# Exocus vs SideQuest

The clearest difference is rating: Exocus at 4.9 against SideQuest's 4.4. Exocus also leads on ratings volume (131 vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). SideQuest's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Exocus sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and SideQuest sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Exocus holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Exocus has 131 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 96% of Exocus's written reviews are positive against 100% of SideQuest's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Exocus ships an update every 3 weeks, SideQuest every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Exocus | SideQuest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (131 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exocus-gamified-focus-timer/id6448949389/reviews)** | [4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidequest-adhd-focus-rpg/id6759470375/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **131** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 96.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 80 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Byland Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1142565234) | [Raymonjit Nijjar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1865816011) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 | $15.99 | one-time |
| Exopass + Cosmoney x 200 | $34.99 | one-time |
| Exopass | $34.99 | one-time |


### SideQuest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidequest-adhd-focus-rpg/id6759470375)

Transform your to-do list into an epic RPG adventure. Complete tasks with a focus timer and unlock unique story chapters, characters, and loot. Designed for ADHD brains, it offers a compelling narrative to keep you engaged and motivated.

**Highlights:** RPG-style task completion, Customizable hero and world, Serialized narrative with recurring NPCs, Loot drops and equipment rewards, Flexible focus timer, Dynamic Island and Lock Screen widgets, Co-op focus sessions via SharePlay

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Side Quest Pro (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Side Quest Pro (Annual) | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Exocus free?

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

### Is SideQuest free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Exocus or SideQuest?

Exocus is rated higher. Exocus averages 4.9 out of 5 from 131 ratings, while SideQuest averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do Exocus or SideQuest have ads?

Neither Exocus nor SideQuest shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Exocus or SideQuest?

Exocus ships an update every 3 weeks, and SideQuest every 4 days. Most recently, Exocus was updated on October 17, 2026 and SideQuest on October 14, 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.*