Streaks is beautiful. Minimalist. An Apple Design Award winner. The gold standard for iPhone habit tracking.
But here’s what Streaks won’t tell you: maintaining a 67-day streak feels amazing—until life happens and you’re back to zero.
One sick week. One family emergency. One business trip. Your 200-day meditation streak? Gone. Now you’re staring at “Day 1” again, and all that momentum feels lost.
Or maybe you’ve hit the frustrating reality: Streaks limits you to 24 tasks maximum, and you’re running out of slots. Want to track running, cycling, and swimming separately? That’s three slots gone—a quarter of your total capacity.
What if there was a habit tracker that measured growth instead of just counting days? One that showed you’re improving even when life disrupts your perfect streak?
Meet Build Momentum—the habit tracker for people who love Streaks’ simplicity but want to track how well they’re doing, not just how long they’ve lasted.
At-a-Glance: Streaks vs Build Momentum
| Streaks | Build Momentum | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | iOS, macOS, Apple Watch only | Web (works everywhere), apps coming |
| Core metric | Streak counting (consecutive days) | Progressive growth (quality + consistency) |
| When you miss a day | Streak resets to zero | Garden gets a weed, but progress preserved |
| Performance tracking | Did it or didn’t (binary) | Three levels (minimum, target, stretch) |
| Habit limit | 24 tasks maximum | 3 free, 15 Pro, unlimited Ultimate |
| Growth tracking | Static habits forever | Progressive stages that increase |
| Time perspectives | Daily only | Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly |
| Visual feedback | Circles and numbers | Living garden that grows/weeds |
| Cost | $4.99 one-time (iOS only) | Free tier or $4-10/month (all platforms) |
| Apple Watch | Excellent integration | no |
| Android users | Cannot use | Full web access |
| Learning curve | Very easy | Very easy |
| Design philosophy | Minimalist perfection | Beautiful modern interface |
What Streaks Does Brilliantly (And Why It’s Not Enough)
Let’s start with respect. Streaks is genuinely excellent at what it does:
✅ Gorgeously minimal design – Apple Design Award winner for good reason
✅ Dead simple – Track habits in seconds, no complexity
✅ Apple Watch integration – Best wearable experience available
✅ Health app sync – Auto-tracks steps, workouts, etc.
✅ Perfect for iOS purists – Seamless across Apple devices
The problem isn’t what Streaks does—it’s what it measures.
The Fundamental Limitation: Streak Counting
Streaks measures one thing: consecutive days.
- Day 1, Day 2, Day 3… Day 67… Day 200.
- Miss once? Back to Day 1.
This creates two major problems:
Problem 1: The “All or Nothing” Anxiety
You’re on Day 145 of daily meditation. You’ve built a genuine habit. Then:
- You get the flu and miss 3 days
- Your streak resets to zero
- You feel like you “failed” despite 145 days of success
- The motivation collapses: “Why bother starting over?”
When you’re on day 67 of physical exercise and feeling tired, there’s no way you’re going to miss a day and go back to zero—but what happens when you have no choice? When life genuinely intervenes?
The streak counter doesn’t distinguish between:
- Quitting because you’re lazy
- Missing because you’re in the hospital
- Traveling to a different timezone
- Having a legitimately impossible day
All failures look the same: “Day 1.”
Problem 2: Streaks Don’t Measure Improvement
Let’s say you’re meditating:
- Month 1: 5 minutes daily
- Month 3: 20 minutes daily
- Month 6: 40 minutes daily
Streaks shows: “180-day streak”
But it doesn’t show you’re meditating 8x longer than when you started. You’re dramatically better, but the app treats Day 1 and Day 180 identically.
You’re not tracking growth. You’re just counting days.
Problem 3: The 24-Task Limit
Users complain the maximum limit of 24 tasks feels restrictive. If you want to track:
- 3 different exercises (running, cycling, swimming)
- 2 meal habits (breakfast, dinner)
- 3 creative practices (writing, drawing, music)
- 2 social habits (call family, reach out to friend)
- Reading, meditation, journaling, stretching, language learning…
You’re already at your limit. No room to grow.
Why the arbitrary cap? The UI design. Streaks’ beautiful two-page layout limits expansion.
Problem 4: iOS Only
No Android. No web version. No Windows. No Linux.
If you switch from iPhone to Android, you lose everything. If you work on a PC all day, you can’t track there.
For an app about building habits, being platform-locked is a genuine limitation.
How Build Momentum Solves These Problems
1. Growth Tracking, Not Just Streak Counting
Streaks: Binary. Did you do it today? Yes or no.
Build Momentum: Three performance levels per habit.
🟠 Minimum Goal (Orange): Bare minimum acceptable
🟢 Target Goal (Green): Your main goal
🔵 Stretch Goal (Blue): Your best-case scenario
Example: Daily Exercise Habit
Stage 1 (First Month):
- Minimum: 10 minutes
- Target: 20 minutes
- Stretch: 30 minutes
Stage 2 (Months 2-3):
- Minimum: 20 minutes
- Target: 30 minutes
- Stretch: 45 minutes
Stage 3 (Months 4+):
- Minimum: 30 minutes
- Target: 45 minutes
- Stretch: 60 minutes
What this means: You can see yourself improving over time. You’re not just maintaining a streak—you’re growing.
Miss your stretch but hit your target? That’s still success. You’re measuring quality, not just consistency.
2. Four Time Perspectives (Not Just Daily)
Streaks: Only tracks daily completion.
Build Momentum: Tracks simultaneously across:
- Daily: Did I hit my goal today?
- Weekly: Am I on track this week?
- Monthly: How’s my overall consistency?
- Quarterly: What’s my long-term trend?
Why this matters:
One bad day doesn’t ruin your week.
One bad week doesn’t destroy your month.
You can see patterns Streaks can’t show you.
Example: Your meditation habit:
- Today: Missed (red)
- This week: 6/7 days (green—still hit weekly minimum)
- This month: 26/30 days (green—still on track)
- This quarter: 85/90 days (blue—crushed it!)
With Streaks, you’d just see “streak broken, back to Day 1.”
With Build Momentum, you see: “I’m having a rough day, but I’m still doing great overall.”
3. Visual Garden (Not Just Numbers)
Streaks: Circles with numbers. Clean, but abstract.
Build Momentum: A living garden that grows with your consistency.
How it works:
- Hit your weekly minimums → Garden blooms beautifully
- Miss minimums → Weeds appear
- Multiple misses → Garden gets overgrown and ugly
- Each year → New garden (look back at your journey)
Why a garden instead of streaks?
- Forgiveness built-in: A few weeds don’t destroy the whole garden. You can clean them up and keep growing.
- Visual motivation: Your brain hates seeing an ugly space you created. It motivates differently than counting numbers.
- Natural growth metaphor: Gardens grow slowly over seasons—just like real habits.
- Historical perspective: See your 2023 garden, 2024 garden, 2025 garden. Good years and tough years. It’s honest.
A 200-day streak that breaks feels devastating. A beautiful garden with one weed feels recoverable.
4. No Arbitrary Limits
Streaks: 24 tasks maximum, period.
Build Momentum:
- Free: 3 habits
- Pro: 15 habits
- Ultimate: Unlimited habits
Track as many as you need. No artificial constraints based on UI design.
5. Works Everywhere
Streaks: iOS and macOS only.
Build Momentum:
- Works on any device with a web browser
- iPhone, Android, iPad, Windows PC, Mac, Linux
- Native apps coming in 2025
- No platform lock-in
Start on your iPhone, check on your PC at work, review on your Android tablet. It all syncs automatically.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Design & User Experience
Streaks:
- Minimalist perfection
- Apple Design Award winner (2016)
- Clean circular interface
- Very easy to use
- Beautiful but austere
Build Momentum:
- Modern, beautiful interface
- Living garden metaphor
- 25+ color palettes
- Light and dark modes
- Warm and engaging
Verdict: Tie. Both are gorgeous. Streaks is minimalist perfection. Build Momentum is warm and inviting. Preference depends on your style.
Progress Measurement
Streaks:
- Counts consecutive days
- Binary: did it or didn’t
- Shows streak length and calendar
- Best/current streak comparison
- Basic statistics
Build Momentum:
- Three performance levels per habit
- Three Habit Types (do more, do less, binary)
- Tracks daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly
- Color-coded history (7, 30, 90, 180 days)
- Progressive stages that increase
- Shows quality improvement over time
Verdict: Build Momentum. If you want to measure how well you’re doing and track improvement, not just “how many days in a row,” Build Momentum is far more sophisticated.
Handling Setbacks
Streaks:
- Miss a day → Streak resets to zero
- All progress “feels” lost
- No distinction between types of failures
- Starting over can feel demotivating
Build Momentum:
- Miss weekly minimum → One weed appears
- Progress preserved in weekly/monthly/quarterly views
- Garden shows cumulative impact, not binary pass/fail
- Easy to recover and keep momentum
Verdict: Build Momentum. Life happens. Build Momentum’s system acknowledges reality while maintaining accountability.
Habit Growth
Streaks:
- Static goals forever
- “Meditate daily” stays the same forever
- No built-in progression
- You manually change if needed
Build Momentum:
- Progressive stages built-in
- Start at 5 minutes, build to 30 over months
- Three levels per stage (minimum, target, stretch)
- See yourself improving systematically
Verdict: Build Momentum. Real habits evolve. Tracking that evolution is crucial for long-term success.
Capacity
Streaks:
- 24 habits maximum
- Two-page UI limits expansion
- Users complain it’s restrictive
- No way around this limit
Build Momentum:
- Free: 3 habits
- Pro: 15 habits
- Ultimate: Unlimited
- No artificial UI constraints
Verdict: Build Momentum (if you need more than 24 habits). Most people are fine with 24, but power users hit this ceiling quickly.
Platform Availability
Streaks:
- iOS only (iPhone, iPad)
- macOS
- Apple Watch (excellent)
- Requires Apple ecosystem
Build Momentum:
- Web browser (works everywhere)
- iPhone responsive web
- Android responsive web
- Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- Native apps coming 2025
Verdict: Build Momentum. Unless you specifically need Apple Watch integration today (which Streaks does brilliantly), Build Momentum’s cross-platform availability is more practical.
Automation & Integration
Streaks:
- Excellent Health app integration
- Auto-tracks steps, workouts, heart rate
- Siri Shortcuts support
- Deep iOS integration
Build Momentum:
- Currently manual tracking
- Integrations planned for future
- Focus on intentional tracking
Verdict: Streaks. The automatic Health app tracking is genuinely useful for fitness habits. Build Momentum doesn’t have this yet.
Apple Watch Experience
Streaks:
- Excellent native app
- Multiple complication types
- Rich notifications
- Best wearable habit tracker
Build Momentum:
- Not available yet
- Native apps coming
Verdict: Streaks. If Apple Watch tracking is critical for you right now, Streaks wins decisively. This is its biggest strength.
Pricing
Streaks:
- $4.99 one-time purchase
- No subscription
- iOS/macOS only
- No free tier
Build Momentum:
- Free: 3 habits forever
- Pro: 15 habits – $6/month or $47/year
- Ultimate: Unlimited – $10/month or $77/year
- 7-day free trial
- Works everywhere
Verdict: Streaks (for cost). One-time $5 is cheaper than subscriptions. However, Build Momentum’s free tier lets you try without paying, and the subscription includes unlimited devices/platforms.
Philosophy
Streaks:
- Philosophy: “Don’t break the chain”
- Focus: Maintaining consecutive days
- Motivation: Fear of losing streak
- Best for: Self-motivated people who thrive on streaks
Build Momentum:
- Philosophy: “Progress over perfection”
- Focus: Sustainable growth over time
- Motivation: Building something beautiful
- Best for: People who want to see improvement, not just consistency
Verdict: Depends on your psychology. Do you thrive on streak pressure, or does it create anxiety? Your answer determines which is better for you.
Who Should Choose Which?
Stick with Streaks if:
✅ You’re deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem
✅ Apple Watch tracking is essential for you
✅ You love minimalist design above all else
✅ Streak counting genuinely motivates you
✅ Your day to day is pretty similar
✅ You want one-time payment, not subscription
✅ 24 habits is plenty for your needs
✅ Binary tracking (did it/didn’t) is sufficient
✅ You prefer automatic Health app integration
✅ Starting over from “Day 1” doesn’t demotivate you
Switch to Build Momentum if:
✅ You want to track improvement, not just consistency
✅ Breaking streaks feels demotivating and discouraging
✅ You need to see weekly/monthly/quarterly progress
✅ Progressive stages appeal to you (start small, build up)
✅ You want three performance levels (minimum, target, stretch)
✅ The 24-task limit in Streaks feels restrictive
✅ You use multiple platforms (iPhone + PC, Android + Mac, etc.)
✅ You want habits that grow with you over time
✅ Visual garden appeals more than numbers
✅ You want forgiveness built into the system
✅ Three habit types (do more, do less, binary)
✅ You’re willing to pay monthly for richer features
Real Users Making the Switch
Jessica’s Story: The 180-Day Streak That Broke
“I had a 180-day meditation streak in Streaks. Then I got COVID and was bedridden for 10 days. My streak died.
I couldn’t bring myself to open the app for a month. Seeing ‘Day 1’ after 180 days felt like total failure, even though I’d successfully meditated for six months.
With Build Momentum, when I got the flu recently, I just got a few weeds in my garden. My weekly and monthly views still showed I was doing great overall. It didn’t feel like starting over—it felt like a minor setback in an ongoing journey.
That psychological difference is huge.”
Derek: Hit the 24-Task Ceiling
“I’m tracking morning routine habits, fitness (running, cycling, swimming), creative work (writing, music, drawing), social habits, and learning. I need 30+ habits to cover everything I’m working on.
Streaks maxes out at 24. I had to choose what NOT to track, which defeats the purpose.
Build Momentum Ultimate gives me unlimited habits. Now I track everything I need without artificial limits.”
Aisha: Wanted to See Improvement
“I meditated 5 minutes daily for a month with Streaks—30-day streak. Then 10 minutes daily for a month—60-day streak. Then 20 minutes daily.
But Streaks just showed ‘Day 90.’ It didn’t show I was meditating 4x longer than when I started!
Build Momentum’s stages show my growth. Stage 1 (5 min), Stage 2 (10 min), Stage 3 (20 min). I can see I’m improving, not just maintaining.”
The Psychological Difference
Streaks’ Psychology: Fear of Loss
The streak creates loss aversion. You don’t want to lose what you’ve built.
Pros: Powerful short-term motivation
Cons: Creates anxiety, feels punishing when you fail
On Day 200, the pressure is immense. Miss once and 200 days “disappear.”
Build Momentum’s Psychology: Pride in Growth
The garden creates progress pride. You’re building something beautiful.
Pros: Sustainable long-term, forgiving, growth-focused
Cons: Less intense daily pressure
A few weeds don’t destroy your garden. You clean them up and keep growing.
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely! Some people:
- Use Streaks for simple daily habits (take vitamins, drink water)
- Use Build Momentum for growth-oriented habits (meditation, exercise, track pomodoros, track weight)
The apps serve different purposes. Streaks is perfect for maintaining simple daily actions. Build Momentum is better for tracking improvement over time.
Common Questions
Can I import my Streaks data?
Not automatically. You’ll recreate your habits in Build Momentum (takes 4 minutes each). The benefit? You’ll set up progressive stages that make more sense for long-term growth.
Will Build Momentum add Apple Watch support?
No, probably not! Native iOS, Android are coming. The web app works great on mobile browsers today.
What if I love streak counting?
Build Momentum tracks streaks too! You can see:
- Current daily streak
- Weekly consistency streaks
- Monthly patterns
But we add context. A broken daily streak doesn’t erase your weekly/monthly success.
Is the three-level system more complicated?
Not really. You set:
- Minimum (fall below this → weed grows)
- Target (your main goal)
- Stretch (bonus achievement)
Then you just track like normal. The app shows whether you hit minimum, target, or stretch. It’s visual and instant.
Why subscription instead of one-time?
Subscriptions fund ongoing development:
- Cross-platform sync
- Regular maintenance
- New features
- Server costs
Streaks’ one-time model is great, but it limits how much the app can evolve. Our subscription model lets us build a better product over time.
Does Build Momentum work offline?
Currently requires internet for syncing.
The Bottom Line
Streaks is a minimalist masterpiece for people who thrive on maintaining consecutive daily streaks. If you’re deeply integrated into Apple’s ecosystem and love the simplicity of “don’t break the chain,” it’s genuinely excellent.
Build Momentum is for people who want to track growth, not just consistency. If breaking streaks demotivates you, if you want to see improvement over time, or if you need cross-platform flexibility, Build Momentum offers a more forgiving and sophisticated approach.
Both are excellent apps. The question is: Do you want to count days, or do you want to track growth?
Try Build Momentum Free for 7 Days
See if tracking improvement feels better than counting streaks.
- ✅ No credit card required to start
- ✅ Set up progressive stages that grow with you
- ✅ Track across daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly
- ✅ Grow a beautiful garden instead of fearing streak breaks
- ✅ Works on any device—no platform lock-in
Making the Switch from Streaks
Thinking about trying something new? Here’s how:
- Keep using Streaks for now (no rush!)
- Sign up for Build Momentum free trial (no credit card)
- Recreate your top 3 habits with progressive stages
- Track in both apps for a week and compare
- See which system feels better for your brain
- Choose what works—or use both for different purposes
Many users run both apps simultaneously. That’s totally fine. Find what keeps you motivated long-term.
What Users Are Saying
“I loved Streaks until my 120-day streak broke during a family emergency. Now I can’t look at ‘Day 1’ without feeling like I failed. Build Momentum’s garden approach feels way more forgiving.” — Mike T.
“Streaks is beautiful, but I hit the 24-task limit and couldn’t track everything I needed. Build Momentum Ultimate gave me room to grow.” — Sarah K.
“The three performance levels changed everything. I’m not just ‘doing’ meditation—I’m actively getting better at it, and I can see that progress.” — Jordan L.
“I use Streaks for simple stuff (take vitamins, floss). I use Build Momentum for habits I’m seriously working on improving (writing, exercise). Best of both worlds.” — Alex P.
Ready to Track Progress, Not Just Days?
If you’re tired of the anxiety of maintaining perfect streaks, or if you want to measure improvement instead of just consistency, Build Momentum might be what you’re looking for.
Try Build Momentum free for 7 days.
See if a growth-focused approach feels better than streak counting.
Get Started Free (No Credit Card Required) →
← Previous Post
Love Habitica But Feel Overwhelmed? Try This Simpler Alternative