# Focus timer vs Desk Clock

The clearest difference is update cadence: Desk Clock at every 9 days against Focus timer's every 5 weeks. Desk Clock also leads on ratings volume (22K vs 1.8K). Focus timer's advantage is review sentiment (77% vs 69%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Desk Clock sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Focus timer against 4.6 for Desk Clock. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Desk Clock has 22K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Focus timer's written reviews are positive against 69% of Desk Clock's.

Focus timer ships an update every 5 weeks, Desk Clock every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus timer | Desk Clock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-time-keeper/id1239133490/reviews) | [4.6 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desk-clock-analog-clock-face/id1253066126/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | **77.0% of reviews** | 68.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 44 MB | 117 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [书敏 贾](https://appshunter.io/developer/989212128) | [翠玲 施](https://appshunter.io/developer/1181028776) |

## What reviewers say

### Focus timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-time-keeper/id1239133490)

Enhance concentration with a Pomodoro-style timer. Choose from various ambient sounds to create a focused work or study environment. Customize focus and break durations, and receive end-of-timer reminders with a selection of sounds.

**Highlights:** Pomodoro timer with customizable intervals, Ambient soundscapes for focus, Customizable focus and break times, End-of-timer reminders with sound options, Minimalist interface with flip animation, Background running support

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Version | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and functional
- 👍 Minimalistic and aesthetic design
- 🚀 Helps with focus and concentration
- 👍 Useful for studying and work
- 👍 Customizable timer settings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Timer inaccuracies
- 🔊 Loud alarm/notification sound
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Limited features in free version
- 🔇 No option to disable background sounds

**Reported bugs**

- Timer stops when device is locked or app is minimized
- Inconsistent timer behavior when switching between apps

**Requested features**

- Ability to set custom alarm/notification sounds
- Option to disable background sounds
- Automatic start/stop of focus and break timers
- Customizable timer duration
- Dark mode or theme options


### Desk Clock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desk-clock-analog-clock-face/id1253066126)

This app transforms your device into a full-screen analog clock with customizable faces. It offers real-time time display, including seconds, on your home screen, lock screen, and even during charging, doubling as a screen saver. Features include smart alarms and hourly reminders.

**Highlights:** Full-screen analog clock display, Customizable clock faces, Home screen and lock screen widgets, Smart alarm clock, Hourly timekeeping reminders, Charging screen saver mode

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All clock styles | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove All Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Professional Version | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⏱️ Accurate time display
- 🕰️ Variety of analog clock faces
- 🌙 Adjustable brightness for night use
- 🕰️ Useful as a bedside clock
- ⏱️ Helpful for timing activities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Ads can be intrusive
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🤔 Confusing settings/options
- 🐛 Inconsistent second hand movement
- 🔍 Lack of customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Ads reappear after reinstall
- Clock face doesn't update on lock screen
- Alarm stops after a few seconds

**Requested features**

- Add calendar view
- Implement 24-hour time format
- Allow custom clock face designs
- Add ability to set multiple alarms
- Improve widget functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focus timer free?

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

### Is Desk Clock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Focus timer or Desk Clock?

Focus timer and Desk Clock are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.8K and 22K ratings respectively.

### Do Focus timer or Desk Clock have ads?

Both Focus timer and Desk Clock show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Focus timer or Desk Clock?

Focus timer ships an update every 5 weeks, and Desk Clock every 9 days. Most recently, Focus timer was updated on October 16, 2026 and Desk Clock on October 18, 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.*