# Zen vs Tomato Timer ۬

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zen at none against Tomato Timer ۬'s 3. Tomato Timer ۬'s advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (189 vs 6). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tomato Timer ۬ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Zen asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tomato Timer ۬ holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tomato Timer ۬ has 189 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 80% and 80% positive.

Zen ships an update every 6 months, Tomato Timer ۬ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zen | Tomato Timer ۬ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-pomodoro-focus-timer/id1569426267/reviews) | **[4.7 (189 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tomato-timer/id6474303915/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **189** |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **80.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [An Trinh](https://appshunter.io/developer/441499584) | [BoltQ Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/1709921356) |

## What reviewers say

### Zen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-pomodoro-focus-timer/id1569426267)

A minimalist timer designed to improve focus through structured work and break intervals. It uses calming Japanese-inspired visuals and ambient sounds to create a peaceful work environment, helping users build better focus habits without distractions.

**Highlights:** Minimalist Pomodoro timer, Japanese-inspired visual scenes, Ambient sound cues for focus and breaks, Customizable focus and break durations, Keeps display awake, Ad-free experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Tomato Timer ۬

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tomato-timer/id6474303915)

This app helps you improve focus and productivity using the Pomodoro Technique. It offers customizable timers, ambient soundscapes, sub-task management, and detailed statistics to track your progress.

**Highlights:** Customizable Pomodoro timers, Multiple ambient sound options, Sub-task management, Advanced statistics tracking, Default Pomodoro timer

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pomodoro Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Pomodoro Pro Lifetime Gift | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pomodoro Pro Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Perfect for students
- 👍 Helpful and adjustable
- 💰 Free to use
- 👍 Simple concept executed well
- ✨ Sleek and effective

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Timer pauses when switching apps
- 🐛 Phone locks during timer
- 🐛 Timer stops when phone is locked
- 💸 Expensive lifetime subscription
- ❌ No voice alert customization

**Reported bugs**

- Timer pauses when using other applications
- Phone automatically locks during the timer
- Timer stops when the phone is locked
- No dynamics island or Live activities
- Widget is not interactive

**Requested features**

- Fix timer pausing when switching apps
- Add dynamic island support
- Add watch app support
- Add interactive widget
- Add Korean language for break notifications


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zen free?

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

### Is Tomato Timer ۬ free?

Tomato Timer ۬ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Zen or Tomato Timer ۬?

Tomato Timer ۬ is rated higher. Zen averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Tomato Timer ۬ averages 4.7 from 189 ratings.

### Do Zen or Tomato Timer ۬ have ads?

Neither Zen nor Tomato Timer ۬ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zen or Tomato Timer ۬?

Zen ships an update every 6 months, and Tomato Timer ۬ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Zen was updated on November 3, 2026 and Tomato Timer ۬ on October 30, 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.*