Beeminder vs Pavlok (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Beeminder if

• Fits if real money on the line is what gets you moving
• Works for people whose fitness tracker or other apps can report their numbers through the free integrations or the API

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if being charged for a bad week would sting, as derailing charges your pledge on every plan, free included
• Tight if you stay free, as goals are capped and the cap only rises when you pay for a derailment
• Pricey if you want unlimited goals ($8 a month), auto-ratchet and weekends off ($16) or goals with no pledge ($81)
• Not for you if you'd rather not learn Bright Red Lines, derailments and safety buffers before your first goal
• Watch out: the SMS bot works with US numbers only and needs Bee Plus, and there's no Mac or Windows app

Pick Pavlok if

• Fits if you want a physical nudge on your wrist when you slip on a habit
• Works for people who keep missing alarms and want a device that escalates

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want software only, since every route here is a device purchase or rental
• Not for you if you dislike a startling zap, which the company itself describes as unpleasant
• Pricey if you're comparing with habit apps that cost a few dollars a month
• Watch out: the rental is for the US and Canada only, and the refund terms sit on a separate page
• Too light for tracking many habits on a checklist

Beeminder

• Derailing a goal charges your pledge to Beeminder, on the free plan as well as on the paid ones.
• The free Core plan tracks a limited number of goals; the limit rises each time you pay for a derailment.
• Goals with no pledges and the option to send half of a pledge to charity are limited to Beemium at $81 per month.
• The SMS bot works with US numbers only and needs Bee Plus or Beemium.

Pavlok

• It is hardware: the price is a device purchase or a rental, not a software subscription.
• The zap is described by the company as unpleasant and startling, so it is not for everyone.
• The rental program is offered for US and Canada only, according to the product page.
• The page lists a 180-day money-back guarantee, but check the returns page for its terms.

Beeminder

Bright Red Line graphs

Every goal gets a graph with a Bright Red Line showing the rate you committed to. The steepness can be adjusted as you go, and you can walk away from a goal with one week's notice.

Pledges on every goal

Crossing the line charges your pledge, which then rises through a fixed schedule from $5 to $2,430 unless you cap it. The FAQ says the first attempt is free.

Autodata integrations

Dozens of integrations report data automatically, including Fitbit, Garmin, Strava, Apple Health, Duolingo, Todoist and RescueTime. All are included in the free plan.

Several ways to report

Enter numbers on the web dashboard, in the iOS or Android app, by replying to the bot's emails or in Slack. An SMS bot for US numbers comes with Bee Plus.

API, IFTTT and Zapier

A public API and connections to IFTTT and Zapier allow custom automation, and are part of the free Core plan.

Breaks and safety buffer

Breaks can be scheduled and pledges capped on any plan. After a derailment the goal restarts with a week of safety buffer by default.

Pavlok

Beep, vibration and zap

Devices escalate from a chime or vibration to an electric zap; the page says intensity is adjustable from 0 to 100%.

Smart alarms

Shock Clock devices can require actions such as jumping jacks, scanning a QR code or solving a puzzle to switch off.

Habit routines in the app

The Pavlok app lets you create and customize routines, track habits and sleep, and use AI insights.

Buddy and challenges

A trusted friend can trigger the zap for you, and monthly Pavlok Challenge groups add peer accountability.

Automations

Connects to services such as IFTTT and Zapier, and offers an API and a productivity extension.

Beeminder

• Core Beeminder$0

  A limited number of goals with unlimited data, pledge caps, scheduled breaks, every app and integration, and API access. Derailments charge your pledge.

• Infinibee$8

  per month, billed monthly

  Unlimited goals, exotic goal types and a subscription that stops renewing by itself if you stop using Beeminder.

• Bee Plus$16

  per month, billed monthly

  Everything in Infinibee, plus auto-ratchet, custom goals, weekends off, the graph editor and an SMS bot for US numbers.

• Beemium$81

  per month, billed monthly

  Everything in Bee Plus, plus goals with no pledges, pledge short-circuiting, a 50% charity option and chat access to the developers.

Pavlok

• Shock Clock 3 rental$19.99

  per month, rental with option to buy; US and Canada

  Rents the Shock Clock 3 with no contract; the page says you can return it and may buy it outright.

• Shock Clock 3$159.99

  one-time purchase

  Wake-up wearable that escalates from vibration and chime to a zap, controlled in the Pavlok app.

• Pavlok 3$184.99

  one-time purchase, Sports and Deluxe editions

  Wearable that interrupts unwanted habits in the moment with beep, vibration or an optional zap.

• Shock Clock MAX$219.99

  one-time purchase

  Sleep and wake-up device with a backlit display, sold as a one-time purchase.

Beeminder

• Annual discount

  14% off when paying yearly

  The pricing page's discount slider gives 14% off premium plans paid yearly, and the discount grows with longer payment intervals, up to two years.

• Education

  Student and senior discounts on request

  The premium FAQ says Beeminder has student and senior discounts and asks those who may qualify to get in touch. It does not state the amounts.

• Other savings

  Discounts for jobseekers and non-OECD residents

  The same FAQ lists discounts for jobseekers and for people living in non-OECD countries, also arranged by contacting support.

Pavlok

No public discounts listed.