Comparison

Focus Traveller 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 Traveller

Enhance concentration and motivation with a unique timer that gamifies productivity. Track your progress, collaborate with friends in real-time, and enjoy immersive environments to stay focused.

Highlights
  • Gamified focus sessions
  • Real-time group focus
  • Progress tracking
  • Customizable environments
  • Music integration
  • Home screen widgets
Features
Read full description

Do you struggle to stay concentrated when you’re working alone? Do you find yourself wishing for a study buddy to keep you motivated late at night? Focus Traveller is a productivity timer designed to help you find your flow. The longer you focus, the higher your traveller climb. Together, we get things done. Invite up to 10 friends to form a Focused Travel Group. Support one another, hold each other accountable, and reach new heights together. Key Features: Seamless Transitions: Effortlessly switch between focus sessions and rest periods. Flexible Modes: Choose between a traditional countdown or an open-ended stopwatch. Group Expeditions: Start a journey with friends and stay focused in real-time together. Curated Audio: Connect to Apple Music to play your personal focus tracks. Progress Tracking: Comprehensive daily logs to help you monitor your growth. Quick Access Widgets: Start a session directly from your Home Screen. Immersive Environments: Choose from various seasonal scenes to match your mood. Dark Mode: Increase your immersion and reduce eye strain with a sleek dark interface. Multitask Friendly: Use "General Focus Mode" to stay productive even when switching to other apps. Focus Status: Keep the Focus Traveller screen visible to let classmates or colleagues know you’re focusing Behind the Scenes The stunning animations, illustrations, and character designs are crafted by award-winning artist Kuan Hung Chen. Follow his work on Instagram @jimmykuang and stay updated with us @focustravellerco. Focus Traveller Pro features are available as a monthly subscription or as a one-time purchase. Your iTunes account will be charged at confirmation of purchase. The subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the billing period. You can go to your iTunes Account Settings to manage your subscription & turn off auto-renew. To restore all your previous purchases use the "Restore Purchased" button located at the bottom of the subscription button in the Pro popup page or go to the Focus Traveller Settings to tap on "Restore Purchased" Standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Focus Buddy

This app provides a virtual study space where users can join rooms and work alongside others using a focus timer. It aims to make studying more engaging and build consistency through shared focus sessions.

Highlights
  • Virtual study rooms
  • Focus timer
  • Study together feature
  • Build consistency
  • Distraction-free design
  • Pomodoro timer
Features
Read full description

Focus Buddy helps you stay focused by studying together with other people. Join a virtual study room, start a focus timer, and work alongside students, learners, and productivity-minded people who are also trying to stay consistent. Instead of studying alone, Focus Buddy gives you a simple social space where focus feels easier. Whether you are preparing for exams, working on assignments, reading, coding, or building a daily study habit, Focus Buddy helps you turn focus into a shared experience. MAIN FEATURES JOIN STUDY ROOMS Enter virtual rooms and study together with other focused people. FOCUS TIMER Set a focus timer and stay committed to your study session. STUDY TOGETHER Feel the motivation of working alongside others, even when you are studying from home. BUILD CONSISTENCY Use focused sessions to improve your discipline, routine, and productivity. SIMPLE AND DISTRACTION-FREE Focus Buddy is designed to be clean, calm, and easy to use. PERFECT FOR Students Exam preparation Homework sessions Reading Deep work Pomodoro-style focus Remote studying Productivity routines Studying alone can feel boring. Focus Buddy makes it easier to show up, stay focused, and keep going. Join a study room, start your timer, and focus together. Terms of service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Focus Traveller4 screens
Focus Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Focus Traveller at 4.9 against Focus Buddy's 3.7. Focus Traveller also leads on ratings volume (4.1K vs 3) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months). Focus Buddy's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Traveller sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Focus Buddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Focus Traveller holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focus Traveller has 4.1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Traveller ships an update every 6 weeks, Focus Buddy every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Focus Traveller versus Focus Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus TravellerFocus Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (4.1K ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews85.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.1K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size532 MB78 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWEI JEN CHENKerem Cebi

Customer experience

Focus Traveller

All ratings4,076 ratings
Positive97.4%
Neutral1.6%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews932 reviews
Positive85.8%
Neutral8.6%
Negative5.6%

Focus Buddy

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

Focus Traveller

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Random data resets
  • Inconsistent time tracking
  • Landscape mode issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add pomodoro timer functionality
  • Introduce more background options
  • Allow manual time entry/editing
  • Implement Lock Screen widget
  • Add ability to block distracting apps

Focus Buddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Focus Traveller

Subscriptions3
  • Focus Traveller Pro Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Focus Traveller Pro Yearly7 Days trial$7.991 Year
  • Focus Traveller Pro Yearly3 Days trial$7.991 Year
One-time7
  • Seal$0.99
  • Fox$0.99
  • Corgi$0.99
Show 4 more
  • Bear$1.99
  • Tiger$1.99
  • Caty$1.99
  • Life Time Access$14.99
2 purchases

Focus Buddy

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly14 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Annual14 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Focus Traveller free?
Focus Traveller is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Buddy free?
Focus Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focus Traveller or Focus Buddy?
Focus Traveller is rated higher. Focus Traveller averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while Focus Buddy averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Focus Traveller or Focus Buddy have ads?
Neither Focus Traveller nor Focus Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Traveller or Focus Buddy?
Focus Traveller ships an update every 6 weeks, and Focus Buddy every 6 months. Most recently, Focus Traveller was updated on November 14, 2026 and Focus Buddy on November 13, 2026.

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