# Masterlist vs Focused Work

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Masterlist | Focused Work |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterlist-focus-and-tasks/id1486131008/reviews)** | [4.7 (603 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focused-work-pomodoro-timer/id1523968394/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **603** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 84.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ertugrul Harman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1486131007) | [Michael Tigas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1364337001) |

## What reviewers say

### Masterlist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterlist-focus-and-tasks/id1486131008)

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Masterlist Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Masterlist Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Masterlist Little Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Masterlist Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| One cup of coffee | $4.99 | one-time |
| Two cups of coffee | $9.99 | one-time |
| Four cups of coffee | $19.99 | one-time |
| Masterlist Pro | $44.99 | one-time |


### Focused Work

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focused-work-pomodoro-timer/id1523968394)

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:** Safari Extension, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focused Work Pro (1 month) | $2.99 | per month |
| Focused Work Pro - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Focused Work Pro (1 month) | $6.99 | per month |
| Focused Work Pro (1 year) | $19.99 | per year |
| Focused Work Pro - Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Focused Work Pro (1 year) | $39.99 | per year |
| Little Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Massive Tip | $19.99 | one-time |
| Focused Work Pro Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |
| Focused Work Pro Lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |
| Focused Work Pro Lifetime | $119.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 GAME CHANGER
- 👍 Good app
- 👍 Good Product
- 🚀 Phenomenal
- 👍 Great productivity app!

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Shouldn't be a subscription
- 🐛 Reminders are annoying
- 🔒 Stop nagging people for reviews
- 🔒 App for iwatch is still missing in 2025.
- 🔒 Could be an amazing timer

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- Need iwatch app
- Calendar integration?
- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*