DuoShare vs Beeminder
Beeminder holds you accountable with money: you pledge an amount, and if you go off track, you pay. DuoShare holds you accountable with people: a friend sees your check-ins, and you see theirs. Money is a strong push for some people; a friend is free and tends to feel better over the long run.
We make DuoShare, so we list it first, but we describe every app as fairly as we can. Features and prices change; check each app’s store page.
Side by side
| DuoShare | Beeminder | |
|---|---|---|
| Accountability | A friend, partner or group | Money you pledge |
| Cost to you | Free | Free to start; you pay if you derail |
| Best for | Daily habits, long-term consistency | Quantified goals with data |
| Platforms | iPhone | Web, iPhone, Android |
Social vs. financial stakes
Money works because losing it hurts. Friends work because letting them down hurts, and because they cheer you on. Financial stakes can feel like a punishment you are trying to avoid; social stakes feel like a team you are on. Many people find the second easier to keep for months.
DuoShare at a glance
- What it is
- An accountability habit tracker for iPhone: you and your friends check off goals and see when each other is done.
- Price
- Free. Goals, friends, streaks, reminders, the widget and challenges with up to 4 people cost nothing.
- DuoShare Pro
- Optional: groups and challenges of 5 to 10 people. $29.99 once, or $4.99 a month.
- Platform
- iPhone (iOS). No Android or web app yet.
- Challenges
- 7, 30 or 66 days, with one friend or a group, joined with one link.
- Streaks
- Your streak grows every day you check off a goal. Mark a goal N/A once a week without breaking it.
- Sharing
- Every milestone becomes a card you can post to Instagram, Messages or anywhere.
- Privacy
- Goals are private until you share them with friends you choose. Nothing is public. Your journal is never shared.
- Languages
- English and Spanish.
- Made by
- SearchWrite LLC, United States.
Start in under a minute
- Get DuoShare free on the App Store and sign up with your phone number.
- Add one to three small goals. Small sticks.
- Send a friend your invite link. Your streak starts with your first check-in.
iPhone · Free · No ads
Questions
Is there an accountability app without paying penalties?
Yes. DuoShare uses friends, not money, and is free.
Which works better, money or friends?
It depends on the person. Research supports both social support and commitment devices. Friends are free and also make the habit more enjoyable.
Can I use DuoShare with money stakes?
Not today. Some friends make their own side bets; DuoShare just shows who checked in.