Ultimate Focus vs ActUp
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ultimate Focus
Enhance your productivity with a visual timer designed for focused work and study. Manage tasks, utilize Pomodoro cycles, block distractions, and track your progress. Sync with your calendar and personalize your experience with customizable themes and sounds.
- Visual timer with drag-to-set functionality
- Task-specific focus sessions
- Pomodoro mode for cycles
- Distracting app and website blocking
- Calendar sync for sessions and reflections
- Customizable themes and icons
- Home Screen widgets and Shortcuts integration
Read full descriptionHide full description
Focus is built less on willpower and more on an environment that makes it easy to begin. Ultimate Focus is a simple focus timer designed with only the features you actually need for work and study. Manage separate sessions for each task, review your focus, use Pomodoro mode, block distracting apps, and sync your sessions with Calendar—all in one app. Features - Drag your finger to quickly set the timer. - Organize your focus time by separating sessions for different tasks. - Stay in rhythm with Pomodoro mode for natural cycles of focus and break. - Review how you focused with stats and reflection features. - Sync your focus sessions and reflections with the Calendar app. - Personalize the app with 70+ color themes and app icons. - Check your focus stats or start a timer right away from Home Screen widgets. - Start a timer using Shortcuts. - Block selected apps and websites while you focus. - Use Habits to receive reminders at the times you want. - Customize notification sounds and background music to match your style. (Premium) - Sync and edit your focus records across devices with iCloud. (Premium) If you experience any issues while using the app, have questions, or find a bug, please contact us anytime at hello@ultimatefocus.app. Terms of Use : https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
ActUp
Read full descriptionHide full description
ActUp is a focus timer that helps you finish what matters by splitting your day into short sprints. Start your highest-priority task right away and stay locked in with clear remaining time. Key features - Prioritize today's tasks - Start/pause focus timer with one tap - Track progress on the Lock Screen and Live Activity - Sync tasks and progress across iPhone and widgets with iCloud - Keep a simple flow from start to completion Built for people who want to cut noise and complete the most important work today. Subscription info You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Ultimate Focus at none against ActUp's shown. Ultimate Focus also leads on device support (6 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). ActUp's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). On price 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
Both are free to download. Ultimate Focus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ActUp sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Ultimate Focus ships an update every 3 weeks, ActUp every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ultimate Focus | ActUp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (190 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 86.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 190 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 95 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | StonicSolution | Sori Games |
Bugs and requests
Ultimate Focus
Reported bugs
17 issues- Pomodoro mode not working
- Timer not movable after exiting desktop app
- Session switching on iPhone is confusing
- Shortcuts only allow one section selection
- Default timer is always 25 min
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Restarting phone requires re-onboarding
- Alarm sound is too short
- Icon cannot be moved on home screen
- Timer doesn't record if stopped early
- Timer end memo sometimes doesn't display
- Keynote doesn't show timer overlay
- App volume cannot be adjusted
- Dock icon cannot be hidden
- Sync issues across devices
- Apple Watch timer stops when screen dims
- Apple Watch app lacks break timer
- Timer not resetting correctly
Requested features
37 requests- Pause and resume timer functionality
- Guide website for usage
- Option to purchase premium
- Improve iPhone session switching clarity
- Pomodoro mode without breaks
Show 32 moreShow fewer
- Ability to add time manually after forgetting to start
- Count-up (stopwatch) mode
- Ability to choose own theming colors
- Weekly report with productivity insights
- AI to break down trends
- Continuous timer alarm sound until dismissed
- Real-time widget for specific sessions
- Ability to set default timer per session
- Option to change daily reset time (e.g., 2 AM instead of midnight)
- Show current time on Apple Watch timer screen
- Option to hide numbers on menu bar timer
- Option to have timer circle represent full visual space regardless of duration
- Ability to run multiple timers simultaneously
- Bar graph option for timer visualization
- Stopwatch mode for flexible time tracking
- Option to change time cycle for daily reset
- One-time purchase option for premium
- More sound themes or custom color themes
- Option to disable retrospect pop-up
- Digital display option for timer
- Adjustable alarm volume within the app
- Option to hide app icon from dock
- Tutorial for Pomodoro mode settings
- Option to make timer display on Keynote
- Sync session and retrospect lists across devices
- Improve Apple Watch app functionality (e.g., break timer)
- Option to set timer for over 60 minutes
- Option to reset timer to start from beginning
- Option to have timer on every desktop
- Option to show only icon on menu bar
- Invert clock colors for focus and break times
- Ability to change timer duration for each session individually
ActUp
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Ultimate Focus
- Ultimate Focus - Monthly$2.991 Month
- Ultimate Focus - Annual7 Days trial$17.991 Year
- Ultimate Focus - Annual$17.991 Year
- Ultimate Focus - Lifetime$39.99
ActUp
- Monthly Plan$1.991 Month
- Annual Plan$22.991 Year
