Comparison

Focus Wave vs Refocus

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

Head to head
About

Focus Wave

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A simple yet highly effective technique. Use Focus Wave to enhance your focus time. It encourages you to work with the time you have rather than against it and helps you prevent burnout. Set your timer, choose an ambient sound, and track your progress.

About

Refocus

Features
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Focus is not just about willpower. It can be designed. Refocus is a focus timer created with inspiration from scientific research on attention, breaks, and cognitive load. Today, our minds are constantly exposed to stimulation from smartphones, social media, notifications, videos, and endless streams of short information. When your mind is still filled with that noise, simply starting a traditional focus timer may not be enough to help you switch into a focused state. Refocus begins by preparing the state before focus. First, you take a short break to let your mind cool down and settle. Before the break, you can write down one small thing you want to do afterward. This helps you stop holding the next task in your head while resting, and makes it easier to return to work smoothly when the break ends. Refocus is not just about dividing time. It is about resting, clearing your mind, remembering what comes next, and returning to focus. Main features: ・A focus timer designed with scientific insights in mind ・A unique workflow that starts with a break ・A simple note feature to write down what you will do after the break ・A smooth flow that helps you return to focus after resting ・A simple cycle of focus and break sessions ・Calming animations and a minimal interface Recommended for people who: ・Take time to get into focus ・Feel mentally scattered after using smartphones or social media ・Forget what they were going to do after taking a break ・Want to reset their mind before starting work ・Prefer a simple and calm timer app ・Want to enter focus naturally, without forcing it Rest first. Clear your mind. Leave your next task behind. Then return to focus. Refocus is a timer designed to help create a state where focus can happen more naturally.

Screenshots

Focus Wave4 screens
Refocus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Focus Wave at every 2 days against Refocus's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Wave ships an update every 2 days, Refocus every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Focus Wave versus Refocus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus WaveRefocus
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSantiago LimasHiroki Nishikawa

In-app purchases

None

Focus Wave

No in-app purchases

None

Refocus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focus Wave free?
Focus Wave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Focus Wave or Refocus have ads?
Neither Focus Wave nor Refocus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Wave or Refocus?
Focus Wave ships an update every 2 days, and Refocus every 3 weeks. Most recently, Focus Wave was updated on September 23, 2026 and Refocus on September 16, 2026.

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