The short answer
Daily Pact
Our pick★ 5.0 on the App StoreIf you'd rather answer to friends than pay a fine.
Daily Pact puts one small habit in a private group: one-tap check-ins, a leaderboard, notifications when a friend shows up, and PactPause for bad weeks. No stakes, no proof uploads. iPhone and Android. 14 days free, then $0.99 a month.
If that doesn't fit you
- You want pledges on numbers that sync: Beeminder.
- You want a friend as referee: stickK.
- You want small stakes in a group: Squad.
- You want a contract without money: Habit Huddle.
Quick comparison
| App | Stakes | Friends | Auto proof | Android | Price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Daily PactOur pickFriend groups, one-tap check-ins | $0.99/mo after trial | iOS · Android | ||||
| BeeminderData goals with pledges | Free + pledges | Web · iOS · Android | ||||
| stickKCommitment contracts | Free | Web · iOS · Android | ||||
| SquadSmall accountability squads | Free / credits | iOS · Android | ||||
| Habit HuddleHuddles with friends or the public | Free / paid plan | Web · iOS · Android | ||||
| ForfeitHabit contracts with proof | Free + stakes | iOS · Android · Mac |
Prices are US storefront, checked 21 October 2026.
How we chose
We build Daily Pact, so read our pick with that in mind. Every app here was judged on the same questions: who notices when you skip, how fast the check-in is, what happens after a missed day, and what it really costs. We say plainly where another app does something we don't. The full policy is on our About page.
1. Daily Pact
Our pickFriends on the line instead of money
Forfeit makes skipping cost money. Daily Pact makes skipping visible to people you care about. You start a private group with a friend or a few, pick one daily or weekly habit, and everyone checks in with one tap. The leaderboard shows who showed up, a notification goes out when someone checks in, and friends can nudge and cheer. There's no proof system and no charge for missing: it runs on the fact that your friends will notice. PactPause lets you ask for a break that the group votes to approve, so a sick week doesn't cost the streak.
New accounts get 14 days free · No credit card
Pros
- Rated 5.0 on the App Store
- Nothing to lose but face
- Friends see every check-in
- PactPause for bad weeks
- iPhone and Android
Cons
- No money stakes
- Check-ins are on trust: no photo or GPS proof
- Needs at least one friend to join
2. Beeminder
The original pay-when-you-fail app
Beeminder is the closest thing to Forfeit for numbers. You set a goal you can count, report your data or connect Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin, Strava, Duolingo, Todoist, RescueTime and many others, and Beeminder charts it against a bright red line. Cross the line and you're charged. Core use is free; the standard pledge schedule climbs $0, $5, $10, $30, $90, $270, so the first slip is free and later ones hurt more. Premium plans start at $8 a month.
Pros
- Free unless you derail
- Automatic data from dozens of apps
- Escalating pledges
Cons
- Graphs take some learning
- Goals must be countable
- No friends in the loop
3. stickK
Commitment contracts with a referee
stickK was created by behavioral economists at Yale and is the classic commitment contract. You set a goal and a timeline, invite a friend as your Referee to confirm your reports, and optionally add stakes. If you fail, the money goes to a friend, a charity or an anti-charity you can't stand. Supporters can cheer you on. Stakes are optional and the app is free to download. Its App Store rating is low (2.6 from 26 ratings), so try it before relying on it.
Pros
- Free to download, stakes optional
- A human referee you choose
- Anti-charity option
Cons
- Low App Store rating
- Self-reported, verified by your referee
- Fewer proof options than Forfeit
4. Squad
Credits on the line, in a small group
Squad puts a smaller stake in a group. Public squads cost credits to join, each missed check-in costs a credit, and you can earn back what you put in based on your check-in score. Credits are bought in the app (12 credits for $9.99). Squads with your own friends are free and don't use credits at all. Groups are kept small, up to about 15 people. Squad Pro is $8.99 a month or $74.99 a year.
Pros
- Free private squads with friends
- Small stakes, not big fines
- 10 to 30-day group challenges
Cons
- Stakes are credits, not cash
- Credits only in public squads
- Pro is $74.99/yr
5. Habit Huddle
A contract, without the deposit
Habit Huddle has accountability contracts too, with no money deposits. Each member of a huddle sets a Floor (the minimum on a bad day) and a Ceiling, checks in daily with notes or photos, and adds a link to the huddle's shared Checkin Chain. Streak freezes are earned every 30 days and there's a 14-day vacation mode. Free to start, with some features on a paid plan.
Pros
- Contracts without money
- Streak freezes and vacation mode
- Web, Android and Discord
Cons
- No real penalty for skipping
- More setup than Forfeit
- Some features paid
6. Forfeit
For reference: the app you're comparing
Forfeit turns each habit into a contract: you set the task, a deadline and what happens if you miss, usually money, though it can also be a text or email to an accountability buddy. You prove it with a photo checked by AI, a timelapse checked by a human, a friend's verification, GPS, Apple Health, Strava, Screen Time and more. Appeals are reviewed by a person, and hard mode turns them off. Free to download, with Premium and Pro plans (Premium $59.99 a year, Pro $99.99 a year on the App Store). Rated 4.8 from 366 ratings.
Pros
- Real proof, hard to cheat
- Huge range of verification methods
- Human-reviewed appeals
Cons
- Costs money when you fail
- Paid plans for more
- Can feel stressful
What the Forfeit app does well
Forfeit solves the weakest part of most habit apps: you can lie to them. With a photo checked by AI, a GPS check-in at the gym or a Strava run, a check-in actually means you did it. The appeal system keeps it fair, since a human reviews a missed task when life gets in the way, and the leniency modes let you choose how strict it is. For people who know they respond to loss, it works, and it's rated 4.8 on the App Store.
People look for Forfeit app alternatives when the stress stops helping, when they want something free, or when they'd rather have people than penalties.
Money on the line or friends: which works better?
Both work for some people, and the difference is what happens on the hard days.
| Money stakes | Friend accountability | |
|---|---|---|
| What keeps you going | Not wanting to lose money | Not wanting to let people down |
| When it's strongest | Clear tasks you can prove | Small daily habits you repeat |
| The risk | Gaming the rules, or quitting the app | Friends drifting off |
| Cost | Free until you fail | Usually free or a few dollars a year |
| Best example | Forfeit, Beeminder | Daily Pact, Habit Huddle |
Research on friends points the same way as the apps: in Wing and Jeffery (1999), people who joined a weight-loss program with friends were more likely to finish (95% versus 76%) and to keep the weight off at 10 months (66% versus 24%) than those who joined alone. Money and friends aren't exclusive, either. stickK and Squad combine both.
Who should pick what
You need proof and a real cost: stay with Forfeit. Nothing else here verifies as much.
Your goals are numbers that sync from other apps: Beeminder.
You want a friend to judge you, with money as backup: stickK. See our stickK alternatives too.
You want light stakes in a group: Squad.
You'd rather have people than penalties: Daily Pact. Start a pact with one friend on one small habit. Our guide to finding an accountabilibuddy covers who to ask, and the free habit tracker apps with friends list shows the free options.
You'd pay for a human instead: see our GoalsWon alternatives, or the full roundup of accountability apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Forfeit app work?
You set a habit, a deadline and a stake. Before the deadline you submit proof, such as a photo checked by AI, a GPS check-in or data from Apple Health or Strava. If you don't, your stake is charged, or your chosen accountability message is sent. You can appeal, and a human reviews it.
Is the Forfeit app free?
Forfeit is free to download, with paid Premium and Pro plans on the App Store (Premium $59.99 a year, Pro $99.99 a year, with weekly and monthly options). You also pay any stakes you set if you miss a task.
What is a free alternative to Forfeit?
Beeminder is free unless you derail, stickK is free with optional stakes, and Squad is free with your own friends. Habit Huddle has a free tier with contracts and no money. Daily Pact is free for 14 days, then $0.99 a month.
Do money-based habit apps work?
For some people, very well, especially for clear tasks you can prove. Others find the stress makes them quit the app entirely. If that's you, accountability to friends is a gentler alternative.
Related guides
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5.0 from 12 App Store ratingsAvailable on iPhone & Android · 14 days free for new accounts