Comparison

Ontime vs Dopamine

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

Head to head
About

Ontime

This app acts as an external clock for individuals with ADHD or time blindness. It helps you plan your routines backward from a deadline, providing precise start times and alerts to ensure you leave on time without stress.

Highlights
  • Backward planning from deadlines
  • Start-now alarm for exact start times
  • Step-by-step routine guidance
  • Live Activity countdown on Lock Screen
  • Apple Watch glanceable time pressure
  • Home Screen widgets for quick status
  • Routine insights and buffer adjustments
Features
Read full description

If you have ADHD or time blindness, you know the feeling. You had plenty of time. Then somehow you're late again, apologizing, watching someone's face fall. It's not that you don't care — your brain just doesn't track time the way clocks do. Ontime is the external clock your brain is missing. Tell it when you need to be out the door and what your routine looks like. It does the backward math and tells you the exact minute to start — no guessing, no "one more minute." HOW IT WORKS • Backward planning: enter your deadline; Ontime stacks your routine steps and finds your true start time • Start-now alarm: one loud, unmissable alert at the exact minute to begin — not a vague reminder • Step-by-step mode: while you get ready, see what to do now and whether you're ahead or behind • Built-in buffer: pads for the transitions your brain skips MADE FOR ADHD BRAINS • Live Activity: the countdown lives on your Lock Screen, always in sight • Apple Watch: glanceable time pressure without picking up your phone • Widgets: "start in 23 min" right on your Home Screen • Insights: see which routines run over and which weekdays need more buffer • No streaks, no guilt. Just out the door on time. ONTIME PRO Ontime requires an Ontime Pro subscription — monthly or annual, auto-renewing. The annual plan starts with a free trial: nothing is charged until it ends, and you can cancel anytime in Settings. Prices are shown in the app before you subscribe. Terms of Use: https://on-time-ios.web.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://on-time-ios.web.app/privacy

About

Dopamine

Features
Read full description

Dopamine helps you do one small useful thing when your brain feels loud, stuck, bored, tired, or all over the place. You open the app, answer three quick questions, and Dopamine gives you one next move. No huge task list. No complicated system. No shame. No judgement. Just one thing to try next. Dopamine checks: How loud is your mind? How much energy do you have? How hard does starting feel? Then it picks a task style that fits your state. You might get a tiny first step, a timer, a checklist, a reset card, a choice, or a simple action to help you get moving. The guidance is shaped around real ADHD feedback, real ADHD friction, and the kind of support ADHD people actually ask for when they are trying to get back on track. There is also a playful dopamine boost built in. Sometimes, after a task, you can unlock a surprise mini reward, fidget toy, sound, game, or little moment of fun. It adds novelty and momentum without turning the app into another thing to manage. The loop is simple: Check in Get one next move Do the task Get a little momentum Go back home and reassess Dopamine is built for ADHD brains that need things to feel smaller, clearer, kinder, and more interesting. Features include: Simple ADHD friendly check ins One recommended task at a time Tiny actions for low energy days Timers and checklists when structure helps Reset cards for overwhelm Playful surprise rewards No shame or judgement A clear loop that brings you back home No account required No ads No tracking Dopamine is not here to judge how you work. It is here to use feedback, novelty, and small steps to help you start, reset, and get back on track.

Screenshots

Ontime4 screens
Dopamine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dopamine at none against Ontime's 2. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Ontime sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Dopamine asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Ontime versus Dopamine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOntimeDopamine
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperADESH PANDEYJohnathan Mawdsley

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Ontime

Subscriptions2
  • Ontime Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Ontime Pro Annual$29.991 Year
None

Dopamine

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ontime free?
Ontime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dopamine free?
Dopamine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ontime or Dopamine have ads?
Neither Ontime nor Dopamine shows ads.

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