Comparison

BUSY vs HOAware Resident

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

Head to head
About

BUSY

Enhance your productivity by blocking distracting apps and muting notifications. This tool offers customizable focus sessions, including Pomodoro-style workflows, and provides insights into your distraction attempts to help you improve focus.

Highlights
  • Customizable focus sessions (timer, Pomodoro, no time limit)
  • Distraction blocking (apps, notifications)
  • Accountability features (no skipping sessions)
  • Distraction attempt tracking
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Customizable timer themes
Features
Read full description

BUSY — Focus Timer & Distraction Blocker
 Stay focused. Get more done. 
Block distracting apps and notifications while adding structure to your day. Choose short focus sessions with regular breaks or switch to deep focus mode. Work without interruptions on iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac.
 FEATURES: - Instant Focus. Start focusing in one tap. Choose Pomodoro-style sessions with breaks or work without time limits. - BUSY Bar Сontrol. Connect and manage your BUSY Bar from your phone. Start focus sessions, block distractions, update firmware, connect to Wi-Fi, and more. - Music Themes. Choose visual themes with music designed to support deep, focused work. - Block Distractions. Automatically block distracting apps and mute notifications so you stay in control. - Track Your Attempts. See how often you try to open blocked apps and build stronger focus habits. - Structured Focus Sessions. Stay consistent with focus intervals designed to improve productivity. - Apple Watch & Mac Support. Start, stop, or manage sessions from your Apple Watch or Mac. Everything syncs instantly.
 BUSY helps you stay focused, reduce distractions, and build better work habits — across all your devices.

About

HOAware Resident

Stay informed and engaged with your community. Manage HOA dues, track architectural changes, and communicate with your board. An AI assistant is available for common questions.

Highlights
  • View violation notices
  • Submit architectural change applications
  • Pay HOA assessments
  • Receive community announcements
  • Message HOA board
  • File complaints
  • AI assistant for HOA questions
Features
Read full description

Used by residents across hundreds of independent homeowners associations nationwide, HOAware Resident is the easiest way to stay informed and engaged with your community. With HOAware Resident, you can: - View violation notices and compliance details - Submit and track architectural change (ACC) applications - Pay HOA assessments and dues (real-world property obligations processed securely via Stripe on behalf of your HOA) - Receive important community announcements and updates - Send and receive messages with your HOA board or management company - File and track complaints - Chat with CORI, an AI-powered assistant that can answer common HOA questions (messages are processed by OpenAI — see our privacy policy for details) - Manage your homeowner profile and contact information No more digging through emails or paperwork. HOAware Resident simplifies communication between residents and their homeowners association, helping you stay organized, informed, and in control. Secure. Simple. Convenient. Built with privacy and ease of use in mind, HOAware Resident gives you quick access to the information that matters most — when you need it. A full privacy policy is available within the app. Note: Access is provided through participating homeowners associations. Your HOA must be a HOAware client for you to use this app. Contact your HOA or management company if you need an account.

Screenshots

BUSY4 screens
HOAware Resident4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HOAware Resident at 5.0 against BUSY's 3.8. HOAware Resident also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). BUSY's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (13 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HOAware Resident holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BUSY has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BUSY ships an update fortnightly, HOAware Resident every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
BUSY versus HOAware Resident: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBUSYHOAware Resident
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (13 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size160 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlipper - FZCONoel Lacayo

Customer experience

BUSY

All ratings13 ratings
Positive69.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative25.0%

HOAware Resident

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

BUSY

No in-app purchases

None

HOAware Resident

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BUSY free?
BUSY is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HOAware Resident free?
HOAware Resident is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BUSY or HOAware Resident?
HOAware Resident is rated higher. BUSY averages 3.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while HOAware Resident averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do BUSY or HOAware Resident have ads?
Neither BUSY nor HOAware Resident shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BUSY or HOAware Resident?
BUSY ships an update fortnightly, and HOAware Resident every 4 months. Most recently, BUSY was updated on October 24, 2026 and HOAware Resident on October 24, 2026.

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