Comparison

Focus Buddy vs Cresqo

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

Head to head
About

Focus Buddy

Features
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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 timerβ€”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 timeβ€”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

Cresqo

Features
Read full description

Cresqo. Study like a scholar. You sit down to study. Five minutes later, you're on TikTok. Cresqo fixes both ends of that problem. A focus ritual that makes starting effortless. A shield that blocks the apps that pull you in. A weekly check-in that notices what you can't see. SILENCE THE NOISE Distractions don't ask permission. They arrive, take five minutes, and leave with thirty. Cresqo's Distraction Guard locks the apps, categories, and websites you choose for as long as your candle burns. Tap it once before you start. Forget it's there until your session ends. The most peaceful focus is the kind where the noise can't reach you. THE CANDLE RITUAL Every focus session begins with a single action: lighting the candle. It's a micro-commitment that signals to your brain: it's time. The candle burns while you work. When it goes out, your session is complete. Choose your rhythm: an uninterrupted session of any length, or the pomodoro cadence (work, break, work, break) in the same candle frame. THE ORACLE Every scholar needs someone in their corner. The Oracle is Cresqo's resident guide, a quiet, watchful presence who notices how you study, understands what holds you back, and checks in each week with honest, caring observations on your progress. Not judgment. Just clarity, delivered with kindness. BUILT FOR STUDENTS WHO PROCRASTINATE Cresqo uncovers your study archetype from the moment you begin: β€’ The Drifter. You mean well. Starting is the hard part. β€’ The Sprinter. You show up. Staying focused is where it falls apart. β€’ The Wanderer. Your focus is real. Consistency is the missing piece. β€’ The Scholar. You've built the habit. Now let's sharpen it. Your archetype shapes your plan, your Oracle's guidance, and your path forward. WHAT'S INSIDE β€’ Distraction Guard: block apps, categories, and websites for the length of your session β€’ Candle ritual focus timer with real-time burn β€’ Pomodoro mode: work and break cycles inside the same candle ritual β€’ Live Activity: your candle burns on the lock screen and Dynamic Island, even when the app is closed β€’ Agenda organiser: subjects, projects and tasks in one place β€’ Weekly Oracle check-ins on your focus patterns (Pro) β€’ Focus analytics: session history, distraction patterns, focus rating β€’ Cosmetic rewards earned through achievements β€’ Daily streak for showing up. No shame for missing a day. FREE FOREVER. PRO IF YOU WANT MORE. Cresqo is free to use. Pro unlocks the Oracle's weekly check-ins and deeper cosmetic achievement tracks for students who want the full experience. 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime. WHO IS CRESQO FOR? University and high school students who want to study better, not just more. Students who've tried every productivity app and found them too rigid, too gamified, or too ugly to open. Students who romanticise deep, intentional study but struggle to make it a reality. If that's you, the Oracle has been waiting. Study like a scholar.

Screenshots

Focus Buddy4 screens
Cresqo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cresqo at every 8 days against Focus Buddy's monthly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Focus Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cresqo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Buddy ships an update monthly, Cresqo every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
Focus Buddy versus Cresqo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus BuddyCresqo
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 8 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS16 β€” better17.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size33 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer锦 ζ›ΉOLIVER THOMAS MARTIN

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Focus Buddy

One-time1
  • starter package$0.99
3 purchases

Cresqo

Subscriptions3
  • Cresqo Pro (Weekly)$2.997 Days
  • Cresqo Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Cresqo Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Focus Buddy free?
Focus Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cresqo free?
Cresqo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Focus Buddy or Cresqo have ads?
Neither Focus Buddy nor Cresqo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Buddy or Cresqo?
Focus Buddy ships an update monthly, and Cresqo every 8 days. Most recently, Focus Buddy was updated on October 7, 2026 and Cresqo on October 12, 2026.

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