Comparison

Buddy vs Interstate

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” 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 โ€ข Divide any task into small, achievable blocks โ€ข No need to spend time detailing each block โ€ข Quickly create manageable sections that feel doable โ€ข Adjust the number of blocks anytime during a session Customized Focus System โ€ข Short, timed focus periods reduce the pressure of long work sessions โ€ข Scheduled breaks prevent burnout and mental fatigue โ€ข Personalised timing settings fit your unique concentration abilities โ€ข Build healthy study habits with balanced work/rest intervals Visual Progress & Positive Reinforcement โ€ข Track progress with a simple, satisfying grid system โ€ข "Click the tick" to mark completed blocks โ€ข Celebrate small wins with confetti and visual rewards โ€ข Experience the motivation of seeing progress accumulate Clean, Calming Interface โ€ข Bright and engaging design with soft, blended tones โ€ข Distraction-free environment optimised for focus โ€ข Simple, intuitive controls reduce cognitive load โ€ข 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

Interstate

Read full description

Interstitial journaling is a powerful way of reclaiming your focus. In a world where the things around us are constantly fighting for our attention, the moments between tasks are when we're most at risk of getting distracted. By using these moments to take note of what we were doing or what we want to do next, we can stop ourselves from losing focus, and save ourselves from having to think "what was I doing, again?". Interstate makes this easy by providing a clean and fast interface for logging and reviewing your time. FEATURES: - Made for iOS and iPadOS - Automatic timestamping - Keyboard shortcuts - Sync across devices with iCloud - No account necessary

Screenshots

Buddy4 screens
Interstate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Buddy at 18.0 against Interstate's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buddy ships an update every 2 months, Interstate every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 7 level
Buddy versus Interstate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuddyInterstate
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviewsโ€”
Update frequencyEvery 2 months โ€” betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeโ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac โ€” better
Requires iOS18.0 โ€” better26.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size5 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark SearleCiaran Mulholland

In-app purchases

None

Buddy

No in-app purchases

None

Interstate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Buddy free?
Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Interstate free?
Interstate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Buddy or Interstate have ads?
Neither Buddy nor Interstate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Buddy or Interstate?
Buddy ships an update every 2 months, and Interstate every 3 months. Most recently, Buddy was updated on October 12, 2026 and Interstate on October 25, 2026.

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