Ontime vs Now
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Now
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One task. One small step. A simpler way to get started. Now helps you clear your head, choose what matters and begin with a short, visible timer. It's built for anyone who finds starting hard, including many people with ADHD, and it's free to use with no account. START ONE TASK The Now screen shows one task, one concrete first step, and a big start button. No endless list. Type a task like "Clean the kitchen" and Now suggests a first step like "Put five dishes in the sink". You can edit it, choose another, or make it smaller. GET UNSTUCK Tap "I'm stuck" and pick what's in the way: don't know where to start, too big, low energy, distracted, waiting on something, or need a break. Each answer gives you one practical next move, such as 2 to 5 editable steps, the tiniest version of the task, or a timed break. START WITH TWO MINUTES A calm visual ring counts down two minutes. You can pause, resume, stop early or keep going. Ending early still counts. Timers keep correct time when your phone is locked or the app is closed, and a notification can let you know when time is up. FOCUS YOUR WAY After your start, choose 5, 10, 15 or 25 minutes, a custom length, or no timer at all. Breaks are built in. CLEAR YOUR HEAD Brain Dump gives you one big box for everything on your mind. Type it, or use the keyboard's microphone to dictate. Now splits it into tasks, and nothing is lost. Then pick one thing to start. KEEP YOUR PLAN SIMPLE The daily plan holds up to three tasks: one main, one smaller, one optional bonus. Everything else waits in a private parking lot (Later, Someday, Waiting, Completed), and nothing is automatically deleted. Unfinished tasks never pile onto tomorrow. MATCH YOUR ENERGY Comfy, Balanced or Turbo. You choose the pace, and you can change it anytime. SEE YOUR TIME Progress shows the facts: tasks finished, two-minute starts, recorded focus time, and days with a finished task. Time Mirror compares your estimates with the time you actually recorded. MEET MOCHI (OPTIONAL) Mochi is a small companion that naps while you focus and celebrates quietly when you finish. It grows with the tasks you complete. It's never needy or sad, and you can hide it with one switch. QUIET MODE Hide Mochi and decoration so you see just the task, the timer and the next step. You can also turn off Sparks and rewards, reduce animations, and silence sounds. Now respects Reduce Motion and works with VoiceOver and Dynamic Type. FREE AND PRO Free forever: the one-task screen, two-minute starter, Stuck button, task breakdown, unlimited tasks, Brain Dump, focus timers, daily plan and parking lot, reminders, Quiet Mode, and full data export. Now Pro adds routines, full Time Mirror history and insights, full task history with spreadsheet (CSV) export, and premium Mochi customization. Pro costs $4.99/month, $29.99/year or $59.99 once for lifetime (US prices; local prices are shown in the app). The yearly plan may include a free trial for eligible new subscribers, and the app shows this before you buy. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage them in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions. Optional one-time cosmetic purchases (the characters Blaze, Luna and Nova, and Sparks packs) only change how your companion looks. PRIVATE BY DESIGN There's no account. Your tasks, notes and history are stored on your iPhone. Export or delete them anytime. Purchases are processed by Apple, and RevenueCat receives an anonymous identifier to confirm your subscription. Your tasks are never sent. Now is a productivity-support tool. It does not diagnose, treat or manage ADHD or any medical condition. Terms: https://61ffklb56je1kkdm9fhht-web.rork.live/terms Privacy: https://61ffklb56je1kkdm9fhht-web.rork.live/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Ontime at weekly against Now's every 2 months. 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
Both are free to download. Ontime sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Now sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Ontime ships an update weekly, Now every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ontime | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ADESH PANDEY | James Gray |
In-app purchases
Ontime
- Ontime Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
- Ontime Pro Annual$29.991 Year
Now
- Now Monthly$4.991 Month
- Now Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Spark Pouch$1.99
- Luna the Moon Bunny$2.99
- Blaze the Fox$2.99
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- Nova the Star Pup$4.99
- Spark Chest$4.99
- Now Lifetime$59.99









