No Subscriptions, No Worries: 5 Best Habit Tracker Apps in 2025 (One-Time Purchase or Free)

In a world where it feels like every app wants a monthly fee, finding a great habit tracker that doesn't require a subscription can be a challenge. Many people are experiencing "subscription fatigue," and it's no surprise – a recent survey found 82% of consumers prefer one-time app purchases and feel forced into subscriptions.

If you're looking to build better habits in 2025 without adding another recurring payment to your life, this list is for you. We've rounded up the 5 best habit tracking apps that are either one-time purchases or completely free – no subscriptions required – so you can focus on improving yourself, not managing yet another subscription.

What to Look For in a Subscription-Free Habit Tracker

When choosing a habit tracker (or any productivity app) that won't nickel-and-dime you each month, consider the following:

• One-Time Purchase or Free: The app should either be a one-off purchase or free to use with no required subscription. Many of the best habit tracker apps offer premium features for a single, reasonable price instead of recurring fees.
• Core Features for Building Habits: Even without a subscription, the app should let you do the basics well – track multiple habits, set reminders, view streaks or progress charts, and possibly back up your data. A subscription-free model shouldn't mean lacking essential features.
• Offline & Privacy-Focused (Bonus): Apps that work offline and store data on your device can be great for privacy. This isn't a requirement for everyone, but if you care about data privacy, look for habit trackers that don't force you to create an account or upload your habit data to the cloud.
• User-Friendly Design: Forming habits is hard enough on its own. A good app should have an intuitive, distraction-free design that makes tracking your habits feel rewarding. A clean interface or a bit of gamification can keep you motivated.

Now, let's dive into the top habit tracking apps that meet these criteria. These apps will help you stick to your daily routines without sticking you with a monthly bill.

1. Streaks (iOS) – Pay Once, Track Forever

Streaks is a popular and polished habit tracker for iPhone (it even won an Apple Design Award). Its philosophy is simple: turn your goals into daily streaks and don't break the chain. You can track up to 24 habits, set up reminders, and view detailed statistics of your progress.

Why it's great: Streaks is a one-time purchase app – it costs about $5.99 on the App Store with no subscriptions afterward. Users love its sleek design and customization: you can choose icons and colors for each habit and even sync to Apple Watch for marking habits on the go.

Streaks also supports timed habits (for example, 30 minutes of exercise) and negative habits (habits you want to quit). All data stays on your device or in iCloud sync – no mandatory accounts or cloud services.

If you're an iOS user willing to invest a few dollars upfront, Streaks provides a premium experience forever without further payments.

2. Loop Habit Tracker (Android) – Completely Free & Open Source

For Android users, Loop Habit Tracker is a fantastic no-frills solution that won't cost you a cent. Loop is completely free to use, and even better, it's open-source software. This means not only is there no subscription, but there's also a community of developers ensuring the app stays reliable and private.

Why you'll love it: Loop focuses on the essentials of habit tracking. You can set daily or weekly goals for each habit, get streak statistics, and review your performance on a calendar. The app has a clean, material-design interface and runs entirely offline.

According to user reviews, it's lightweight and has no ads or trackers – aligning well with privacy-conscious users. If you want a solid habit tracker on Android with zero cost and zero data-grabbing, Loop is an excellent choice.

3. Habitica (iOS/Android/Web) – Gamify Your Habits for Free

If turning your life into a game sounds motivating, Habitica might be the perfect habit tracker for you. Habitica takes a unique approach by gamifying habit tracking: you have an RPG-like character that levels up as you complete your daily habits and to-dos. Good habits earn you experience points and rewards, while bad habits can hurt your character. You can even team up with friends for quests and hold each other accountable in a fun way.

Why it's great: Habitica is free to play. The app is supported by optional in-app purchases, but you can use all the core habit tracking features without spending anything. There is a subscription available for those who want to support the developers and get some extra perks, but it's absolutely not required to benefit from the app.

This makes Habitica a rare find: it's feature-rich and maintained (with cloud sync across devices and a web interface), yet you can enjoy it subscription-free. Keep in mind Habitica does operate online (you create an account to save your progress), so it's not offline like some others on this list.

But for those who like a little fantasy and fun injected into self-improvement – and want to do it for free – Habitica is a superb option.

4. Done (iOS) – Simple Habit Tracking with a Lifetime Unlock

Done is an iOS habit tracker that lives up to its name by helping you get your habits done. It has a vibrant, color-coded interface where each habit turns a brighter color as you make progress for the day – giving you a satisfying visual cue of completion. You can set habits for daily, weekly, or monthly targets and view streaks and stats easily.

Why it's great: The pricing model for Done is refreshingly user-friendly. The app offers a free tier (up to a limited number of habits), and if you want to track more, you pay once to unlock the premium features. Specifically, you can make a lifetime purchase (around $5.99) to add unlimited habits and get all features. No monthly fees here – pay once and you own the app's full capabilities.

This makes Done a nice middle-ground for users who want to try before they buy. It's also worth noting that Done does not force any account creation; your data can sync via iCloud or be kept just on your iPhone.

For a lot of people, Done's one-time premium upgrade is far preferable to yet another subscription, and it provides everything needed to build a solid routine.

5. LocalOne Habits (iOS) – Private & Offline Habit Tracking for $1

Rounding out our list is LocalOne Habits, an indie-developed habit tracker with a focus on privacy and simplicity. LocalOne Habits is an elegantly designed app that makes building better habits a delightful experience.

What sets it apart is that it works 100% offline – all your habit data stays on your device – and it carries the ethos of "one dollar, forever".

Why it's great: LocalOne Habits combines many of the benefits of the above apps:

• One-Time Cost: It costs just $1 (one-time) to download, with no subscriptions or hidden fees. That single dollar gives you lifetime access to the app and all its features.
• Privacy-First: Since it's offline, you don't need to sign up or trust a cloud service with your habit data. You can track personal habits knowing everything stays on your phone.
• Core Features: The app supports tracking multiple habits, setting custom habit schedules, and viewing your streaks. It's lightweight and fast, mirroring LocalOne Labs' philosophy of minimalistic, efficient tools.

LocalOne Habits is perfect for users who value simplicity, privacy, and cost-effectiveness. It's an example of how a well-crafted app can deliver value without needing a subscription model. With just a $1 investment, you get a capable habit-building companion that respects your data and your wallet.

Final Thoughts

Kicking bad habits or forming good ones is a journey – your habit tracker should be a help, not a hindrance. Each of the habit tracking apps above offers a way to stay on top of your daily routines without recurring costs. Whether you prefer a straightforward checklist style or a gamified adventure, you can find a solution that doesn't lock you into monthly payments.

Subscription-free apps are not only lighter on your finances, but often they align with a philosophy of providing lasting value. As more users push back against subscription overload (with overwhelming majorities favoring one-time purchases), developers are responding with affordable, lifetime pricing for quality apps.

LocalOne Labs is part of this movement – as seen with LocalOne Habits and their other $1 lifetime apps – proving that you can have great software without subscription strings attached.

Ready to break the cycle of subscription fees? Try one of these habit trackers and take the first step toward building routines that stick. With the right app in hand, you'll be well on your way to achieving those 2025 goals, and you'll do it on your terms – privately, efficiently, and economically.

Happy habit tracking!