# BrainWave vs Focus To

The clearest difference is price: Focus To at Free against BrainWave's $4.99. Focus To also leads on ratings volume (15K vs 1.2K). BrainWave's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (88% vs 80%). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Focus To is free to download; BrainWave costs $4.99 up front. Focus To sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. BrainWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for BrainWave against 4.8 for Focus To. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focus To has 15K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of BrainWave's written reviews are positive against 80% of Focus To's.

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, Focus To every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainWave | Focus To |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-sharp-mind/id308715234/reviews)** | [4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-to-do-focus-timer-and-tasks/id966057213/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | **87.9% of reviews** | 79.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 158 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Banzai Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/305909501) | [Shenzhen Tomato Software Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/966057212) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainWave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-sharp-mind/id308715234)

Enhance focus, memory, and problem-solving skills with advanced brainwave programs. This app combines binaural tones with ambient sounds and music to guide your mind into optimized mental states for learning and creativity. Customize your experience with adjustable settings and enjoy a unique approach to brainwave entrainment.

**Highlights:** 18 Advanced Brainwave Programs, Binaural Tones with Music/Audiobooks, Ambient Backgrounds & Alarm Sounds, Adjustable Brainwave Intensity, Customizable Timer, Progressive Brainwave Entrainment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helps with focus and concentration
- 👍 Effective for ADHD and TBI
- 🧠 Improves cognitive abilities
- 💤 Aids in sleep and relaxation
- 🎨 Enhances creativity and problem-solving

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or audio issues
- 🔇 Stops playing when notifications occur
- 🔍 Cluttered interface could be simplified

**Reported bugs**

- Alarm clock not working properly
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add more background sound options
- Allow customization of sound mixes
- Enable background playback while device is locked


### Focus To

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-to-do-focus-timer-and-tasks/id966057213)

This app combines a Pomodoro timer with task management to boost productivity. Organize tasks, set reminders, and track your focused work sessions with detailed reports. Syncs across all your devices for seamless management.

**Highlights:** Pomodoro timer with customizable lengths, Task and project organization, Recurring tasks and reminders, Detailed time tracking reports, Cross-platform synchronization, White noise for focus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focus To-Do Premium | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3 Months | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $11.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Well-designed interface
- 🚀 Helpful for productivity and focus
- 💡 Useful Pomodoro technique integration
- 🌱 Motivating gamification features
- 📊 Detailed analytics and progress tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues between devices
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔍 Cluttered or confusing interface
- 🕰️ Timer resets or disappears unexpectedly
- 🚫 Paywall locks core features

**Reported bugs**

- Pomodoro timer not working correctly
- Data/progress resets randomly
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Calendar integration
- Ability to pause/resume Pomodoro sessions
- More customization options
- Improved Apple Watch app functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainWave free?

BrainWave costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Focus To free?

Focus To is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BrainWave or Focus To?

BrainWave is rated higher. BrainWave averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Focus To averages 4.8 from 15K ratings.

### Do BrainWave or Focus To have ads?

Neither BrainWave nor Focus To shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainWave or Focus To?

BrainWave ships an update every 2 months, and Focus To every 5 weeks. Most recently, BrainWave was updated on September 23, 2026 and Focus To on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*