Comparison

POMO vs Write First

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

Head to head
About

POMO

Features
Read full description

POMO is a calm study timer for focus sessions and deep work โ€” the classic tomato-technique rhythm. Work in a focused sprint, take a short break, repeat. After a few rounds you earn a longer break. POMO keeps that rhythm on one clean screen: a large progress ring, background-accurate timing and local notifications, so a session survives a locked phone. FREE - The classic 25/5 pomodoro, unlimited sessions - History of your sessions and daily stats - A notification when focus or a break ends POMO PREMIUM - Every built-in preset, from short sprints to deep work - Custom focus and break lengths - Custom tags for your projects US$4.99 per month or US$29.99 per year. The classic pomodoro stays free. No accounts, no sign-up, no ads. Your sessions stay on your device. Terms of use: https://mmthstudio.com/pomo/terms-of-use Privacy policy: https://mmthstudio.com/pomo/privacy-policy

About

Write First

Features
Read full description

Write First is a self-directed app blocker. Pick the apps that pull you in, and they stay paused until you write one honest sentence โ€” then they unlock for a set time and re-lock on their own. When you reach for a blocked app, a calm pause screen stops you before the scroll begins. To get in, you write a single line. That one small step turns an autopilot tap into an actual decision. WHY ONE SENTENCE WORKS Most blockers make you wait, breathe, or tap "confirm." After a day or two, your thumb does all of it without you noticing. Writing one real sentence is the one kind of friction you can't do on autopilot โ€” so the speed bump actually works. It takes about ten seconds, with a prompt already written for you. HOW IT WORKS - Pick your own apps to pause โ€” social, news, games, whatever pulls you in. - Reach for a blocked app and a calm pause screen appears instead. - Pick a mood, get a matched prompt, write one honest line. - Your apps unlock for a set window, then re-lock automatically. - Reach for them again and the pause is right back there, at the real moment of temptation. YOU STAY IN CONTROL This is a speed bump, not a trap. You choose the apps. You choose the windows. And three emergency unlocks a day โ€” five minutes each โ€” open your apps right away when you genuinely need them, with no writing step. You never get locked out of your own phone. You point Write First at your own apps, on your own terms. It never monitors, supervises, or reports on anyone else. There are no dashboards anyone else sees. BUILT THE RIGHT WAY Write First runs on Apple's Screen Time framework, so blocking is system-level and reliable โ€” no VPN trick, no background profile quietly draining your battery. SEE YOUR MOMENTUM A streak counter, check-in history, and simple stats show how often you chose to pause instead of scroll. No nagging, no guilt, no leaderboards. FEATURES - Self-directed blocking of the apps you choose - A one-sentence write step to unlock, with matched prompts - Timed unlock windows that re-lock on their own - Three 5-minute emergency unlocks a day - Streak and momentum tracking - Check-in history and simple stats - Built on Apple Screen Time โ€” no VPN, no background network FREE TO START The free version is genuinely usable: block the apps you choose and use three emergency unlocks a day, no time limit. Write First Pro adds more โ€” custom unlock durations, custom writing length, schedules, more prompt styles, unlimited history, full stats, export, and Face ID lock. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your journal entries, moods, and stats stay on your iPhone โ€” no account, no analytics, no ads, no tracking. The only thing that leaves your device is your subscription, which Apple handles to manage your Pro access. Privacy Policy: https://promptflowbusiness.com/write-first/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

POMO4 screens
Write First4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: POMO at none against Write First's 2. Write First's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Write First sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. POMO asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

POMO ships an update fortnightly, Write First every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
POMO versus Write First: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPOMOWrite First
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size59 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPavel Kuzinchad vasquez

In-app purchases

None

POMO

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Write First

Subscriptions2
  • Write First Pro$4.991 Month
  • Write First Pro7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is POMO free?
POMO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Write First free?
Write First is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do POMO or Write First have ads?
Neither POMO nor Write First shows ads.
Which is updated more often, POMO or Write First?
POMO ships an update fortnightly, and Write First every 2 days. Most recently, POMO was updated on September 23, 2026 and Write First on September 29, 2026.

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