Comparison

Bold Focus vs Focus Wave

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

Head to head
About

Bold Focus

This app helps you focus and boost productivity using a digital notecard system. Plan and track tasks, analyze your work habits, and learn about the science of productivity. Earn badges and get daily inspirations to stay motivated.

Highlights
  • Digital notecards for tasks
  • Task planning and tracking
  • Time estimation for tasks
  • Productivity metrics analysis
  • Science of productivity insights
  • Achievement badges
  • Daily inspirations
Features
Read full description

Bold Focus is a to-do-list management productivity app that was built to help you transition to and maintain a focused mindset. It elevates your focus level, tracks your progress, and boosts productivity. The science of productivity is realized, explained, and accessible. Everything is flexible yet structured to ensure progress is made every single day. ►PLAN & TRACK TASKS WITH DIGITAL NOTECARDS The Bold Focus App combines the mindset and simplicity of physical notecards with the advantages of digital software. Create up to 2 digital notecards daily and add a maximum of 3 tasks per notecard. We kept the “limitations” that produced all the good effects of physical notecards (ie, committing and concentrating on the most important) into a digital format. Add a name, time needed to complete the task, and notes for each task. On the card task board, tap the play button within the app and start completing the task. Alternatively rotate each digital card and detailed notes about that digital card. Use the digital cards as project management & time management tool to plan, track and measure your and the productivity of your team. ►LEARN One of the biggest advantages of digital notecards is the ability to not only track hundreds of productivity metrics but also analyze the “how”, the “when”, and even the “who you work best with” in getting things done. The combination of greater focus and easier prioritization + this new analytical data inspired us to build the UN-TO-DO list platform for everyone--especially those that hate To Do Lists. Visit the learn section and understand the basics of how to be more focused and productive. ►SCIENCE OF PRODUCTIVITY Our team launched the Science of Productivity to investigate why and how we as humans tackle productivity. We wanted to know how each of us can become more productive. We wanted to understand our unique productivity curve and how to optimize it. In going down this path, we also became aware of different tactics like Work/Break. We use hundreds of data points, AI analysis to provide you with actionable insights on how to boost productivity. ►BOLD FOCUS FEATURES: - 2 project digital notecards with 3 tasks - add titles, notes, and estimated time to each task - flip cards to add longer notes for the notecard - planning tasks with time to competition estimation - plan and track work/sprint blocks - track the actual task times - check the productive metrics for your productivity - get badges for achievements - daily inspirations to keep you motivated - learn more about the science of productivity It’s time to take a different approach to productivity with the science of productivity. ►►Download Bold Focus: Boost Productivity for FREE!

About

Focus Wave

Read full description

A simple yet highly effective technique. Use Focus Wave to enhance your focus time. It encourages you to work with the time you have rather than against it and helps you prevent burnout. Set your timer, choose an ambient sound, and track your progress.

Screenshots

Bold Focus4 screens
Focus Wave4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Focus Wave at every 2 days against Bold Focus's every 2 months. Bold Focus's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bold Focus ships an update every 2 months, Focus Wave every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Bold Focus versus Focus Wave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBold FocusFocus Wave
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPINNACLE CIRCUITS, INC.Santiago Limas

In-app purchases

None

Bold Focus

No in-app purchases

None

Focus Wave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bold Focus free?
Bold Focus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Focus Wave free?
Focus Wave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Bold Focus or Focus Wave have ads?
Neither Bold Focus nor Focus Wave shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bold Focus or Focus Wave?
Bold Focus ships an update every 2 months, and Focus Wave every 2 days. Most recently, Bold Focus was updated on October 6, 2026 and Focus Wave on October 10, 2026.

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