# While vs Focal

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | While | Focal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/while-the-meditation-timer/id6472903857/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-meditation-timer/id6484317568/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **7** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 16 months** | Every 30 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 54 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mike LaVigne](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718075779) | [Benjamin Majkut](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740595700) |

## What reviewers say

### While

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/while-the-meditation-timer/id6472903857)

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.

**Highlights:** Focused meditation timer, Clean interface, Customizable features, Distraction-free sessions, For experienced meditators

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.00 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $10.00 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $3.99 | one-time |


### Focal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focal-meditation-timer/id6484317568)

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.

**Highlights:** Customizable sounds, Customizable colors, Statistics tracking, Habit calendar, Clean design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is While free?

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

### Is Focal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, While or Focal?

Focal is rated higher. While averages 4.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Focal averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do While or Focal have ads?

Neither While nor Focal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, While or Focal?

While ships an update every 16 months, and Focal every 30 months. Most recently, While was updated on October 30, 2026 and Focal on October 24, 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.*