Last Updated: January 2025 | Apps Tested: 15+ | Winner: Cohorty

Habit tracking alone is hard. You start strong, miss a few days, and quietly abandon the app. Sound familiar?

But what if your friends could see your progress? What if breaking a streak meant letting down your accountability group? Research shows why group habits work better than solo—social accountability creates powerful motivation.

Studies show that social accountability increases habit completion rates by 65%. That’s the power of tracking with others. When you’re part of a group, you’re 95% more likely to complete your goals (American Society of Training and Development). This taps into the psychology of accountability—being observed changes behavior.

In this comprehensive 2025 guide, we’ve tested 15+ habit tracking apps and narrowed it down to the 7 best apps with friend and group features—so you can find the one that keeps you (and your crew) consistent.

What we tested:

• ✅ Group/friend sharing capabilities
• ✅ Ease of setup and onboarding
• ✅ Social accountability features
• ✅ Pricing and value
• ✅ Mobile app quality
• ✅ User reviews and ratings

Quick Comparison Table

App	Rating	Best For	Price	Group Size	Platform
Cohorty	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0)	Small group challenges	Free	5-50	Web, iOS, Android
Habitica	⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5)	Gamification lovers	Free/$5/mo	4-30	Web, iOS, Android
Streaks	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8)	Apple users	$6.99	2-8	iOS, Apple Watch

| Strides | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2) | Data nerds | Free/$5/mo | 2-10 | iOS | | Done | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3) | Simple tracking | Free/$5/mo | 2-∞ | iOS, Android | | Loop | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.6) | Privacy-focused | Free | 2-20 | Android | | Productive | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4) | Premium experience | Free/$8/mo | 2-15 | iOS, Android |

Our Top Pick: Cohorty offers the best balance of community features, ease of use, and value—all completely free.

Now let’s dive into each app.

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1. Cohorty — Best for Small Group Challenges

Price: Free (premium features coming soon)
Platforms: Web, iOS (soon), Android (soon)

Best for: People who want structured challenges with small groups

What Makes It Special

Unlike traditional habit trackers where you manually add friends, Cohorty groups you into “cohorts” of people building the same habit. Cohort-based challenges start together with 5-10 people, creating stronger bonds than open communities.

Think of it like joining a fitness class instead of working out alone. Everyone’s doing the same challenge, so you get:

• Shared motivation
• Daily accountability check-ins
• Progress visibility (if you choose to share)
• Community support when you struggle

Key Features

✅ Pre-made challenges (30-Day Morning Routine, No Sugar Challenge, etc.)
✅ Small cohort matching (5-15 people)
✅ Daily check-in system
✅ Privacy controls (public or private tracking)
✅ Challenge-specific forums

Pros

• No need to recruit friends—just join a challenge
• Structured framework keeps you on track
• Mix of accountability + community (not 1:1 pressure)
• Free forever plan

Cons

• Newer app (fewer challenges than Habitica)
• Mobile apps in development

Best for: People who want accountability without the awkwardness of recruiting friends. Cohorty focuses on group habit tracking for teams with minimal social pressure.

Try Cohorty →

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2. Habitica — Best for Gamification

Price: Free (optional subscription $4.99/mo)
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best for: RPG fans who want to “level up” by completing habits

What Makes It Special

Habitica turns your life into a role-playing game. Complete habits to:

• Earn gold and experience points
• Unlock armor and pets
• Battle monsters with your party

You can join or create parties (groups of 4-30 players) where everyone’s health is shared. If you break your habits, your party takes damage.

Key Features

✅ Full RPG system with avatars, quests, guilds
✅ Party challenges (co-op gameplay)
✅ Massive community (millions of users)
✅ Highly customizable habit types

Pros

• Incredibly motivating for gamers
• Huge community with tons of guilds
• Social pressure works well in parties
• Free with optional premium

Cons

• Overwhelming interface for non-gamers
• Requires explaining the system to new users
• Too complex if you just want simple tracking

Best for: Gamers who want habit tracking to feel like an MMO.

Try Habitica →

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3. Streaks — Best for Apple Users

Price: $6.99 (one-time)
Platforms: iOS, Apple Watch, iPad
Best for: Apple ecosystem users who want elegant design

What Makes It Special

Streaks is beautifully designed for iOS and integrates deeply with Apple Health and Apple Watch.

The social feature is Streak Sharing—you can share specific habits with friends/family who also use the app. They see your current streak and can send encouragement.

Key Features

✅ Max 12 habits (forces prioritization)
✅ Apple Health integration
✅ Apple Watch complications
✅ Widget support
✅ Private habit sharing with specific people

Pros

• Gorgeous, native iOS design
• One-time payment (no subscription)
• Perfect Apple Watch integration
• Focuses you on your top habits

Cons

• iOS only (no Android)
• Limited to 12 habits total
• No public groups/challenges
• Sharing is 1:1, not groups

Best for: iPhone users who want minimal, beautiful tracking with close friends.

Try Streaks →

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4. Strides — Best for Data & Flexibility

Price: Free (Pro at $4.99/mo)
Platforms: iOS
Best for: People who want detailed tracking and custom goals

What Makes It Special

Strides supports 4 types of tracking:

• Target (complete X times)
• Average (maintain an average)
• Milestone (project goals)
• Habit (yes/no daily)

You can share habits with friends and see their progress charts.

Key Features

✅ 4 tracking types for different goal styles
✅ Detailed charts and analytics
✅ Friend sharing with progress graphs
✅ Unlimited habits (Pro)

Pros

• Most flexible tracker for different goal types
• Great data visualization
• Share detailed progress (not just streaks)

Cons

• iOS only
• Free plan limited to 5 habits
• UI can feel cluttered
• No group challenges, just 1:1 sharing

Best for: Data-driven people who want deep analytics and custom tracking.

Try Strides →

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5. Done — Best for Simplicity

Price: Free (Premium $4.99/mo)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Best for: People who want dead-simple tracking with optional sharing

What Makes It Special

Done is beautifully minimal. You create habits, check them off, and see your streak.

The social feature is Groups—invite friends/family to a shared space where everyone’s habits are visible. It’s like a family accountability dashboard.

Key Features

✅ Unlimited habits (Premium)
✅ Custom repeating schedules
✅ Groups with shared visibility
✅ Motivational quotes
✅ Widgets and Apple Watch support

Pros

• Super simple interface
• Works on iOS and Android
• Groups are easy to set up
• Free plan is generous

Cons

• No challenges or structured programs
• Groups require you to invite people manually
• Limited customization
• Premium needed for unlimited habits

Best for: Families or friend groups who want a simple shared tracker.

Try Done →

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6. Loop Habit Tracker — Best for Open Source

Price: Free (donation-supported)
Platforms: Android
Best for: Privacy-conscious Android users

What Makes It Special

Loop is completely open-source and privacy-focused. No account required, all data stays on your device.

The social feature is Export & Share—you can export habit data and share with friends/accountability partners via any messaging app.

Key Features

✅ Completely offline (optional cloud backup)
✅ Open-source and privacy-first
✅ Detailed statistics and heatmaps
✅ Flexible scheduling
✅ Export data for sharing

Pros

• 100% free, no ads, no tracking
• Works offline
• Highly customizable
• Active open-source community

Cons

• Android only
• No built-in social features (manual sharing)
• No challenges or groups
• Requires more setup

Best for: Privacy-focused Android users who don’t mind manual sharing.

Try Loop →

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7. Productive — Best for Premium Experience

Price: Free (Premium $7.99/mo)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Best for: People who want a polished, motivational app

What Makes It Special

Productive has a gorgeous, motivating interface with smooth animations and encouraging messages.

The social feature is Challenges—you can create custom challenges and invite friends. Everyone tracks their version of the habit and compares completion rates.

Key Features

✅ Beautiful, motivational UI
✅ Custom challenges with friends
✅ Smart reminders based on your routine
✅ Progress insights and trends
✅ Premium has advanced stats

Pros

• Most polished interface
• Motivational messages and celebrations
• Works on iOS and Android
• Great for beginners

Cons

• Premium is pricey ($7.99/mo)
• Free plan limited to 3 habits
• No large group features
• Challenges are manual setup

Best for: People who want a premium, motivational tracking experience.

Try Productive →

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How to Choose the Right App

Choose Cohorty if:

• You want to join structured challenges with strangers
• You don’t want to recruit friends manually
• You like small group accountability (5-15 people)

Choose Habitica if:

• You love RPGs and gamification
• You want large community guilds
• You’re motivated by quests and rewards

Choose Streaks if:

• You’re an Apple user who wants elegant design
• You prefer 1:1 sharing with close friends
• You want deep Apple Watch integration

Choose Strides if:

• You need flexible tracking (not just yes/no habits)
• You love detailed analytics and charts
• You’re tracking complex goals (averages, milestones)

Choose Done if:

• You want simple, no-frills tracking
• You’re creating a family/friend group tracker
• You need cross-platform (iOS + Android)

Choose Loop if:

• Privacy is your top priority
• You’re on Android
• You don’t mind manual sharing

Choose Productive if:

• You want a beautiful, motivational interface
• You’re willing to pay for premium
• You need smart scheduling

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Pro Tips for Tracking with Friends

1. Set Clear Expectations

Before starting, agree on:

• How often you’ll check in (daily? weekly?)
• Whether progress is public or private
• What happens if someone falls behind

2. Start Small

Don’t try to track 20 habits with 10 friends. Start with 1 habit, 2-5 people, 30 days.

3. Use Built-In Features (Don’t DIY)

Don’t try to manually text each other every day. Use the app’s built-in check-ins—that’s what they’re for.

4. Celebrate Wins

When someone hits a streak milestone, celebrate it! Positive reinforcement is more powerful than accountability alone.

5. Be Forgiving

Life happens. If someone misses a day, don’t make them feel guilty. Encourage them to get back on track.

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Detailed Comparison: Which App Wins?

🏆 Overall Winner: Cohorty

Rating: 5.0/5

• ✅ Best value (completely free)
• ✅ Easiest to start (no friend recruiting needed)
• ✅ Perfect group size (5-50 people)
• ✅ Structured challenge format
• ⚠️ Mobile apps still in development

🥈 Runner-Up: Habitica

Rating: 4.5/5

• ✅ Most engaging (RPG mechanics)
• ✅ Huge community
• ✅ Free with optional premium
• ⚠️ Complex for beginners
• ⚠️ Overwhelming interface

🥉 Best Premium Option: Streaks

Rating: 4.8/5

• ✅ Beautiful iOS design
• ✅ One-time payment (no subscription)
• ✅ Perfect Apple Watch integration
• ⚠️ iOS only
• ⚠️ Limited to 12 habits

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The Bottom Line

Best all-around: Cohorty (for structured challenges)
Best for gamers: Habitica
Best for Apple users: Streaks
Best for data nerds: Strides
Best for simplicity: Done

The “best” app depends on your personality:

• Social butterflies → Cohorty or Habitica
• Minimalists → Streaks or Done
• Data lovers → Strides
• Privacy advocates → Loop

The most important thing? Pick one and commit. Switching apps every week is a form of procrastination. For comprehensive app reviews, check our habit tracker comparison guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best free habit tracker with friends?

Cohorty is the best free option, offering unlimited challenges and small group accountability without requiring a subscription. Habitica is another excellent free choice for gamers who enjoy RPG-style motivation with party features.

Can you track habits with friends on iPhone?

Yes! The best options for iPhone users are:

• Streaks ($6.99 one-time) - Native iOS design with Apple Watch integration
• Done (Free/Premium) - Works on both iOS and Android
• Productive (Free/Premium) - Beautiful interface with custom challenges
• Cohorty (Free) - Web-based, works on any iPhone browser

How does social accountability improve habit success?

Research shows that social accountability increases habit completion rates by 65%. When others can see your progress, you experience positive social pressure, increased motivation, and external commitment that makes it harder to quit.

Which habit app is best for couples?

Done and Streaks are ideal for couples because they support 1:1 habit sharing with simple, private progress visibility. Cohorty also works well if you want to join challenges together as a couple within a small group.

Are group habit trackers better than solo apps?

For most people, yes. Group trackers provide:

• External accountability (not just self-discipline)
• Motivation from peers when you feel like quitting
• Social proof that the habit is achievable
• Celebration of wins with others

However, introverts or privacy-focused individuals may prefer solo tracking with Loop or Streaks. If social pressure feels overwhelming, see habit apps for introverts.

What’s the difference between Cohorty and Habitica?

Cohorty focuses on structured 30-day challenges with small groups (5-15 people) using a simple check-in system. Habitica gamifies habits with RPG mechanics (quests, parties, guilds) and has a massive community. Choose Cohorty for simplicity, Habitica for gamification.

Do I need to invite friends to use these apps?

Not necessarily! Cohorty and Habitica let you join existing challenges or parties with strangers building the same habits. This eliminates the awkwardness of recruiting friends and connects you with motivated people worldwide.

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Your Next Step

1. Pick one app from the list above
2. Invite 2-3 friends (or join a Cohorty challenge)
3. Choose 1 habit to track for 30 days
4. Set a daily check-in time
5. Start today (not Monday)

Social accountability is the missing ingredient in most people’s habit-building journey. Don’t do it alone.

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Want to skip the friend-recruiting hassle? Join a Cohorty challenge and get matched with a group building the same habit as you.