# Pomodoro Focus Timer vs StarTimer

The clearest difference is price: Pomodoro Focus Timer at Free against StarTimer's $2.99. Pomodoro Focus Timer also leads on ratings volume (294 vs 1) and device support (6 vs 2). StarTimer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). On rating and ads there is nothing between them.

Pomodoro Focus Timer is free to download; StarTimer costs $2.99 up front. Pomodoro Focus Timer sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. StarTimer asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Pomodoro Focus Timer against 5.0 for StarTimer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pomodoro Focus Timer has 294 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pomodoro Focus Timer ships an update monthly, StarTimer every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and June 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pomodoro Focus Timer | StarTimer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.9 (294 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pomodoro-focus-timer/id1504867122/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startimer/id6748080075/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **294** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 82.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 60 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.2** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pawanpreet Singh](https://appshunter.io/developer/872471196) | [Saptak Sen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824208901) |

## What reviewers say

### Pomodoro Focus Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pomodoro-focus-timer/id1504867122)

This app combines a minimalist timer with a to-do list to enhance focus and productivity. It utilizes the Pomodoro Technique to help users manage tasks and work sessions effectively, offering customizable breaks and session lengths. Real-time syncing ensures your progress is available across all your Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Customizable focus and break sessions, Integrated to-do list with task pinning, Apple Watch app with complications, Home Screen & Lock Screen widgets, Live Activity and Dynamic Island support, Real-time iCloud sync, Focus session statistics and heatmap

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pomodoro Pro (Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Pomodoro Pro (Yearly) | $9.99 | per year |
| Snack-Sized Tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lunch-sized Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pizza-sized Tip | $14.99 | one-time |
| Pomodoro Pro - Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Clean, minimalist design
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 💰 Completely free with no ads
- ⏱️ Effective focus and productivity tool
- 🎯 Core Pomodoro functionality works well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔔 Notification sound too quiet/similar to other alerts
- 🐛 Timer stops when screen locks
- ⌚ Apple Watch notifications unreliable
- 🎨 No dark theme option
- 🔋 Battery drain concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Timer doesn't work when screen is off or app is in background
- Apple Watch notifications don't arrive until app is reopened
- Pause/resume function doesn't actually pause the timer
- App crashes occasionally
- Tasks with similar names don't create properly

**Requested features**

- Dark theme/dark mode
- Vibration option on timer completion
- Horizontal/landscape mode support
- Background sound options (rain, ocean waves, etc.)
- Customizable notification sounds and volume


### StarTimer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startimer/id6748080075)

This app helps you manage your time with smart scheduling and customizable timers. It offers real-time progress tracking, voice control, and a beautiful, privacy-focused design. Perfect for daily routines, focus sessions, and workouts.

**Highlights:** Smart scheduling with reminders, Recurring schedules for routines, Live Activities for real-time progress, Dynamic Island integration, Customizable icons and color themes, Siri Shortcuts for voice control, Privacy-focused, no data collection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pomodoro Focus Timer free?

Pomodoro Focus Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is StarTimer free?

StarTimer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pomodoro Focus Timer or StarTimer?

StarTimer is rated higher. Pomodoro Focus Timer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 294 ratings, while StarTimer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Pomodoro Focus Timer or StarTimer have ads?

Neither Pomodoro Focus Timer nor StarTimer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pomodoro Focus Timer or StarTimer?

Pomodoro Focus Timer ships an update monthly, and StarTimer every 3 days. Most recently, Pomodoro Focus Timer was updated on September 8, 2026 and StarTimer on June 16, 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.*