Comparison

Refocus vs Mintly

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

Mintly

Features
Read full description

Calm focus, one minute at a time. Mintly is a Pomodoro timer and daily ritual companion built for people who want to focus — without the hustle culture. No streak shaming. No aggressive gamification. No servers. No ads. Your data stays on your phone. WHY MINTLY IS DIFFERENT Most focus timers shout at you. Mintly doesn't. We believe productivity tools should feel like a quiet friend, not a coach barking commands. If you skip a day, that's okay. We'll be here tomorrow. FEATURES • Classic Pomodoro — 25/5 by default, or set your own durations with Premium • Daily rituals — multi-step focus sessions (Morning Start, Deep Work, Quick Sprint, Evening Wind Down) • Calm Mode — hides streaks, badges, and progress numbers by default • Skip Today — pause without breaking your rhythm, no guilt • Weekly insights (Premium) — a calm 7-day view of your focus time, sessions and best day • Ambient sounds — rain, forest, café, white noise or silence; Premium adds ocean, fireplace, wind and brown noise • Six warm themes: Daylight, Nightfall, Sunset, Espresso, Forest, Ocean Deep • Available in English, Deutsch, Español, and Türkçe PRIVACY-FIRST Mintly works entirely on your device. No accounts. No logins. No sign-up. Your sessions, your data, your control. GDPR, CCPA, and KVKK compliant. HONEST PRICING • The free tier is genuinely usable — not a teaser • Premium unlocks custom timer durations, all four rituals, every theme, weekly insights and four extra ambient sounds • Try Premium free for 7 days on the yearly plan • Choose monthly, yearly, or a one-time Lifetime purchase • Prices are shown in the app and vary by region • Cancel anytime. We never sell your data. No tricks. ABOUT THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE The Pomodoro Technique was developed in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo. The idea is simple: work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, repeat. Mintly takes this proven method and removes the pressure — no countdown anxiety, no broken-streak guilt, just calm focus. MADE BY MFKAPPS Mintly comes from MFKAPPS, an independent studio crafting calm tools for everyday life. Our other apps: • Granyn — Calm budgeting • Hydrame — Mindful hydration • Subly — Gentle subscription tracking A QUIETER WAY TO WORK If you're tired of focus apps that feel like an aggressive personal trainer, Mintly is for you. Made for designers, writers, developers, students, and anyone who values calm productivity. SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Mintly Premium is offered as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or as a one-time Lifetime purchase that never renews. Prices are shown in the app and vary by country or region. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings at any time after purchase. Have feedback? We read every message: hello@appsmfk.com Privacy Policy: https://appsmfk.com/privacy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://appsmfk.com/eula/ Terms of Service: https://appsmfk.com/terms/ Made with care by MFKAPPS.

Screenshots

Refocus4 screens
Mintly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Mintly at none against Refocus's shown. Mintly also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Mintly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Refocus ships an update weekly, Mintly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Refocus versus Mintly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefocusMintly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews93.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12K — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLabi, LLCMuhammed Furkan KUCUK

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

Mintly

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Refocus

Subscriptions8
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Refocus Pro (Family)7 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Refocus Pro1 Year trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro1 Month trial2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Refocus Pro7 Days trial2 variants$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
3 purchases

Mintly

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$44.99

Questions

Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mintly free?
Mintly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Refocus or Mintly have ads?
Refocus shows ads; Mintly does not.
Which is updated more often, Refocus or Mintly?
Refocus ships an update weekly, and Mintly every 4 days. Most recently, Refocus was updated on October 18, 2026 and Mintly on October 7, 2026.

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