# NowTodo vs Essential

The clearest difference is ads: Essential at none against NowTodo's shown. Essential also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

NowTodo ships an update every 2 days, Essential every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NowTodo | Essential |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 7 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Seungwoo Kim](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786571662) | [Chang Hyun Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1661519895) |

## What reviewers say

### NowTodo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nowtodo-lock-screen-tasks/id6786571660)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-calendar/id6791962762)

This productivity app focuses on the core essence of a calendar, inspired by Dieter Rams' philosophy of "less, but better." It provides daily weather, exchange rates, and historical events, aiming for a clean and focused user experience without unnecessary clutter.

**Highlights:** Minimalist design, Daily weather updates, Exchange rate information, Historical daily events, Focused calendar experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NowTodo free?

NowTodo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Essential free?

Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do NowTodo or Essential have ads?

NowTodo shows ads; Essential does not.

### Which is updated more often, NowTodo or Essential?

NowTodo ships an update every 2 days, and Essential every 4 days. Most recently, NowTodo was updated on October 5, 2026 and Essential on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*