Comparison

Masterlist vs Focused Work

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Masterlist

This productivity tool combines advanced to-do lists with a customizable Pomodoro timer to enhance focus and organization. It offers offline access, detailed performance tracking, and rich note-taking capabilities. All data is stored locally for maximum privacy.

Highlights
  • Integrated task manager and Pomodoro timer
  • Customizable focus intervals and background sounds
  • Detailed productivity statistics and charts
  • Privacy-focused local data storage
  • Offline access to all features
  • Smart checklists and unlimited reminders
  • Rich text formatting for notes
Read full description

Masterlist: Focus & Tasks is your ultimate task manager and productivity tool. Combine advanced to-do lists, reminders, and a customizable Pomodoro Timer to stay organized and focused. Key Features: - Privacy-Friendly: All your data is stored locally, ensuring complete privacy. - Offline Access: Use the app without an internet connection; your data is always available. - Minimal Design, Maximum Features: Organize projects, checklists, tasks, and sub-tasks effortlessly. - Advanced Focus Timer: Customizable intervals, background sounds, and auto-start breaks. - Detailed Performance Tracking: Monitor your productivity with comprehensive stats and charts. - Smart Checklists: Automatically updated lists like "Today" and "Important". - Unlimited Reminders: Set reminders easily, with options for repeating tasks and smart scheduling. - Quick Actions & Widgets: Fast swipe actions and widgets for daily goals and timer status. - Rich Notes: Add detailed notes with rich text formatting. - Accessibility Support: Features like Dynamic Type and VoiceOver. - Dark Mode: Adapt the app to your preferences or device settings. - Indie Developer: Created by a solo developer in the USA who uses the app daily. - Community Support: Join our Discord community for help and sharing achievements. - Ad-Free Experience: No ads for Pro users. Why Choose Masterlist: - Tasks, reminders, pomodoro timer, all integrated - Comprehensive tracking and stats, all private - No syncing to remote servers - Always accessible, even offline - Simple yet powerful design - Local backups - Fully customizable and privacy-focused Stay updated: https://twitter.com/@MasterlistApp Thank you for choosing Masterlist: Focus & Tasks! Standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://masterlistapp.com/privacy-policy/

About

Focused Work

This app helps users improve focus and productivity through structured timed sessions. It offers customizable timers, goal setting, and distraction blocking to build healthy work habits.

Highlights
  • Customizable focus sessions
  • Pomodoro and Flowmodoro templates
  • Distraction blocking
  • Reflection and goal tracking
  • Statistics and charts
  • Live Activities and widgets
Features
Read full description

## Featured by App Store in 150+ Countries & Regions # Hot This Week # Apps We Love Right Now # Big Apps From Small Teams # New Apps, Features, and Content ## What People Are Saying "A simple, but valuable utility for creating timed focus sessions of productivity." - MacStories "Focused Work helps you stay on track better than ever" - iMore "Focused Work makes it easy to create and manage Focused Sessions." - 9to5Mac "A tool that helps overcome that first step." - Knapsack Focused Work is a powerful timer that helps you focus and be productive. It's purpose-built for people who want to focus for long periods and struggle with this. Add structure to your day with "Focus Sessions" that encourage you to complete goals, tasks, and help you divide your time into Focus, Break, and Prepare stages. Pick from a selection of templates, including a simple timer, Pomodoro - inspired by the Pomodoro Technique, Flowmodoro - inspired by the Flowtime Technique, and other various sessions. You can also create repeatable sessions specifically tailored to your needs. Add stages, set time limits, and much more. Ultimately, Focused Work helps you be more accountable by reminding you to focus, reflect, and build healthy productivity habits by completing various daily goals. **Core Features** · A simple, powerful timer that keeps you on-task Choose what to focus on. Start the timer. Get stuff done! · Curated Basic Sessions to get started Run a Pomodoro session, Flowmodoro session, or even just a simple timer · Create Focus Sessions Tailor them to your needs with a plethora of configurable options · Reminders Be reminded to stay focused, when to take breaks, and also to start a focus session! · Reflection Track what went well for you during your focus session and what you can improve upon · Scratch Pad Jot down thoughts that come to mind during your session and return to them after · Daily Goals Completing your daily focus goals earns you a streak and helps you form healthy productivity habits · Statistics & Charts Review recent productivity across the past week, month, and year · Block Distractions Select apps and websites you want to restrict access to during a session · In-app Shortcuts Automation Automatically perform actions as you progress through your session, such as turning on Focus · Link with Toggl Track Explore advanced time tracking by linking with Toggl to create time entries, assign projects and tags · Productivity Export Export completed sessions in CSV format **iOS & iPadOS Features** Focused Work is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with extensive support for each platform; · Live Activities Control your session from the Lock Screen or Dynamic Island · Interactive Widgets Control your session, view daily goals, and start a session from the Home Screen · Control Center Widgets Start a session or access the Scratch Pad with Control Widgets · StandBy Interact with your session while iPhone is in StandBy · Spotlight Search Quick start and interact with sessions from search · Focus Filters Filter which sessions can be viewed & started based on the active Focus · App Shortcuts & Siri Start and interact with a session via various shortcuts that can also be linked together · Picture-in-Picture Show a floating timer above other apps with Picture-in-Picture mode · Session Alerts on all devices Start a session on one device and receive update alerts on others with Focused Work installed · iCloud Syncing Sync productivity stats & created sessions between devices · Privacy Focused Your data is securely stored and managed via iCloud. No account registration. · And much more Mac Support, Share Sheet controls, App Icons, Keyboard Shortcuts, VoiceOver, Split View & Slide Over, Low Power Mode, Drag & Drop, Dark Mode, URL Schemes If you have any questions, please reach out to focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.au Privacy Policy: https://focusedwork.app/privacypolicy/ Terms of Use: https://focusedwork.app/terms/

Screenshots

Masterlist4 screens
Focused Work4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Focused Work at 603 against Masterlist's 11. Focused Work also leads on update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). Masterlist's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 85%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Masterlist sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Focused Work sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Masterlist holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focused Work has 603 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Masterlist's written reviews are positive against 85% of Focused Work's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Masterlist ships an update fortnightly, Focused Work weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Masterlist versus Focused Work: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMasterlistFocused Work
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (11 ratings) — better4.7 (603 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better84.9% of reviews
Number of ratings11603 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB155 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErtugrul HarmanMichael Tigas

Customer experience

Masterlist

All ratings11 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Focused Work

All ratings603 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral3.5%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews166 reviews
Positive84.9%
Neutral4.2%
Negative10.8%

Bugs and requests

Masterlist

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Focused Work

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Stuck on a session: Gap time
  • Desktop doesn't sync with phone

Requested features

4 requests
  • Need iwatch app
  • Calendar integration?
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Masterlist

Subscriptions2
  • Masterlist Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Masterlist Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time6
  • Masterlist Little Tip$0.99
  • Masterlist Small Tip$1.99
  • One cup of coffee$4.99
Show 3 more
  • Two cups of coffee$9.99
  • Four cups of coffee$19.99
  • Masterlist Pro$44.99
14 purchases

Focused Work

Subscriptions6
  • Focused Work Pro (1 month)$2.991 Month
  • Focused Work Pro - Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Focused Work Pro (1 month)$6.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Focused Work Pro (1 year)3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Focused Work Pro - Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Focused Work Pro (1 year)3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time8
  • Little Tip$0.99
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
Show 5 more
  • Large Tip$9.99
  • Massive Tip$19.99
  • Focused Work Pro Lifetime$59.99
  • Focused Work Pro Lifetime$89.99
  • Focused Work Pro Lifetime$119.99

Questions

Is Masterlist free?
Masterlist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focused Work free?
Focused Work is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Masterlist or Focused Work?
Masterlist is rated higher. Masterlist averages 5.0 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Focused Work averages 4.7 from 603 ratings.
Do Masterlist or Focused Work have ads?
Neither Masterlist nor Focused Work shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Masterlist or Focused Work?
Masterlist ships an update fortnightly, and Focused Work weekly. Most recently, Masterlist was updated on June 9, 2026 and Focused Work on September 24, 2026.

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