# Flow vs RescueTime

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Flow at 86% against RescueTime's 21%. Flow also leads on ratings volume (1.7K vs 3) and device support (5 vs 2). RescueTime's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). 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 RescueTime sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

RescueTime holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Flow has 1.7K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Flow's written reviews are positive against 21% of RescueTime's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Flow | RescueTime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flow-focus-and-pomodoro-timer/id1423210932/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rescuetime/id1629924958/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **85.7% of reviews** | 21.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 80 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yugen GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1362171211) | [RescueTime, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/860773794) |

## 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


### RescueTime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rescuetime/id1629924958)

Understand and manage your time automatically. This app helps you block distractions, track activities on your mobile and desktop, and set productivity goals. Gain insights into your workday and improve focus.

**Highlights:** Automatic time tracking, Distraction blocking (Focus Sessions), Activity categorization, Task timers, Offline activity logging, Home screen widgets, Productivity goals and alerts

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Solo Monthly | $9.00 | per month |
| Solo+ Monthly | $15.00 | per month |
| Solo Yearly | $84.00 | per year |
| Solo+ Yearly | $143.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Flow free?

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

### Is RescueTime free?

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

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

RescueTime is rated higher. Flow averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while RescueTime averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Flow or RescueTime have ads?

Neither Flow nor RescueTime shows ads.

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

Flow ships an update every 4 weeks, and RescueTime every 4 weeks. Most recently, Flow was updated on September 23, 2026 and RescueTime on September 22, 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.*