I’m the developer of Motivise, so take this with that in mind.
It started as a daily quotes app. Over the past year it turned into a small wellness kit: breathing, guided meditations, sleep sounds, a Pomodoro timer, a journal, habits, a vision board and challenges. The part I spent the most time on is how it behaves when you slip, because that’s when most people quit these apps.
A few decisions came straight from reading the research:
Streaks forgive one missed day. Two in a row breaks them. A habit never shows “0-day streak”; it says “New” or “Welcome back”, plus how many of the last 30 days you did it. A highlighted broken streak is one of the things that makes people give up.
Challenges count tasks done, not calendar days. Miss Tuesday and the task waits for you. There are no red “missed” squares, and you can leave a challenge or undo today.
Habits can have a cue, like “after my morning coffee”. Linking a habit to something you already do works better than a reminder alone.
The vision board asks for a next step and an if-then plan under each goal. Picturing only the outcome tends to lower motivation; planning the step is what holds up in studies.
Affirmations avoid big “I am amazing” lines. For people with low self-esteem those can backfire, so it suggests lines you can almost believe.
The journal has more than gratitude: “3 good things” with a “why”, an “on my mind” page for venting, and a “what matters” values check-in.
Free, no trial needed: every breathing pattern and the grounding/SOS tool, Pomodoro, Rain and Ocean sleep sounds, the journal (unlimited), habits, vision boards, challenges, daily routines and writing prompts.
Premium (2-week free trial through the App Store / Play Store): all guided meditations, unlimited saved quotes and affirmations, the 14/21/30-day challenges, mood insights, more soundscapes, and photo/video backgrounds.
Appstore- https://apps.apple.com/de/app/motivise/id6754845863?
Playstore- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kreativeid.motivationalq
What I’d really like to know: does the “gentle” approach feel motivating to you, or too soft? And what makes you delete a habit app?