Comparison

Bento vs Chronicling

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

Head to head
About

Bento

This app offers a calm focus timer designed to enhance productivity for work and study. It utilizes Japanese-inspired themes and a distraction-free interface to help users achieve deep work states, manage tasks, and improve focus patterns with insightful analytics.

Highlights
  • Aesthetic Japanese focus scenes
  • Task limitation for reduced overload
  • Deep focus mode to block distractions
  • Customizable daily routines
  • Focus score and analytics
  • Focus booster for momentum
Features
Read full description

Stop getting overwhelmed with long to-do lists. Used by 50,000+ productivity enthusiasts. Bento is not a to-do list app. It's a focus companion. We believe in doing less, and finishing more. Using the calming Japanese themes, stay focused and get things done by packing your focus box. Your focus box is limited to up to 3 tasks. The goal is getting the right things done, not everything. Popular with ADHD, everyday users struggling with to-do list apps and overwhelmed individuals who need better focus. Start your first focus timer today! Bento Features - Aesthetic Timer: Our Japanese focus scenes are designed for calm and minimalism. - Focused Productivity: Limit your focus to up to 3 tasks to help reduce overload and burnout. - Deep Focus Mode: Block distractions, enter deep work states and stay focused with intention. - Custom Routines: Start a daily custom routine from your morning routine to deep focus start. - Focus Booster: Build momentum with your focus & stay engaged as you work. ADHD is one of our most popular use cases. Helping you to beat task paralysis, support better focus & deep work. Use Cases - Study Timer: Perfect for revision and exam preparation. The ultimate timer for study. - Work Timer: Enter flow states at work by embracing the focus box, focus score & scenes. - Reducing Burnout: Stop overwhelm by using a calm, low stimulation timer like Bento Focus. - Neurodiverse Focus: This focus timer is ADHD friendly and popular with the neurodivergent community. - Pomodoro Lovers: Bento focuses works as a pomodoro timer for entering cycles of focus. Plus focus badges, app icons, new themes released monthly, focus achievements and unique Japanese focus scenes. Bento is for everyone who wants to stay focused and reduce distractions. FREE TRIAL & PRICING Start a free trial for Premium for full features. Free version includes: 1 theme, timer mode. Auto-renewal can be canceled anytime via Apple settings. PRIVACY & TERMS: https://www.bentofocus.com/privacy https://www.bentofocus.com/terms SEND US FEEDBACK: https://www.bentofocus.com/feedback

About

Chronicling

This app provides a flexible way to monitor habits, health, mood, and daily activities. It offers customizable tracking options, quick logging methods, and insightful data visualization to help users identify patterns and maintain consistency. Secure syncing and data export are also available.

Highlights
  • All-in-one habit and health tracking
  • Fully customizable categories
  • Fast and effortless logging
  • Smart reminders for goals
  • Detailed data logging (notes, numbers)
  • Visual insights and trends
  • Private and secure iCloud sync
Features
Read full description

Keep track of anything you want to keep an eye on, from habits and chores to symptoms. Chronicling shows how long it's been, how often things happen, and which days and times they tend to happen. Some things happen every day, like coffee, a walk or your medication. Others come and go: changing the bed sheets, a headache, calling home. Chronicling handles both, so it all lives in one place. "If you're looking for a flexible approach to tracking events in your life and want to try an app with an excellent, modern design that supports the latest iOS and iPadOS technologies, be sure to give Chronicling a try." - MacStories LOG IT IN A TAP - Add events from your Apple Watch, widgets, Control Center, the Lock Screen, Siri and Shortcuts - Record a number or a note too, such as cups, miles, pages or how you felt - Automate logging with Shortcuts, from workouts to arriving home SEE HOW OFTEN, AND WHEN - Time since last logged, average gap and longest gap for every category - Heatmaps, charts and trends over weeks, months and years - Spot patterns by weekday and time of day - An annual Wrapped to look back at your year GENTLE REMINDERS - Time Since Last Event: get a nudge when it's been too long since you last logged something, from a few hours to a few months - Daily Goal: pick a time of day, and you'll only be notified if you haven't hit that day's goal - Rolling Goal: aim for a number over the last few days or weeks, with a daily check that only notifies you if you're falling short YOUR CATEGORIES, YOUR WAY - Create your own categories with emoji or symbols and your own colors - Choose the period each category's stats cover - Organize them into groups and filter by Focus ON ALL YOUR DEVICES - iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro - Private iCloud sync between your devices - Export to CSV or a single-file backup at any time - your data is yours If you have questions, suggestions or any other feedback, please contact me at support@chroniclingapp.com. Subscriptions to Chronicling Premium will automatically renew unless canceled within 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited if you purchase a subscription. For more information, see https://chroniclingapp.com/terms-of-use/ and https://chroniclingapp.com/privacy-policy/.

Screenshots

Bento4 screens
Chronicling4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Chronicling at 4.8 against Bento's 4.1. Chronicling also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 54%). Bento's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. Bento sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Chronicling sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chronicling holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 326 and 186 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Bento's written reviews are positive against 79% of Chronicling's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Bento versus Chronicling: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBentoChronicling
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (326 ratings)4.8 (186 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews79.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings326 — better186
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.4
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKeep Productive LtdRebecca Owen

Customer experience

Bento

All ratings326 ratings
Positive75.5%
Neutral7.4%
Negative17.2%
Written reviews119 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral14.3%
Negative31.9%

Chronicling

All ratings186 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral1.1%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive79.3%
Neutral6.9%
Negative13.8%

Bugs and requests

Bento

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Titles randomly deleted
  • Timer stops working unexpectedly
  • Switching themes doesn't work
  • Accessibility issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more music/sound options
  • Implement a widget for quick access
  • Allow customization of Bento templates
  • Sync tasks across devices
  • Add an Apple Watch app

Chronicling

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Bento

Subscriptions4
  • Bento Premium - Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Bento Premium - Annually1 Year trial$9.991 Year
  • Bento Premium - Quarterly7 Days trial$12.993 Months
Show 1 more
  • Bento Premium - Semiannual7 Days trial$19.996 Months
3 purchases

Chronicling

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly14 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Premium Annual14 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Bento free?
Bento is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chronicling free?
Chronicling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bento or Chronicling?
Chronicling is rated higher. Bento averages 4.1 out of 5 from 326 ratings, while Chronicling averages 4.8 from 186 ratings.
Do Bento or Chronicling have ads?
Neither Bento nor Chronicling shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bento or Chronicling?
Bento ships an update weekly, and Chronicling weekly. Most recently, Bento was updated on October 13, 2026 and Chronicling on October 16, 2026.

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