Everyone tells you to have a morning routine.

Nobody tells you how to build one that doesn’t fall apart by Thursday.

These apps help.

Why Morning Routines Matter

The first hour of your day sets the tone.

Win the morning:

  • Less reactive, more intentional
  • Important tasks done before distractions
  • Compound effect over months/years

Lose the morning:

  • Start in catch-up mode
  • Day controlled by other people’s priorities
  • Stress carries through

A routine removes decisions. You don’t think about what to do — you just do it.

What to Include in a Morning Routine

There’s no perfect routine. But successful routines often include:

Basics:

  • Hydration (water before coffee)
  • Movement (even 5 minutes)
  • Mindfulness (meditation, journaling, or just quiet time)

Optional:

  • Exercise
  • Reading
  • Affirmations
  • Cold shower
  • Journaling
  • Planning the day

The key: Keep it short enough to actually do. 30-60 minutes is plenty.

Quick App Comparison

AppBest ForPriceRating
SimpleStreaksHabit trackingFree⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FabulousFull routine building$100/yr⭐⭐⭐⭐
RoutineryTimed routine flow$40/yr⭐⭐⭐⭐
FinchGamificationFree⭐⭐⭐⭐
ProductiveFlexible habitsFree/$30/yr⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Best Morning Routine Apps

1. SimpleStreaks

Price: Free Best for: Simple daily tracking

Not a routine builder — a habit tracker. But sometimes that’s all you need.

How to use it for morning routines:

  1. List each element of your routine as a habit
  2. Check them off as you complete them
  3. Build streaks for consistency

Why it works:

  • Visual progress (streaks motivate)
  • One tap to check
  • No complexity

Download →

2. Fabulous

Price: Free trial, then $100/year Best for: Building routines from scratch

A full “habit coaching” app with morning routine focus.

How it works:

  • “Journeys” guide you to build routines slowly
  • Starts with one habit, adds more over time
  • Coaching content explains the why

Why it works:

  • Doesn’t overwhelm you with 10 habits day one
  • Science-backed approach
  • Beautiful design

The catch:

  • Expensive
  • Lots of content to get through
  • Can feel slow

3. Routinery

Price: Free (Premium $40/year) Best for: Timed routine flow

Guides you through your routine step by step with timers.

How it works:

  1. Create your routine with time estimates
  2. App shows each step with countdown
  3. Sounds notify when to move on

Why it works:

  • No thinking — just follow the app
  • Prevents spending 20 minutes on a 5-minute task
  • Keeps you on track

Best for: People who lose track of time or need structure.

4. Finch

Price: Free Best for: Gentle accountability

You raise a virtual bird by completing self-care tasks.

How it works:

  • Complete routines → bird grows
  • Skip routines → bird is sad (but supportive)
  • Focus on self-care, not productivity

Why it works:

  • Gentler than aggressive trackers
  • Doesn’t shame you for misses
  • Actually kind of cute

Best for: People who respond to nurturing more than numbers.

5. Productive

Price: Free (Premium $30/year) Best for: Flexible habit timing

Set habits for specific times of day with flexible scheduling.

How it works:

  • Assign habits to morning, afternoon, evening
  • Reminders at your chosen times
  • Track streaks and completion rates

Why it works:

  • Flexible timing
  • Good free version
  • Clean interface

Building a Morning Routine (Without Apps)

Apps help, but the principles matter more:

Start tiny

Don’t create a 2-hour routine. Start with 15 minutes. Build up.

Same time every day

Consistency beats perfection. 6am every day beats “whenever I wake up.”

Front-load the important stuff

The most important habit should be first. That way you do it even if everything else falls apart.

Prepare the night before

Lay out workout clothes. Prep the coffee. Remove morning friction.

Don’t check your phone

Email and social media put you in reactive mode. Avoid for first 30-60 minutes.

If you’re starting from zero:

Week 1-2:

  • Wake up at consistent time
  • Drink water (before coffee)
  • 2 minutes of stretching

Week 3-4: Add one of:

  • 5 minutes meditation (MeditationApp)
  • Journal (3 things you’re grateful for)
  • Read for 10 minutes

Week 5+: Add one of:

  • Exercise (even 15 minutes)
  • Plan the day
  • Affirmations (Affirmations)

Track with SimpleStreaks.

Why Morning Routines Fail

1. Too ambitious

“I’ll wake up at 5am, exercise for an hour, meditate, journal, and read.”

You won’t. Start smaller.

2. No flexibility

Life happens. A routine that can’t handle an early meeting or late night isn’t sustainable.

3. No purpose

Why are you doing this? Without a clear reason, motivation fades.

4. Wrong time

If you’re not a morning person, a 5am routine won’t stick. Work with your biology.

5. No tracking

Without tracking, you don’t know if you’re consistent. You probably aren’t.

FAQ

What’s the best morning routine? The one you’ll actually do. Start small, build up.

How long should a morning routine be? 15-60 minutes is typical. Quality over length.

Do I need an app for a morning routine? No. But apps help with consistency and tracking.

What if I’m not a morning person? Shift your routine slightly later, or focus on evening routines instead.

Should I exercise in the morning? If you can stick to it, morning exercise is great. But any consistent exercise time works.

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— Dolce