# Pond - Screen Time & Pomodoro — user reviews

> 346 indexed App Store user reviews of Pond by PIXO Incorporation, rated 4.60/5 from 844 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pond-screen-time-and-pomodoro/id830466924/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pond-screen-time-and-pomodoro/id830466924.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 694 · 4★ 66 · 3★ 26 · 2★ 15 · 1★ 43

## What do users think of Pond?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Simple and effective
- 👍 Customizable
- 🚀 No in-app purchases
- 👍 Minimalist design
- 👍 Helpful for focus and productivity
- 👍 Great for studying and writing
- 👍 Excellent Pomodoro timer

**Cons**

- 🐛 Timer stops when app is in background
- 🐛 Bugs with color selection and settings
- 🔋 Battery drain
- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔒 Developer stored unrelated app data in user's iCloud

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Timer inaccuracies
- Interface issues on Mac
- Inability to share audio with other apps
- Unreliable auto-reset functionality
- Subscription issues

**Most requested features**

- Auto-reset option
- Ability to assign tasks to Pomodoros
- Project/focus area tracking
- Cross-device sync
- Apple Watch support
- Ability to skip long breaks
- Playlist support for sounds

## Newest reviews (18 of 346)

### 2/5 — 无法恢复购买

*2026-07-27*

如题无法恢复我的终身会员

### 2/5 — Nice idea but very buggy

*2026-05-20, version 2.0.6*

I like the idea of this app and the features, but it would be nice if it worked a bit better.

The active notifications banner stays wide so I can’t see the clock or battery indicator whenever a block period is going.

The block scheduling also just doesn’t work reliably. I just had to play with the settings on a block to get the app to notice that it was scheduled and actually activate it.

It’s also weird to market a nice simple, bug-free pomodoro timer app (which attracted lots of appropriately great reviews) and then suddenly replace it on everyone’s devices with this really heavy, kind of invasive app with paid features. I actually like what “Pond” is going for but… kinda skeevy tbh.

And buggy.

### 4/5 — It Works

*2026-05-15, version 2.0.6*

my apps are blocked regularly, i like the haikus and pop culture etc “do something else!” pop ups on blocked apps

the focus timer still works lovely, i’ve been a fan for a while. i actually got the focus timer because it didn’t list “in-app purchases”. adding the subscription when focus timer updated to pond was almost a deal breaker but i gave the free version a shot. it’s not perfect, but it gets the job done. i’ve been looking for an app like this for a while so im pleasantly surprised :)

you can create and select block/allow lists when starting a focus session which is great! but i’m not sure how to access the lists otherwise 

screen time section says to go to settings to exclude apps from screen time (i’d like to remove my tv remote app), but neither Pond settings nor ios settings allow me the option?

sometimes, unblocking or taking breaks is buggy. also sometimes buggy when the app is not open in the background, but it mostly fixes when you open the app

for the most part, im happy with this app. i’ve started painting and sewing again, and i feel more fulfilled in how im using my time <3

### 1/5 — Rebrand/redesign. I have no interest in this app now.

*2026-05-03, version 2.0.6*

The developers have completely replaced the app that originally garnered the high reviews you see.

This used to be a very simple and easy to use pomodoro app that was good for setting interval timers. That is what the 5 star ratings were from. The app developers have no idea what made their app successful in the past.

### 1/5 — Utterly ruined

*2026-05-03, version 2.0.6*

This used to be an incredibly great app but now they’ve utterly ruined it and turned it into useless garbage.  :(

### 1/5 — Unwanted update

*2026-05-03, version 2.0.6*

I had old version of focus keep installed as it was the only version that worked properly. There seems have been and now I have this unwanted app with intrusive questions on first load. Why on earth would you do an update to replace an old app with a completely different new one?!

### 1/5 — Ruined an excellent app

*2026-05-03, version 2.0.6*

Requires data sync now. Deleting immediately, sorry. Focus Keeper was great as-is.

### 1/5 — Changed the entire app

*2026-05-03, version 2.0.6*

Changed the name, icon and function of the app

### 1/5 — Changed app without consent

*2026-05-03, version 2.0.6*

It seems that the developer has entirely changed the app and renamed it without my consent. I was very confused for a while as to why a new app that I hadn’t downloaded had appeared on my iPhone but after a bit of research. It seems that they have just unilaterally decided to change it entirely.

### 1/5 — app ruined

*2026-05-03, version 2.0.6*

decent app suddenly turned into something asking for a bunch of permissions; it took me awhile to even figure out what the app was, it seemingly appeared out of nowhere. this app is piss

### 1/5 — Updated and Is No Longer What It Used to Be

*2026-05-02, version 2.0.6*

This was an amazing pomodoro timer app — and it was free and without a subscription. It was suddenly updated and is put behind a paywall. Absolute slop.

### 2/5 — Резкая смена

*2026-05-01*

Я не поняла, что произошло. Я пользовалась минималистичным, удобным pomadoro таймером. Вот я смотрю на меню приложений - а там это. И я не знаю, что это, я это не устанавливала! Выяснилось, что это приложение заменило мой привычный помадоро таймер. Это полный бред - полностью подменивать приложение вместо того, чтоб просто сделать новое.

### 1/5 — Ruined a great app

*2026-04-30, version 2.0.6*

I loved this app when it was a well-designed pomodoro timer. I used it for years. Now it’s asking me to access my data without offering anything of value. Delete! What a shame.

### 1/5 — Annoyingly Distracting

*2026-03-20, version 2.0.5*

This app’s purpose is to limit screen time - while sending tons of notifications throughout the day.  Do not use this app if you don’t want distractions!  What a colossal waste of money and the opposite of what the purpose should be for the app.  Is it possible to give negative stars??

### 3/5 — app 限制到时不能解开

*2026-03-03*

很多时候，时间到了 app 限制不能解除。
比如我设置的上午 8:30 到中午 12:00，限制某个 app，但是时间到了 12:00app 限制根本不解开

### 1/5 — 停止会话后应用还是屏蔽状态

*2026-03-03*

请尽快修复这个bug

### 3/5 — 全是BUG（All BUGS）

*2026-03-02*

1、允许名单完全变成了禁止名单。2、初始化的禁止名单我把微信、小红书、电报等软件禁用了，但是并没有禁用，只禁用了其他的软件3、只有全部禁用才能紧致上述所说的应用，然后我去休息一会，仍然不能使用这些软件（1. The allowed list has completely become a prohibited list. 2. I disabled WeChat, Xiaohongshu, Telegram and other software from the initial ban list, but I did not disable them. I only disabled other software. 3. Only by disabling them all can I tighten the above-mentioned applications. Then I went to rest for a while, but still couldn't use these software）

经过测试，单独禁用app不行，需要禁用类别，其他的就不去测试了，我怀疑连基本的冒烟测试都没做就上线了（After testing, it was found that disabling the app alone is not effective. It is necessary to disable the category, and the rest will not be tested. I suspect that the app was launched without even conducting basic smoke testing）

### 4/5 — Arabic Support

*2026-02-28, version 2.0.4*

Please add Arabic language soon.

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Down the drain

*2026-06-24, version 2.0.8*

Once great app for simple time keeping and focus now turned into an overreaching subscription based bs. The dev team can pound sand.

### 1/5 — What the heck?

*2026-05-28, version 2.0.6*

Like others, I was surprised to see a once-great timer app completely change into something else with no warning. Originally it was the Focus Keeper app, and now it’s a garbage app that wants your data.

### 1/5 — App changed fundamentally

*2026-05-17, version 2.0.6*

This used to be a pomodoro timer and is now a spyware app (asked for screen time access?!?!).

### 1/5 — What did you do

*2026-05-13, version 2.0.6*

This used to be a simple, nonintrusive timer. Now it requires additional access. I don’t need all these stupid bells and whistles - I just want my pomodoro timer

### 1/5 — Pourquoi ?

*2026-05-13*

Pourquoi exploser une application qui fonctionnait très bien en en faisant une usine à gaz ?
Si vous vouliez faire faire une appli de maîtrise du temps d’écran, OK, mais pourquoi ne pas en faire une nouvelle plutôt que de prendre une appli qui n’a rien à voir, et d’en exploser la SEULE fonctionnalité qu’elle avait au passage ?
Maintenant le compteur pomodoro s’arrête sans raison, changer le son de ticking ne marche plus, mais félicitations : vous avez mis de superbes images… et des fois que ce soit trop subtil pour des gens manquant de sens commun, oui, la dernière remarque est sarcastique.

### 1/5 — Perfectly good app updated and ruined

*2026-05-08, version 2.0.6*

Liked this app, focus keeper just fine. Updating and changing the name and nature of it, including asking for new permissions is a great way to get me to instantly uninstall. Launch a new app if you must, don't 'fix' what isn't broken

### 1/5 — App completely changed

*2026-05-08, version 2.0.6*

A week ago this was a perfectly good Pomodoro timer app, but the developer has changed it into a screen-time management app that I did not consent to downloading. Deleting and getting a new pomodoro timer

### 1/5 — Rug pulled

*2026-05-07, version 2.0.6*

This app was simple and great pomodoro timer and it appears to have been switched to slop that wants access to all my screen time data.

### 1/5 — don’t like the changes

*2026-05-05, version 2.0.6*

this was one of my essential apps. it was the perfect simple interval timer, and now they’ve completely changed it. pretty sad

### 1/5 — App changed from Focus Keeper

*2026-05-04, version 2.0.6*

This isn't the simple Focus Keeper app I originally downloaded, I didn't want a screen time/app blocker app.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — 休息时间，屏蔽的应用应该解除限制

*2026-03-17*

我发现休息时间被屏蔽的时间居然不能解除限制，那休息时间意义在哪里？？

### 5/5 — 恢复购买无反应

*2026-03-08*

为什么恢复购买没有反应

### 5/5 — Great to study

*2026-01-25*

Good

### 5/5 — Timer very useful

*2026-01-21, version 1.11.1*

Timer works well. Is really the only way I can keep myself working at … work. No ads, not asking me to buy stuff all the time. Use it all day.

### 5/5 — Fine

*2026-01-19, version 1.11.1*

Does what it says. No in app purchases. Hoping leaving a review will get rid of the final annoyance. That being it prompting me to add a review.

### 5/5 — 精美實用的軟體！

*2026-01-02*

介面設計簡潔大氣，沒有廣告。
好像沒有中文，所以需要一定的英語能力。

### 5/5 — Lock screen or banner visibility

*2025-12-19, version 1.11.1*

Wonderful. Straight to the point.

### 5/5 — Simple but effective

*2025-10-30, version 1.11.1*

I like that there’s no frills. I sit down and start it and boom. I like that you can mute the ticking. I really really like that I haven’t found any in app purchases. Thank you!

### 5/5 — Love it!

*2025-10-11, version 1.11.1*

Great app. Free. Customizable. A+++

### 5/5 — Timer is not accurate but still a great app.

*2025-07-24, version 1.11.1*

This is a great free app and I will continue to use it but I have noticed that the time is slightly inaccurate. Maybe I’m just going crazy but I have been trying to record study with me videos and the timer never lines up with the video. It is always slightly short, meaning when I go to study for an hour, I end about 7 seconds early. Not really a problem for most but just wanted to point this out.

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*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 2026-09-02.*