Comparison

Focus Buddy vs TaskBeacon

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

Head to head
About

Focus Buddy

Features
Read full description

Stop Struggling with Focus. Start Growing with Your Pixel Buddy. Do you find it hard to start a task? Does your ADHD brain need more than just a ticking clock? Focus Buddy is a gentle, gamified productivity tool designed for dreamers, students, and professionals who want to reclaim their focus without the anxiety. GAMIFIED PRODUCTIVITY: WORK IS NOW A QUEST Turn your to-do list into an 8-bit adventure. No stressful penalties, just pure motivation: Focus to Battle: Your custom pixel hero engages with "distraction monsters" while your timer runs. Earn & Decorate: Collect coins through Pomodoro sessions (25/5 mode) to buy cozy furniture and unlock magical pixel scenes. Progress-Friendly: Unlike other apps, you keep your earned coins even if you get interrupted. We celebrate every minute of your effort.It’s more than a timer—it’s your personal Pixel Companion that battles procrastination alongside you. When you work, your hero thrives. When you focus, your world grows. DESIGNED FOR THE NEURODIVERGENT BRAIN We’ve integrated science-backed features to support ADHD users and those with sensory sensitivities: Body Doubling Effect: Having your Buddy on screen provides the psychological comfort of "working together," making deep work less lonely. Gentle Alerts: Soft vibration and 8-bit visual cues instead of jarring alarms. ADHD-Friendly Planning: Break down big goals into manageable "Micro-Quests." POWERFUL TOOLS FOR FLOW STATE: Flexible Pomodoro Timer: Customize your focus and break intervals to fit your unique rhythm. Ambient Soundscapes: Focus with 8-bit Rain ASMR, Lo-fi beats, or complete silence. Calendar Integration: Seamlessly sync with Apple Calendar and Google Tasks to turn your schedule into a game map. Offline Focus: No Wi-Fi? Your Buddy stays with you. Perfect for library sessions or flights.Optimized Visuals: Color palettes specifically chosen to reduce screen fatigue and sensory overload. BUILT WITH CARE & HONESTY Privacy-First: We never sell your data. Your focus journey is 100% private. No Exploitative Mechanics: We avoid "streaks" that cause guilt. Your hero rests when you need to rest. No Ads: No intrusive pop-ups to break your concentration. Solo Developer Passion: Created by former remote workers who understand the struggle of stay-at-home productivity. WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SAYS: "It helps me start tasks without the usual 'beginning anxiety.' The cutest way to stay productive!" – College Student, Texas "Finally, a focus app that feels like a cozy game instead of a digital chore." – Indie Game Enthusiast Don’t just track time—give it life. Whether you’re studying for finals, coding a project, or just trying to get through chores, your Focus Buddy is ready. Download now and find your Flow State today!

About

TaskBeacon

Features
Read full description

Be the person who feels calm, in control, and confident about what’s next. TaskBeacon isn’t just another to-do list. It’s a clarity engine. It helps you collect all the things you want to do—and then shows you which ones truly matter in the moment. At the core is TaskPulse™, our intelligent prioritization system. It dynamically scores your tasks based on importance, dependencies, due dates and more—so your top priorities naturally rise to the surface. When you stop wondering “what should I do next?”—you get more done, with less stress. Why TaskBeacon is different: • TaskPulse™ intelligence - Smart prioritization meets action. TaskPulse scores every task, and your Dashboard shows the top 5 you should tackle next. • Guided by clarity - One focused dashboard. No clutter. Just what matters now. • Structure your way - Group by project or theme—TaskBeacon adapts to how you think. • Ready when you are - Hide tasks that aren’t ready. Work with less distraction. • Filter with purpose - See what’s relevant—work, weekend, personal—with a tap. • Your tasks, your data - Download your full task history any time. No lock-in. You don’t need more lists — you need clarity. TaskBeacon helps you focus on what counts.

Screenshots

Focus Buddy4 screens
TaskBeacon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Focus Buddy at monthly against TaskBeacon's every 4 months. TaskBeacon's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16). 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. Focus Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and TaskBeacon sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Buddy ships an update monthly, TaskBeacon every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on February 28, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Focus Buddy versus TaskBeacon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus BuddyTaskBeacon
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS1614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer锦 曹Way2Ten LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Focus Buddy

One-time1
  • starter package$0.99
2 purchases

TaskBeacon

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is Focus Buddy free?
Focus Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TaskBeacon free?
TaskBeacon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Focus Buddy or TaskBeacon have ads?
Neither Focus Buddy nor TaskBeacon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Buddy or TaskBeacon?
Focus Buddy ships an update monthly, and TaskBeacon every 4 months. Most recently, Focus Buddy was updated on February 28, 2026 and TaskBeacon on September 20, 2026.

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