Comparison

Deep Work vs DepthWork

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

Head to head
About

Deep Work

Build focused attention in a distracting world with a focus timer, visual time blocking, and insightful analytics. Track progress, earn badges, and get personalized recommendations to improve your productivity and achieve your best work.

Highlights
  • Customizable focus timer (Pomodoro)
  • Visual time blocking
  • Task management with categories and priorities
  • Focus session analytics and trends
  • Gamified streaks and badges
  • Personalized productivity insights
Features
Read full description

## Stay Focused in a Distracted World DeepWork helps you build the skill of focused attention in today's distraction-filled environment. In a world of constant notifications and interruptions, your ability to focus deeply is your competitive advantage. ## Why DeepWork? • Combines focus timer with insightful analytics to help you understand and improve your attention patterns • Visual time blocking helps you plan realistic days and protect time for what matters • Track your focus streaks and earn badges as you build better habits • Get personalized insights about when and how you work best ## Key Features: # FOCUS TIMER • Customizable work and break durations based on the Pomodoro technique • Beautiful themes and ambient sounds to enhance concentration • Track focus sessions linked to specific tasks # TASK MANAGEMENT • Organize tasks by category and priority • Checklists and comments for complex tasks • See which tasks consumed the most focus time # RICH ANALYTICS • Visual dashboard of your focus habits • Track daily and weekly focus trends • Identify your peak productivity hours and days # GAMIFICATION • Earn badges as you build your focus skills • Maintain and extend your focus streaks • Share your achievements with friends # INSIGHTS • Personalized recommendations to improve focus • Discover your optimal work conditions • Learn about your unique productivity patterns DeepWork is designed for students, professionals, creators, and anyone who wants to stay focused in a distracted world. Whether you're studying for exams, managing projects, writing, coding, or creating, DeepWork helps you build the focus habits that lead to your best work. Start your focus journey today and discover what you can accomplish with sustained attention!

About

DepthWork

Features
Read full description

Most focus apps just count minutes. DepthWork measures the quality of your attention — built for ADHD minds, developers, and anyone who's tried every timer and still can't stay focused. Cal Newport called it deep work. We built the tool that measures whether you actually did it. Designed around peer-reviewed research on attention, habit formation, and flow states, DepthWork turns deep work into a system you can actually train. WHAT MAKES DEPTHWORK DIFFERENT Focus Depth Index (FDI) — a single 0–100 score that reflects how deep your focus really went, not just how long you sat there. Flow state detection — sessions that cross the ~25-minute uninterrupted threshold earn a rare Flow badge, inspired by Csíkszentmihályi's research. Distraction timing matters — interruptions early in a session cost more than late ones, modeling the well-known 23-minute re-focus cost. Goal completion bonus — set a micro-goal before each session — completing it adds a significant bonus to your FDI score. Focus fitness tracking — watch your focus score grow week over week as your sessions get deeper. HOW IT WORKS Set your intention. A short pre-session goal primes your attention before the timer starts. Focus without interruption. The app silently tracks session quality in the background. Get your FDI score. Completion ratio, distraction decay, timing penalty, and goal completion combine into a meaningful number. Build the habit. Your FDI trend, flow badges, and weekly progress chart show how your attention actually improves — not just whether you showed up. ACHIEVEMENTS THAT MEAN SOMETHING Every badge marks a measurable point in your focus development — backed by the same research that powers the FDI score: First Synapse — your first focus session Myelin Builder — one week in, your routine is taking shape Habit Encoded — three weeks of practice, focus starts to feel automatic Neural Architect — one month in, focus is becoming part of who you are Flow Native — six months, flow sessions are a regular part of your week Zone Entered — your first fully uninterrupted session THE RESEARCH BEHIND IT 23-minute distraction recovery (UC Irvine attention research) Repeated, deliberate practice as the foundation of habit-building Goal completion as one of the most reliable reinforcement loops Strategically timed breaks to sustain attention Flow state thresholds drawn from Csíkszentmihályi's work Pink and white noise at low volumes to support sustained attention PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account required All data stays on your device No tracking, no ads, no data sharing Works fully offline WHO IT'S FOR Knowledge workers tired of shallow productivity timers Students preparing for deep, sustained study Writers, designers, developers, researchers, and anyone who lives by their attention People with ADHD rebuilding focus after years of fragmented digital habits PRICING Try DepthWork Premium free for 7 days. After your trial, Premium continues at $1.99/month unless canceled. Cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the end of the trial. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscription in your Apple ID account settings. Train your focus. Work deeper. Think clearer. A NOTE ON THE SCIENCE DepthWork is informed by widely cited attention and focus research, but it does not measure your brain directly — there are no EEG sensors or neural readings. The Focus Depth Index is a behavioral score derived from your session activity (interruption timing, goal completion, session length, and distraction patterns). It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose or treat ADHD or any other condition.

Screenshots

Deep Work4 screens
DepthWork4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Deep Work at every 3 days against DepthWork's every 8 days. Deep Work also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Deep Work sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and DepthWork sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Deep Work ships an update every 3 days, DepthWork every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Deep Work versus DepthWork: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeep WorkDepthWork
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKrishna Sangeeth KSJakub Nowakowski

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Deep Work

One-time1
  • DeepTick$9.99
2 purchases

DepthWork

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year

Questions

Is Deep Work free?
Deep Work is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DepthWork free?
DepthWork is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Deep Work or DepthWork have ads?
Neither Deep Work nor DepthWork shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Deep Work or DepthWork?
Deep Work ships an update every 3 days, and DepthWork every 8 days. Most recently, Deep Work was updated on September 29, 2026 and DepthWork on October 4, 2026.

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