# Flow vs Stay Focused

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Flow at 1.8K against Stay Focused's 1. Flow also leads on device support (5 vs 3). Stay Focused's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Flow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Stay Focused sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Stay Focused holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Flow has 1.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Flow's written reviews are positive against 100% of Stay Focused's.

Flow ships an update every 4 weeks, Stay Focused every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flow | Stay Focused |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flow-focus-and-pomodoro-timer/id1423210932/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stay-focused-countdown-timer/id1581256145/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 80 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yugen GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362171211) | [Volodymyr Lisovyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497420593) |

## What reviewers say

### Flow

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

Enhance your concentration and productivity with a scientifically proven method. This app divides your workflow into focused work intervals and scheduled breaks, helping you reduce stress and stay motivated. Ideal for work, study, or any task requiring deep focus.

**Highlights:** Pomodoro timer with work intervals and breaks, App and web blocking, Statistics tracking, Commitment mode, Inspirational quotes, Home & Lock Screen Widgets

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**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


### Stay Focused

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stay-focused-countdown-timer/id1581256145)

This app helps you stay focused on tasks by using a motivational system where you deposit money. If you stay focused for the chosen time, you get your money back; otherwise, you lose it. It allows brief app switching with limits.

**Highlights:** Monetary motivation for focus, Customizable focus duration, Deposit and refund system, Limited app switching, Styled and powerful interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stay Focused 500 coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Stay Focused 1000 coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Stay Focused 2000 coins | $19.99 | one-time |
| Stay Focused 5000 coins | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flow free?

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

### Is Stay Focused free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Flow or Stay Focused?

Stay Focused is rated higher. Flow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Stay Focused averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Flow or Stay Focused have ads?

Neither Flow nor Stay Focused shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Flow or Stay Focused?

Flow ships an update every 4 weeks, and Stay Focused every 3 weeks. Most recently, Flow was updated on October 13, 2026 and Stay Focused on October 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.*