# Focus Timer vs Shorthanded

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus Timer | Shorthanded |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-pomodoro-quest/id1195801405/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shorthanded/id1468779694/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **10** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 98 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jeff Cedilla](https://appshunter.io/developer/944615129) | [CyberDynamite LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1141734062) |

## What reviewers say

### Focus Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-pomodoro-quest/id1195801405)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| extra quotes | $2.99 | one-time |
| remove ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Discount | $4.99 | one-time |
| donate | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $9.99 | one-time |


### Shorthanded

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shorthanded/id1468779694)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


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