Comparison

Second Brain vs Now

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

Head to head
About

Second Brain

This app provides pre-built, step-by-step task lists for common life admin activities, designed to reduce setup friction. It offers guided routines, gentle check-ins, and hands-free operation to support users with ADHD.

Highlights
  • Pre-built task library
  • Step-by-step task guidance
  • Customizable daily routines
  • Gentle daily check-ins
  • Hands-free voice mode
  • Smart automatic task regeneration
Features
Read full description

The first ADHD app that comes ready to use - no setup, no configuration, no building from scratch. Every productivity app expects you to design the system yourself. By the time you're done setting up, you've already lost momentum. Second Brain flips that. Open the app and you'll find a library of 20+ real-life tasks - paying bills, refilling prescriptions, scheduling appointments, doing laundry, filing taxes - each broken into small, clear steps you can follow one at a time. DAILY ROUTINES Install a Morning Routine, Evening Wind-Down, or Sunday Reset and get guided through your day one card at a time. Customize them or build your own. CHECK-INS Gentle prompts throughout the day. Feeling off track? Tap into a recovery flow and reset without judgment. HANDS-FREE MODE Tasks are read aloud as you go - perfect for mornings when your phone is across the room. SMART DEFAULTS Recurring tasks regenerate automatically. Tasks surface when they're due - not before. Your most recent task stays at the top. Less clutter, less thinking. No account. No cloud. No subscription. Your data stays on your device. Built for the ADHD brain that wants a second brain - without having to build one.

About

Now

This app helps individuals with ADHD manage tasks and build routines by focusing on one action at a time. It offers a calm, low-stimulation interface and breaks down overwhelming tasks into small, manageable steps. The app emphasizes a shame-free approach to focus, celebrating every minute of progress.

Highlights
  • One thing at a time focus
  • Break down overwhelming tasks
  • Automated routines
  • Shame-free progress tracking
  • Calm, low-stimulation interface
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Made for ADHD brains. Now answers one question: what do I do right now? Most focus apps overwhelm you with planning, then paywall the basics and make you feel bad when you slip. Now does the opposite. ONE THING AT A TIME Your current step, a calm visual countdown, and one button. No endless lists to manage. BREAK IT DOWN Dump an overwhelming task and get a few tiny, doable steps you can actually start. ROUTINES THAT RUN THEMSELVES Save your morning, wind-down, or work-start routine and let the app walk you through it, step by step — so you never have to decide what's next. NO SHAME, EVER Stopping early still counts. There are no streaks to break and nothing to feel guilty about. Every minute of focus is a win. CALM BY DESIGN A quiet, low-stimulation interface with an optional grayscale mode — built to settle your attention, not grab it. FAIR AND PRIVATE Free to use. No account required. No sign-up. Works fully offline, and your data stays on your device. Now is for anyone with ADHD, executive-function challenges, or anyone who freezes at "where do I even start." Open it, and take the next small step. NOW PRO (OPTIONAL) The basics stay free forever. Now Pro adds Calendar and Todoist integration plus unlimited AI breakdowns and custom routines. Auto-renewing subscription: $6.99/month or $39.99/year, with a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://now-adhd-focus.netlify.app/privacy/

Screenshots

Second Brain4 screens
Now4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Second Brain at none against Now's 2. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Now sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Second Brain asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Second Brain against 5.0 for Now. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Second Brain versus Now: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecond BrainNow
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJikku ChackoDavid Gast

In-app purchases

None

Second Brain

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Now

Subscriptions2
  • Now Pro Monthly7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Now Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Second Brain free?
Second Brain is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Now free?
Now is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Second Brain or Now?
Second Brain and Now are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Second Brain or Now have ads?
Neither Second Brain nor Now shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Second Brain or Now?
Second Brain ships an update every 3 weeks, and Now every 3 weeks. Most recently, Second Brain was updated on October 31, 2026 and Now on October 31, 2026.

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