# Study Timer vs Study Circle

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Study Circle at none against Study Timer's 5. Study Circle also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (48 vs 13). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Study Timer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per year. Study Circle asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Study Timer against 4.7 for Study Circle. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 48 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Study Timer's written reviews are positive against 90% of Study Circle's.

Study Timer ships an update every 2 months, Study Circle fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Study Timer | Study Circle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/study-timer-focus-and-pomodoro/id6444372570/reviews)** | [4.7 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/study-circle-the-focus-app/id6453023919/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **48** |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | **90.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 478 MB | 188 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [THOMSON Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/492371813) | [Hikaru Hanada](https://appshunter.io/developer/1619728671) |

## What reviewers say

### Study Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/study-timer-focus-and-pomodoro/id6444372570)

Enhance your study habits and achieve deep focus with a powerful tracker and timer. Utilize the Pomodoro Technique, calming sounds, and automatic logging to stay motivated and productive. Ideal for students, professionals, and individuals managing ADHD.

**Highlights:** Pomodoro Focus Timer, Automatic Study Tracker, Natural Sounds & Lo-Fi BGM, Study Calendar & Graph View, Exam Countdown, Distraction-Free UI

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (annual) | $5.99 | per year |
| Premium (3-Month) | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium (Yearly) | $15.99 | per year |
| Premium (lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Premium (Lifetime) | $29.99 | one-time |


### Study Circle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/study-circle-the-focus-app/id6453023919)

This app helps users boost motivation and make studying enjoyable by connecting them with friends. It offers a focus timer, progress visualization, and a community feature for mutual support and encouragement during study sessions.

**Highlights:** Virtual study circles with friends, Intuitive study timer, Send encouragement and support messages, Visualize study progress with charts, Track daily, weekly, and monthly progress

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Study Timer free?

Study Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Study Circle free?

Study Circle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Study Timer or Study Circle?

Study Timer is rated higher. Study Timer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Study Circle averages 4.7 from 48 ratings.

### Do Study Timer or Study Circle have ads?

Both Study Timer and Study Circle show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Study Timer or Study Circle?

Study Timer ships an update every 2 months, and Study Circle fortnightly. Most recently, Study Timer was updated on September 28, 2026 and Study Circle on September 28, 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.*