# Focus Quest vs Sternly

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sternly at none against Focus Quest's 32. Sternly also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Focus Quest's advantage is ratings volume (505 vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus Quest sells 32 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Sternly asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sternly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focus Quest has 505 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Focus Quest ships an update every 2 months, Sternly every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus Quest | Sternly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (505 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-quest-study-buddy/id1516624331/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sternly-habit-tracker/id6760988053/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **505** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 83.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 237 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shikudo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1089497060) | [Sambodh Choudhary](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887163683) |

## What reviewers say

### Focus Quest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-quest-study-buddy/id1516624331)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (32)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focus Pass | $4.99 | per month |
| Focus Pass Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Focus Pass Yearly | $28.99 | per year |
| Weekly Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stage Currency Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stage Gear Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stage Gear Scroll Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stage Glyph Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Pack 3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Raid Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stage Material Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Monthly Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Stage Currency Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Currency Pack 3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Currency Pack 4 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Currency Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Currency Pack 5 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gem 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Currency Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Raid Pack 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Material Pack 1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Weekly Pack 4 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Glyph Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Skill Pack 1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Skill Pack 3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Skill Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Battle Pass Raid 1 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Raid Pack 3 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Gem 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Monthly Pack 2 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Fund 1 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Battle Pass Time Rift 1 | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Gamified focus experience
- 👍 Engaging story and progression
- 🎨 Cute and visually appealing
- 💰 Affordable premium version
- 🕰️ Helpful for improving focus and productivity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited whitelist functionality
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 📱 Can be distracting from actual work
- 🌐 Lack of offline mode
- 🌐 Sync issues with other accounts

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- More music and white noise options
- Ability to change character appearance
- Longer storyline and quests
- Offline mode or better sync capabilities
- Pomodoro timer integration


### Sternly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sternly-habit-tracker/id6760988053)

Build and maintain positive habits with a focus on daily consistency. Track progress, grow streaks, and stay motivated through a simple, no-fluff interface. Unlock achievements and utilize a library of pre-set or custom habits.

**Highlights:** Daily habit tracking, Streak tracking, Progress calendar, Achievements, Habit library, Custom habits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focus Quest free?

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

### Is Sternly free?

Sternly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Focus Quest or Sternly?

Sternly is rated higher. Focus Quest averages 4.7 out of 5 from 505 ratings, while Sternly averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Focus Quest or Sternly have ads?

Focus Quest shows ads; Sternly does not.

### Which is updated more often, Focus Quest or Sternly?

Focus Quest ships an update every 2 months, and Sternly every 5 months. Most recently, Focus Quest was updated on October 17, 2026 and Sternly on October 1, 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.*