Comparison

Bento vs Ripples

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

Ripples

This app helps you build and maintain new habits and achieve your goals. It offers a visual calendar grid to track your progress, detailed metrics, and the ability to log specific amounts for each action. You can also add notes, use Siri shortcuts, and view your progress with widgets.

Highlights
  • Visual calendar grid progress tracking
  • Vital metrics and analytics
  • Track specific amounts and custom units
  • Notes and journal entries
  • Siri shortcuts and automation
  • Interactive widgets
Features
Read full description

Build habits with a visual tracker that makes daily progress easy to see—and easier to continue. Ripples turns every check-in into a clear, color-coded picture of your routines, goals, and consistency. SEE THE PATTERN Use flexible calendar grids to spot streaks, gaps, and trends at a glance. Organize habits into dashboards and create a view that fits your routine. TRACK MORE THAN CHECKMARKS Record simple check-ins or quantities such as pages, minutes, water, distance, money, and custom units. Add a note to any entry and review your history in the Journal. STAY CONSISTENT WITH LESS FRICTION Set multiple reminders, check in from interactive widgets, and build Shortcuts or Siri automations for the routines you repeat every day. UNDERSTAND YOUR PROGRESS See current and best streaks, consistency metrics, totals, averages, and daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly charts. Compare years to understand what changed and where you are improving. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your habits and goals remain visible only to you and sync through end-to-end encrypted iCloud. Start with one habit. Watch the pattern grow. Privacy Policy: https://www.ripples.day/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Bento4 screens
Ripples4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ripples at 4.7 against Bento's 4.1. Ripples also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 54%). Bento's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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 Ripples sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ripples holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 326 and 230 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Bento's written reviews are positive against 93% of Ripples's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bento ships an update weekly, Ripples fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Bento versus Ripples: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBentoRipples
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (326 ratings)4.7 (230 ratings) — better
Positive reviews53.8% of reviews92.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings326 — better230
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKeep Productive LtdMykola Harmash

Customer experience

Bento

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

Ripples

All ratings230 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews138 reviews
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.2%
Negative5.1%

User reviews

Bento

From 326 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Helps focus on important tasks
  • 🎨 Beautiful and calming design
  • 🕰️ Useful Pomodoro-style timer
  • 📚 Bento methodology is insightful
  • 👍 Simple and easy to use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App freezes and crashes frequently
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly
  • 💰 Paid app now requires subscription
  • 🔇 Limited music/sound options
  • 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive UI

Ripples

From 230 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Minimalist and clean UI design
  • 🎨 Beautiful animations and fluid interactions
  • 📱 Excellent widget implementation
  • 🚀 Simple and intuitive to use
  • 💰 One-time purchase (no subscription)

Room to improve

  • 🔔 Unreliable notification system
  • 🐛 UI bugs affecting usability
  • 💳 Purchase restoration issues
  • 🔐 Lifetime purchase unlock problems
  • ⚠️ No developer response to support issues

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

Ripples

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Notifications not working reliably
  • UI bugs causing app to become unusable
  • Restore purchases not functioning
  • Pro features not unlocking after purchase
  • Lifetime purchase redemption not working

Requested features

12 requests
  • Check-in reminders/notifications
  • Apple Watch app and complications
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Weekly and monthly habit tracking
  • Filtering by categories or tags
Show 7 more
  • Smaller board sizes for better screen visibility
  • Easier bulk check-in for past dates
  • Notes field for individual check-ins
  • Habit reordering functionality
  • Compact main menu view
  • Track amounts with custom units (e.g., pages read)
  • Square widgets

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
5 purchases

Ripples

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Plus Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time3
  • Powerpack$9.99
  • Powerpack Family$17.99
  • Ripples Plus Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Bento free?
Bento is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ripples free?
Ripples is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Bento or Ripples?
Ripples is rated higher. Bento averages 4.1 out of 5 from 326 ratings, while Ripples averages 4.7 from 230 ratings.
Do Bento or Ripples have ads?
Neither Bento nor Ripples shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bento or Ripples?
Bento ships an update weekly, and Ripples fortnightly. Most recently, Bento was updated on October 17, 2026 and Ripples on October 14, 2026.

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