TimeNinja vs Goblin.tools: task breakdown vs a full ADHD planner
These two aren't really rivals — Goblin.tools is a free, single-purpose task-breakdown tool, and TimeNinja is a full daily planner that happens to break tasks down too. Goblin's "Magic ToDo" is brilliant for the exact moment a task feels too vague to begin: you type "clean the kitchen," it returns step-by-step micro-tasks. TimeNinja does that same on-device, then does the parts Goblin doesn't — scheduling those steps, timing them with a visual timer, and learning how long they actually take you. The honest answer for most people is: use Goblin for one-off breakdowns, and a planner like TimeNinja to run the day.
At a glance
| TimeNinja | Goblin.tools | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Full daily planner + timer | Task-breakdown utility (Magic ToDo) |
| Breaks tasks into steps | Yes — on-device AI | Yes — its core feature |
| Schedules the steps | Yes | No |
| Visual timer | Yes | No |
| Learns real durations | Yes | No |
| Kids / Family Mode | Yes | No |
| Privacy | On-device; nothing sent | Cloud AI (browser) |
| Price | Paid (trial + lifetime option) | Free in browser; cheap apps |
Goblin.tools details reflect its public description at the time of writing.
Where Goblin.tools wins
Goblin.tools is one of the best free ADHD tools on the internet, and we'll happily say so. For the specific pain of "this task is too big and vague to start," its Magic ToDo is fast, free, needs no account, and you can re-break any step into smaller steps with a tap of the "spiciness" dial. Its Formalizer (rewrite a blunt message into a polite one, or vice-versa) and other little tools are genuinely useful. If all you need is to defeat task paralysis in the moment, you may not need to pay for anything at all — and that's a legitimate answer.
Where TimeNinja goes further
The catch with a pure breakdown tool is that a list of steps still isn't a plan. You've turned one vague task into ten clear ones — now when do they happen, and how long will they really take? That's the gap TimeNinja fills:
- Breakdown that lands in a plan. TimeNinja's Break It Down AI produces the steps, then those steps live inside a scheduled, timed day — not a disposable list you'll close and forget (classic object-permanence trap).
- Visible time. Each step runs with a shrinking visual timer, so time blindness doesn't quietly eat the afternoon.
- Real-timing memory. TimeNinja logs how long steps actually take into your Real Time Library and improves future estimates.
- On-device privacy. The AI runs locally via Apple Intelligence — task text never leaves your phone, and it works offline.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Goblin.tools if you want a free, no-account tool for one-off task breakdown and quick text rewrites.
- Choose TimeNinja if you need to actually schedule and run your day — breakdown plus visible time, real-timing learning, and (for parents) a kids' routine mode.
- Use both if you like: brainstorm a big project's steps in Goblin, then schedule and time them in TimeNinja.
See how both fit among the rest in our best ADHD planner apps of 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Goblin.tools or TimeNinja better for ADHD?
They solve different problems. Goblin.tools is the best free tool for "this task is too vague to start." TimeNinja is a full planner that breaks tasks down on-device and then schedules, times, and learns them. Use Goblin for one-off breakdowns; use TimeNinja to run your day.
Is Goblin.tools free?
Goblin.tools is free in a browser, with inexpensive mobile apps. TimeNinja is paid (with a free trial and a lifetime option) because it also schedules, times, learns durations, and includes Family Mode. If you only need breakdown, Goblin is an excellent free choice.
Does TimeNinja break tasks down like Goblin.tools?
Yes — its Break It Down AI turns a vague task into concrete steps, entirely on-device, so it works offline and nothing is sent anywhere. The difference is those steps then live inside a timed plan.
Can I use Goblin.tools and TimeNinja together?
Absolutely — a common workflow is to brainstorm a big project's steps in Goblin.tools, then drop them into TimeNinja to schedule, time, and track across the week.