# Gentle Start: Focus Timer — Beat procrastination, calmly > A one-tap, upward-counting timer to initiate tasks without pressure. (iPhone/iPad app by JOHNNY LI.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gentle-start-focus-timer/id6767757117 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [JOHNNY LI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1778905380) - Category: Productivity, Lifestyle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.0 · 45 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-05-20 - Data updated: 2026-07-29 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gentle-start-focus-timer/id6767757117/reviews.md ## What is Gentle Start? Starting is the hardest part. Gentle Start makes it one tap. When a task feels too big to begin, this is the smallest possible push. Open the app, tap once, and a calm focus timer counts up from zero. That's it - you've started, and starting was the whole battle. There's no goal to reach. No streak to keep alive. No countdown racing you to a finish line. Gentle Start counts UP, not down - so there's nothing to fail and no way to fall behind. Stay thirty seconds or thirty minutes. Both count. Both are real. HOW IT WORKS - Tap to begin: one button, no setup, no plan, no account. - The timer counts up quietly inside a living, animated scene. Nothing on screen pressures you - it's just proof that you're doing it. - Stop whenever it feels right. You showed up, and that's enough. WHY IT'S DIFFERENT Most focus timers and productivity apps are built around finishing - streaks, daily goals, charts, pomodoro countdowns, reminders that nag. For a brain that already feels behind, that pressure is the very thing that makes starting feel impossible. So Gentle Start leaves it out. No metrics staring back at you. No guilt. No catching up. Just a gentle way across the one line that actually matters: from not-started to started. WHO IT'S FOR Made for procrastinators, people with ADHD and executive dysfunction, students facing down an assignment or a long study session, writers staring at a blank page, and anyone who knows the strange, heavy weight of simply beginning. Whether you call it procrastination, task paralysis, or "I just can't start" - if "just start" has never once worked as advice, this was built for you. CALM BY DESIGN - 28 living themes: drifting clouds, falling snow, rising bubbles, a quiet night sky, and more - soft animated scenes that are easy on the eyes while you work. Or pick random and come back to a fresh space each session. - Ambient soundscapes: rain, fireplace, forest, and other gentle audio to ease you into focus. - A companion while you work: a tiny animated sun keeps you company in the Dynamic Island and on your Lock Screen during a session - with a whole sky of suns to choose from. - Home Screen widgets and Live Activities keep your session calm and glanceable without opening the app. - Works with Siri and the Action Button, so you can start without even looking. WHAT GENTLE START WILL NEVER DO - No streaks - No daily goals - No guilt, no shame - No ads - No subscriptions - No account or sign-up - No tracking Your sessions stay on your device. There's nothing to log into, and nothing watching you work. Gentle Start isn't here to make you do more. It's here to make starting feel possible, especially on the days it doesn't. Tap once. Start small. That counts. Gentle Start is on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Wherever you are, make your next start a gentle one. ## Key features - One-tap timer start - Upward counting timer - Living themes with animations - Ambient soundscapes - Live Activities integration - No streaks or goals ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Gentle Start Premium | $4.99 | one-time | ## Frequently asked questions about Gentle Start ### What is Gentle Start? Gentle Start is a productivity app designed to help users overcome procrastination by providing a simple, one-tap timer that counts upwards. It focuses on the act of starting a task rather than reaching a specific goal or maintaining a streak. ### Does Gentle Start have ads? No, Gentle Start is ad-free. The app explicitly states that it will never have advertisements, ensuring an uninterrupted user experience. ### What devices is Gentle Start available on? Gentle Start is available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, allowing users to maintain their focus sessions across multiple Apple devices. ### How does Gentle Start help with procrastination? Gentle Start helps by removing the pressure often associated with focus timers. It counts up from zero, has no goals to meet, and no streaks to maintain, making the initial step of starting a task feel less daunting. ### Can I customize the timer in Gentle Start? While the core functionality is a simple one-tap start, Gentle Start offers customization through its living themes and ambient soundscapes. These features are designed to create a calm and visually pleasing environment for users. ### Is there a subscription for Gentle Start? No, Gentle Start does not require a subscription. The app is free to download and use, with no recurring fees or premium tiers. ### How often is Gentle Start updated? Gentle Start was last updated on July 7, 2026, with version 1.8. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support for the application. ### What is the age rating for Gentle Start? Gentle Start has an age rating of 4+. This means it is suitable for users of all ages, with no content that would be considered inappropriate for young children. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.5 — 2026-07-26 Brand new, beautiful music during timer. ### 2.4 — 2026-07-20 - your companion can have a name now. the name shows up with them on your lock screen, pause screen, and dynamic island - new companions: a grizzly, a crocodile, a chameleon, a snake, and a unicorn ### 2.3 — 2026-07-19 Name your pet — names now appear on the Lock Screen. ### 2.2 — 2026-07-16 New animated pets that sit in the dynamic island and on your lock screen while a timer runs. ### 2.1 — 2026-07-13 New animated pets that sit in the dynamic island and on your lock screen while a timer runs. ## More apps by JOHNNY LI - [Gentle Timer: Visual Countdown](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gentle-timer-visual-countdown/id6738017755) - [Simple Stopwatch: No Ads](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-stopwatch-no-ads/id6741702572) All apps by JOHNNY LI: https://appshunter.io/developer/1778905380 --- *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 2026-07-29.*