What makes an app a real Routinery alternative
Routinery belongs to a specific category: you build a routine as a sequence of steps, press play, and the app walks you through it with a timer on each step. That is different from a habit tracker, which only asks afterwards whether you did something, and from a planner, which puts a "morning routine" block on your calendar and leaves the inside to you.
So the first filter for an alternative is simple: does it run the routine, step by step? Only three apps on this list really do. The others are included because people often weigh them against Routinery, and it is worth knowing what they do instead. Orbit is included because we make it — weigh that entry accordingly.
The shortlist
| App | Runs routines step by step | Best for | Apple devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoutineFlow | Yes | The simplest timed routines | iPhone |
| Brili | Yes | A visual clock and rewards, CBT-informed | iPhone, iPad |
| Orbit | Yes | Lock Screen routines, no account, forgiving streaks | iPhone |
| Fabulous | Partly, inside coaching journeys | Self-improvement with coaching | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Me+ | Partly, as a planner and tracker | Self-care routines and mood tracking | iPhone |
| Time Timer | Sequences in Premium | A pure visual countdown | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
Devices from each App Store listing, checked on 10 September 2026.
1. RoutineFlow — the closest match
RoutineFlow does almost exactly what Routinery does, with less around it. You build routines from predefined or custom steps, give each an emoji and a duration, and run them as a sequence of timers. It adds analytics on how long each task actually takes over the past year, which helps with time optimism, and gentle notification reminders. It is designed for people with ADHD and has an Android version too.
- Why choose it over Routinery: simpler, and available on Android as well as iPhone.
- Watch out for: no voice guidance and no Apple Watch app in its iOS listing.
- Facts: System Two GmbH · iOS 14+ · 4.7 from 2,438 US ratings. See Orbit vs RoutineFlow.
2. Brili — routines as playlists, with a visual clock
Brili presents routines as well-paced playlists with a dynamic visual clock that calculates how much time is left for all remaining tasks — a strong feature for time blindness. It adds focused task cards, a calendar view, achievements and customisable rewards, and says it is based on ADHD research and cognitive behavioural therapy practice. It ships templates for mornings, work, self-care, cleaning, bedtime and more.
- Why choose it over Routinery: the visual time-left clock, and a design explicitly built for ADHD.
- Watch out for: a smaller user base, and gamified rewards do not suit everyone.
- Facts: Brili GmbH · iOS 15.6+ · 4.6 from 600 US ratings. See Orbit vs Brili.
3. Orbit — routines on the Lock Screen, no account
Orbit runs a routine one step at a time like Routinery, but silently: the current step is an orb that breathes through its duration, and it lives on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island once started. It needs no account and keeps routines on the device. Its distinguishing feature is forgiveness — you earn a streak freeze for every five days in a row, and when you come back after a missed day, it offers to rescue your streak. Timers can adapt to how long a step really takes you.
- Why choose it over Routinery: privacy (no account), a calmer screen, and streaks that survive bad days.
- Watch out for: iPhone-only, iOS 26 or later, English-only, no voice guidance, only 14 templates.
- Facts: Groot Apps · iOS 26+ · released 30 August 2026. See Orbit vs Routinery.
4. Fabulous — routines inside a coaching programme
Fabulous started as a habit tracker and grew into a self-improvement platform: coaching series, journeys for mental health and fitness, a daily planner, journaling, short workouts, breathing and meditation, plus live community challenges. Morning and evening routines are part of it, but they sit inside a much bigger programme.
- Why choose it over Routinery: if you want guidance on what to do, not just help doing it.
- Watch out for: a lot of content; some people find it more to keep up with, not less.
- Facts: Fabulous · iOS 17+ · 4.4 from 88,903 US ratings. See Orbit vs Fabulous.
5. Me+ — self-care routines and mood
Me+ combines a daily routine planner and habit tracker with a mood and progress tracker and self-care schedules. It is one of the most-rated apps in the category, with more than 247,000 US ratings.
- Why choose it over Routinery: if self-care and mood tracking matter as much as the routine itself.
- Watch out for: its listing describes planning and tracking rather than a step-by-step timer run.
- Facts: ENERJOY PTE. LTD. · iOS 15+ · 4.8 from 247,801 US ratings.
6. Time Timer — the minimal option
If the part of Routinery that helps you is simply seeing time run down, Time Timer is the classic: a coloured disc that shrinks as time passes. The free version runs up to three timers; Premium adds timer sequences for routines, groups and sync.
- Why choose it over Routinery: radical simplicity, and decades of use in classrooms and therapy.
- Watch out for: it is a timer, not a routine app, unless you pay for sequencing.
- Facts: Time Timer LLC · iOS 16+ · 4.6 from 14,531 US ratings.
How to choose
- You want the same thing, simpler or on Android: RoutineFlow.
- You struggle to feel how much time is left: Brili.
- You want no account, a calm screen and streaks that survive bad days: Orbit.
- You want to be coached, not just guided: Fabulous.
- You only need a countdown: Time Timer.
Whichever you try, test it on an ordinary weekday morning rather than a motivated Sunday. The ADHD routine builder guide has a six-question checklist for exactly that test.