Published 2026-11-03
Checked 2026-11-03
Are ADHD apps worth paying for?
An ADHD app is worth paying for when it fixes a job that costs you more than the app does, and you are still opening it after two weeks of the free version or trial. Prefer one-time purchases and per-use pricing when your use is irregular; subscriptions make sense only for tools you open most days. Set a cancellation reminder the day you start any trial.
ADHD makes subscriptions expensive in a particular way: you sign up on a good day and forget to cancel on a bad one. Before you pay, know which of three pricing models you are buying and whether you will still be opening the app in a month.
What are the three ways ADHD apps charge?
Pricing models with examples from our scored list (price bands as published on each receipt, checked 2026-11-03)
| Model | Examples | Good when | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Tiimo ($$), Sunsama ($$$), Opal ($$$), Motion ($$$) | You open it most days | Paying for months you do not use it |
| One-time purchase | Due, Streaks, Cold Turkey (one-time $); Forest (one-time $ + optional) | You want it to stay paid for | Fewer updates on some one-time apps |
| Per use or per item | Magic Bookmark (per book credits) | Use is irregular | Costs add up if you use it heavily |
| Free with optional extras | Finch, Goblin Tools web, Structured core, Todoist free | Almost always: try these first | Upsell screens |
How do you read a trial before you start it?
- Does the trial need a card up front?
- What exact date does it convert, and to which plan, monthly or annual?
- Can you cancel inside the app, or only through the App Store, Google Play or a website?
- Is there a free tier you can drop to instead of losing everything?
- Set a reminder for two days before the conversion date, now, before you forget
Price honesty is one of the eight criteria we score: we compare the trial terms as written with the cancellation flow. On desk reviews we score the terms as written and say so.
What is the two-week rule?
Use the free version or trial for two weeks before paying. At the end, count the days you opened it. If it is most days, the app has found a place in your week and paying is reasonable. If it is three or four, the app was a good idea that did not stick, and paying will not change that.
This matters more with ADHD because new apps get a novelty boost. The first week tells you very little; the second week tells you a lot.
How does per-use pricing compare? A worked example with book recaps
Magic Bookmark charges per book, not per month. One Bookmark Credit covers one book for as long as you are reading it, credits never expire, and the first credit is free. Prices on the App Store, checked 2026-11-03: 1 credit $4.99; 5 for $19.99 ($4.00 each); 10 for $34.99 ($3.50 each); 50 for $69.99 ($1.40 each).
Yearly cost of Magic Bookmark by how many books you use it on (first book free)
| Books a year with recaps | Cheapest way to buy | Cost | Per book |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free first credit | $0 | $0 |
| 4 | Free credit + 3 single credits | $14.97 | $3.74 |
| 6 | Free credit + one 5 pack | $19.99 | $3.33 |
| 11 | Free credit + one 10 pack | $34.99 | $3.18 |
| 24 | Free credit + one 50 pack (27 left over, they never expire) | $69.99 | $2.92 |
If you read Kindle ebooks only, in the US, Kindle's own recap tools come free with the book, which beats any per-book price. Per-book pricing makes sense when you read print, library audiobooks or ebooks outside Kindle, and only on the books you actually pause.
When is an ADHD app not worth paying for?
- When a free tool or your phone already does the job well enough.
- When it needs an hour of setup before it helps you.
- When it punishes missed days and you already feel bad about missed days.
- When you are paying for two apps that do the same job.
Questions people actually ask
Are ADHD apps worth the money?
Some are: the ones that fix a costly job and that you still open after two weeks. Try free versions first and set a cancellation reminder for every trial.
Which ADHD apps are a one-time purchase?
On our list, Due, Streaks and Cold Turkey are one-time purchases, and Forest is one-time with optional extras. Goblin Tools' mobile apps are a small one-time cost; its website is free.
How much does Magic Bookmark cost per book?
The first book is free. Then $4.99 for one credit, or $4.00, $3.50 or $1.40 a book in packs of 5, 10 or 50. One credit covers a whole book and never expires.
How do I avoid forgetting to cancel a trial?
Set a reminder for two days before the trial converts, on the day you start it. Use a persistent reminder app such as Due if regular alarms are easy to ignore.
Sources
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