Finding Focus vs Polaris Focus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Finding Focus
This app helps users improve their concentration and reduce stress. It offers scientifically-backed training methods developed by researchers to enhance productivity. Achieve more with less effort through focused attention.
- Focus training
- Stress reduction
- Productivity enhancement
- Scientifically-backed methods
- University research
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As the world gets more and more distracted, training your ability to focus can set you apart. Finding Focus helps you get more done with less stress. Created by scientists at UT Austin. Backed by five years of university research.
Polaris Focus
This app offers a calm approach to focus, designed for those who find traditional timers stressful. It removes countdowns and performance pressure, allowing attention to deepen naturally. Focus is achieved by shifting the feeling of time rather than racing against it.
- Focus without timers or countdowns
- Flexible session scales instead of fixed times
- Time obscured with symbolic visuals
- No alarms, streaks, or forced stopping
- Minimalist interface to reduce cognitive load
- ADHD-friendly and neurodivergent workflows
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Stop fighting the clock to focus. Polaris is a calm focus app for people who struggle with timers, countdowns, and productivity pressure. If Pomodoro makes you anxious, breaks your flow, or turns focus into a performance test, Polaris offers a different way. Instead of racing against time, Polaris creates a quiet space where attention can settle and deepen naturally. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about changing how time feels. What Polaris Does Polaris helps you focus without clock-watching, streaks, or urgency. Unlike traditional focus timers, Polaris removes countdowns, alerts, and productivity metrics so your attention isn’t constantly interrupted or evaluated. You focus. Time fades into the background. How Polaris Works – Choose a focus scale, not a timer Select a session from XS to Mega based on your energy and intention. Each scale is a flexible time container, not a fixed countdown. – Begin without watching the clock Time is intentionally obscured. A dissolving asteroid replaces minutes and seconds, keeping you present instead of counting. – Let focus unfold naturally No alarms. No streaks. No forced stopping. End when your attention feels complete. Presence over pressure. Designed For - ADHD-friendly and neurodivergent workflows - Deep work and creative thinking - Research, study, and problem-solving - Meditation, reflection, and intention-setting - Anyone who wants to focus without urgency or self-surveillance Who Polaris Is Not For Polaris is not a productivity tracker or habit builder. It does not measure output, reward streaks, or optimize performance. If you want strict schedules, metrics, or gamified focus, Polaris may not be a fit. The Polaris Approach Polaris is shaped by Attentional Design™, a neuroscience-informed approach that prioritizes cognitive load over metrics. Instead of pushing you to do more, Polaris removes what interferes with attention: - Time anxiety - Excess stimulation - Performance pressure This creates the conditions where deep focus can emerge on its own. What Makes Polaris Different - No countdowns, streaks, badges, or productivity scores - Minimalist interface designed to reduce cognitive load - Symbolic session pacing that supports focus without clock-watching - Designed for calm, sustained attention, not optimization Subscription & Pricing Polaris Focus offers a 3-day free trial for new users. After the trial, access to Premium features requires a subscription: - $4.99 per month - $34.99 per year (equivalent to $2.91/month) Prices may vary by location. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the selected plan rate. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your App Store account settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Polaris Focus does not track you across apps or websites and does not serve ads or sell personal data. We collect minimal, privacy-respecting usage analytics to understand how the app is used and improve the experience. All analytics data is anonymous or pseudonymized and never shared with third parties. Your focus stays yours. Privacy Policy: https://polarisfocus.com/legal/privacy Terms of Service: https://polarisfocus.com/legal/terms Let go of the clock. Rediscover what focus feels like, without pressure.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Finding Focus at none against Polaris Focus's 2. Finding Focus also leads on ratings volume (109 vs 4) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Polaris Focus's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 91%). On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. Polaris Focus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Finding Focus asks for nothing beyond the download.
Polaris Focus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Finding Focus has 109 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Finding Focus's written reviews are positive against 100% of Polaris Focus's.
Finding Focus ships an update fortnightly, Polaris Focus every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Finding Focus | Polaris Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (109 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 90.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 109 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 62 MB | 147 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Michael Mrazek | Kaamos Labs LLC |
Customer experience
Finding Focus
Polaris Focus
In-app purchases
Finding Focus
No in-app purchases
Polaris Focus
- Monthly Plan3 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Annual Plan3 Days trial$34.991 Year









