# Focus Timer vs Persist

The clearest difference is rating: Persist at 5.0 against Focus Timer's 4.3. Persist also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). Focus Timer's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus Timer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Persist sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Persist holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Focus Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Persist's.

Focus Timer ships an update fortnightly, Persist every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on July 8, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focus Timer | Persist |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-studious/id6642672538/reviews) | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/persist-better-todos/id6737065703/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **17** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Florent Perillat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1861519651) | [Sang Doan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1724689547) |

## What reviewers say

### Focus Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-studious/id6642672538)

Enhance focus and build productive habits with a tool that integrates a calendar, timer, and app blocker. Plan your day, track your time, and block distractions to reduce mental load and improve presence.

**Highlights:** Integrates with Apple Calendar, Creates focus timers from events, Standalone focus timer option, App blocking (scheduled and spontaneous), Supports ADHD and neurodivergent minds, Reduces mental load

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


### Persist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/persist-better-todos/id6737065703)

This app helps you structure your day by categorizing tasks into Must-Do, Not-to-do, and Maybe. Visualize your productivity with heatmaps and keep important notes, principles, and goals easily accessible. Connect your actions to your identity to track personal growth and cultivate a focused mindset.

**Highlights:** Task prioritization (Must-Do, Not-to-do, Maybe), Productivity heatmaps, Persistent notes for quotes and goals, Identity linking to tasks, Elegant and user-friendly design

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Persist Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focus Timer free?

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

### Is Persist free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Focus Timer or Persist?

Persist is rated higher. Focus Timer averages 4.3 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Persist averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.

### Do Focus Timer or Persist have ads?

Persist shows ads; Focus Timer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Focus Timer or Persist?

Focus Timer ships an update fortnightly, and Persist every 2 days. Most recently, Focus Timer was updated on July 8, 2026 and Persist on July 6, 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.*