# Study Buddies vs Exocus

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Study Buddies at none against Exocus's 7. Exocus's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Exocus sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Study Buddies asks for nothing beyond the download.

Study Buddies ships an update every 2 months, Exocus every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Study Buddies | Exocus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (131 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exocus-gamified-focus-timer/id6448949389/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **131** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 96.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 738 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [jason punselie](https://appshunter.io/developer/1679426285) | [Byland Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1142565234) |

## What reviewers say

### Study Buddies

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/study-buddies-focus-timer/id6446861499)

This app uses a gamified Pomodoro technique to help users focus on tasks and reduce phone usage. It offers ambient sounds and competitive features to motivate users to build better habits and improve productivity.

**Highlights:** Gamified focus timer, Pomodoro technique, Habit tracking and building, Ambient sounds (lo-fi, white noise), Competitive features with friends, Phone addiction reduction

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Exocus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exocus-gamified-focus-timer/id6448949389)

This app transforms focus sessions into a gamified experience, visualizing your concentration as a planet's evolution. Earn rewards, unlock new designs, and overcome procrastination with engaging, pixel-art visuals and a unique reward system.

**Highlights:** Gamified focus timer, Planet evolution visualization, Pixel art design, Stage-based incentives, Unlockable planet designs, Hardcore Mode for increased stakes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Newcomer Pack | $0.29 | one-time |
| Cosmoney x 5 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cosmoney x 30 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Cosmoney x 100 | $13.99 | one-time |
| Exopass | $17.99 | one-time |
| Exopass + Cosmoney x 200 | $34.99 | one-time |
| Exopass | $34.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Study Buddies free?

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

### Is Exocus free?

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

### Do Study Buddies or Exocus have ads?

Study Buddies shows ads; Exocus does not.

### Which is updated more often, Study Buddies or Exocus?

Study Buddies ships an update every 2 months, and Exocus every 3 weeks. Most recently, Study Buddies was updated on September 17, 2026 and Exocus on October 5, 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.*