# FocusByte - Study Timer Hatch — user reviews > 52 indexed App Store user reviews of FocusByte by MindGarden Inc, rated 4.70/5 from 219 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusbyte-study-timer-hatch/id1517162999/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusbyte-study-timer-hatch/id1517162999.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 181 · 4★ 25 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 6 ## What do users think of FocusByte? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 💡 Gamified focus sessions - 🎨 Visually appealing design - 📈 Boosts productivity - 🎮 Motivating rewards system - 👍 Easy to use - ✨ Great for studying - ❤️ Encourages focus - 🚀 Effective for ADHD - 🌟 Highly recommended **Cons** - 🐛 Timer bugs/freezes - 🐛 UI issues on older devices - 🐛 Syncing problems - 🐛 Settings inaccessible - 🐛 Links not working - 🐛 Statistics crashing - 🐛 Timer not persisting - 🐛 Deep focus drains battery - 🐛 No sound notifications - 🐛 Data loss after reinstall - 🐛 In-app purchases not unlocking **Commonly reported bugs** - UI needs to be fixed - Timer doesn’t persist when app is closed - Cannot access most options in Settings - Words don’t go to links - Statistics don’t work/crash - Email link to report bugs doesn’t work - Timer fails when phone screen turns off - Deep focus mode unusable without draining battery - Does not sync across devices unless logged out/in - No sound notification when timer runs out - Items and pet disappeared after reinstall - Cannot remove or edit tags - App freezes with 1 second left on timer - Timer glitches and loses progress - App resetting randomly in middle of session - Unable to retrieve reward after reset - App not free when advertised as free - UI and dimensions not compatible with SE gen1 - App freezes when phone locks in Deep Focus Mode - Notifications about treasure loss stop timer **Most requested features** - Fix UI for older iPhones (SE gen1) - Optimize for iPhone 7 screen size - Allow background color customization - Add audible notification for timer end - Allow avatar skin tone customization - More customization options - More battling or monster features ## Newest reviews (12 of 52) ### 4/5 — Great app but some bugs *2022-03-05* I just purchased the pro version because I really fell in love with this app. But I just found out that I can’t remove or edit tags. Please fix this bug. Also if the app can be optimized for iphone 7 screen size, the app would be great. On my iphone 7, things are on top of each other or go beyond my screen. And it would be nice if I can choose the background color other than lilac. Otherwise I love the theme and everything! ### 4/5 — App would be great however… *2021-05-18, version 1.4.4* This app is great, I’ve just upgraded to premium however and ever since doing so, my timer/app freezes with 1 second left on the timer, and doesn’t count any study time as it glitches out and loses the progress as if I haven't even used the timer. Possibly a bug but if so please prioritise fixing this as it is impacting my work productivity a lot! Other than that, this app is amazing for those who need an incentive to get stuff done :) ### 4/5 — Great tool but some glitches *2021-04-21* This is the best app purchase I’ve made for productivity! Makes studying more bearable. But I have been having issues with the app resetting randomly in the middle of a session and so I’m unable to retrieve my reward. This has happened regardless of shorter sessions or longer sessions (eg 20 min, 2 hours), even without other apps open, which throws off my momentum and turns me off from the app for the rest of the day. **Developer response:** Hi thank you for the support! Could you email me at focusbyteteam@gmail.com so I can help you out? Thank you! ### 4/5 — Almost perfect *2021-04-17* I always use this app when studying or working on a project — as someone who struggles with focus the game aspect really helps me. I only wish that there was an audible notification when the focus session is over. There’s a silent banner but it’s barely noticeable. ### 4/5 — Key feature missing *2021-01-09* This is an amazing app. I simply love it!! Its really fun to use!! Thank you so much to the developers. The only thing I wish it had is a loud notification sound on completion of the timer. This would make it soooo much more useful. ### 4/5 — Really Helpful *2020-12-27, version 1.3.3* This app is extremely helpful for keeping me motivated. I find I'm more likely to get work done in the smaller stints and it makes it less daunting. My only thing, occassionally when I'm Deep Focus Mode and my phone locks, the chest disappears unless I unlock my phone which isn't very helpful for my battery or focus. If you could look at fixing that it would really help. ### 5/5 — Great for ADHD *2020-10-13, version 1.3.3* 10/10 would recommend ### 5/5 — Great Incentive *2020-09-28* i love this app because it keeps me from using my phone while studying. don't want to lose the xp and coins so i let the time run to get my reward. it would be nice to add some more features but all in all its a great app! ### 5/5 — Love it :) *2020-09-19, version 1.3.3* I’m here from elloitsangela’s shoutout, and I really like this app! Keep it up! ### 4/5 — Needs alarm with timer *2020-09-18, version 1.3.3* I need to know when I’m done with one session! ### 5/5 — Totally recommend it! *2020-09-09, version 1.3.3* Saw this in Angela’s video and decided to give it a go. I’m absolutely loving it, it keeps me productive and motivated! Thank you! 🤩 ### 5/5 — Aesthetically pleasing *2020-09-09, version 1.3.3* This app is incredibly impactful. I don’t just mean the functionality of the timer, but the whole visual experience. It gave me gameboy advance vibes and the fact you can make customizations your your avatar?? I found this app thanks to Elloitsangela’s study with me- 2hour pomodoro YouTube video. It helped me knock out my discussion assignment and get a head start on my learning journal. So cute! It motivated me to restart my coding journey! Thank you Devs for such an amazing app❤️ ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Good idea, bad execution *2022-03-08* So, I love the idea and design of this app. However, it does not give you a sound notification when the timer runs out. So unless you’re glued to your phone in order to see the silent notification, it’s ultimately useless as a timer. You know, only the most basic function of a pomodoro. I’ve tested my phone to see if this is an issue with it or the app itself and it’s definitely only this app. I’ve checked the settings to see if I have notification sounds off, nope. Turned off and turned on my phone, nothing. I’ve deleted and reinstalled the app, nada. I have never had this issue with any other app before, and unfortunately, it’d actually be easier to ignore on another app. But on this one, it renders the product almost entirely useless. Edit: I said that deleting and redownloading the app did nothing, I was wrong. It actually got rid of my items and pet despite me having a profile🙃 ### 1/5 — This is supposed to be free today…. *2021-11-16, version 1.4.6* This is supposed to be free today to unlock entire program. “Tap anywhere on pricing page.” App insists on charging rather than confirming entire program unlocked. ### 1/5 — loved the idea! *2021-01-21* i honestly love the idea and fell in love with design. BUT - sadly, whenever I start a timer I get notifcations saying „you treasure is about to be lost“ and when I open the app my timer stopped and theres just the sinking ship. I‘m quite sad about this, was looking forward to using it. ### 1/5 — Fix it please *2020-11-18, version 1.3.3* I have the iPhone SE first gen and It’s a pain to navigate this app since it was clearly optimized for bigger iPhones. I’ve heard great things about this app so please fix it for those of us who have older iPhones. ### 2/5 — Bugs *2024-12-08, version 1.4.6* UI needs to be fixed. Also the timer doesn’t persist when you close the app. ### 2/5 — UI needs to be fixed *2020-08-06, version 1.3.3* Currently using the SE gen1 and I just downloaded the app. The concept and design of the app is amazing! However it seems like the UI and dimensions of the app aren’t compatible with the SE gen1. So I’m kinda disappointed with that. ### 3/5 — I really want to like it but has some bugs that won’t go away *2023-08-02* I can’t access most options in the Settings section. Words don’t go to links, they do nothing. Not even the email link to report bugs. The statistics don’t work anymore, it just crashes. It been like this for a few months, I have email them so I hope they fix the bugs soon. I had to copy & paste it into my email app to do so, since the link doesn’t work. So for three months I haven’t been able to look at my statistics, therefore I haven’t been using this app as much & I’m starting to regret going pro with it. I never got a response on when the bugs would be fixed nor do I know if they will since I email them three months ago. ### 3/5 — Great design but annoying to use *2023-05-03* The very first time I tried to set a timer it failed because my phone screen turned itself off which I guess counts as leaving the app? I turned off deep focus mode but it’s annoying that feature is basically unusable unless I want to drain my phone battery ### 3/5 — Syncing across devices *2022-10-01, version 1.4.6* I was happy to pay the premium price. As I would like to use this app on my iPhone and iPad. However, it does not sync across both devices. Unless, you log out and log back in. ### 3/5 — Needs a fix *2020-07-19, version 1.3.3* Love the app and all but needs a bug fix. There this annoying thing when I turn off my phone to focus on work it says I need to come back or I’ll lose my progress when I have not open any other app other than turn off my phone. Honestly so annoying ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great to motivate focus *2023-07-17, version 1.4.6* This is an essential part in helping me study for uni every day. Just the little reward each time I study is very motivating. It just add some fun to a really emotionally and cognitively draining Degree/S ### 5/5 — Very cool *2023-03-28* It’s perfect! I use everyday in my pomodoro session. ❤️ ### 5/5 — Grate! *2021-04-21, version 1.4.4* This ap is moore gooder then I thinked it would be! ### 5/5 — Found this cool! *2021-04-19, version 1.4.3* Found this through elloitsangela’s YouTube video recently and tis quite helpful ### 5/5 — Truly amazing *2021-04-17, version 1.4.3* Just download it man ### 5/5 — Functional and Effective *2021-03-29, version 1.4.2* This app eliminates distractions and provides a more controlled environment to study. I feel relaxed using this app knowing how long I have worked. I love the extra features, I look forward to every upgrade for my character. You’ve done a great job Dante. ### 5/5 — Great variant of pomodoro apps *2021-03-22* Has all the features one would need with a pomodoro app ### 5/5 — love it! *2021-02-24, version 1.3.7* productivity levels 📈📈📈!!! encourages me to get stuff done without exhausting myself completely:) ### 5/5 — Helps with productivity *2021-02-16* I have short attention span, so whenever I want to focus on working or studying for a while, I use this app to track my progress and earn cool inventory items. It does help me accomplish a lot of goals. The app design is simple but effective. The developer responds in a timely manner to any bug reported. Great app! ### 5/5 — Miss *2021-02-01, version 1.3.3* A sound to alert at the end of the timer will be helpful --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*