BePresent vs Focusbuddy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BePresent
This app helps you regain control of your screen time through app blocking, gamified challenges, and real-life rewards. It encourages users to reduce phone usage, improve productivity, and enhance mental well-being by making digital detox engaging and beneficial.
- App Blocking Sessions (Individual, Group, BEAST MODE)
- Set Daily Goals and Build Streaks
- Monetary Stakes for Commitment
- Weekly Leaderboards and Friend Challenges
- Earn Real-Life Rewards (e.g., subscriptions, classes)
- Hourly Scrolling Awareness Reminders
- Time Tracking and Daily Reports
Read full descriptionHide full description
BePresent is the #1 app to control your screen time and supercharge your productivity, mental health, and quality of life. Experience life beyond the screen as you reclaim Your Time and earn rewards that improve your life with BePresent! 25 years. That’s the average time you will spend on your phone. With a combination of app blocking, gamification, social competition with friends, and real-life rewards, you will reclaim YEARS of your life like thousands of BePresent members already have. We know you’ve tried to solve this problem before. But we’re not like other screen time apps. ▶ WHAT USERS ARE CELEBRATING ◀ • “I was able to go from 7+ hours per day to less than 2 hours! 10/10 would recommend” - Andrew M. • “FINALLY an app that actually curbs my screen addiction instead of time limits that I just ignore!” - Gina V. • “I’ve tried everything but nothing has worked. I almost gave up before I used BePresent! Thank god I tried it as I’ve reduced my screen time by over 3 hours a day!” - Jack W. Download now to experience life to the fullest. Instead of annoying app blockers or time limits, BePresent makes it fun and easy to stay off your phone. ▶ FEATURES ◀ [ BePresent App Blocking Sessions - Individual, Group, & BEAST MODE ] • Dive into Present Sessions! Dedicate breaks from screens, whether it's a focused study session or a no-phone night out. Team up with friends for Group Sessions and joint tech time-outs. Share updates, cheer, and keep one another accountable—all from within the app. Need a stringent break? Enter BEAST MODE, ensuring unwavering commitment [ Set Daily Goals and Build Your Streak ] • Choose your digital boundaries. Maintain your streak by sticking to set screen time limits. Back your commitment with a monetary stake — overshoot, and that stake's gone. Customize reminders and design your journey to digital well-being. [ Compete on Weekly Leaderboards and Challenge Your Friends] • Show off your productivity prowess by competing against others on weekly leaderboards. Advance tiers so you’ll feel like a productivity superhero every day. Practicing mindful phone habits has never been so motivating and rewarding! [ Earn Real-Life Rewards ] • The ultimate motivation - earn points you can redeem for real-life rewards by limiting your screen time. Best of all, your rewards will also improve your life. Learn to meditate with a premium Headspace subscription. Redeem free workout classes with ClassPass. Schedule discounted therapy sessions with BetterHelp. Earn these rewards and more all by staying off your phone. [ Never Doomscroll Again ] • Set hourly scrolling awareness reminders so you never lose track of time doomscrolling again [ Time Tracking & Daily Reports ] • Measure the moments you're truly present. Access daily and weekly breakdowns, complemented by a comprehensive day-before report, amplifying your adherence to reality. [ Improve Your Well-Being ] • By reducing screen time, you'll improve your overall well-being and gain access to educational content that explains how reducing screen time can benefit you in multiple ways. Learn how to manage ADHD better, improve your mental health, and be more present with your loved ones, all while improving your sleep and becoming less distracted. [ Complete Privacy and Data Security ] • Data dignity, delivered. All of your data is private and safe with Apple’s Screen Time API. We do not have access to any specific content you access on your iPhone, and none of your personal data ever leaves your device. ▶ WE'RE HERE FOR EVERY QUERY ◀ Questions or feedback? Reach us at https://www.getpresentapp.com/ or shoot an email at contact@getpresentapp.com. Let's journey to mindful tech use together. Note: All rewards are sponsored by BePresent and our partners. Apple does not sponsor any of the in-app rewards. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.getpresentapp.com/privacy-policy
Focusbuddy
Read full descriptionHide full description
Focusbuddy is a to-do app that actually understands how ADHD brains work. No guilt. No streak panic. No wall of overdue tasks screaming at you. Just small, doable quests, a warm companion cheering you on, and a garden that grows every time you show up for yourself. START IS THE HARDEST PART, SO WE MADE IT TINY • Turn any task into a quest, and break scary ones into small steps at the spiciness level you choose • 5-Minute Sprints: just start. You're allowed to stop after five minutes. (You often won't.) • Focus timer with Live Activities: your countdown lives in the Dynamic Island, so you can leave the app without losing your session A COMPANION, NOT A DRILL SERGEANT • A friendly sprout companion celebrates your wins, remembers your progress, and never judges a bad day • The companion is an AI that runs on your device by default. It's not a human, and it will gently remind you of that • Body-doubling mode: work alongside your companion when tasks feel too lonely to face GENTLE STREAKS THAT FORGIVE • Your Streak Garden grows with your effort, and a rough day never burns it to the ground • Transition rituals between tasks: a 2-minute breather with breathing, body scan, or a glass of water • Daily energy check-in adjusts what the app asks of you: low-energy days get lighter quests MADE FOR YOUR BRAIN, RESPECTFUL OF YOUR DATA • No account, no ads, no tracking across apps. Your quests, chats, Safety Plan and health data never go to analytics. • Anonymous usage analytics help us improve the app: which screens you open, what you tap, and screen recordings with your typing hidden. Turn it off anytime in Settings. • Optional iCloud sync to your own private iCloud. We can't read your iCloud data. • Optional Apple Health integration (read-only) to celebrate movement and protect your streak when you're unwell • Voice brain dump with on-device transcription: your voice never leaves your phone • A Safety Plan with crisis resources is always one tap away A NOTE FROM US Focusbuddy is a wellness tool, not medical care. It doesn't diagnose or treat ADHD or any condition. Please talk to your clinician about treatment. And your companion, as lovely as it is, is AI, not a person. Small wins matter. Come plant one. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Focusbuddy at none against BePresent's shown. BePresent's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and chart position (#20 vs unranked). 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
Both are free to download. BePresent sells 23 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Focusbuddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
BePresent ships an update every 5 days, Focusbuddy every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BePresent | Focusbuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (70K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 68.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 70K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #20 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 106 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Screen Detox Inc | Alexander Nielsen |
Bugs and requests
BePresent
Reported bugs
5 issues- Freezing and crashing issues
- Inaccurate screen time reporting
- Inability to restore purchases
- Persistent app blocking even after uninstallation
- Setup process getting stuck on permissions
Requested features
5 requests- Allow selective app blocking
- Exclude certain apps from screen time tracking
- More customization options for notifications
- Expand to iPad and other devices
- Improve overall stability and reliability
Focusbuddy
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BePresent
- Monthly$3.991 Month
- Monthly (Mid Tier)$6.991 Month
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
- Annual$24.991 Year
- Annual (Mid Tier)$24.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- BePresent Pro (Annual)$24.991 Year
- Free Trial for BePresent Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$24.991 Month
- BePresent Pro (Annual)$29.991 Year
- BePresent Pro Family$39.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Annual (High Tier)$44.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- BePresent Family7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (3-Day Free Trial)3 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (30-day Trial)1 Month trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (2-week Free Trial)14 Days trial$59.991 Year
- BePresent Pro Family (iCloud)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
Focusbuddy
- Focusbuddy Plus$9.991 Year
- Focusbuddy Lifetime$24.99









