Comparison

Focus Pocus vs Screen Time Control

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

Head to head
About

Focus Pocus

This minimalist timer uses the Pomodoro technique to enhance focus and productivity. Its unobtrusive design and subtle movements minimize distractions, allowing you to concentrate on your tasks with customizable sound options.

Highlights
  • Distraction-minimizing interface
  • Pomodoro technique timer
  • Customizable notifications and metronome
  • Lightweight and fast ~1MB download
  • Privacy-conscious design
  • Easy-to-use controls
Read full description

With its subtle timer movements and dark colors that won’t break your concentration, Focus Pocus helps you stay focused on your work and not on the clock. Focus Pocus is a pomodoro timer that helps you manage your time using the pomodoro technique. The pomodoro technique aims to improve your productivity by helping you focus your attention on your work for short intervals (pomdoros), allowing for rest breaks in between to avoid fatigue. Other pomodoro timer apps may catch your attention with a big countdown timer and flashy colors. Focus Pocus instead opts for a subtle timer design reminiscent of a mechanical wall timer that moves slowly and steadily, with subdued colors that keep the attention on your task at hand. The result is a pomodoro timer that won't distract you while you work. Key Features 1. Designed to minimize distractions with an unobtrusive and easy-to-use interface. Rotate the control knob at any time to adjust the time remaining, and start/pause/stop the timer with large, accessible buttons. 2. Curated options such as notifications and a metronome sound are available to help you customize your experience. 3. Lightweight and fast: tiny ~1MB download and loads in a snap. 4. Privacy conscious: no data collection, tracking, or analytics. No dark patterns designed to keep you hooked to your device.

About

Screen Time Control

This app helps you reclaim your time by blocking distracting applications and categories. Set daily goals, start focus sessions, and build streaks to protect your attention and spend more time on what matters.

Highlights
  • Set daily time goals
  • Block distracting apps and categories
  • Start focus sessions
  • Build streaks for momentum
  • Track progress and reclaim time
  • Create boundaries between impulse and intention
Features
Read full description

Vow helps you take your time back. When distraction starts pulling you away, Vow helps you pause, protect your attention, and stay with the promise you made to yourself. Set the time you want back each day, choose what matters most, and block the apps that usually break your focus. Vow is built for people who want more than another productivity tool. It is designed to help you create a cleaner boundary between impulse and intention, so you can spend more time on the life you actually want. With Vow, you can: - Set a daily time goal for the minutes you want to reclaim - Choose the apps and categories that pull you off track - Start focus sessions that block distractions when it matters most - Build streaks and protect your momentum over time - See your progress and reclaim more of your day - Stay connected to your reason, not just your routine Whether you want to study with a clearer mind, work without breaking flow, sleep without the scroll, or make more time for what matters, Vow helps you hold the line. Take your time back. Keep your vow. ### You must upgrade to Pro to use this app. ### Subscription Details - Payment: Charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. - Auto-renewal: Subscription renews automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Renewal charge: Your account is charged within 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Manage subscription: You can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal in Account Settings after purchase. - Cancellation and refunds: Managed directly by the store. - Free trial: Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.kai7.app/p/privacy-policy-no-tracking.html

Screenshots

Focus Pocus4 screens
Screen Time Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Screen Time Control at 4.0 against Focus Pocus's 2.0. Screen Time Control also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 weeks). Focus Pocus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (67% vs 50%). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. Screen Time Control sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. Focus Pocus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Screen Time Control holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Focus Pocus's written reviews are positive against 50% of Screen Time Control's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Pocus ships an update every 5 weeks, Screen Time Control every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on June 10, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Focus Pocus versus Screen Time Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus PocusScreen Time Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (1 ratings)4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer11698826 Canada Inc.Kai Chi Tsao

Customer experience

Focus Pocus

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Screen Time Control

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Focus Pocus

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Screen Time Control

Subscriptions1
  • Vow Annual7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Vow Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Focus Pocus free?
Focus Pocus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Screen Time Control free?
Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focus Pocus or Screen Time Control?
Screen Time Control is rated higher. Focus Pocus averages 2.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Focus Pocus or Screen Time Control have ads?
Neither Focus Pocus nor Screen Time Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Pocus or Screen Time Control?
Focus Pocus ships an update every 5 weeks, and Screen Time Control every 3 days. Most recently, Focus Pocus was updated on June 10, 2026 and Screen Time Control on September 7, 2026.

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