Comparison

Pomodoro Timer vs Lilo

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

Head to head
About

Pomodoro Timer

This app helps you regain control of your focus time by blocking distracting applications and providing a customizable timer. It offers a simple, ad-free system to prevent unconscious app usage and support dedicated study or work sessions.

Highlights
  • Horizontal digital clock display
  • Customizable Pomodoro timer
  • Stopwatch functionality
  • Deep Focus app blocking
  • Ad-free experience
  • Horizontal desk design
Features
Read full description

You decided to focus—and somehow ended up on social media or watching videos again. Sound familiar? It's not because you lack willpower. Today's apps, social media above all, are designed to make you open them without thinking. Instead of letting your time be spent on autopilot, Deskmate helps you choose for yourself how to spend it. Deskmate doesn't rely on willpower. Just start the timer— that's your "focus switch." Open only the apps you want to focus on, and let Deep Focus block the rest. Protect your focus time with a system, not self-restraint. Deskmate is an app that quietly helps you choose how you spend your time. — KEY FEATURES — ■ Landscape Digital Clock Place it on your desk for a beautiful time display—your cue to get into focus mode. ■ Pomodoro Timer Automatically repeats a "25 minutes of focus + 5 minutes of break" cycle. Work and break lengths are fully customizable. ■ Stopwatch Simply track your study and work time. ■ Deep Focus Blocks the apps you choose, like social media and video apps, while you focus. Protects your focus with a system, not willpower. ■ Moods (clock designs) Clock designs like "Rainy Day" and "Midnight City" that change the atmosphere of your desk. No ads, in any feature. Deskmate never shows anything that gets in the way of your focus. — PERFECT FOR — • People who mean to focus but end up scrolling social media • Anyone who wants to dive deep into study or work • People working or studying from home who struggle to stay focused • Anyone looking for a quiet, ad-free app — CHANGE THE MOOD OF YOUR DESK — Deskmate is designed for landscape mode. No flashy decorations. No annoying ads. A simple design that blends into your desk. Before you know it, it's a permanent fixture there. Your desk companion. — STOP "MINDLESS SCROLLING" WITH A SYSTEM — "I keep opening Instagram without thinking." "Suddenly I'm watching YouTube." That's where Deep Focus comes in. While you focus, the apps you try to open simply won't launch. No need to fight temptation with willpower. Deskmate keeps you from getting sidetracked—so you don't have to. Your focus time stays yours. — PLANS — ■ Free • All clock, Pomodoro timer, and stopwatch features • Ambient sounds • "Simple Digital" mood • Deep Focus (up to 30 minutes per day) ■ LIGHT • All moods • Future content, including new moods • Deep Focus (up to 30 minutes per day) ■ PRO • Everything in LIGHT • Unlimited Deep Focus LIGHT and PRO are each available as a monthly or yearly subscription. Prices vary by country and region, so please check the App Store for details. New subscribers can try it free for 7 days. — GET STARTED — The clock, timer, and stopwatch are free to use, always. You can also try Deep Focus free for up to 30 minutes a day. A quiet companion for your desk—and your focus. You decide how to spend your time. — ABOUT SUBSCRIPTIONS — • After the 7-day free trial, the price of your selected plan will be charged to your Apple Account automatically. • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/deskmate-termsofuse-en Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/deskmate-privacypolicy-en

About

Lilo

This app transforms solo study sessions into engaging, social challenges. Compete with friends, track your progress, and climb leaderboards to make learning fun and motivating. Build lasting focus habits through friendly competition and visible achievements.

Highlights
  • Focus timer with distraction avoidance
  • Study challenges with friends
  • Live leaderboards for comparison
  • Progress tracking and stats
  • Habit building and streaks
  • Social accountability
Features
Read full description

Lilo is the study timer you use with friends. Start a focus session or a Pomodoro, challenge your friends, climb the weekly leaderboard and keep your study streak alive. 500K+ students have downloaded Lilo and left 200K+ ratings, because studying together works better than studying alone. STUDY TIMER AND POMODORO - Focus timer, stopwatch and Pomodoro with breaks. - Pick a subject and tasks before you start, so every session counts toward a goal. - Timer scenes and a full screen mode keep your phone out of the way. - A Live Activity and a home screen widget show your session and streak at a glance. CHALLENGES WITH FRIENDS - Invite friends to a study challenge: streak, time goal, speed race or ranking battle. - Follow everyone's progress live and see who stays focused the longest. - Join a challenge from a link, even before you create an account. LEADERBOARDS AND STREAKS - Weekly rankings with your friends. - Daily study streak with streak protection, so one bad day does not erase your progress. - Comment on your friends' sessions and keep each other accountable. PLANNER AND STATS - Day planner with tasks and subjects. - Study history, subject distribution, activity heatmap and advanced stats. - Share your weekly results to Instagram Stories in one tap. FOCUS MUSIC AND SCENES - Lofi, nature sounds and white noise inside the timer. - Choose a timer scene and an accent colour that matches your mood. WHO IS LILO FOR High school and university students, exam season, homework, language learning, thesis writing, and anyone who focuses better with a bit of friendly competition. Lilo is free to use. Lilo Premium adds Pomodoro and stopwatch modes, the full focus music library and extra scenes. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Terms: https://lilostudytimer.com/terms/ Privacy: https://lilostudytimer.com/privacy/

Screenshots

Pomodoro Timer4 screens
Lilo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Pomodoro Timer at free against Lilo's free with in-app purchases. Pomodoro Timer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Lilo's advantage is ratings volume (4.5K vs 2). On price, update cadence, 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. Pomodoro Timer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Lilo sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pomodoro Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lilo has 4.5K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pomodoro Timer ships an update fortnightly, Lilo every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pomodoro Timer versus Lilo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPomodoro TimerLilo
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.7 (4.5K ratings)
Positive reviews—66.1% of reviews
Number of ratings24.5K — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size157 MB170 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerkosuke nagadoriPawel Gladysz

Customer experience

Pomodoro Timer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Lilo

All ratings4,498 ratings
Positive92.1%
Neutral2.5%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive66.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative30.5%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Pomodoro Timer

Subscriptions5
  • LIGHT Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • PRO Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • LIGHT Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • PRO Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • PRO Yearly (Founder)1 Year trial$49.991 Year
5 purchases

Lilo

Subscriptions5
  • Premium Access Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Premium Access$6.991 Month
  • Premium Access Yearly$25.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Premium Access Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Premium Access3 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Pomodoro Timer free?
Pomodoro Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lilo free?
Lilo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pomodoro Timer or Lilo?
Pomodoro Timer is rated higher. Pomodoro Timer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Lilo averages 4.7 from 4.5K ratings.
Do Pomodoro Timer or Lilo have ads?
Neither Pomodoro Timer nor Lilo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pomodoro Timer or Lilo?
Pomodoro Timer ships an update fortnightly, and Lilo every 9 days. Most recently, Pomodoro Timer was updated on October 24, 2026 and Lilo on October 25, 2026.

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