Achieve goals faster: The best goal-tracking apps for 2025

The problem with goals in 2025

Our attention spans have shrunk to just 8.25 seconds.¹ We lose almost 60 hours monthly to workplace distractions. And 80% of those interruptions? They're trivial.²

This constant distraction makes it harder than ever to achieve our goals. We need tools that can keep us focused and accountable.

Enter goal-tracking apps – they transform overwhelming objectives into manageable steps and provide the structure we need to succeed.

What are goal-tracking apps?

A goal-tracking app helps you turn big dreams into daily actions. Think of it as your digital accountability partner that keeps you organized and motivated.

Picture training for a marathon. The app breaks down this massive goal into manageable pieces: weekly mileage targets, strength training sessions, and nutrition plans. You see your progress through charts and get reminders to stay consistent.

The most popular goals people track:³

• Health & Fitness (80% of adults): Weight loss, mental wellbeing, stamina building
• Financial (69%): Savings, retirement planning, home ownership
• Personal Development (59%): Time management, learning new skills
• Professional (50%): Leadership growth, career advancement
• Relationships (43%): Building meaningful connections

These apps work for any goal, from daily habits to long-term dreams. They turn overwhelming tasks into clear, achievable steps – and show your progress along the way.

Essential features in goal-tracking apps

Before choosing an app, consider what matters most for your goals. A financial goal needs different tools than a fitness goal, but great apps share these core features:

Must-have features

1. Easy-to-use interface
   You should spend time achieving goals, not learning the app.
2. Smart reminders
   Stay on track with customizable alerts that fit your schedule.
3. Progress visualization
   See your journey through charts and graphs that motivate you.
4. Task breakdown
   Transform big goals into smaller, doable steps.
5. Habit tracking
   Build consistency with daily routines and streaks.

Also consider

• Active development: Regular updates and bug fixes show the app is well-maintained
• User reviews: Look for apps with strong, recent feedback
• Premium features: Check if paid versions offer tools you might need later

Choose an app that matches how you naturally work. The best features are the ones you'll use.

Most effective goal-tracking apps in 2025

1. Trello: Best for visual goal tracking

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What it is

Trello is a visual project board that turns your goals into manageable cards. Perfect for both personal goals and team projects.

Standout features

• Drag-and-drop boards for tracking progress
• Built-in automation for repetitive tasks
• Multiple views (calendar, timeline, board)
• Pre-made goal templates
• Time-tracking tools

User feedback

"I am using Trello for self-management primarily, and for me, it works perfectly as the tool to set up goals for a week, track completion, and visualize your progress. It helps you divide complex work into smaller tasks and keep all the necessary reference material in one place, which makes things easier to accomplish. It feels good to see how you complete these smaller tasks, which motivates you to go on"⁵ - Denis M., Client Relationship Manager

Best for

• Visual thinkers
• Team collaboration
• Project-based goals
• People who like customization

Price

• Free: Full-featured basic plan
• Standard: $5/user/month
• Premium: $10/user/month
• Enterprise: From $17.50/user/month

Rating: 4.4/5 on G2

💡 Use Trello's Butler automation to set up recurring goal check-ins and progress updates automatically.

2. Marlee: Best for AI-powered coaching towards goals

A Marlee "My Results" board showing the highest work style motivations

What it is

Marlee is an AI coaching collaboration and performance technology that equips you with the skills to achieve long-term personal or career goals based on your unique work style.

Standout features

• AI coaching for 1,000 different goals
• 48 work style motivation insights based on more than 20 years of research
• 5-10 minute focused online coaching sessions
• Progress tracking via an Over Time Board
• Hybrid AI and human coach support

User feedback

"Awesome and effective coaching program of helping to increase motivation for goal challenged people. Fallen in love with goals and looking forward to more BHAGs. Highly recommend the coaching for Goal Catcher!"

Best for

• Personal development
• Professional growth
• Leadership development
• Team collaboration and high-performance
• People who want coaching support

Price

• Free: Starter plan with core features
• Personal Boost Pack: Unlimited insights and coaching

Rating: 4.5/5 on G2

🎯 Take the free motivation assessment first to get personalized goal recommendations based on your work style.

3. ClickUp: Best for comprehensive goal management

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What it is

A powerful all-in-one platform that connects your daily tasks to bigger goals. Combines goal tracking with project management and team collaboration.

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Standout features

• Multiple goal-tracking formats (numbers, tasks, currency)
• Real-time progress dashboards
• Automated task management
• Custom goal templates
• Built-in time tracking
• Online/offline access

User feedback

"ClickUp will literally slap your goals to your face and have every task or move you do impact that life or yearly goal… I can see my progress. I can see what I'll be giving up if I stop now. It forces me to police myself to stay on track. It forces me to prioritize. It forces me to build a habit across the board from daily habits to monthly habits." - Frances S., Global Talent Partner

Best for

• Business teams
• Complex project goals
• People who like automation
• Those wanting detailed analytics
• Multi-team collaboration

Price

• Free: Basic features
• Unlimited: $7/user/month
• Business: $12/user/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Rating: 4.4/5 on G2

⚡️ Create goal folders first to organize related tasks and get a clearer view of your progress journey.

4. Todoist: Best for personal goals

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What it is

A streamlined goal-tracking app that turns complex goals into simple daily tasks. Perfect for both personal organization and team projects.

Standout features

• Natural language input for quick task creation
• Smart task categorization
• Calendar sync across devices
• Pre-made goal templates
• Priority levels for tasks
• Recurring task tracking

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User feedback

"I have been using Todoist for over 1 year, it integrates well with Outlook and the desktop app is very lightweight; I can say that Todoist is one of my favorite tools for planning and detailed tracking of all activities and subtasks." - Daily user

Best for

• Individual goal setters
• Daily task management
• Habit building
• People who like simplicity
• Cross-platform users

Price

• Free: Beginner plan
• Pro: $4/month
• Business: $6/user/month

Rating: 4.4/5 on G2

✅ Use natural language to add tasks quickly - type "Goal review every Monday at 9am" and Todoist handles the rest.

5. Clockify: Best for time-based goals

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What it is

A time-focused goal-tracking platform that helps you measure and optimize every minute. Perfect for productivity goals and project time management.

Standout features

• Pomodoro timer integration
• Automatic time tracking
• Detailed productivity reports
• Team time management
• Multiple tracking views
• Budget monitoring
• Cross-platform sync

User feedback

"It's an incredible time tracking tool that will help you seize every second. Clockify gives me control over my working hours. I am able to track every second of my day and ensure that I am productive enough at work. Also, it helps me tick my goals by setting time limits on them and ensures I don't miss any task or even a scheduled appointment." - Nyambura M., Social Media Marketing Specialist

Best for

• Productivity goals
• Freelancers and teams
• Time-based projects
• Budget tracking
• Performance analysis

Price

• Free: Full features, unlimited users
• Basic: $3.99/user/month
• Standard: $5.49/user/month
• Pro: $7.99/user/month
• Enterprise: $11.99/user/month

Rating: 4.5/5 on G2

⏱️ Start with the Pomodoro timer to break your goals into focused 25-minute work sessions.

6. Habitica: Best for gamified goal tracking

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What it is

A goal-tracking app that gamifies your tasks and goals. Build habits while battling monsters, leveling up your character, and collecting rewards.

Standout features

• Character customization
• Daily quests and challenges
• Team battles for shared goals
• Reward system with pets and gear
• Health points tied to task completion
• Community events and competitions
• Color-coded progress tracking

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User feedback

"Been using Habitica for almost two years, and it's now been about a year since I last left a review. Through steady updates, it's been more useful at tracking habits and organizing routines than ever. When I fall out of following my routines, I feel just like my character losing health, and that motivates me to get back on track!" - App Store Review

Best for

• Gamification enthusiasts
• Habit builders
• Social goal setters
• People who need extra motivation
• Those who enjoy RPG games

Price

• Free: Core features
• Monthly: $4.99
• Quarterly: $14.99
• Semi-annual: $29.99
• Annual: $47.99

Rating: 4.5/5 on G2

🎮 Start with small daily quests before taking on bigger "boss battles" (major goals).

7. Way of Life: Best for tracking daily habits

What it is

A straightforward habit tracker that uses color psychology to keep you accountable. Perfect for breaking bad habits and building good ones.

Standout features

• Color-coded habit tracking
• Diary for trigger identification
• Trend analysis over time
• Simple one-click tracking
• Customizable categories
• Visual progress charts
• Flexible reminders
• Cross-platform sync

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User feedback

"This is honestly the first habit-tracking app that has really stuck with me. The interface is simple enough to use daily but has enough features to make tracking multiple habits meaningful. The ability to track both good and bad habits and see trends is incredibly motivating." - iOS User Review

Best for

• Habit builders
• Pattern trackers
• Visual learners
• People who value simplicity
• Those focused on behavior change

Price

• Free: Basic version
• Premium: $4.99/month

Rating: 4.8/5 on App Store

🎨 Use green, yellow, and red to track habits - it creates an instant visual motivation system.

8. Strides: Best for flexible goal tracking

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What it is

A versatile tracker that can be customized to any goal type. Whether you're tracking habits, targets, averages, or projects, it fits your unique tracking style.

Standout features

• Four tracking styles for different goals
• 150+ pre-made templates
• SMART goal-setting guide
• Flexible progress views
• Comprehensive analytics
• Detailed success tracking
• Custom reminders
• Note-taking capability

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User feedback

"I especially love that I can customize each different habit. I run my life via habits and this covers them all It’s well worth the subscription, but even the free version allows you three habits, I think, and three habits is enough to change your life. I got the lifetime subscription because there are a lot of habits that I want to track." - iOS App Store Review

Best for

• Mixed goal types
• Detail-oriented trackers
• Data lovers
• Long-term goal setters
• Progress analyzers

Price

• Free: Generous features
• Premium: $4.99/month

Rating: 4.8/5 on App Store

📊 Try different tracking styles for different goals - habits for daily tasks, targets for measurable goals, and projects for bigger achievements.

9. Toodledo: Best for long-term goal tracking

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What it is

A robust to-do list app that combines powerful customization tools (which users love) with task management for productive goal achievement.

Standout features

• Location-based reminders
• File attachments
• Custom folders and tags
• Time tracking tools
• Smart search filters
• Calendar visualization
• Cross-device sync
• Data import/export

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User feedback

"I have been using Toodledo for over 16 years and have never found a decent replacement. I have looked too! What I love is the quick task entry and easy rescheduling. It works extremely well on all platforms I use: web, macOS, iPadOS, and iOS. I use Toodledo for literally everything I do in life. I use it extensively for work as well as personal tasks. I have about 1,000 tasks and most of them are recurring." - iOS App Store Review

Best for

• Long-term planners
• Detail-oriented users
• Multi-project managers
• File organizers
• Location-based task doers

Price

• Free: Comprehensive features
• Standard: $3.99/month
• Plus: $5.99/month
• Business: Custom pricing

Rating: 4.4/5 on G2

📍 Use location-based reminders to trigger goals when you're in the right place - perfect for shopping lists or gym workouts.

Making the most of your goal-tracking app

Think of your goal-tracking app like a personal coach – it's only as effective as the energy you put into it. Here's how to turn it into your secret weapon for success:

1. Start small, dream big
   Break those ambitious goals into tiny, doable steps. What's your first milestone? Make it so clear you'll know exactly when you've hit it.
2. Make it a ritual
   Choose a specific time each day for goal check-ins. Maybe it's with your morning coffee or during your evening wind-down. Consistency is key.
3. Celebrate the small wins
   Did you hit your daily target? Take a moment to feel proud. Those little victories fuel bigger achievements.
4. Keep it real
   Review and adjust your goals monthly. Life changes and your goals should too. There's no shame in updating your target – the shame is in abandoning it.
5. Back up your dreams
   Your progress matters. Make sure your data is safe by enabling auto-sync or regular backups.

Which goal-tracking app is right for you?

Here's the truth: the "best" goal-tracking app is the one that feels right for you. Love gaming? Habitica might be your match. Need AI-powered coaching? Marlee's got your back. Prefer visual organization? Trello could be perfect.

The key isn't finding the app with the most features – it's finding the one that matches your style and keeps you coming back. Start with a free version, play around, and see what clicks.

Ready to transform your goals into reality?

Start for free with Marlee.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set the right goals?

Evaluate your present situation and assess the things you want to change. Decide what you want for the future. Clearly define specific objectives that align with your current situation and priorities.

Can my goals change with time?

Yes, you can absolutely change your goals. It's entirely normal for a person’s priorities, interests, circumstances and types of goals to evolve over time. As you gain new insights or experience different life stages, you may find that your existing goals are no longer a good fit.

The key is to be adaptable and open to reassessing and modifying your goals to better align with your current aspirations and needs.