Comparison

Focused Work vs Focus Timer

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

Head to head
About

Focused Work

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
Read full description

## Featured by App Store in 150+ Countries & Regions # Hot This Week # Apps We Love Right Now # Big Apps From Small Teams # New Apps, Features, and Content ## What People Are Saying "A simple, but valuable utility for creating timed focus sessions of productivity." - MacStories "Focused Work helps you stay on track better than ever" - iMore "Focused Work makes it easy to create and manage Focused Sessions." - 9to5Mac "A tool that helps overcome that first step." - Knapsack Focused Work is a powerful timer that helps you focus and be productive. It's purpose-built for people who want to focus for long periods and struggle with this. Add structure to your day with "Focus Sessions" that encourage you to complete goals, tasks, and help you divide your time into Focus, Break, and Prepare stages. Pick from a selection of templates, including a simple timer, Pomodoro - inspired by the Pomodoro Technique, Flowmodoro - inspired by the Flowtime Technique, and other various sessions. You can also create repeatable sessions specifically tailored to your needs. Add stages, set time limits, and much more. Ultimately, Focused Work helps you be more accountable by reminding you to focus, reflect, and build healthy productivity habits by completing various daily goals. **Core Features** · A simple, powerful timer that keeps you on-task Choose what to focus on. Start the timer. Get stuff done! · Curated Basic Sessions to get started Run a Pomodoro session, Flowmodoro session, or even just a simple timer · Create Focus Sessions Tailor them to your needs with a plethora of configurable options · Reminders Be reminded to stay focused, when to take breaks, and also to start a focus session! · Reflection Track what went well for you during your focus session and what you can improve upon · Scratch Pad Jot down thoughts that come to mind during your session and return to them after · Daily Goals Completing your daily focus goals earns you a streak and helps you form healthy productivity habits · Statistics & Charts Review recent productivity across the past week, month, and year · Block Distractions Select apps and websites you want to restrict access to during a session · In-app Shortcuts Automation Automatically perform actions as you progress through your session, such as turning on Focus · Link with Toggl Track Explore advanced time tracking by linking with Toggl to create time entries, assign projects and tags · Productivity Export Export completed sessions in CSV format **iOS & iPadOS Features** Focused Work is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with extensive support for each platform; · Live Activities Control your session from the Lock Screen or Dynamic Island · Interactive Widgets Control your session, view daily goals, and start a session from the Home Screen · Control Center Widgets Start a session or access the Scratch Pad with Control Widgets · StandBy Interact with your session while iPhone is in StandBy · Spotlight Search Quick start and interact with sessions from search · Focus Filters Filter which sessions can be viewed & started based on the active Focus · App Shortcuts & Siri Start and interact with a session via various shortcuts that can also be linked together · Picture-in-Picture Show a floating timer above other apps with Picture-in-Picture mode · Session Alerts on all devices Start a session on one device and receive update alerts on others with Focused Work installed · iCloud Syncing Sync productivity stats & created sessions between devices · Privacy Focused Your data is securely stored and managed via iCloud. No account registration. · And much more Mac Support, Share Sheet controls, App Icons, Keyboard Shortcuts, VoiceOver, Split View & Slide Over, Low Power Mode, Drag & Drop, Dark Mode, URL Schemes If you have any questions, please reach out to focusedworkapp@michaeltigas.com.au Privacy Policy: https://focusedwork.app/privacypolicy/ Terms of Use: https://focusedwork.app/terms/

About

Focus Timer

Features
Read full description

Lock In is a beautifully simple app designed to help you focus with intention and track your time meaningfully. Whether you're studying, working, or building better habits, Lock In keeps you grounded, one session at a time. Features at a Glance:Use our dual-mode Focus Timer or Stopwatch, manage your daily tasks, and visualize your time with powerful progress views that show every minute you’ve earned back. From Live Activities to deep session history, Lock In is built for momentum, not distractions. Features at a Glance: Daily Task Manager • Add, reorder, and group tasks by day • Swipe to create subtasks or remove items • Completion toggles with smart parent/child sync • Keyboard-aware quick add bar Focus Sessions: Timer or Stopwatch • Lock in your time with countdown or count-up modes • Animated progress ring with pause/resume controls • Use while editing tasks • Session time is saved, second-accurate Session History • View detailed logs per day: task completion, start-end times, durations • Swipe to delete any session Life & Time Statistics • See how many days you’ve been alive • Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly heatmaps • Visualize progress across the year Smart Reminders & Notifications • “Session Complete” and 8 PM check-in reminders • Never forget to lock in again Home & Lock Screen Widgets • Live Activity tracking via Dynamic Island and StandBy • Control widget to start/stop focus sessions Fully Themed & iPad Ready • Clean dark/light mode toggle • Optimized layout for iPhone and iPad Private by Design • Everything is stored locally using Core Data • No accounts, no ads, no distractions Start small. Stay consistent. Lock in, get out.

Screenshots

Focused Work4 screens
Focus Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focus Timer at none against Focused Work's 14. Focused Work's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price and ads 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. Focused Work sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Focus Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focused Work ships an update weekly, Focus Timer every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and May 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Focused Work versus Focus Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocused WorkFocus Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (603 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews84.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings603 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size155 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael TigasElementra LLC

Bugs and requests

Focused Work

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • Need iwatch app
  • Calendar integration?
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard

Focus Timer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

14 purchases

Focused Work

Subscriptions6
  • Focused Work Pro (1 month)$2.991 Month
  • Focused Work Pro - Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Focused Work Pro (1 month)$6.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Focused Work Pro (1 year)3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Focused Work Pro - Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Focused Work Pro (1 year)3 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time8
  • Little Tip$0.99
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
Show 5 more
  • Large Tip$9.99
  • Massive Tip$19.99
  • Focused Work Pro Lifetime$59.99
  • Focused Work Pro Lifetime$89.99
  • Focused Work Pro Lifetime$119.99
None

Focus Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focused Work free?
Focused Work is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Timer free?
Focus Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Focused Work or Focus Timer have ads?
Neither Focused Work nor Focus Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focused Work or Focus Timer?
Focused Work ships an update weekly, and Focus Timer every 6 months. Most recently, Focused Work was updated on September 24, 2026 and Focus Timer on May 17, 2026.

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