent routines Share Your Progress • Share your achievements on social media • Connect with friends and family • Inspire others with your streak milestones Additional Benefits • 100% Free • No ads • Privacy-focused • Regular updates and improvements Start building better habits today with Simple Routine - your companion for consistent daily achievement! #SimpleRoutine #ProductivityApp #BuildingHabits

About

Dots

Features
Read full description

Dots is a visual countdown for the moments that actually matter—launches, trips, exams, weddings, and quiet personal goals. Each event becomes a temporal heatmap: time isn’t just a number; it’s a canvas you can feel at a glance. CREATE & ORGANIZE • Name your countdowns, pick an emoji, and choose a target date. • See what’s active, urgent, or still far away—without digging through menus. THE TEMPORAL HEATMAP • Read progress the way your brain does: patterns, density, and remaining time—beautifully compressed into “dots” you can scan in seconds. CURATED THEMES • Match the mood: celebration, focus, travel, calm nights, and more—so every countdown feels intentional, not generic. STAY CLOSE TO YOUR GOALS • Optional reminders help you check in on what you’re counting down to—so big days don’t sneak up on you. FREE TO START • Use up to three countdowns on the free plan and explore the core experience. DOTS PRO — UNLOCK THE FULL CANVAS • Unlimited countdowns • Home screen & Lock Screen widgets that stay in sync with your events • Generated wallpapers and guidance for iOS Shortcuts-friendly automation • iCloud backup & restore across your iPhone and iPad (same Apple ID) • Smart Nudge milestone alerts (halfway, final stretch, one week, one day) • Background photo albums for rotating wallpaper looks YOUR DATA, YOUR DEVICE • Export or import countdowns as CSV when you want a portable backup outside iCloud. Dots is built for people who want clarity, calm, and a little ceremony around time—whether you’re shipping a product or counting down to “I do.”

Screenshots

Simple Routine4 screens
Dots4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simple Routine at none against Dots's 1. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Dots sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Simple Routine asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Routine ships an update every 6 days, Dots every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Simple Routine versus Dots: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple RoutineDots
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArtur KerimovChuong Le

In-app purchases

None

Simple Routine

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Dots

One-time1
  • Premium$6.99

Questions

Is Simple Routine free?
Simple Routine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dots free?
Dots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Simple Routine or Dots have ads?
Neither Simple Routine nor Dots shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Routine or Dots?
Simple Routine ships an update every 6 days, and Dots every 4 days. Most recently, Simple Routine was updated on September 15, 2026 and Dots on September 8, 2026.

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