Comparison

Flow vs Tempo

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

Head to head
About

Flow

Features
Read full description

Flow – Focus Timer for Deep Work Flow is a simple yet powerful focus timer designed to help you stay productive and enter the flow state effortlessly. Inspired by the Pomodoro Technique but without rigid time constraints, Flow lets you work for as long as you need—whether it's 30 minutes, an hour, or more—so you can stay fully immersed in your tasks. Why Flow? No Time Limits – Unlike traditional Pomodoro timers, Flow doesn’t force breaks every 25 minutes. You decide how long you want to work. Stay Focused – Track your sessions and keep distractions away. Boost Productivity – Work in deep focus mode and improve efficiency. Whether you're studying, working, or creating, Flow helps you structure your time while allowing flexibility to keep you in the zone. Start your Flow today!

About

Tempo

This app transforms countdown timers into clear visual progress indicators, helping you stay focused on tasks like work, study, or cooking. It offers multiple visualization options and a distraction-free interface, working reliably offline without requiring an account.

Highlights
  • Multiple visualization options
  • Clean, distraction-free interface
  • Works offline
  • No account setup
  • Reliable background operation
  • Privacy-focused
Features
Read full description

If you have ever looked up and lost an hour, you do not need another number counting down. You need to see time move. Tempo turns time into something you can watch. A dandelion loses its seeds. An eclipse closes over. A snowman gives in to the sun. Glance at your phone from across the room and you know how much is left — no reading, no math. BUILT FOR TIME BLINDNESS Numbers are abstract. If your brain does not track elapsed time on its own, "20 minutes" means nothing until it is already gone. Tempo makes time spatial instead, so you feel it draining rather than having to calculate it. FROM ONE MINUTE TO ONE YEAR Most timers stop at an hour. Tempo has six scales: • MINUTE — a focus sprint or a short break • HOUR — the meeting, the work block • DAY — how much of today is actually left • MONTH — the deadline that still feels far away • SEASON (Pro) — the three months you keep meaning to use • YEAR — the one nobody shows you The longer scales run live against the real calendar. Open Tempo in October and the year is already most of the way gone. That is not a gimmick — for anyone who loses whole weeks, seeing it is the point. SEVEN VISUALIZATIONS Dandelion, Dots, Eclipse, Ember, Sand, Snowman, and Thunderstorm. Pick the one your brain actually reads, and set it as your default. ON YOUR WRIST AND LOCK SCREEN An Apple Watch app and Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets keep your current scale in view without opening anything — so checking the time stops being the distraction. BUILT TO STAY QUIET • No account, no sign-up, no email • Works entirely offline • No streaks, no badges, no guilt mechanics • No ads, ever Tempo will not fix your relationship with time. It just makes time visible, so the hours stop disappearing without warning. Free: the Dots visualization and five of the six scales — MINUTE, HOUR, DAY, MONTH, and YEAR. A one-time Pro purchase adds Dandelion, Eclipse, Ember, Sand, Snowman, Thunderstorm, and the SEASON scale. No subscription.

Screenshots

Flow4 screens
Tempo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Flow at none against Tempo's 1. Flow also leads on update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). Tempo's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Tempo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Flow asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Flow ships an update daily, Tempo fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Flow versus Tempo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlowTempo
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyDaily — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShreyansh MishraFoundry24 LLC

In-app purchases

None

Flow

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Tempo

One-time1
  • Tempo Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Flow free?
Flow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Flow or Tempo have ads?
Neither Flow nor Tempo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Flow or Tempo?
Flow ships an update daily, and Tempo fortnightly. Most recently, Flow was updated on October 30, 2026 and Tempo on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons