A quick note about our new app
(coming soon!)
New free app available for pre-order
We developed the original Home Routines app in early 2010, soon after the release of the first iPhones, while our youngest child was a newborn baby. The phones are now much larger and the “baby” is now taller than both of us. Anyway, it was time for a refresh!
Over the past few years we’ve been working hard in our “spare time” to develop an updated edition of Home Routines, and we’re really happy with it. It’s more modern and it has some excellent new features.
We have made this a new, separate app, rather than an app store update of the original Home Routines.
What’s in the new app?
The new app will be free to download, and it does most everything the original one does, for free.
You will be able to use upgraded versions of Routines, Lists and Zones, accomplishments and more, for as long as you like, without subscribing. (If you scroll down to the images below, all the features that don’t have the little pink heart on them are free)
If you subscribe you’ll get even more new stuff, like Apple Watch support, shuffle mode, section headers, custom zone scheduling, and recurrence schedules on tasks (as well as extra icons, backgrounds and other “flair”)
Why are you adding a subscription?
Things have changed in the app market since 2010. App shoppers much prefer being able to download apps for free so they can see if they like the vibe. We we hope that making the app free will let more people give it a try and see if it suits them, without the barrier of an up-front purchase.
Subscribing will also fund ongoing support and development of our independent app. We have so many ideas!
What happens to the “original” Home Routines app?
If you purchased Home Routines in the past, it will not be replaced on your phone, and will continue to work, including the custom sync system we developed. It may still get some minor updates to keep it working with iOS as long as we can, but we won’t be adding any new features there.
We will be removing it from the app store to avoid confusion, but if you need to download it again you will still be able to get it from the “purchased” area.
Rosie and Tim
(We’re currently updating the website as well so some information will be out of date)
Home Routines is an iPhone and iPad app for what we like to call Repeaty Stuff. You create lists of jobs that need to be done around the same time, or on the same day.
These lists are called Routines. These appear to remind you when you need them, and when you mark each task as complete you get a gold star.
The tasks’ completion stars can automatically reset in time for your next time through the routine. Nobody wants to be faced with a hangover of missed jobs from the day before, as well as the ones you have to do today. Some days are hard enough as it is. (Besides, you don’t need to sweep the floor twice in a row if you missed it one time)
At the bottom of each screen you’ll find a handy timer. 9/10 productivity experts* recommend setting a timer to help you get started and get focused!
There’s a “Focus Zones” section where you can keep your own detailed cleaning lists for each room or area of your place. These can rotate per day of the week, or each week of the month, to help you steadily do that little extra to keep ahead of the creeping Mess of Doom.
You can also add one-off tasks to built in to do lists.
The Accomplishments list is my favourite part of the app. It’s a happy little place where you can see (and share) everything you’ve marked as complete today.
It’s a glorious app that makes you feel good about all the things you need to do, and shows you how much you’ve got done even on days when you don’t feel like you have.