Comparison

Focus Timer vs Bruno

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

Head to head
About

Focus Timer

Features
Read full description

【Just 25 minutes of focus, 5 minutes of break】 "Focus Timer: Simple Pomodoro" maximizes your productivity and concentration through the proven Pomodoro Technique β€” work in short, focused blocks and take a break in between. When you just can't get started on studying, work, or any task, press start and settle into a rhythm of focused work. No clutter, no learning curve β€” open it and go. 【Key Features】 β–  A customizable focus timer Set your own work, short break, and long break durations to match your pace. A circular progress ring shows the time remaining at a glance. β–  Label what you're working on Add a task name to each session so you always know what you spent your focus on. Every session is saved to your history. β–  Switch modes with one tap Move between Work, Short Break, and Long Break instantly. Start, pause, reset, and complete are all a single tap away. β–  Know the moment a session ends When a session finishes, a push notification and a gentle haptic let you know β€” so you can stay in the flow even when the app isn't on screen. β–  See your progress Check today's completed sessions, total focused time, and current day streak. The history screen adds a weekly chart and a day-by-day log so you can look back on everything you've built. β–  Make it yours Pick an accent and background color from a wide range of themes to personalize the look. Full light and dark mode support. β–  Japanese & English Switch between Japanese and English anytime from the in-app language setting. 【Perfect for】 β€’ Students who want to focus on studying or exam prep β€’ Anyone looking to boost productivity at work or from home β€’ People who get distracted easily and struggle to stay focused β€’ Anyone who wants to work through tasks with momentum β€’ Those building a lasting time-management habit 【What is the Pomodoro Technique?】 It's a time-management method: focus for a set block of time, take a short break, and after a few rounds take a longer one. Working in short intervals helps you stay concentrated and keep going without burning out. Press start and begin your focus today.

About

Bruno

Features
Read full description

Bruno is a minimalist focus app for students and deep workers who want structure without distraction. FOCUS TIMER β€’ Clean Pomodoro timer with focus & break cycles β€’ Gentle illustrations that respond to your session β€’ Track your focus time with a contribution heatmap STUDY SCHEDULE β€’ Plan study sessions in your calendar β€’ Get reminders before sessions start β€’ Jump into focus when it's time to study STUDY ROOMS β€’ Join virtual study rooms and focus together β€’ See who's focusing right now β€’ Chat with room members during breaks COMMUNITY β€’ Connect with friends and see who's studying β€’ Stay motivated without social media noise β€’ Find friends by email and study together Built for quiet focus β€” together. Sign in with your email. No password needed.

Screenshots

Focus Timer4 screens
Bruno4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Bruno at none against Focus Timer's shown. Bruno also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
Focus Timer versus Bruno: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus TimerBruno
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS17.615.1 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size4 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTakashi HamanakaTran Phat

In-app purchases

None

Focus Timer

No in-app purchases

None

Bruno

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focus Timer free?
Focus Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bruno free?
Bruno is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Focus Timer or Bruno have ads?
Focus Timer shows ads; Bruno does not.
Which is updated more often, Focus Timer or Bruno?
Focus Timer ships an update every 2 months, and Bruno every 2 months. Most recently, Focus Timer was updated on September 9, 2026 and Bruno on September 14, 2026.

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