Comparison

Chime Squirrel vs Be Focused

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

Head to head
About

Chime Squirrel

This app helps you stay productive by setting customizable recurring chimes for repetitive tasks, exercise routines, or study sessions. It runs in the background, providing timely audio reminders without requiring manual dismissal. Optimize your daily workflow with flexible interval settings and a user-friendly interface.

Highlights
  • Variable interval chimes
  • Quick chime setup
  • Multiple chime sounds
  • Light and dark themes
  • Runs in the background
  • Repeating interval sequences
Features
Read full description

Chime Squirrel is a flexible interval timer and chime app. Set up repeating chimes at any interval, run multiple chimes simultaneously, and stay on track without checking your phone. Whether you're timing meditation sessions, workout intervals, work sprints, pomodoro timer, or any repeating activity, Chime Squirrel keeps the screen active and sounds your chime right on schedule. FEATURES • Quick Chime — set up and start a simple interval chime in seconds • Interval Chimes — create and save custom chime sequences with multiple intervals • Multiple themes — choose from several color themes to match your style • Screen stays on — no need to unlock your phone between chimes • iPad support — works on iPhone and iPad with a shared layout Upgrade to Pro to unlock additional interval chimes beyond the free limit.

About

Be Focused

This app helps you stay focused by breaking down tasks into timed work intervals with short breaks. It offers task management, customizable timers, progress tracking, and cross-device synchronization. Enhance your productivity and concentration with this effective tool.

Highlights
  • Task creation and management
  • Customizable work/break intervals
  • Progress tracking and reports
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Widgets and Lock Screen controls
  • Sound and notification options
Features
Read full description

Staying on task seems is a real challenge for our screen-bound generation. The Be Focused lets you get things done by breaking up individual tasks among discrete intervals, separated by short breaks. It’s a surprisingly effective way to retain motivation and focus. Create tasks, configure breaks and track your progress throughout the day, week or custom period. Use Be Focused on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — everything stays perfectly in sync. Task Management • Create and manage tasks • Add notes and due dates to tasks • Organize tasks with tags and filters • Paste task lists from other apps Timer Control • Start, pause, or skip intervals • Auto-start the next interval (optionally) • Plan intervals needed for task completion and track accuracy • Manage completed intervals Timer Customization • Set durations for work sessions, short and long breaks • Define number of intervals before a long break • Set a daily goal for completed intervals • Assign different timer settings to individual tasks Reports • View detailed reports to monitor your progress • Export your data in CSV format Sounds and Notifications • Chronometer ticking sound with adjustable frequency • Variety of alarm sounds • Interactive notifications • Adjustable volume for alarms and chronometer Integration • Sync across all your devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) • Integration with Focus Matrix to manage tasks using urgent/important principle * • Integration with Shortcuts app to automate workflow Quick Access • Widgets for Lock Screen and Home Screen • Live activities for Lock Screen and Dynamic Island • Control to start or stop the timer from the Lock Screen, Controls Center, or Action Button Automation • Integration with Shortcuts app (control tasks and timers via Shortcuts app) • Automate Shortcuts execution on events in Be Focused app Device Support • Apple Watch support • Also available for Mac • Dark and Light mode support Pro Version Features • Single purchase unlocks Pro on iPhone, iPad, and Mac • Sync across all your devices • Tags and filters to organize tasks and maintain focus • Integration with Focus Matrix to manage tasks using urgent/important principle * • Shortcuts execution on events in Be Focused app • Export data in CSV format • No banners, no ads Be Focused is free to download and use forever. However, if you want to access the Pro features on all your iPhones, iPads, and Macs, you can upgrade to the Pro version. The Pro subscription comes in three different options: Monthly, Yearly with a 7-day trial, and Lifetime (one-time payment). Payment will be charged to your App Store account and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Subscription may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://xwavesoft.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: https://xwavesoft.com/terms-of-use.html * Integration with Focus Matrix requires the Pro version of Focus Matrix, sold separately.

Screenshots

Chime Squirrel4 screens
Be Focused4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Be Focused at 4.7 against Chime Squirrel's 4.0. Be Focused also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 68%) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 94). Chime Squirrel's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. Chime Squirrel sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Be Focused sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Be Focused holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Be Focused has 4.3K ratings behind it against 94, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Chime Squirrel's written reviews are positive against 91% of Be Focused's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chime Squirrel ships an update monthly, Be Focused every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Chime Squirrel versus Be Focused: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChime SquirrelBe Focused
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (94 ratings)4.7 (4.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews67.9% of reviews90.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings944.3K — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.216.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLuke Ryan, LLCDenys Ievenko

Customer experience

Chime Squirrel

All ratings94 ratings
Positive73.4%
Neutral5.3%
Negative21.3%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive67.9%
Neutral3.8%
Negative28.3%

Be Focused

All ratings4,318 ratings
Positive94.5%
Neutral2.7%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews1,705 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral4.8%
Negative4.5%

User reviews

Chime Squirrel

From 94 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and effective
  • 👍 Great for repeating timers
  • 👍 Useful for exercise reminders
  • 👍 Perfect for meditation prompts
  • 👍 Reliable for study sessions

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Does not work in background
  • 🐛 Last update erased data
  • 🐛 Stops working when app is not on screen
  • 🐛 Poor interface for some users
  • 🐛 Quiet sounds for some users

Be Focused

From 4.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Straightforward and easy to use
  • 🚀 Helps with focus and productivity
  • 💡 Customizable work and break times
  • 📊 Tracks time spent on tasks
  • 🔔 Good notification system

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Syncing issues between devices
  • 🔔 Inconsistent notification sounds
  • 💻 Lack of dark mode
  • 🔍 Difficulty rearranging tasks

Bugs and requests

Chime Squirrel

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • App stops working when in background
  • Interval data lost after update
  • Timer resets to start when app is not on screen
  • App behaves erratically
  • Edit page does not change settings
Show 3 more
  • App freezes and hangs up
  • Notifications announce chime finish instead of start
  • Chiming constantly and getting multiple alerts after setup attempt

Requested features

11 requests
  • Apple Watch compatibility
  • Ability to set different intervals within a timer
  • Siri integration for speaking chime titles
  • Option to have notifications announce chime start instead of finish
  • More subtle and longer chime sounds (like a gong)
Show 6 more
  • Custom ringtones
  • Schedule timers for specific days/times (e.g., Mo-Fr 8-17h)
  • Ability to save multiple timer configurations
  • Ability to set timers to keep chiming until reset
  • More sound options beyond basic chimes/beeps
  • Ability to start timers automatically in the morning

Be Focused

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Timer resets unexpectedly
  • Timers not syncing correctly across devices
  • Notifications not always working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Option to override Do Not Disturb mode
  • Ability to log partial intervals
  • Time tracking with notes per interval
  • Customizable notification sounds
  • Ability to set task-specific time limits

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Chime Squirrel

One-time1
  • Upgrade To Pro$3.99
3 purchases

Be Focused

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Pro$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$39.99

Questions

Is Chime Squirrel free?
Chime Squirrel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Be Focused free?
Be Focused is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chime Squirrel or Be Focused?
Be Focused is rated higher. Chime Squirrel averages 4.0 out of 5 from 94 ratings, while Be Focused averages 4.7 from 4.3K ratings.
Do Chime Squirrel or Be Focused have ads?
Be Focused shows ads; Chime Squirrel does not.
Which is updated more often, Chime Squirrel or Be Focused?
Chime Squirrel ships an update monthly, and Be Focused every 5 months. Most recently, Chime Squirrel was updated on October 15, 2026 and Be Focused on October 15, 2026.

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