Comparison

Refocus vs GradeGrind

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

Head to head
About

Refocus

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers various methods to limit screen time, set schedules, and track your usage, promoting better focus and productivity.

Highlights
  • Block any app or website
  • Strict Mode with multiple unblocking challenges
  • Set app timers and time limits
  • Schedule blocking for specific times
  • Location-based blocking
  • Screen time analytics
  • macOS app available
Features
Read full description

Refocus is an app blocker & website blocker that helps you limit screen time on apps! Refocus is easy to use, yet has powerful screen time control features: ▶ Various ways to restrict or lock apps and block websites. Choose what helps you focus! Block any app or site — from social media and games to messaging and news. ▶ "Strict Mode" feature prevents you from unblocking. Set a passcode, or use an NFC tag, or wait a duration (ex. 30 seconds), or do a copy text challenge, or utilize Pomodoro (limit unblocking to 5 times per day, for 25 minutes each, with a 5-minute cooldown between each unblock). ▶ Block for a specific duration (ex. app timer for 30 minutes). ▶ Block at specific times (ex. every weekday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). ▶ Set app limits (ex. after 10 minutes of using Instagram, block it). Set an app time limit! ▶ Hide Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts in Safari. ▶ Block at the location you pick — whether it be home, work or school. ▶ View your daily, weekly and monthly Screen Time analytics. Use Refocus as a screen time tracker! ▶ Mac app that also lets you block apps and websites on macOS. ▶ And more! --- Visit www.refocusapp.co for more information. Terms of Use: - https://refocusapp.co/terms-of-use

About

GradeGrind

This app helps students improve focus and grades by scheduling distraction-free sessions, tracking progress, and setting weekly goals. It also manages deadlines, parses course syllabi with AI, and calculates GPA.

Highlights
  • Scheduled focus sessions with app blocking
  • Discipline score and streak tracking
  • Weekly commitment and progress goals
  • Deadline and workload management
  • AI course syllabus parsing
  • GPA calculation and target tracking
Features
Read full description

Key Features: Planned Focus & App Blocking - Schedule distraction-free focus sessions that block you from opening other apps. Lock into your work, choose what assignment you’re tackling, and log your actual progress when you finish. Discipline Score & Streaks - Get a daily score for how well you stuck to your commitments. Keep streaks alive to prove consistency. Weekly Commitments - Every Sunday, set your focus hours and assignment progress goals. GradeGrind holds you accountable to the plan. Discipline History Calendar - End each day with a quick 1-tap check-in. See your pattern of discipline build across the weeks. Deadlines & Workload - All your assessments in one place. Update progress and track workload by week so nothing sneaks up on you. Schedule - View your classes, events, and planned focus sessions together in one clean calendar. AI Course Parsing - GradeGrind is quick to set up as AI will parse your syllabus. GPA Tracking - GradeGrind calculates your GPA and shows what you need on upcoming assessments to hit your target grade. If you have any questions or features you would like to see, please email us at gradegrindapp@gmail.com *All features above require a paid subscription. TERMS: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Refocus4 screens
GradeGrind4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Refocus at free with in-app purchases against GradeGrind's subscription. Refocus also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 26). GradeGrind's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, update cadence 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. Refocus sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and GradeGrind sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.29 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Refocus against 4.8 for GradeGrind. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Refocus has 12K ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Refocus ships an update weekly, GradeGrind every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Refocus versus GradeGrind: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefocusGradeGrind
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings)4.8 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews93.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12K — better26
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLabi, LLCHealthyAI LLC

Customer experience

Refocus

All ratings11,757 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews2,246 reviews
Positive93.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative4.1%

GradeGrind

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Refocus

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Blocking issues after phone restart
  • Inconsistent behavior when pausing/unpausing sessions
  • Crashing when trying to block apps in certain categories

Requested features

5 requests
  • Passcode or biometric lock to prevent bypassing
  • More advanced blocking options (e.g., math problems to unblock)
  • Ability to purchase a one-time license instead of subscription
  • Notification warnings before blocking sessions end
  • Search function to find apps to block more easily

GradeGrind

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Refocus

Subscriptions9
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Refocus Pro (Family)7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro1 Month trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro1 Year trial$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time4
  • Reset Strict Mode$1.00
  • Reset Strict Mode$5.00
  • Reset Strict Mode$10.00
Show 1 more
  • Reset Strict Mode$50.00
5 purchases

GradeGrind

Subscriptions5
  • Unlimited14 Days trial$2.291 Month
  • Unlimited14 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Unlimited14 Days trial$7.996 Months
Show 2 more
  • Unlimited14 Days trial$9.951 Year
  • Unlimited14 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GradeGrind free?
GradeGrind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Refocus or GradeGrind?
GradeGrind is rated higher. Refocus averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while GradeGrind averages 4.8 from 26 ratings.
Do Refocus or GradeGrind have ads?
Refocus shows ads; GradeGrind does not.
Which is updated more often, Refocus or GradeGrind?
Refocus ships an update weekly, and GradeGrind every 5 days. Most recently, Refocus was updated on October 31, 2026 and GradeGrind on October 28, 2026.

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