# Saplingy vs Flow

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Flow at 86% against Saplingy's 26%. Flow also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 62). Saplingy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 weeks). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Flow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Saplingy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Flow holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Flow has 1.8K ratings behind it against 62, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Saplingy's written reviews are positive against 86% of Flow's.

Saplingy ships an update every 9 days, Flow every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Saplingy | Flow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saplingy-stay-focused/id1197039300/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flow-focus-and-pomodoro-timer/id1423210932/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 62 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 26.1% of reviews | **86.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 20 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Broftware House Yazilim Tasarim Anonim Sirketi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1163620335) | [Yugen GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362171211) |

## What reviewers say

### Saplingy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saplingy-stay-focused/id1197039300)

This app helps users overcome phone addiction by gamifying focus. Users lock their phones to grow a virtual tree, with penalties for switching apps. It's a free tool designed to boost personal productivity.

**Highlights:** Gamified focus sessions, Virtual tree growth, Phone addiction management, Productivity boosting, Free to use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Flow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flow-focus-and-pomodoro-timer/id1423210932)

Enhance concentration and productivity with a scientifically proven method that divides work into timed intervals with breaks. Block distractions, track progress, and sync with calendars for a more focused workflow.

**Highlights:** Pomodoro timer with work/break intervals, App and web blocking, Statistics tracking, Calendar and Health sync, Customizable durations, Inspirational quotes, Metronome

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $17.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro Access | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Minimalist and uncluttered design
- 💡 Customizable work and break durations
- 🔒 No ads or unnecessary features
- 🤖 Responsive and helpful developers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔇 Notification sound could be louder
- 📊 Lack of detailed statistics and analytics
- 🔀 Inability to pause or resume a flow session
- 🖥️ Inability to minimize the timer window

**Reported bugs**

- Live activity feature not working consistently
- Timer not recording sessions accurately
- App blocking functionality not working as expected
- Crashes and freezes on certain macOS versions

**Requested features**

- Allow custom work and break durations
- Add option to pause and resume flow sessions
- Implement real-time sync across devices
- Provide more detailed productivity tracking and reporting
- Include an Apple Watch app with complication support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Saplingy free?

Saplingy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Flow free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Saplingy or Flow?

Flow is rated higher. Saplingy averages 4.5 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while Flow averages 4.8 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Saplingy or Flow have ads?

Neither Saplingy nor Flow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Saplingy or Flow?

Saplingy ships an update every 9 days, and Flow every 4 weeks. Most recently, Saplingy was updated on November 2, 2026 and Flow on November 6, 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.*
