# Productivity Challenge Timer vs Engross

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Productivity Challenge Timer at 95% against Engross's 49%. Productivity Challenge Timer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (215 vs 46). Engross's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Productivity Challenge Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Engross sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Productivity Challenge Timer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 215 and 46 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 95% of Productivity Challenge Timer's written reviews are positive against 49% of Engross's.

Productivity Challenge Timer ships an update every 3 months, Engross every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Productivity Challenge Timer | Engross |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (215 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/productivity-challenge-timer/id1117766356/reviews)** | [4.6 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/engross-focus-timer-and-to-do/id1494680611/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **215** | 46 |
| Positive reviews | **95.1% of reviews** | 48.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vladimir Jovanovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1117368400) | [Husain Haidery](https://appshunter.io/developer/1494680610) |

## What reviewers say

### Productivity Challenge Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/productivity-challenge-timer/id1117766356)

This app gamifies productivity by challenging users to work harder and track their habits. Earn ranks, unlock achievements, and monitor your work patterns over time to identify peak productivity periods. It focuses on intense work sessions and detailed time tracking for projects.

**Highlights:** Gamified productivity challenges, Rank and achievement system, Detailed work habit tracking, Project-specific time logging, Focus on uninterrupted work sessions, Productivity analytics by day/hour

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro mode | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient and reliable
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly
- 💡 Gamified approach motivates users
- 📊 Comprehensive statistics and tracking
- 🤖 Snarky and humorous personality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔊 Disruptive ads in free version
- 🔔 Overly aggressive notifications
- 🔒 Lack of cloud sync/backup
- 🕰️ Inability to pause or extend sessions

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional sound issues
- Slow loading of historical data
- Inconsistencies between iOS and Android versions

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch support
- Customizable timer durations
- Ability to add notes to sessions
- Weekend/holiday mode to avoid demotions
- More advanced goal-tracking and analytics


### Engross

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/engross-focus-timer-and-to-do/id1494680611)

This app helps users improve focus and productivity, especially those with ADHD or time blindness. It offers customizable focus sessions, task management, and analytics to understand work patterns. Features include distraction alerts, planning tools, and ambient sounds.

**Highlights:** ADHD-Friendly Pomodoro Timer, Distraction detection and training, Task breakdown for executive function, Integrated daily planner, Deep work analytics and charts, Immersive white noise ambience, Minimalist black theme

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engross Premium | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Productivity Challenge Timer free?

Productivity Challenge Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Engross free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Productivity Challenge Timer or Engross?

Productivity Challenge Timer is rated higher. Productivity Challenge Timer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 215 ratings, while Engross averages 4.6 from 46 ratings.

### Do Productivity Challenge Timer or Engross have ads?

Neither Productivity Challenge Timer nor Engross shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Productivity Challenge Timer or Engross?

Productivity Challenge Timer ships an update every 3 months, and Engross every 4 weeks. Most recently, Productivity Challenge Timer was updated on October 24, 2026 and Engross on October 29, 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.*