Comparison

HabiTamer vs Just Start

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

Head to head
About

HabiTamer

Features
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ADHD TIMER FOR TIME BLINDNESS & HYPERFOCUS HabiTamer helps you manage time blindness, hyperfocus and doom scrolling with smart timers designed for ADHD brains. Track how long tasks and apps actually take, understand your patterns and build healthier habits through awareness—not restriction. WHY ADHD BRAINS LOVE HABITAMER Regular timers stop at zero, and app blockers can feel frustrating. HabiTamer keeps counting overtime. Set a 15-minute timer for Instagram but spend an hour scrolling? HabiTamer shows the difference between your intended and actual time, helping you better understand time blindness without judgement. FEATURES APP TIMER Choose an app, set how long you intend to use it and launch it with a timer already running. Track app sessions and overtime to see when a quick check becomes an extended scrolling session. OVERTIME TRACKING Regular timers stop at zero. HabiTamer keeps counting, revealing when a “15-minute break” actually lasted 47 minutes. DYNAMIC ISLAND TIMER Keep your active timer visible while using other apps. This persistent reminder supports time awareness during doom scrolling and hyperfocus. MULTIPLE TIMERS Run several timers at once for work, study, breaks, hobbies and side projects. QUICK LAUNCH WITH TIMERS Open apps such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube with a timer attached. Set your intention before opening an app and compare planned time with actual usage. ADHD-FRIENDLY ANALYTICS * Time Awareness Score * Hyperfocus pattern detection * Time-consuming app identification * Weekly progress charts * Overtime leaderboard * Intended versus actual time insights VISUAL TIMELINE View your day as a colour-coded timeline of timer sessions and App Timer activity. Zoom in to understand periods of overtime, hyperfocus and lost time. SESSION TEMPLATES Create reusable timers for work sprints, study sessions, breaks, medication reminders, hyperfocus limits and everyday tasks. SMART NOTIFICATIONS View and control active timers from notifications without reopening HabiTamer. HABITAMER CAN HELP WITH * Time blindness * Hyperfocus * Doom scrolling * Task initiation * Time estimation * Procrastination * Executive dysfunction * Task switching PERFECT FOR * Adults with ADHD managing time blindness * Students using study timers * Remote workers tracking focus * People prone to hyperfocus * Social media users building healthier habits * Anyone who wants better time awareness THE ADHD-FRIENDLY APPROACH HabiTamer does not shame or unnecessarily block you. Instead, it helps you set an intention, see what actually happened and recognise patterns in how you use your time. HOW PEOPLE USE HABITAMER 1. Work and study sprints 2. App Timer sessions for distracting apps 3. Social media time boundaries 4. Hyperfocus detection 5. Visual time blocking 6. Support with task transitions 7. Improving time-estimation skills 100% PRIVATE All data stays on your device. No account, cloud sync or behavioural tracking. Your app usage, timer activity and routines remain private. BETTER THAN A REGULAR TIMER * Tracks overtime instead of stopping at zero * Connects app use with your intended time * No restrictive app blocking * Persistent visual timers * Multiple simultaneous timers * Analytics for patterns and progress * Flexible tools that adapt to you START BUILDING BETTER TIME AWARENESS Download HabiTamer and transform how you experience time. Use it alongside ADHD medication, therapy, coaching or other executive-function strategies. Built by someone who understands ADHD time blindness. PRICING HabiTamer Premium: Monthly: £3.99 Yearly: £34.99 Lifetime: £79.99 Monthly and yearly subscriptions include a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime through your App Store account. Terms of Use: https://habitamer.co.uk/terms Privacy Policy: https://habitamer.co.uk/privacy

About

Just Start

This app helps individuals overcome task initiation challenges with ADHD-friendly focus sessions. It offers customizable timers, AI-powered task breakdown, virtual body doubling, and ambient soundscapes to enhance concentration and productivity.

Highlights
  • Customizable Pomodoro timers
  • AI task breakdown
  • Virtual body doubling
  • Live Activities & Dynamic Island integration
  • Lock screen widgets
  • Ambient soundscapes
  • Evolving focus garden
Features
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The task is big. Your first step doesn’t have to be. Just Start helps you begin the task you keep putting off. Describe what feels hard to start, find one small action, and take it into a short focus session. MAKE THE FIRST STEP SMALLER Ask the app’s AI for a concrete first step for your own task. Still feels like too much? Ask for a smaller action. If AI is unavailable, you can write your own step or use the timer directly. START WITH TWO OR FIVE MINUTES Begin a short session without answering a survey. Pause when you need to. Longer focus and break presets are available when you want more time. SUPPORT WHEN YOU WANT IT Choose visual timers and ambient sounds. Pro adds more sound options, mixing, and optional AI check-ins. These check-ins are automated messages, not a live person working beside you. KEEP A LITTLE MOMENTUM See your focus history and progress. Return to a recent task or use a routine for something you do regularly. Optional account sync is available; an account is not required to start. START FREE The free app includes up to three focus sessions and three AI task requests per day, core progress tools, and three ambient sounds. Pro adds unlimited focus sessions and expanded support. AI requires internet access and is subject to service limits. PRIVACY The timer and local progress work offline. When you request AI help, your task and relevant context are sent through our server to our AI provider. Optional account sync sends account and synced app data to our cloud service. Read the privacy policy before sharing sensitive task information. APP LANGUAGES Choose in Settings: English, Español, Français, Deutsch, Português, Italiano, Nederlands, 日本語, Polski, 한국어, 繁體中文, العربية, Bahasa Indonesia, हिन्दी. PRO OPTIONS Monthly: $4.99 USD. Annual: $29.99 USD billed yearly. Existing lifetime purchases remain valid and can be restored. Local prices and terms are shown before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled in your App Store account settings. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Just Start is a productivity tool, not a diagnosis or treatment for ADHD. Privacy: https://getjuststart.app/privacy Terms: https://getjuststart.app/terms

Screenshots

HabiTamer4 screens
Just Start3 screens

Verdict

The call

HabiTamer and Just Start are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. HabiTamer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Just Start sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HabiTamer ships an update every 2 weeks, Just Start every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
HabiTamer versus Just Start: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHabiTamerJust Start
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSuneth ThotagamuwaEstus Holdings LLC

In-app purchases

3 purchases

HabiTamer

Subscriptions2
  • HabiTamer Premium Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • HabiTamer Premium Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • HabiTamer Lifetime Premium$79.99
3 purchases

Just Start

Subscriptions2
  • Just Start Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Just Start Pro Annual$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Just Start Pro Lifetime$58.99

Questions

Is HabiTamer free?
HabiTamer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Just Start free?
Just Start is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HabiTamer or Just Start have ads?
Neither HabiTamer nor Just Start shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HabiTamer or Just Start?
HabiTamer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Just Start every 11 days. Most recently, HabiTamer was updated on October 31, 2026 and Just Start on October 25, 2026.

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