# Bento vs murmur

Bento and murmur both sit at 4.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 54% of Bento's written reviews are positive against 36% of murmur's. Bento also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (339 vs 32). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bento sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and murmur sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

murmur holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bento has 339 ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of Bento's written reviews are positive against 36% of murmur's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Bento ships an update weekly, murmur every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bento | murmur |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (339 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bento-the-do-less-timer/id1595945715/reviews) | **[4.3 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/murmur-ai-practice-calls/id6755495030/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **339** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | **53.8% of reviews** | 36.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 117 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Keep Productive Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1595945717) | [Drobinin Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1713029153) |

## What reviewers say

### Bento

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bento-the-do-less-timer/id1595945715)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bento Premium - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Bento Premium - Annually | $9.99 | per year |
| Bento Premium - Quarterly | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Bento Premium - Semiannual | $19.99 | per 6 months |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### murmur

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/murmur-ai-practice-calls/id6755495030)

Practice phone calls with realistic AI to overcome anxiety and improve communication skills. Rehearse conversations for various scenarios like booking appointments, customer service, or job interviews in a private, judgment-free environment.

**Highlights:** Realistic AI mock calls, Conversation roleplay, Interview preparation, Customizable scenarios, Privacy-focused design, Communication skill improvement

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Public Speaking Pro Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Public Speaking Pro Weekly | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Communication Skills Pro Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Communication Skills Pro Annual | $79.99 | per year |
| Communication Skills Pro 12-Mo | $119.99 | per year |
| Quick Practice Session | $1.99 | one-time |
| Communication Boost Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Social Confidence Bundle | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bento free?

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

### Is murmur free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bento or murmur?

murmur is rated higher. Bento averages 4.1 out of 5 from 339 ratings, while murmur averages 4.3 from 32 ratings.

### Do Bento or murmur have ads?

Neither Bento nor murmur shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bento or murmur?

Bento ships an update weekly, and murmur every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bento was updated on October 27, 2026 and murmur on October 28, 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.*