# Habitica vs Pixel Sanctuary

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pixel Sanctuary at 100% against Habitica's 64%. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Habitica sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Pixel Sanctuary sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Habitica | Pixel Sanctuary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/habitica-gamified-taskmanager/id994882113/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3.7K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 64.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HabitRPG, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/994882112) | [Elodie Papillon](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787684127) |

## What reviewers say

### Habitica

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/habitica-gamified-taskmanager/id994882113)

This app gamifies your daily tasks and goals using RPG elements. Earn rewards by completing habits, chores, and to-dos to level up your avatar and unlock in-game items. It's designed to help with productivity, self-care, and achieving resolutions.

**Highlights:** Gamified task and habit tracking, Avatar customization and leveling, Collectable in-game gear and pets, Social features for accountability, Challenges and guilds for community, Repeating tasks and to-do lists, Reminders and widgets

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| 3 Months Subscription | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Months Subscription | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| 12 Months Subscription | $47.99 | per year |
| 4 Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| 21 Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| For 1 Month | $4.99 | one-time |
| 42 Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| 84 Gems | $19.99 | one-time |
| For 12 Months | $47.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app for habit tracking and productivity
- 🎮 Gamified approach is motivating
- 🤝 Supportive community
- 💰 Reasonable subscription model

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy at times
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and UI
- 🔒 Issues with login and account sync
- 💸 Gems/rewards locked behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Tasks and habits not resetting properly
- Crashes and freezes on app launch
- Inconsistent behavior when rearranging tasks
- Sync issues between mobile and web versions

**Requested features**

- Calendar view for tasks and habits
- Ability to set custom difficulty levels for tasks
- Offline mode for tasks and habits
- Apple Watch app
- More social features and party functionality


### Pixel Sanctuary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-sanctuary/id6787689789)

Immerse yourself in nostalgic 16-bit JRPG worlds with ambient soundscapes designed for relaxation and focus. Explore interactive pixel art sanctuaries that evolve with dynamic visual and auditory journeys, perfect for unwinding or deep sleep.

**Highlights:** Cozy 16-bit JRPG cinemagraphs, Dynamic 5-stage visual and music transitions, Custom-composed retro orchestrations, Seamless background play with lock screen integration, Offline access via On-Demand Resource delivery, 10 themed sanctuaries for various moods

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Wizard's Tower | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Guild Hall | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Campfire | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Ancient Shrine | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Alchemist's Lab | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Town Square | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Quiet Fountain | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Sacred Grove | $0.99 | one-time |
| The inn | $0.99 | one-time |
| All Sanctuaries Pass | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Habitica free?

Habitica is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pixel Sanctuary free?

Pixel Sanctuary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Habitica or Pixel Sanctuary have ads?

Neither Habitica nor Pixel Sanctuary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Habitica or Pixel Sanctuary?

Habitica ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pixel Sanctuary every 3 weeks. Most recently, Habitica was updated on November 13, 2026 and Pixel Sanctuary on November 4, 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.*