Comparison

Ultimate Focus vs STOW

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read 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/

About

STOW

Features
Read full description

Make every focused second visible. STOW is a time management app that lets you save and use the time you spend focusing. Enter what you want to focus on, set an estimated duration, and begin. When you finish, your actual focused time is automatically deposited into your time balance. Key features • Focus timer See elapsed time and progress toward your estimate, and pause, resume, or finish at any time. • Save time by the second Your actual focused time is deposited automatically when you complete a session. • Personal goals Create goals for how you want to use your time, such as watching a movie, reading, or taking a walk. • Withdraw time Once you have saved enough, withdraw time and complete your goal. • Transaction history Review deposits, withdrawals, and your balance after every transaction. No sign-in is required. All records stay on your device and are never sent to an external server.

Screenshots

Ultimate Focus4 screens
STOW4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: STOW at none against Ultimate Focus's 4. STOW also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Ultimate Focus's advantage is device support (6 vs 1). On price, ads 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. Ultimate Focus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. STOW asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ultimate Focus ships an update every 3 weeks, STOW every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Ultimate Focus versus STOW: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUltimate FocusSTOW
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (190 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings190 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size95 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStonicSolutionYEON JU JIN

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 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

STOW

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Ultimate Focus

Subscriptions3
  • Ultimate Focus - Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Ultimate Focus - Annual7 Days trial$17.991 Year
  • Ultimate Focus - Annual$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Ultimate Focus - Lifetime$39.99
None

STOW

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ultimate Focus free?
Ultimate Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is STOW free?
STOW is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ultimate Focus or STOW have ads?
Neither Ultimate Focus nor STOW shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ultimate Focus or STOW?
Ultimate Focus ships an update every 3 weeks, and STOW every 3 days. Most recently, Ultimate Focus was updated on October 24, 2026 and STOW on October 16, 2026.

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