Comparison

Focus Timer vs Shorthanded

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Focus Timer

Transform your to-do list into an epic adventure with this gamified productivity app. Earn experience, unlock gear, and level up your character by completing real-world tasks using the Pomodoro Technique.

Highlights
  • RPG character system
  • Quest-based tasks
  • Reward system
  • Customizable Pomodoro timers
  • Daily and custom quests
  • Offline mode
  • iCloud sync
Features
Read full description

Transform Your Productivity Into an Epic Adventure! PomodoroQuest combines the proven Pomodoro Technique with engaging RPG elements to make productivity fun and rewarding. Complete real-world tasks to level up your character, unlock gear, and conquer challenging quests. GAMIFIED PRODUCTIVITY • RPG Character System - Create and customize your hero • Quest-Based Tasks - Turn your to-dos into exciting adventures • Reward System - Earn experience, gold, and loot for completing tasks • Character Progression - Level up and become more powerful • Equipment & Gear - Unlock armor and items as you progress POMODORO TECHNIQUE MASTERED • 25-Minute Focus Sessions - Scientifically proven work intervals • 5-Minute Breaks - Rest and recharge between sessions • Long Breaks - Extended rest after completing sets • Customizable Timers - Adjust to your perfect workflow • Session Tracking - Monitor your daily progress QUEST SYSTEM • Daily Quests - Fresh challenges every day • Custom Quests - Create your own adventures • Difficulty Levels - Easy, Medium, and Hard quests • Quest Rewards - Earn bonus XP and gold • Achievement System - Unlock special rewards CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT • Multiple Classes - Choose your hero type • Skill Trees - Develop unique abilities • Equipment Sets - Collect matching gear for bonuses • Visual Progression - Watch your character grow stronger • Personality System - Good, Neutral, or Evil alignment STAY MOTIVATED • Streak Tracking - Build momentum day by day • Statistics & Analytics - Track your productivity trends • Achievement Badges - Celebrate milestones • Progress Visualization - See your growth over time • Motivational Messages - Encouragement when you need it POWERFUL FEATURES • Offline Mode - Work without internet connection • iCloud Sync - Access your progress on all devices • Dark Mode - Easy on the eyes during late sessions • Notification Reminders - Stay on track • Widget Support - Quick access from home screen PERFECT FOR • Students preparing for exams • Professionals managing projects • Writers hitting word counts • Developers coding features • Anyone building better habits FREE FEATURES INCLUDE: • Basic character creation • Standard Pomodoro timer • Daily quest system • Progress tracking • Achievement system PREMIUM FEATURES (Subscription Required): • Unlimited custom quests • Advanced character customization • Premium equipment and gear • Extended statistics • Priority support • Ad-free experience • Exclusive character classes • Special quest lines Start your productivity adventure today! Turn procrastination into progress and make every work session count. Your quest for peak productivity begins now! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Shorthanded

This app assists multi-unit businesses in streamlining their hiring processes. It provides tools to manage recruitment needs efficiently.

Highlights
  • Hiring management
  • Recruitment tools
  • Operator support
  • Multi-unit management
Features
Read full description

Shorthanded helps multi-unit operators manage their hiring needs.

Screenshots

Focus Timer4 screens
Shorthanded3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shorthanded at none against Focus Timer's 7. Shorthanded also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 26.0). Focus Timer's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 13 months) and ratings volume (10 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Focus Timer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Shorthanded asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Focus Timer against 5.0 for Shorthanded. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focus Timer has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, Shorthanded every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Focus Timer versus Shorthanded: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus TimerShorthanded
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (10 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 13 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB19 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJeff CedillaCyberDynamite LLC

Customer experience

Focus Timer

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Shorthanded

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Focus Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$2.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time5
  • extra quotes$2.99
  • remove ads$3.99
  • Lifetime Discount$4.99
Show 2 more
  • donate$4.99
  • Lifetime Premium$9.99
None

Shorthanded

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focus Timer free?
Focus Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shorthanded free?
Shorthanded is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Focus Timer or Shorthanded?
Shorthanded is rated higher. Focus Timer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Shorthanded averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Focus Timer or Shorthanded have ads?
Neither Focus Timer nor Shorthanded shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Timer or Shorthanded?
Focus Timer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shorthanded every 13 months. Most recently, Focus Timer was updated on November 5, 2026 and Shorthanded on November 3, 2026.

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