Most habits do not need a novel app. They need a reliable cue and a place to log completion without shame when you miss a day.
TickTick is the best bundled pick when you already want tasks, calendar, and habits together. Todoist handles habits as recurring tasks with filters if you want one inbox. Things 3 keeps habits elegant inside Apple workflows. Streaks is the dedicated leader for iPhone and Apple Watch users who want a focused habit surface.
The short answer
Use TickTick for habits plus planning, Todoist for habit-as-task simplicity, Things 3 for Apple polish, and Streaks when habits deserve their own app.
Top picks
Best best habit tracker apps
Habit tracking lives next to your task system, which reduces app switching and forgotten check-ins.
Recurring tasks and labels turn habits into normal work items you review with everything else.
Streaks stays tight on the job of daily completion without turning into a second todo app.
Dedicated trackers versus task-manager habits
Dedicated trackers celebrate streaks and nudges. Task-manager habits stay boring, which is a feature when you already live in Todoist or Things all day.
If you forget standalone apps, merge habits into the system you already open every morning.
How Things 3 supports routines without gimmicks
Things uses repeating tasks and Today planning to keep routines visible without a separate habit screen.
That approach works when your habits are few and tied to real projects, like writing, exercise blocks, or weekly reviews.
When to add Forest or Freedom to the habit stack
If the habit is focus, pair tracking with blocking. Forest makes focus sessions tangible. Freedom removes the escape hatches on desktop and mobile.
Habit apps log behavior; blockers change the environment. Together they beat motivation-only setups.