# Focus timer vs Lilo

The clearest difference is ads: Lilo at none against Focus timer's shown. Lilo also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 weeks). Focus timer's advantage is review sentiment (77% vs 66%). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Lilo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. 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 4.7 for Lilo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.8K and 4.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Focus timer's written reviews are positive against 66% of Lilo's.

Focus timer ships an update every 5 weeks, Lilo every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus timer | Lilo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-time-keeper/id1239133490/reviews) | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lilo-study-timer-and-challenges/id6752133930/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K | **4.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **77.0% of reviews** | 66.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 44 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [书敏 贾](https://appshunter.io/developer/989212128) | [Pawel Gladysz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1650152146) |

## 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


### Lilo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lilo-study-timer-and-challenges/id6752133930)

This app transforms solo study sessions into engaging, social challenges. Compete with friends, track your progress, and climb leaderboards to make learning fun and motivating. Build lasting focus habits through friendly competition and visible achievements.

**Highlights:** Focus timer with distraction avoidance, Study challenges with friends, Live leaderboards for comparison, Progress tracking and stats, Habit building and streaks, Social accountability

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Access Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Access Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium Access Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focus timer free?

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

### Is Lilo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Focus timer or Lilo?

Lilo is rated higher. Focus timer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Lilo averages 4.7 from 4.3K ratings.

### Do Focus timer or Lilo have ads?

Focus timer shows ads; Lilo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Focus timer or Lilo?

Focus timer ships an update every 5 weeks, and Lilo every 8 days. Most recently, Focus timer was updated on October 12, 2026 and Lilo on October 12, 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.*