# Chime Squirrel vs Be Focused

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Chime Squirrel | Be Focused |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (94 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-squirrel/id556415124/reviews) | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-focused-deep-focus-timer/id973130201/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 94 | **4.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 67.9% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 8 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Luke Ryan, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/556415127) | [Denys Ievenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/427936468) |

## What reviewers say

### Chime Squirrel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chime-squirrel/id556415124)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade To Pro | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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)


### Be Focused

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-focused-deep-focus-timer/id973130201)

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:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Timer resets unexpectedly
- Timers not syncing correctly across devices
- Notifications not always working as expected

**Requested features**

- 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


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