Comparison

Buddy vs ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts

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

Head to head
About

Buddy

This app helps users break down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps. It features timed focus sessions and scheduled breaks to prevent burnout, with visual progress tracking and positive reinforcement to build confidence and healthy habits.

Highlights
  • Simple task breakdown
  • Customized focus system
  • Timed focus periods
  • Scheduled breaks
  • Visual progress tracking
  • Positive reinforcement
  • Clean, calming interface
Read full description

Break tasks down and build focus with Buddy, a smart study app designed by a neurodivergent dad with ADHD for his neurodivergent daughter. Buddy helps users overcome overwhelm by breaking tasks into manageable blocks without adding complexity. Perfect for those with ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent minds, but beneficial for all students and adults who struggle with focus. How Buddy Works: Simple Task Breakdown • Divide any task into small, achievable blocks • No need to spend time detailing each block • Quickly create manageable sections that feel doable • Adjust the number of blocks anytime during a session Customized Focus System • Short, timed focus periods reduce the pressure of long work sessions • Scheduled breaks prevent burnout and mental fatigue • Personalised timing settings fit your unique concentration abilities • Build healthy study habits with balanced work/rest intervals Visual Progress & Positive Reinforcement • Track progress with a simple, satisfying grid system • "Click the tick" to mark completed blocks • Celebrate small wins with confetti and visual rewards • Experience the motivation of seeing progress accumulate Clean, Calming Interface • Bright and engaging design with soft, blended tones • Distraction-free environment optimised for focus • Simple, intuitive controls reduce cognitive load • Friendly Buddy character provides gentle guidance Unlike apps that add distractions through excessive gamification, Buddy balances engagement with proven productivity methods that translate to real-life skills. Whether you're tackling homework questions, reading assignments, study sessions or any challenging task, Buddy helps you build confidence through consistent progress. Download Buddy today and transform overwhelming tasks into achievable victories, one block at a time.

About

ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts

This app provides a toolkit of actionable shortcuts designed to simplify daily tasks for individuals with ADHD. It integrates with your existing apps to help manage focus, routines, and reminders without requiring you to learn new interfaces.

Highlights
  • One-tap focus timers
  • Automated journaling to Apple Notes
  • Customizable routine builders
  • Unmissable reminder system
  • Integration with native apps
  • Siri Shortcut compatibility
Features
Read full description

ADHD Lifesavers: Tools for ADHD Brains, by ADHD Brains Finally, an app that gets you. Struggle with focus, time blindness, or overwhelm? We do too. That’s why we built ADHD Lifesavers—a toolkit designed with ADHD minds, for ADHD minds. No fluff, no guilt. Just actionable tools to make daily life easier. What Makes It Work for ADHD: It's an app that makes your native apps work for you. A constant struggle for people with ADHD is to remember the app that they told themselves they will use daily. ADHD Lifesavers focuses on eliminating that by making your default apps and world's most popular apps, work for you. Examples? Hyperfocus Mode: Block distractions instantly with one-tap focus timers (Pomodoro + customizable intervals) + Siri Shortcuts (Hey Siri, start deep work!). Journaling and Reflections: Trigger questions that make you think and then auto-save these reflections to Apple Notes for seamless idea capture. Create Routines: Log your water, get reminded to eat on time, build other such basic but healthy routines in your life Build unmissable reminders: Get shortcuts that set multiple reminders at set intervals, so you never miss the reminder - even if you dismiss it the first time. and tons of other shortcuts that help deal with the paralyzing symptoms that ADHD comes with Built by Neurodivergent Minds: We’re not self-help gurus. We’re developers, designers, and writers who’ve spent years fighting unhelpful productivity apps. ADHD Lifesavers includes: Zero app-hopping: Works with tools you already use (Notes, WhatsApp, Reminders, Siri). Apple-first design: Notifications sync with Focus Modes to avoid overwhelm. Why People Love It: “Shortcuts saved my morning routine: meds logged, tasks sorted, cat fed. All automatic.” – Nigel, ADD “FINALLY! It talks to my iPhone like magic – no more copying stuff between apps!” – Pranav, ADHD Free to Try, Forever Accessible: Download now and get full access (no paywalls!). A community that actually gets it. About Us: We’re a neurodivergent team who codes with fidget toys in hand. Every feature is tested by ADHDers, because you deserve tools that work with your brain — not against it.

Screenshots

Buddy4 screens
ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Buddy at 100% against ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts's 0%. Buddy also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). On price, ads, monetization model 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. ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buddy ships an update every 2 months, ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Buddy versus ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuddyADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark SearleAppsthentic Technology LLP

Customer experience

Buddy

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Buddy

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts

One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$9.99

Questions

Is Buddy free?
Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts free?
ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Buddy or ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts have ads?
Neither Buddy nor ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Buddy or ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts?
Buddy ships an update every 2 months, and ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts every 3 days. Most recently, Buddy was updated on September 27, 2026 and ADHD Lifesavers Shortcuts on October 3, 2026.

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