Comparison

Phated vs Focus Buddy

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

Head to head
About

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

About

Focus Buddy

Features
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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

Phated4 screens
Focus Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phated ships an update every 2 weeks, Focus Buddy monthly. The most recent releases landed on May 17, 2026 and February 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Phated versus Focus Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhatedFocus Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better16
Further details — not scored
Size162 MB33 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMaria Koryakina锦 曹

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Phated

Subscriptions2
  • Personalized Emotion AI$7.991 Month
  • Reveal Age, Gender & Intention$7.991 Month
1 purchases

Focus Buddy

One-time1
  • starter package$0.99

Questions

Is Phated free?
Phated is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Buddy free?
Focus Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Phated or Focus Buddy have ads?
Neither Phated nor Focus Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Phated or Focus Buddy?
Phated ships an update every 2 weeks, and Focus Buddy monthly. Most recently, Phated was updated on May 17, 2026 and Focus Buddy on February 28, 2026.

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