Tracking your goals is key if you want to make your dreams come true. Whether you’re working on personal goals, aiming for success at work, or focusing on your fitness, having a clear way to monitor your progress makes all the difference. In today’s digital world, you have countless apps that can help you do just that.

When you set a goal, you need to make a plan and break it into smaller steps. So that you can keep track of how you’re doing. Tracking your progress is important. It shows how far you’ve come and where you might need to make changes. It also helps keep you accountable and motivated. Tracking everything manually can take a lot of time and might slow you down. That’s where goal tracking apps come in. They can make this process easier and help you stay focused.

But with so many options out there, how do you pick the right one? Each app comes with its own set of features. These are designed to meet different needs and preferences. Some are perfect for boosting your productivity. Others are better suited for keeping you on track with fitness goals or personal projects.

In this article, you’ll find ten of the best free goal tracking apps. I’ll walk you through what makes each app special and how it can help you stay motivated. No matter what your goals are, these apps can help you stay organized and on track.

Top 10 Free Goal Tracking Apps

1. Strides

Strides is a highly versatile goal tracking app. It lets you track goals in various categories, like habits, targets, and projects. You can set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and keep an eye on your progress with visually appealing charts.

Best for Goals: Fitness, finance, productivity, personal development.

Free vs. Paid: The free version covers basic goal tracking features. For advanced tracking, unlimited goals, and extra customization options, you’ll need to upgrade to the premium version.

Pros:

• Customizable tracking methods
• Visual progress charts
• Reminder notifications

Cons:

• The free version has limited features
• Premium upgrade offers more options

2. Habitica

If you love games, Habitica is just what you need. This app turns your goals and tasks into a fun role-playing game. You can earn rewards, level up, and even complete quests as you make progress. It makes tracking your goals exciting and enjoyable.

Ideal User Base: Habitica is perfect for gamers and anyone who likes a fun, interactive way to track their goals. If regular goal tracking feels boring to you, Habitica’s game elements can make it more engaging.

Free vs. Paid: Habitica is free to use. You can access all the main features without spending any money. However, there are optional in-app purchases if you want cosmetic items for your avatar or extra features like gems and special quests. Even without these extras, you can fully enjoy the app’s core features.

Strengths:

• Gamification makes goal tracking exciting
• Strong community support

Weaknesses:

• The game-like interface might be distracting for those who prefer a more straightforward approach

3. Way of Life

Way of Life is best for keeping things simple. It helps you track your habits with just a few taps. If you want an easy-to-use tool without extra features, this app is perfect for you.

Habit Tracking Focus: Way of Life is great for building or breaking habits. It’s ideal if you want to improve your daily routines or stop bad habits. The app makes it easy to keep track of your progress.

Free vs. Paid: The free version allows you to track up to three habits. If you want to track more, you can upgrade to the paid version. The paid version offers unlimited habit tracking, better statistics, and extra customization options.

Pros:

• Simple to use
• Great for habit tracking
• Visual progress reports

Cons:

• Limited to habit tracking
• Not as comprehensive for goal tracking

4. Streaks

Streaks is designed to help you build good habits. It encourages you to keep a streak of consecutive days when you reach your goal. This app focuses on maintaining consistency and keeping you motivated.

Best for Goals: Streaks is great for daily habits like exercise, reading, or meditation. It helps you stay on track by keeping your streak going.

Free vs. Paid: The free version lets you track up to 12 tasks. If you want to track more tasks or need extra features, you can upgrade to the paid version. The paid version also offers syncing with Apple Health and other advanced features.

Key Features:

• Customizable reminders to keep you on track
• Integration with Apple Health for better tracking

Downsides:

• The free version only allows tracking up to 12 tasks at a time. To track more tasks, you need to upgrade.

5. Beeminder

Beeminder takes a unique approach to goal tracking. It adds a financial stake to your goals. If you don’t meet your targets, you lose money. This can be a strong motivator for some people.

Perfect for Accountability: Beeminder is great if you need extra motivation to stay on track. The financial penalty push you to keep going.

Free vs. Paid: The free version includes basic goal tracking. If you want to track more goals or access advanced features, you’ll need to subscribe to a paid plan.

Pros:

• Financial commitment can be a strong incentive
• Detailed progress graphs to track your achievements

Cons:

• The financial penalty can be a drawback if you’re not careful. It’s important to manage your goals carefully to avoid unnecessary costs.

6. Trello

Trello is a visual project management tool that works well for goal tracking. Its card and board system helps you break down your goals into manageable tasks.

Best for Collaborative Goals: Trello is ideal for teams or individuals who prefer visual organization. It helps you see and manage your goals clearly.

Free vs. Paid: The free version offers a lot of functionality, including unlimited cards and boards. For extra features like advanced automation, priority support, and more storage, you can upgrade to a paid version.

Pros:

• Visual and flexible
• Great for tracking complex goals

Cons:

• Might be too complex for simple goal tracking

7. TickTick

TickTick is a versatile app that works as both a to-do list and a goal tracker. It’s useful for managing daily tasks and long-term goals.

Ideal For: TickTick is perfect if you need a single tool for managing tasks and tracking goals.

Free vs. Paid: The free version includes basic task management and goal tracking features. For more advanced options, like calendar views, habit tracking, and customizable smart lists, you can upgrade to the premium version.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Integrates well with other tools
• Supports collaboration

Cons:

• Some advanced features require a subscription

8. Dreamfora

Dreamfora is an app designed to help you set and achieve your goals by breaking them down into actionable steps. It provides a structured approach to goal-setting and progress tracking.

Best For: Dreamfora is ideal for users who want a clear framework for setting and reaching their goals. It’s great for both personal and professional objectives.

Free vs. Paid: The app offers a free version with essential goal-setting features. For more advanced tools, including detailed analytics and extra customization options, you can subscribe to the paid version.

Pros:

• Structured approach to goal-setting
• Clear action plans and progress tracking
• Easy-to-use interface

Cons:

• Advanced features are locked behind a subscription
• Free version may be limited for users with complex goals

9. Fabulous

Fabulous Daily Routine Planner is an app that helps you build and stick to healthy routines. It’s designed to improve your daily habits and overall productivity.

Best For: This app is perfect for users who want to develop positive routines and enhance their daily habits. It’s useful for both personal and productivity goals.

Free vs. Paid: The free version offers basic features for building routines. The premium version provides additional tools like advanced habit tracking, personalized coaching, and more customization options.

Pros:

• Focuses on building healthy routines
• Personalized coaching and guidance
• Visual progress tracking

Cons:

• Advanced features require a subscription
• Limited integration with other apps

10. Timelog

Timelog Goal and Time Tracker is an app that helps you manage your time and track your goals. It’s designed to offer insights into how you spend your time and how you can stay on track with your objectives.

Best For: This app is perfect for users who want to track their time and goals simultaneously. It’s great for improving time management and staying organized with your objectives.

Free vs. Paid: The free version provides essential features for time and goal tracking. For more advanced options, like detailed reports, additional integrations, and enhanced analytics, you can choose the premium version.

Pros:

• Tracks both time and goals
• Provides detailed insights and reports
• Helps improve time management

Cons:

• Some features are limited in the free version
• The interface may be complex for new users

How to Use Goal Tracking Apps Effectively to Get the Best Results

Using a goal tracking app can really help you reach your objectives. Here’s how to get the best results:

Set Clear Goals

• Define Your Goals: Start with specific goals. Instead of saying “get fit,” set a clear target like “run 5 miles each week” or “finish 10 new projects this year.” This helps you stay focused and track your progress.
• Break Down Goals: Divide big goals into smaller steps. For example, if you want to write a book, set goals for finishing chapters or writing a certain number of pages each week.

Use the App Regularly

• Daily Check-ins: Log into your app every day. Update your progress and review your tasks. This keeps you engaged and helps you stay on track.
• Be Consistent: Make checking the app a daily habit. Pick a specific time each day to review and update your goals.

Set Reminders

• Create Notifications: Use the app’s reminder features to keep track of deadlines and milestones. Set alerts for daily tasks or specific goals.
• Customize Alerts: Tailor reminders to fit your schedule. For instance, set reminders for your morning workouts or evening reviews.

Monitor Your Progress

• Regular Reviews: Check your progress regularly. Many apps offer charts or graphs that show how you’re doing.
• Analyze Data: Look at the data to see if you’re on track. If you’re falling behind, figure out what’s working and what’s not. Adjust your plans if needed.

Stay Motivated

• Set Rewards: Give yourself rewards for reaching milestones. For example, enjoy a treat or a fun activity when you achieve a big goal.
• Visualize Success: Use visual progress indicators in the app. Seeing how far you’ve come can boost your motivation.

Integrate with Other Tools

• Sync with Calendars: Connect your app with calendars or other tools if possible. This keeps everything organized and helps you manage your time better.
• Use Automation: Automate repetitive tasks or sync with other apps to make your workflow smoother.

Engage with Community Features

• Join Groups or Forums: If the app has community features, get involved. Share your goals and progress with others for support and motivation.
• Connect with Peers: Talk to people who have similar goals. Their experiences and advice can be very helpful.

Adjust as Needed

• Be Flexible: Sometimes goals need to change. If you hit obstacles or your goals seem too tough, it’s okay to adjust them.
• Refine Strategies: Use feedback from your progress to tweak your strategies. If something isn’t working, try a different approach.

Reflect and Learn

• Post-Goal Reflection: After reaching a goal, think about what worked and what didn’t. This helps you understand your strengths and areas for improvement.
• Continuous Improvement: Use what you learn to improve your goal-setting and tracking for the future. Each experience helps you get better.