Comparison

Habit Lock vs Routine Timer

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

Head to head
About

Habit Lock

Features
Read full description

Habit Lock – The Strictest Habit & Focus App on the App Store Tired of habit trackers that give you too many excuses? Habit Lock is a productivity app for people serious about building strong habits, eliminating distractions, and boosting self-discipline. Whether you’re studying, working, or breaking phone addiction, Habit Lock keeps you locked in and focused until your task is complete. - Stay Locked In – No Distractions Allowed Once a session starts, Habit Lock goes fullscreen and blocks selected apps, so you can’t access social media or other distractions until your session ends. This strict approach ensures maximum focus during your work. - Track Your Progress and Build Better Habits Set daily goals and track time spent on productive activities. Habit Lock helps you visualize your progress, monitor streaks, and stay motivated to build lasting habits. Track your focus and productivity over time with detailed reports. - Pomodoro Mode – Focus with Timed Intervals The Pomodoro timer helps you work in 25-minute intervals (or custom durations) with a fullscreen timer, blocking distractions. Get more done in less time by following this popular technique to stay focused and efficient. - Flexible Session Planning Customize your schedule with multiple sessions per day. Define your session length, set specific skip days, and get reports on your performance. Habit Lock adapts to your unique routine, whether you need short bursts of focus or long sessions. - Hardcore Mode – No Escaping Focus Hardcore Mode ensures you can’t exit a session once started, preventing distractions and making it easier to stay focused. Perfect for people who need extra discipline while tackling important tasks. - Penalty System for Leaving the App If you leave Habit Lock during a session, the timer stops, and you'll get a warning. If you leave repeatedly, extra time will be added to your next session as a penalty, helping you stay accountable to your goals. - Habit Tracking & Performance Insights Habit Lock lets you track your habits over time, whether you’re focusing on study goals, fitness, or any other habit. Consistent progress is rewarded with insights into your performance and growth. - Simple, User-Friendly Interface Designed to be intuitive, Habit Lock’s clean interface helps you focus on your tasks without distractions. Start, pause, or end sessions easily, and track your progress from a convenient dashboard. Your habits define your future. Habit Lock helps you build the discipline to take control of your day, stay focused, and achieve your goals. Download Habit Lock now and start building a productive, distraction-free life. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Routine Timer

Features
Read full description

Big friendly timers. One step at a time. No pressure. Routine Timer is a visual timer for kids and grown-ups who get stuck between steps. Morning, homework, cleanup, bedtime: any routine becomes a sequence of visual steps, each with its own full-screen timer. A big color ring shrinks as the minutes pass, and a gentle tap says it is time to move on. MADE FOR REAL LIFE β€’ Build a routine from steps: an icon and a duration, nothing else to set up β€’ One giant timer per step, readable from across the room β€’ A haptic nudge on every transition, and a notification with sound when the screen is off β€’ Pause, skip, go back or restart any step. No streaks, no guilt, no failure stats β€’ Notifications keep the routine going while the phone is locked PERFECT FOR β€’ Morning routine before school, bedtime routine after the bath β€’ Homework blocks and focus sprints β€’ Toddlers and preschoolers learning to get ready on their own β€’ Kids with ADHD or autism who do better with a schedule they can see β€’ Cleanup bursts, chores and screen-time limits WHY IT WORKS A child cannot feel ten minutes, but can see a color ring getting smaller. Steps take the arguing out of transitions: the timer says it is time, not the parent. Grown-ups use it the same way for their own mornings and work sprints. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything stays on your iPhone. No account, no cloud, no analytics, no ads. Works offline. SIMPLE PRICING Your first routine is free, full featured, forever: every step, sounds and notifications. One purchase unlocks unlimited routines. No subscription, nothing recurring. If you already unlocked the app, nothing changes for you.

Screenshots

Habit Lock4 screens
Routine Timer2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Habit Lock at every 2 days against Routine Timer's every 9 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Habit Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Routine Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Habit Lock ships an update every 2 days, Routine Timer every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
Habit Lock versus Routine Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHabit LockRoutine Timer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 days β€” betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size41 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLiam Wittigihor Romanenko

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Habit Lock

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium (1 Month)7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Annual Premium (1 Year)7 Days trial$34.991 Year
1 purchases

Routine Timer

One-time1
  • Unlock Forever$12.99

Questions

Is Habit Lock free?
Habit Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Routine Timer free?
Routine Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Habit Lock or Routine Timer have ads?
Neither Habit Lock nor Routine Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Habit Lock or Routine Timer?
Habit Lock ships an update every 2 days, and Routine Timer every 9 days. Most recently, Habit Lock was updated on October 28, 2026 and Routine Timer on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons