Comparison

GentleFocus vs Beacon

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

Head to head
About

GentleFocus

Features
Read full description

GentleFocus reimagines productivity for ADHD minds and anyone who struggles with traditional focus methods. No more guilt, just gentle support that adapts to you. WHY GENTLEFOCUS IS DIFFERENT • Brain Dump First: Capture tasks instantly without organizing • Flexible Focus Modes: From 5-min sprints to mystery durations • Visual Progress: Color-coded timer that's satisfying to watch • Smart Breaks: Curated activities to recharge without losing momentum • No Judgment: Skip sessions, extend time, or reset without guilt TIMER MODES THAT WORK WITH YOU • Quick Start: Jump into 15-min sessions instantly • Flexible Flow: Adjust duration on the fly (10-45 min) • Pomodoro Classic: Traditional 25/5 intervals • Random Mystery: Surprise durations keep things interesting • Emergency Focus: 5-minute rescue sessions • Energy-Based: Match timer to your current energy • Deadline Mode: Work backwards from due dates DESIGNED FOR ADHD BRAINS • Clean, distraction-free interface • Large, tappable controls • Gentle notifications (never jarring) • Task time tracking without pressure • Visual and audio cues for transitions • Dark mode for sensitive eyes PREMIUM FEATURES • Unlimited timer modes • Advanced analytics and insights • Custom timer durations • Recurring task templates • Export session data Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Built by someone with ADHD, for people with ADHD. Finally, a timer that gets it.

About

Beacon

This app helps individuals with ADHD manage tasks and time effectively. It breaks down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps and uses gentle reminders to keep users on track without causing overwhelm or guilt. It integrates with existing Apple Reminders and Calendar.

Highlights
  • One task at a time display
  • Visual countdown timers
  • Guilt-free task management
  • Task shrinking for easier starts
  • Task parking lot
  • Integration with Apple Reminders/Calendar
  • Smart capture and energy tags
Features
Read full description

Your to-do list keeps growing, time keeps slipping, and starting feels impossible. Beacon is the calm, ADHD-friendly way to finally get things done, one gentle step at a time. Beacon is a reminders app built for the way real brains actually work, especially brains that get overwhelmed by long lists, lose track of time, or freeze at the thought of beginning. Think of it as a calm external brain: it remembers, times, and shrinks your tasks, so you do not have to hold it all in your head. WHY BEACON FEELS DIFFERENT One thing at a time. Beacon shows your next action, not your entire backlog. Less overwhelm, more starting. Time you can actually see. Every task has a calm countdown, so "later" stops turning into "too late." No red alarms, no panic. Kind on the hard days. Miss something? There is no shaming OVERDUE, no broken streak, no guilt. Beacon reframes gently and celebrates every win, the small ones too. Shrink the first step. Any task can collapse into a two-minute starting move, so the hardest part, beginning, gets easier. Park it, guilt-free. Not ready today? Set a task aside in the Parking Lot and Beacon brings it back softly when the time is right. Nothing gets lost. WORKS WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY USE Beacon sits on top of Apple Reminders and Calendar, so you keep everything you already rely on. Say a reminder to Siri and it shows up in Beacon, sorted and doable. Check it off in Beacon and it syncs right back. No migration, no starting over. WHAT YOU GET Smart capture: brain-dump a messy thought and Beacon finds the task and the time for you. Focus timer and body-double sessions to help you start and keep going. Energy tags to match tasks to how you actually feel right now. Gentle, well-timed nudges instead of a wall of notifications. Home Screen widgets, Lock Screen Live Activities, and an Apple Watch app, so your next step is always a glance away. Private by design: no account, no tracking, no cloud sync. The only thing Beacon ever sends is an anonymous crash report. WHO IT IS FOR Beacon was made for people with ADHD, and that turns out to be a lot of us: anyone who has felt buried by their own list, lost time without meaning to, or been too hard on themselves for it. If that sounds familiar, welcome. TRY BEACON FREE Start with a 7-day free trial, then keep going with an affordable subscription. Cancel anytime. Beacon. Your calm external brain. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Beacon Pro gives you full access with a 7-day free trial, then a monthly or annual auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and you can manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://waypointapps.app/beacon/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

GentleFocus4 screens
Beacon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Beacon at every 2 days against GentleFocus's every 10 days. 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. GentleFocus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Beacon sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GentleFocus ships an update every 10 days, Beacon every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
GentleFocus versus Beacon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGentleFocusBeacon
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEl ghali khalidWaypoint Apps LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

GentleFocus

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Premium$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime access$12.99
2 purchases

Beacon

Subscriptions2
  • Beacon Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Beacon Pro (Annual)7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is GentleFocus free?
GentleFocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Beacon free?
Beacon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do GentleFocus or Beacon have ads?
Neither GentleFocus nor Beacon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GentleFocus or Beacon?
GentleFocus ships an update every 10 days, and Beacon every 2 days. Most recently, GentleFocus was updated on September 28, 2026 and Beacon on October 8, 2026.

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