Comparison

SandBud vs Pulse Focus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SandBud

This app helps you reclaim your screen time and build focus habits by blocking distracting applications. It gamifies the process by allowing you to design a virtual zen garden with elements earned from completed focus sessions. Stay present, reduce scrolling, and cultivate mindfulness with rewarding progress tracking.

Highlights
  • Block apps with focus plans
  • Design a virtual zen garden
  • Earn rewards for focus streaks
  • Track daily focus progress
  • Enter deep focus with Zen Mode
  • Take timed breaks
  • View screen time reports
Features
Read full description

Less brainrot. More living. SandBud is a focus app that makes putting your phone down REWARDING. Block distracting apps, and earn rewards when you focus. The best part? You can grow your own zen garden and show off your focus progress while you are resetting your phone habit. Designed by the former TikTok product team, SandBud makes focus fun! We use proven behavioral psychology hacks to reverse-engineer the brainrot, so you will fall in love with being present again! Meet Bud, your little focus butler. He’s here to remind you to spend less time scrolling and more time doing your thing. Studying. Working. Having dinner without checking what everyone else is having for dinner. HOW SandBud WORKS Choose your distractions Select the apps you want to take a break from. Make a focus plan Set aside time for work, study, winding down, or being with people you care about. TimeBack blocks your selected apps during your focus session, so you don't brainrot. Earn something worth looking forward to Complete your focus session to earn rewards for your garden. Grow plants, unlock surprise collections, and make your little space your own. SCREEN TIME CONTROL WITH SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO You already know you want to scroll less and stop the brainrot. SandBud gives you a reason to follow through: a little progress, a little surprise, and a garden that grows with your effort. • App Blocker — Block distracting apps when you want to focus. • Focus Plans — Make room in your day for the things you keep putting off. • Zen Garden — Turn completed sessions into rewards and a space you can build. • Surprise Collections — Discover new things to unlock as you keep going. • Zen Mode — Start a distraction-free moment when you need one. • Screen Time Reports — See your screen time breakdown and follow your progress. BE PRESENT, ONE SESSION AT A TIME One quick check can turn into an hour of brainrot. Give yourself a break from the feed and make room for your own life. Practice mindfulness while studying, working, or spending time with someone you love. Your phone can wait. Bud is excellent at waiting. Start your first focus plan. Give your attention somewhere better to go. BUILT WITH APPLE’S SCREEN TIME API SandBud uses Apple’s Screen Time API to block the apps you select. TERMS & PRIVACY Terms of Use: https://gettimeback.app/terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://gettimeback.app/privacy-policy/

About

Pulse Focus

Features
Read full description

In a world of endless notifications, noise, and digital overload, focus is no longer optional — it’s a competitive advantage. Pulse Focus is a wellness and focus-training app, not a medical device. It works with consumer fitness wearables (such as Apple Watch, Garmin, and Bluetooth heart rate monitors) to enhance focus training. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Pulse Focus is a science-based focus training app designed to help you build real, measurable focus performance under pressure. Using accuracy, reaction time, and optional heart rate signals from consumer fitness wearables, the app provides feedback on your focus performance during gameplay. As you play, behavioral and fitness-tracker data help you see how your performance changes under pressure. Pulse Focus is grounded in research-based methods but does not make medical claims or provide medical advice. TRAIN FOCUS UNDER PRESSURE Most productivity tools assume calm environments. Real life isn’t. Pulse Focus trains you to maintain clarity and composure in fast, noisy, high-distraction scenarios. The game introduces pressure, unexpected changes, and cognitive challenges designed to simulate demanding situations. You don’t just practice focusing — you practice staying focused when it’s difficult. PROGRESS-DRIVEN GAMEPLAY The game features progressive levels that unlock as you improve your focus performance (starting at 80%). As your ability to maintain attention and composure under pressure improves, new challenges increase in intensity and complexity. Focus becomes visible. Progress becomes measurable. Pulse Focus includes multiple game modes designed to challenge: • Sustained attention • Rapid response under pressure • Cognitive flexibility • Distraction recovery Each mode adapts as your performance improves — similar to progressive training. BUILD MENTAL RESILIENCE Mental stamina improves with consistent training. With regular use, you can: • Strengthen sustained attention • Improve composure under pressure • Reduce distraction recovery time • Increase cognitive endurance • Perform more consistently in demanding situations The real skill isn’t avoiding distraction — it’s recovering from it. Pulse Focus helps you understand: • How your focus changes during challenges • How your performance varies under pressure • How quickly you recover after distractions • Your progress trends over time COMPETE & STAY MOTIVATED Focus training becomes more engaging when it’s social. Compare performance with friends and stay motivated as you improve consistency under pressure. PRIVACY-FIRST DESIGN Your data is yours. All data is processed locally on your device by default and is never shared without your consent. Optional participation in research helps improve personalization, but is entirely user-controlled. You can export or delete your data at any time. Medical Disclaimer Pulse Focus is intended for general wellness, entertainment, and focus-training purposes only. It is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, and before making any health-related decisions or starting any new wellness program.

Screenshots

SandBud4 screens
Pulse Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pulse Focus at none against SandBud's 2. On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SandBud sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Pulse Focus asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SandBud ships an update weekly, Pulse Focus every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
SandBud versus Pulse Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSandBudPulse Focus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (30 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings30 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size281 MB141 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSean Kuannery Media, LLCSynheart AI

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SandBud

Subscriptions2
  • TimeBack Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • TimeBack Premium (Yearly)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
None

Pulse Focus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SandBud free?
SandBud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pulse Focus free?
Pulse Focus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SandBud or Pulse Focus have ads?
Neither SandBud nor Pulse Focus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SandBud or Pulse Focus?
SandBud ships an update weekly, and Pulse Focus every 9 days. Most recently, SandBud was updated on October 21, 2026 and Pulse Focus on October 14, 2026.

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