While vs Focal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
While
This app provides a focused and distraction-free timer for experienced meditators. It offers a clean interface with customizable features to support your meditation sessions.
- Focused meditation timer
- Clean interface
- Customizable features
- Distraction-free sessions
- For experienced meditators
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The While timer is designed for experienced meditators who are seeking a focused tool for their practice. Offering a clean interface and customizable features, While supports your sessions without distractions.
Focal
This app offers a simple and intuitive meditation timer with customizable sound and color options. Track your progress with detailed statistics and a habit calendar to visualize your journey. Its clean design promotes focus during your meditation sessions.
- Customizable sounds
- Customizable colors
- Statistics tracking
- Habit calendar
- Clean design
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Welcome to Focal! An innovative and easy to use meditation timer. The app features customizable sounds and colors, stats tracking, and a habit calendar that visualizes your progress. The clean and seamless design makes it easier than ever to stay focused on your practice. Happy meditating with Focal!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Focal at 5.0 against While's 4.0. Focal also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (7 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. While sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month. Focal asks for nothing beyond the download.
Focal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
While ships an update every 16 months, Focal every 30 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | While | Focal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months — better | Every 30 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 54 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mike LaVigne | Benjamin Majkut |
Customer experience
While
Focal
In-app purchases
While
- Monthly Subscription$2.001 Month
- Yearly Subscription$10.001 Year
- Lifetime Access$3.99
Focal
No in-app purchases
