Phated vs Focus Buddy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Phated
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Be part of the 1% overachiever club... ...if you're studying, ...working on your side-hustle, ...at a 9-5 or for yourself. Whatever it might be, Phated offers the good kind of peer pressure to keep you focused on your goals. • You're only visible to others when you're in the app & you can only see those who are also online (color bubble = your vibe). • If you leave the app to procrastinate, you'll disturb others (your bubble will disappear off the map). • Find a study buddy by sending someone a message - whether in your town or across the globe. • Personalize your profile and discover what others are working on. Maybe you can collaborate? • When you type (your profile prompt or in a chat), your vibe gets analyzed based on the way you move your phone while typing - not the texts or contents of your message. * • In chats, the vibe of each message gets a corresponding color bubble. • The map doesn't reflect your exact location position. It places you randomly relative to others, but within a certain radius. *You can manually adjust it, too. More information here phatedapp.com Terms of Use & EULA: https://www.phatedapp.com/moodweb-terms-of-use-eula
Focus Buddy
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Stop Struggling with Focus. Start Growing with Your Pixel Buddy. Do you find it hard to start a task? Does your ADHD brain need more than just a ticking clock? Focus Buddy is a gentle, gamified productivity tool designed for dreamers, students, and professionals who want to reclaim their focus without the anxiety. GAMIFIED PRODUCTIVITY: WORK IS NOW A QUEST Turn your to-do list into an 8-bit adventure. No stressful penalties, just pure motivation: Focus to Battle: Your custom pixel hero engages with "distraction monsters" while your timer runs. Earn & Decorate: Collect coins through Pomodoro sessions (25/5 mode) to buy cozy furniture and unlock magical pixel scenes. Progress-Friendly: Unlike other apps, you keep your earned coins even if you get interrupted. We celebrate every minute of your effort.It’s more than a timer—it’s your personal Pixel Companion that battles procrastination alongside you. When you work, your hero thrives. When you focus, your world grows. DESIGNED FOR THE NEURODIVERGENT BRAIN We’ve integrated science-backed features to support ADHD users and those with sensory sensitivities: Body Doubling Effect: Having your Buddy on screen provides the psychological comfort of "working together," making deep work less lonely. Gentle Alerts: Soft vibration and 8-bit visual cues instead of jarring alarms. ADHD-Friendly Planning: Break down big goals into manageable "Micro-Quests." POWERFUL TOOLS FOR FLOW STATE: Flexible Pomodoro Timer: Customize your focus and break intervals to fit your unique rhythm. Ambient Soundscapes: Focus with 8-bit Rain ASMR, Lo-fi beats, or complete silence. Calendar Integration: Seamlessly sync with Apple Calendar and Google Tasks to turn your schedule into a game map. Offline Focus: No Wi-Fi? Your Buddy stays with you. Perfect for library sessions or flights.Optimized Visuals: Color palettes specifically chosen to reduce screen fatigue and sensory overload. BUILT WITH CARE & HONESTY Privacy-First: We never sell your data. Your focus journey is 100% private. No Exploitative Mechanics: We avoid "streaks" that cause guilt. Your hero rests when you need to rest. No Ads: No intrusive pop-ups to break your concentration. Solo Developer Passion: Created by former remote workers who understand the struggle of stay-at-home productivity. WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SAYS: "It helps me start tasks without the usual 'beginning anxiety.' The cutest way to stay productive!" – College Student, Texas "Finally, a focus app that feels like a cozy game instead of a digital chore." – Indie Game Enthusiast Don’t just track time—give it life. Whether you’re studying for finals, coding a project, or just trying to get through chores, your Focus Buddy is ready. Download now and find your Flow State today!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Phated at every 2 weeks against Focus Buddy's monthly. Phated also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Phated sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Focus Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Phated ships an update every 2 weeks, Focus Buddy monthly. The most recent releases landed on May 17, 2026 and February 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Phated | Focus Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 162 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Maria Koryakina | 锦 曹 |
In-app purchases
Phated
- Personalized Emotion AI$7.991 Month
- Reveal Age, Gender & Intention$7.991 Month
Focus Buddy
- starter package$0.99




