Comparison

TaskSteps vs Beacon

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

Head to head
About

TaskSteps

Features
Read full description

You have one task. It feels like twenty. You know what you need to do - you just can't start. TaskSteps is the AI task breaker built for brains that freeze at "where do I begin." Type any task exactly how it feels - messy, vague, overwhelming. TaskSteps breaks it into a clear plan matched to your current energy level. WHAT YOU GET: First Action: One concrete thing you can do right now. No decisions, no prep. Just start. Step-by-Step Plan: A realistic sequence with time estimates. Not a productivity fantasy - actual steps sized for how you feel today. Rescue Step: Lost focus halfway through? Every plan includes a re-entry point so you can pick back up without starting over. THREE ENERGY MODES: Low Energy: Fewer steps, gentler asks, shorter time blocks. For the days where getting dressed counts as a win. Normal Energy: Balanced plans with moderate challenge. Your everyday mode. High Energy: More ambitious steps for the days when motivation shows up unannounced. HOW IT WORKS: 1. Type your task in plain language ("file taxes" or "clean the entire apartment somehow") 2. Pick your current energy: low, normal, or high 3. Get your first action, full step list, and rescue step in seconds 4. Check off steps as you go 5. Every plan saves to local history - search past decompositions anytime BUILT FOR YOUR BRAIN: TaskSteps doesn't ask you to build habits, maintain streaks, or set up a productivity system. You open it when you're stuck. It gives you the next thing to do. That's it. All processing happens on-device. Your tasks stay on your phone. Download TaskSteps and turn your next overwhelming task into a first step. 3 free task decompositions to start. Unlock unlimited plans for $4.99 - one time, no subscription. Restore your purchase on any device with your Apple ID. Privacy Policy: https://apps.trygrove.dev/privacy Terms: https://apps.trygrove.dev/terms Help: https://apps.trygrove.dev/help

About

Beacon

This app helps individuals with ADHD manage tasks and time effectively. It breaks down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps and uses gentle reminders to keep users on track without causing overwhelm or guilt. It integrates with existing Apple Reminders and Calendar.

Highlights
  • One task at a time display
  • Visual countdown timers
  • Guilt-free task management
  • Task shrinking for easier starts
  • Task parking lot
  • Integration with Apple Reminders/Calendar
  • Smart capture and energy tags
Features
Read full description

Your to-do list keeps growing, time keeps slipping, and starting feels impossible. Beacon is the calm, ADHD-friendly way to finally get things done, one gentle step at a time. Beacon is a reminders app built for the way real brains actually work, especially brains that get overwhelmed by long lists, lose track of time, or freeze at the thought of beginning. Think of it as a calm external brain: it remembers, times, and shrinks your tasks, so you do not have to hold it all in your head. WHY BEACON FEELS DIFFERENT One thing at a time. Beacon shows your next action, not your entire backlog. Less overwhelm, more starting. Time you can actually see. Every task has a calm countdown, so "later" stops turning into "too late." No red alarms, no panic. Kind on the hard days. Miss something? There is no shaming OVERDUE, no broken streak, no guilt. Beacon reframes gently and celebrates every win, the small ones too. Shrink the first step. Any task can collapse into a two-minute starting move, so the hardest part, beginning, gets easier. Park it, guilt-free. Not ready today? Set a task aside in the Parking Lot and Beacon brings it back softly when the time is right. Nothing gets lost. WORKS WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY USE Beacon sits on top of Apple Reminders and Calendar, so you keep everything you already rely on. Say a reminder to Siri and it shows up in Beacon, sorted and doable. Check it off in Beacon and it syncs right back. No migration, no starting over. WHAT YOU GET Smart capture: brain-dump a messy thought and Beacon finds the task and the time for you. Focus timer and body-double sessions to help you start and keep going. Energy tags to match tasks to how you actually feel right now. Gentle, well-timed nudges instead of a wall of notifications. Home Screen widgets, Lock Screen Live Activities, and an Apple Watch app, so your next step is always a glance away. Private by design: no account, no tracking, no cloud sync. The only thing Beacon ever sends is an anonymous crash report. WHO IT IS FOR Beacon was made for people with ADHD, and that turns out to be a lot of us: anyone who has felt buried by their own list, lost time without meaning to, or been too hard on themselves for it. If that sounds familiar, welcome. TRY BEACON FREE Start with a 7-day free trial, then keep going with an affordable subscription. Cancel anytime. Beacon. Your calm external brain. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Beacon Pro gives you full access with a 7-day free trial, then a monthly or annual auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and you can manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://waypointapps.app/beacon/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

TaskSteps4 screens
Beacon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: TaskSteps at 15.1 against Beacon's 17.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. TaskSteps sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Beacon sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
TaskSteps versus Beacon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTaskStepsBeacon
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequency—Every 2 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGrove LLCWaypoint Apps LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

TaskSteps

One-time1
  • TaskSteps Unlock$4.99
2 purchases

Beacon

Subscriptions2
  • Beacon Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Beacon Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is TaskSteps free?
TaskSteps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Beacon free?
Beacon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do TaskSteps or Beacon have ads?
Neither TaskSteps nor Beacon shows ads.

Other comparisons