Comparison

Habits First vs Z

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

Head to head
About

Habits First

This app blocks distracting applications until you complete your daily habits. It uses integrations with health trackers and other apps to automatically monitor your progress. Unlock your favorite apps by building healthier routines and reducing screen time.

Highlights
  • App blocking until habits are done
  • Integrates with Apple Health and trackers
  • Customizable habit goals
  • Built-in Pomodoro timer
  • Schedule-based blocking
  • Optional cross-device syncing
Features
Read full description

Do the thing, then scroll. Habits First is the most effective way to reduce your screen time - distracting apps stay blocked until your habits are done for the day. No accounts required and no subscriptions, forever. Willpower shouldn’t cost a monthly fee. HABITS SUPPORTED - Walk 10,000 steps, or any number you like - Work out 45 minutes - integrates with Apple Watch, WHOOP, Garmin, Oura, or any tracker - Meditate 10 minutes, from Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, or any meditation app - Use an app you pick: read or use Duolingo for 20 minutes - Built in Pomodoro timer or manual habit check off - Review your Anki flashcards (Habits Pro) - Listen or read books on Audiobookshelf (Habits Pro) - Finish a game on Chess.com (Habits Pro) - Apple Shortcuts automations (Habits Pro) - More coming A block can ask for one habit, all of them, or any two of three. HOW IT WORKS Habits are automatically tracked via integrations such as with Apple Health. Apps you select are blocked until you finish your habits. When you're done, open the app to activate your unlock. WHY IT WORKS The idea is based off the Premack Principle - things you do often can help reinforce things that you do rarely. By habit stacking a difficult habit before an app you often use, you also hijack the addictive nature of distracting apps and turn that motivation towards your daily habits. WHEN IT APPLIES All day until your habits are done, on a schedule, only in certain places, or near a device you pick. Habits First helps you wake up into a calm phone screen, only unlocked after you finish your most important habits of the day. PRICING This app will never have a subscription fee. The core app is free forever: Apple Health goals, app timers, schedules, places, commitment locks, and as many blocks as you like. One small one-time purchase adds habit widgets and the extra integrations. More will be added in the future (feel free to request them) SYNCING You can make an account if you would like to sync your habits and blocks across devices. This is not required. Created by @reysu on YouTube

About

Z

Seamlessly sync your browser spaces, tabs, and essentials from Zen Browser to your iPhone. Easily access pinned tabs, swipe between spaces, and share URLs directly into your Zen environment. This independent app enhances your mobile browsing workflow.

Highlights
  • Sync browser spaces
  • Access pinned tabs
  • Open essentials
  • Share URLs to spaces
  • Swipe between spaces
Features
Read full description

Z-Sync is an unofficial app and not affiliated with Zen. Z-Sync syncs your spaces, tabs and essentials from Zen Browser to iPhone. - Swipe between your spaces - Open pinned tabs and essentials - Share a URL into a space from any other app - Sign in with the Mozilla account you already use Z-Sync is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or published by Zen Browser or Mozilla.

Screenshots

Habits First4 screens
Z4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Z at none against Habits First's 1. Habits First's advantage is ratings volume (194 vs 5). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Habits First sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Z asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Habits First against 5.0 for Z. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Habits First has 194 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Habits First ships an update weekly, Z every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Habits First versus Z: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHabits FirstZ
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (194 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings194 — better5
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB16 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperEric SuKjell Behrends

Customer experience

Habits First

All ratings194 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.5%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews99 reviews
Positive94.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative2.0%

Z

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Habits First

One-time1
  • Habits Pro$9.99
None

Z

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Habits First free?
Habits First is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Z free?
Z is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Habits First or Z?
Z is rated higher. Habits First averages 4.9 out of 5 from 194 ratings, while Z averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Habits First or Z have ads?
Neither Habits First nor Z shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Habits First or Z?
Habits First ships an update weekly, and Z every 9 days. Most recently, Habits First was updated on November 1, 2026 and Z on October 31, 2026.

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