Comparison

Focus Quest vs Focus Buddy

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

Head to head
About

Focus Quest

This app combines a study timer with RPG elements to help users improve self-control and reduce phone distractions. Earn in-game resources by focusing to train a hero and upgrade equipment, making productivity more engaging.

Highlights
  • Gamified focus timer
  • RPG hero training
  • Equipment forging
  • Task and time management
  • In-game achievements and rewards
  • Phone addiction management
Features
Read full description

Have phone addiction? Want to improve self-control? Want to remove distraction? Let Focus Quest help! Focus Quest is a study timer and RPG mashup. Save Focusland by turning your focus time into resources to train the hero and upgrade the equipment. Begin your focus adventure, and let us help you manage time and stay focused on the most important things in life. A gamified focus app helps you better improve productivity, self-control, and concentration on study and work. Sometimes self-discipline is just not enough to keep us away from phones. This is when gamification comes in. The in-game achievements encourage users to stick with the app, better manage their time and get things done. FEATURES: * Beat phone addictions and stay in control, help you with study, uni, and work * Stay focused - Collect hero resources when you put down the phone and focus * Train hero - Use resources to train your hero * Forge gears - Collect gear materials to forge powerful gears * Save the world - Fight off monsters and bring time order back to Focusland * Records - Stay on track of the time you focused so that you can better plan your tasks * Rewards - gamified tasks and rewards help you stay on track of your focus goals SUBSCRIPTION PRICING AND TERMS: Focus Pass offers USD $3.99 monthly subscription for accessing exclusive resources and premium features. End of trial and subscription renewal: This price is for United States customers. Pricing in other countries may vary and actual charges may be converted to your local currency depending on the country of residence. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Privacy policy: https://site.shikudo.com/privacy-policy Terms of use: https://site.shikudo.com/terms-of-use

About

Focus Buddy

Features
Read full description

Stop Struggling with Focus. Start Growing with Your Pixel Buddy. Do you find it hard to start a task? Does your ADHD brain need more than just a ticking clock? Focus Buddy is a gentle, gamified productivity tool designed for dreamers, students, and professionals who want to reclaim their focus without the anxiety. GAMIFIED PRODUCTIVITY: WORK IS NOW A QUEST Turn your to-do list into an 8-bit adventure. No stressful penalties, just pure motivation: Focus to Battle: Your custom pixel hero engages with "distraction monsters" while your timer runs. Earn & Decorate: Collect coins through Pomodoro sessions (25/5 mode) to buy cozy furniture and unlock magical pixel scenes. Progress-Friendly: Unlike other apps, you keep your earned coins even if you get interrupted. We celebrate every minute of your effort.It’s more than a timer—it’s your personal Pixel Companion that battles procrastination alongside you. When you work, your hero thrives. When you focus, your world grows. DESIGNED FOR THE NEURODIVERGENT BRAIN We’ve integrated science-backed features to support ADHD users and those with sensory sensitivities: Body Doubling Effect: Having your Buddy on screen provides the psychological comfort of "working together," making deep work less lonely. Gentle Alerts: Soft vibration and 8-bit visual cues instead of jarring alarms. ADHD-Friendly Planning: Break down big goals into manageable "Micro-Quests." POWERFUL TOOLS FOR FLOW STATE: Flexible Pomodoro Timer: Customize your focus and break intervals to fit your unique rhythm. Ambient Soundscapes: Focus with 8-bit Rain ASMR, Lo-fi beats, or complete silence. Calendar Integration: Seamlessly sync with Apple Calendar and Google Tasks to turn your schedule into a game map. Offline Focus: No Wi-Fi? Your Buddy stays with you. Perfect for library sessions or flights.Optimized Visuals: Color palettes specifically chosen to reduce screen fatigue and sensory overload. BUILT WITH CARE & HONESTY Privacy-First: We never sell your data. Your focus journey is 100% private. No Exploitative Mechanics: We avoid "streaks" that cause guilt. Your hero rests when you need to rest. No Ads: No intrusive pop-ups to break your concentration. Solo Developer Passion: Created by former remote workers who understand the struggle of stay-at-home productivity. WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SAYS: "It helps me start tasks without the usual 'beginning anxiety.' The cutest way to stay productive!" – College Student, Texas "Finally, a focus app that feels like a cozy game instead of a digital chore." – Indie Game Enthusiast Don’t just track time—give it life. Whether you’re studying for finals, coding a project, or just trying to get through chores, your Focus Buddy is ready. Download now and find your Flow State today!

Screenshots

Focus Quest4 screens
Focus Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Focus Buddy at none against Focus Quest's shown. Focus Buddy also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Focus Quest's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16). On price, 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. Focus Quest sells 32 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Focus Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Quest ships an update every 2 months, Focus Buddy monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Focus Quest versus Focus Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus QuestFocus Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (502 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings502 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better16
Further details — not scored
Size237 MB33 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperShikudo锦 曹

Bugs and requests

Focus Quest

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Training button not working during tutorial
  • Time not accurately tracked in some cases
  • Crashes on startup for some users

Requested features

6 requests
  • More music and white noise options
  • Ability to change character appearance
  • Longer storyline and quests
  • Offline mode or better sync capabilities
  • Pomodoro timer integration
Show 1 more
  • Ability to pause/resume focus sessions

Focus Buddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

32 purchases

Focus Quest

Subscriptions3
  • Focus Pass$4.991 Month
  • Focus Pass Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Focus Pass Yearly7 Days trial$28.991 Year
One-time29
  • Weekly Pack 1$0.99
  • Stage Currency Pack 1$0.99
  • Stage Gear Pack 1$0.99
Show 26 more
  • Stage Gear Scroll Pack 1$0.99
  • Stage Glyph Pack 1$0.99
  • Weekly Pack 3$0.99
  • Raid Pack 1$0.99
  • Stage Material Pack 1$0.99
  • Monthly Pack 1$1.99
  • Stage Currency Pack 2$1.99
  • Currency Pack 3$1.99
  • Currency Pack 4$1.99
  • Currency Pack 1$1.99
  • Currency Pack 5$1.99
  • Gem 1$1.99
  • Currency Pack 2$1.99
  • Raid Pack 2$2.99
  • Material Pack 1$2.99
  • Weekly Pack 4$4.99
  • Glyph Pack 2$4.99
  • Skill Pack 1$4.99
  • Skill Pack 3$4.99
  • Skill Pack 2$4.99
  • Battle Pass Raid 1$6.99
  • Raid Pack 3$6.99
  • Gem 3$9.99
  • Monthly Pack 2$14.99
  • Fund 1$19.99
  • Battle Pass Time Rift 1$29.99
1 purchases

Focus Buddy

One-time1
  • starter package$0.99

Questions

Is Focus Quest free?
Focus Quest is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Buddy free?
Focus Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Focus Quest or Focus Buddy have ads?
Focus Quest shows ads; Focus Buddy does not.
Which is updated more often, Focus Quest or Focus Buddy?
Focus Quest ships an update every 2 months, and Focus Buddy monthly. Most recently, Focus Quest was updated on September 29, 2026 and Focus Buddy on September 20, 2026.

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