The 4 Best Habit Apps for Building Routines That Last
By Jeremy Wirahadikusuma · 23 August 2026
Four approaches to building better habits, from simple tracking to understanding the context behind your progress.
The Right App Depends on What You Need
Building a habit is not only about remembering to check a box.
Sometimes you need a simple way to record completion. Sometimes you
need guidance, a focus timer or a clearer understanding of why your
routine works on certain days and falls apart on others.
The best app for you depends on the kind of support you need.
Jorna
Atoms
Things Take Time
Onrise
1. Jorna



Jorna is an app that connects context from across your life,
including your habits, health, workouts, food, journal entries and
personal reflections.
This broader understanding is what makes it especially powerful for
building and maintaining habits.
Instead of checking off every habit individually, you can simply
talk about your day. Jorna organises what you share, records your
progress and remembers the context surrounding each habit.
This allows Jorna to understand more than whether you completed
something. It can also help you explore what supported your progress
or made a habit more difficult to complete.
For example, a missed workout may be connected to poor sleep, a
demanding workday, lower energy or a change in your normal routine.
These details might be recorded in different places, but Jorna
brings them together.
Energy and recovery
Nutrition and timing
Activity and performance
Thoughts and emotions
You can ask Jorna questions about your progress, identify routines
that work well together and discover the conditions that make
consistency easier.
Best for: People who want to understand how their
habits connect with the rest of their life.
Price: Free to download with optional in-app
purchases. Options currently listed on the Australian App Store
include Jorna Premium at A$14.99, a weekly subscription at A$4.99
and an annual subscription at A$99.99.
Download Jorna on the App Store
2. Atoms: From Atomic Habits



Atoms is the official app based on James Clear's bestselling book
Atomic Habits.
It focuses on the idea that small, repeated improvements can create
meaningful long-term change. The app combines habit tracking,
streaks and progress insights with bite-sized lessons based on the
book's core principles.
Atoms encourages you to make habits obvious, attractive, easy and
satisfying while gradually building routines that last.
Rather than attempting a dramatic transformation overnight, it
helps you begin with a manageable action and build momentum through
repetition.
Best for: Readers of Atomic Habits and
people who want structured guidance.
Price: Free to download. Atoms Pro costs A$7.99
per month or A$59.99 per year.
Download Atoms on the App Store
3. Things Take Time



Things Take Time offers a calm, minimalist approach to tracking
habits, routines, personal metrics and daily activities.
The app displays your trackers together in a monthly grid, making
it easier to see how small actions accumulate over time.
It also includes analytics that can help you identify patterns
without overwhelming you with unnecessary features or complicated
dashboards.
Its clean interface makes it a strong choice for people who want
tracking to feel quick, organised and visually satisfying.
Best for: Minimalists who want flexible tracking
and a clean monthly overview.
Price: Free to download. Things Take Time+ costs
A$4.99 per month or A$59.99 for lifetime access.
Download Things Take Time on the App Store
4. Onrise



Onrise combines a straightforward habit tracker with a Pomodoro
focus timer and personal journal.
Its timer is particularly useful for habits that require focused
blocks of time, such as studying, exercising, reading, writing or
practising a skill.
Instead of recording only whether you completed something, you can
dedicate a specific amount of time to the activity. This gives the
habit a clear starting point and can make difficult tasks feel more
approachable.
Onrise's simple design helps you focus on completing your routines
without introducing complex dashboards or distracting features.
Best for: Time-based habits, focused work sessions
and simple daily tracking.
Price: Free.
Download Onrise on the App Store
Which App Should You Choose?
Each app takes a different approach to helping you build routines. The right choice depends on whether you want deeper understanding, structured guidance, minimalist tracking or focused time.
Jorna is the strongest choice for understanding how your habits
connect with your health, food, workouts, thoughts and wider
life.
Atoms is ideal for people who want a guided system based on the
principles of Atomic Habits. Things Take Time provides an
attractive minimalist experience, while Onrise is an excellent free
option for habits that benefit from timed focus sessions.
Ultimately, the best app is the one that makes recording and
understanding your progress easy enough to continue, even on your
busiest days.
Prices are in Australian dollars and were checked on 23 August
2026. App Store pricing may change.