# Focus Matrix vs Hour Stack

The clearest difference is ads: Hour Stack at none against Focus Matrix's shown. Hour Stack also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 7 months). Focus Matrix's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus Matrix sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Hour Stack sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Focus Matrix ships an update every 7 months, Hour Stack every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus Matrix | Hour Stack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-matrix-task-manager/id1107872631/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.6K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 82.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 33 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Denys Ievenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/427936468) | [Andrew Williams](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775636242) |

## What reviewers say

### Focus Matrix

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-matrix-task-manager/id1107872631)

Organize your tasks efficiently using a priority matrix based on urgency and importance. This app helps you focus on what truly matters by categorizing tasks and providing tools for scheduling, reminders, and detailed tracking. Sync across devices and export your lists for seamless productivity.

**Highlights:** Eisenhower Box priority matrix, Task categorization and sorting, Drag-and-drop task management, Due dates and reminders, Recurring tasks, Cross-device synchronization, Task export to PDF

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro | $17.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Keeps me on track
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helps prioritize tasks
- 👍 Integrates well with calendar
- 👍 Simple and effective

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues across devices
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Security concerns with sync
- 💡 Need for more customization options
- 💡 Lacking recurring tasks

**Reported bugs**

- Sync issues causing data loss
- Frequent crashes
- Inability to log in across devices
- Calendar integration not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to have multiple matrices (e.g. work, personal)
- Recurring tasks
- More export options (e.g. CSV)
- Dark mode
- Better sync reliability across devices


### Hour Stack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hour-stack/id6790966131)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip Jar - $1.99 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tip Jar - $3.99 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Tip Jar - $5.99 | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focus Matrix free?

Focus Matrix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hour Stack free?

Hour Stack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Focus Matrix or Hour Stack have ads?

Focus Matrix shows ads; Hour Stack does not.

### Which is updated more often, Focus Matrix or Hour Stack?

Focus Matrix ships an update every 7 months, and Hour Stack every 4 weeks. Most recently, Focus Matrix was updated on November 1, 2026 and Hour Stack on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*