Comparison

Striving vs Tempo

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

Head to head
About

Striving

This app helps users combat phone addiction and distractions with a gamified focus timer. It encourages self-control and better time management through in-game achievements and rewards, making it easier to stay on track with important tasks.

Highlights
  • Gamified focus timer
  • Combats phone addiction
  • Improves self-control
  • Tracks focus time
  • In-game achievements and rewards
Features
Read full description

Have phone addiction? Want to improve self-control? Want to remove distraction? Let Striving help! Striving is a gamified focus study timer app to help people better manage their time and focus on the important things in their life. Sometimes self-discipline is just not enough to keep us away from our phones. This is when gamification comes in, the in-game achievements encourage users to stick with the app, better manage their time and get things done. FEATURES: Stay focused - Beat phone addictions and stay in control Records - Stay on track of the time you focus so that you can better plan your tasks Rewards - gamified tasks and rewards help you stay on track of your focus goals SUBSCRIPTION PRICING AND TERMS: SuperPass offers USD $2.99 monthly subscription for accessing exclusive resources and premium features. End of trial and subscription renewal: This price is for United States customers. Pricing in other countries may vary and actual charges may be converted to your local currency depending on the country of residence. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Privacy policy: https://site.shikudo.com/privacy-policy Terms of use: https://site.shikudo.com/terms-of-use

About

Tempo

Features
Read full description

Start with a focus session that feels possible—and let it change when the work does. Tempo is a flexible focus timer for iPhone. Choose a short or long session, name up to three tiny intentions, and extend the timer without restarting when momentum arrives. FLEXIBLE FOCUS SESSIONS • Choose a preset or set your own duration • Add 5, 10, or 15 minutes while a session is running • Pause without losing the time you already focused • Turn a vague task into up to three concrete intentions OFFLINE AMBIENT SOUND Shape a steadier environment with four synthesized noise options and 16 nature recordings across rain, water, forest, night, and cozy sound groups. Playback stays on your device and does not require streaming. PROGRESS WITHOUT PUNISHMENT • Save a private reflection after a session • Review daily, weekly, and monthly patterns • Earn achievements and see your focus streak • Share a session card when you choose AT HOME ON IPHONE Use Home Screen, Lock Screen, and StandBy widgets, start sessions with Siri Shortcuts, optionally record mindful minutes in Apple Health, and sync focus history through iCloud. PRIVACY-MINDED No account is required. Focus data is stored on your device, with optional iCloud sync controlled through your Apple account. TEMPO PRO Tempo is free to download and try. Optional Tempo Pro purchases unlock the complete sound library, advanced insights, widgets, iCloud sync, achievements, and other premium features. Monthly, annual, and lifetime options are available in the app; prices vary by storefront. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Striving4 screens
Tempo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Tempo at none against Striving's shown. Striving's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases 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. Striving sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Tempo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Striving ships an update every 5 weeks, Tempo every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Striving versus Tempo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStrivingTempo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (127 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings127 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShikudo远锋 叶

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Striving

Subscriptions3
  • Pro version weekly$1.997 Days
  • Pro version monthly$3.991 Month
  • Pro version yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
3 purchases

Tempo

Subscriptions2
  • Tempo Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Tempo Pro Annual$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Tempo Pro Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is Striving free?
Striving is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Striving or Tempo have ads?
Striving shows ads; Tempo does not.
Which is updated more often, Striving or Tempo?
Striving ships an update every 5 weeks, and Tempo every 4 months. Most recently, Striving was updated on November 3, 2026 and Tempo on November 5, 2026.

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