Comparison

Hardcore Focus vs Pomodoro Timer

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

Head to head
About

Hardcore Focus

This app encourages focused work by having users commit to a single, meaningful task for a two-hour period. It blocks distractions and tracks your focus sessions, helping you accomplish real work instead of just managing tasks.

Highlights
  • Single daily task focus
  • 2-hour deep work timer
  • Distracting app blocking
  • Distraction tracking
  • Progress logging
  • Streaks and achievements
  • Widgets and Live Activities
Features
Read full description

Hardcore Focus blocks distracting apps with Screen Time, then runs a focus session toward a daily goal. Habits next to it. No account. No VPN. Three things: Focus, Habits, and Shield. No to-do list. No calendar. SHIELD — BLOCK THE NOISE Block the apps that steal your day with Apple’s native Screen Time API. On a schedule, during a focus session, or always on. You choose how hard it is to get back in: • No Bypass — locked is locked • 15-Minute Bypass — one short, deliberate exception FOCUS — DO DEEP WORK One button. Tap it and work until you’re done — no countdown, no 25-minute cycle. Keep the screen awake. Optional Apple Music focus playlist. Watch your daily focus goal fill up on the ring. Pause when life happens. Live Activity and Dynamic Island keep the timer visible. HABITS — FILL THE TIME YOU GET BACK Stack habits into routines by time of day. Check them off, count reps, or run a timed habit. Workouts, walks, and mindful minutes can auto-complete from Apple Health. Keep the streak on the habits that matter. ALSO • Apple Watch — start sessions and complete habits from your wrist • Siri & Shortcuts • Widgets, Live Activities & Dynamic Island • On-device insights into your focus patterns (on your phone) • Apple Music focus playlists inside the session • iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch — no Hardcore Focus account PRIVATE BY DESIGN Zero data collection. Anything you sync stays in your own iCloud. WHO IT’S FOR People who already know which apps steal the day and keep opening them anyway. Block, focus, show up for the habits. WHO IT’S NOT FOR SUBSCRIPTION Hardcore Focus requires a subscription. Annual includes a 7-day free trial. Then Weekly ($3.99), Monthly ($8.99), or Annual ($49.99). Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → Subscriptions. Terms: https://www.hardcorefocus.com/terms Privacy: https://www.hardcorefocus.com/privacy Support: https://www.hardcorefocus.com

About

Pomodoro Timer

Enhance your focus and productivity with a distraction-free timer based on the Pomodoro technique. Seamlessly integrate with your tasks to track your time and understand your work patterns. Build better habits and achieve your goals with focused, timed sessions.

Highlights
  • Pomodoro timer with todo integration
  • Distraction-free focus timer
  • Start sessions directly from tasks
  • Session history and progress tracking
  • Simple study and work tracker
Features
Read full description

FocusDay is a pomodoro focus timer based on the Pomodoro technique that's designed to help you stay focused, finish tasks, and understand how you spend your time. It keeps things simple so you can concentrate without interruptions. Focus with intention using a distraction-free tomato focus timer. Work in clear, timed sessions with a study timer that keeps you on track without clutter. Start focus sessions directly from your todos. Create tasks, then launch a session from any todo so your focus time always has context. A simple way to connect planning and execution. Track your progress over time. Every session is saved automatically so you can review past sessions, see patterns, and stay consistent. A clean time tracker and work tracker without unnecessary charts. Designed for both work and study. FocusDay works as a Pomodoro timer, study tracker, focus keeper, tomato timer, and study timer for students and professionals alike. Key features Pomodoro timer with todo integration Distraction-free focus timer Start sessions directly from tasks Session history and progress tracking Simple study tracker and work tracker FocusDay helps you focus on what matters and build better habits over time. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Hardcore Focus1 screens
Pomodoro Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pomodoro Timer at every 5 days against Hardcore Focus's monthly. Hardcore Focus's advantage is ratings volume (12 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Hardcore Focus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Pomodoro Timer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hardcore Focus against 5.0 for Pomodoro Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hardcore Focus has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hardcore Focus ships an update monthly, Pomodoro Timer every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Hardcore Focus versus Pomodoro Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHardcore FocusPomodoro Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (12 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEric KuhnJia Ge

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Hardcore Focus

Subscriptions3
  • Hardcore Focus Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Hardcore Focus Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Hardcore Focus Pro Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
2 purchases

Pomodoro Timer

Subscriptions1
  • Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is Hardcore Focus free?
Hardcore Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pomodoro Timer free?
Pomodoro Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hardcore Focus or Pomodoro Timer?
Hardcore Focus and Pomodoro Timer are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 12 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Hardcore Focus or Pomodoro Timer have ads?
Neither Hardcore Focus nor Pomodoro Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hardcore Focus or Pomodoro Timer?
Hardcore Focus ships an update monthly, and Pomodoro Timer every 5 days. Most recently, Hardcore Focus was updated on October 30, 2026 and Pomodoro Timer on November 9, 2026.

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