Comparison

Focus@Will 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

Focus@Will

This app offers personalized music scientifically designed to enhance focus and productivity. It uses a proprietary AI engine and a vast brain database to tailor audio experiences to your specific brain type, helping you filter distractions and achieve deep work sessions.

Highlights
  • Personalized music channels
  • Brain type assessment
  • Customizable background images
  • Focus timer with work/break intervals
  • Offline listening mode
  • Productivity tracking
Features
Read full description

Customize for your specific brain type! Take the quiz to select the channel, select background images, session start sound and timer length...and BOOM get productive... Our mission is to help you focus. We're the pioneers in the focus music space. We started Focus@Will in 2011, our founder is a platinum selling song writer with over 30 years in the music industry, who knows a lot about music entertainment, but we wanted to try something radically new. So we built a team; hand selected neuroscientists, musicians, and engineers to produce a unique new product. Music for productivity. Over the last 10 years we've helped over 2,000,000 people focus by tailoring brain music specifically to their brain type. Our proprietary AI engine is linked with the world's largest brain database, and our music is created by musicians specifically for productivity. The music you find on Focus@Will cannot be found anywhere else; we remaster, re-edit, and re-produce each track to remove all distracting elements so you can stay productive and focused What’s the value -- to your job, your success, your self-image -- of just one intensely-focused session where you filter out distractions and produce more work in two hours than you typically do in a day? Now, what if you multiplied that value over the course of a month, a year? That's what Focus@Will helps you achieve. This app gives you a 7-day full-feature free trial. Just install and run. Then do your best work session ever. On-demand. How do I know if this will work for me? Our in-app assessment agent uses data from the biggest brain database in the world combined with our own data of over 10 years of music brain research to prescribe which specific music type and energy level will work best for you. If it doesn't, no worries we offer a full 30 day money back guarantee! Can I listen offline? Yes! We have offline mode. Can I track my productivity? Yes! We have a built in productivity tracker. Is there a focus timer? Yes! We encourage you to use the focus timer as a pomodoro timer, create work sessions and break times countless times a day. Can I change the session start/end sound? Yes! Or turn them off completely. Our subscribers are entrepreneurs, freelancers, writers, students, and include people that work in large corporations like; Google, Tesla, Apple, SpaceX and Microsoft. Who we are: We're an independent neuroscience company based in Los Angeles, California. Our mission is to empower you to be the best version of yourself; have a healthy work/life balance; and create fulfillment and happiness in your life. What sets us apart: We love Calm, Headspace, Brain.fm, Endel and the rest, but we offer an individualized music-for-work solution based on our connection to the biggest brain database in the world. Every audio mix is different for every user, and all the sounds and music we deliver are unique to our system. Our system manages the ratio between your endogenous attention (ie the task you are focusing on) and your exogenous attention (ie your reptile brain looking for potentially dangerous 'fight or flight' external stimuli). Every human is different, the type of music that helps calm this response is highly individual. (Fun fact: the more easily distracted you are, the more energy you need to help you focus. Now you'll know why our ADHD channel is the way it is!) Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, etc., we're big fans - but not when we're trying to be productive! The focus playlists found in these streaming services is usually someone's vague idea of what worked for them. When you want to get stuff done Focus@Will is the only option that was created specifically for productivity needs. Terms of Service: https://www.focusatwill.com/app/pages/terms-of-service

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

Focus@Will4 screens
Be Focused4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Be Focused at 91% against Focus@Will's 46%. Be Focused also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 656). Focus@Will's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks 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. Focus@Will sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month 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 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Be Focused has 4.3K ratings behind it against 656, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Focus@Will's written reviews are positive against 91% of Be Focused's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus@Will ships an update every 3 weeks, Be Focused every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Focus@Will versus Be Focused: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus@WillBe Focused
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (656 ratings)4.7 (4.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.7% of reviews90.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6564.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB38 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDulcettaDenys Ievenko

Customer experience

Focus@Will

All ratings656 ratings
Positive77.7%
Neutral4.9%
Negative17.4%
Written reviews223 reviews
Positive45.7%
Neutral10.8%
Negative43.5%

Be Focused

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

User reviews

Focus@Will

From 656 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Helps with focus and productivity
  • 🎶 Great background music
  • 👍 Customizable channels and settings
  • 💡 Scientifically designed to aid concentration

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🤔 Limited music selection and repetitive tracks

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

Focus@Will

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App freezes on startup
  • Music playback issues and interruptions
  • Subscription management problems
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Offline mode for music playback
  • More diverse music selection
  • Improved app stability and performance
  • Volume controls and pause/resume functionality
  • Productivity tracking and analytics

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

10 purchases

Focus@Will

Subscriptions10
  • focus@will legacy pricing$4.991 Month
  • focus@will legacy pricing$5.991 Month
  • focus@will legacy pricing$8.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • focus@will7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • focus@will legacy pricing$11.991 Month
  • focus@will legacy pricing14 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Focus@Will7 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • focus@will legacy pricing$44.991 Year
  • focus@will7 Days trial$52.991 Year
  • focus@will$69.991 Year
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 Focus@Will free?
Focus@Will 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, Focus@Will or Be Focused?
Be Focused is rated higher. Focus@Will averages 4.1 out of 5 from 656 ratings, while Be Focused averages 4.7 from 4.3K ratings.
Do Focus@Will or Be Focused have ads?
Be Focused shows ads; Focus@Will does not.
Which is updated more often, Focus@Will or Be Focused?
Focus@Will ships an update every 3 weeks, and Be Focused every 5 months. Most recently, Focus@Will was updated on October 7, 2026 and Be Focused on October 15, 2026.

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