Comparison

Tempus vs Shift Note

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

Head to head
About

Tempus

This app helps individuals with ADHD manage their time and tasks effectively. It offers visual timelines, smart reminders, and a focus mode to combat time blindness, task paralysis, and forgetfulness. All data is kept private on your device with optional iCloud sync.

Highlights
  • AI daily planning from voice or text
  • Visual timeline for your full day
  • Habit and routine tracking
  • Smart reminders and reliable alarms
  • Focus Mode with app blocking
  • Works offline
Features
Read full description

Tempus is a calm daily planner built for ADHD brains — one clear timeline for your day, real app blocking for your focus, streaks that forgive, and a Siri that finally understands what you mean. MADE FOR REAL ADHD CHALLENGES Most planners assume your brain cooperates. Tempus is designed for the days it doesn't: • Time blindness — see time as space on a visual timeline • Task paralysis — describe your day and let Apple Intelligence draft the plan; you review it before anything is saved • Forgetfulness — alarms, smart reminders and Live Activities that meet you where you are • Overwhelm — one signal per state, one accent per screen. Nothing shouts. • Broken routines — streaks that forgive a day off, because coming back is the win PLAN — DESCRIBE YOUR DAY, THEN DECIDE • Say or type what needs to happen: "deep work this morning, gym after lunch, call the clinic" • Tempus turns it into tasks with a duration, a priority and an energy level, and fits them around what's already on your calendar • Watch the plan take shape on the timeline as it's written. Fix a title, drop what you don't want, then add it to your day. Nothing lands until you say so. • Plan today or tomorrow — from the app, or by asking Siri • Tasks, habits, routines, Apple Calendar (including the Google and Outlook accounts on your iPhone) and Reminders on one timeline • Inbox to capture thoughts now and sort them later ASK SIRI — IN YOUR OWN WORDS • "Plan my day in Tempus", "What's next in Tempus", "Start focus in Tempus" — ten Siri shortcuts, most of them without opening the app • On iOS 27, Apple Intelligence understands Tempus like a calendar: "Create a dentist appointment in Tempus tomorrow at 3pm" just works, with no phrase to memorize • Siri answers with cards you can act on — mark the next task done or start a focus session right from the card • Find any task in Spotlight and open it directly • With a task on screen, "Start focus in Tempus" starts on that one • Shortcuts for Prepare Tomorrow, Reschedule Task, Move Unfinished Tasks (with undo) and Review Day PROTECT — FOCUS THAT CAN'T BE STOLEN • Focus Mode blocks distracting apps with one tap, using Apple's Screen Time technology • The world dims until you're done — Live Activities keep the session on your Lock Screen • Timers, interactive widgets and Apple Watch support FORGIVE — PROGRESS WITHOUT PUNISHMENT • Streaks that forgive: a day with nothing planned never breaks your streak • Quiet statistics by week, month or year that celebrate coming back, not output • No confetti. No guilt. Just a calm acknowledgment and your next step. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account required. Your tasks live on your device and in your own iCloud. • With Apple Intelligence, planning runs on Apple silicon — where neither Apple nor Tempus can read your request • Where Apple Intelligence isn't available, Tempus's own planning service drafts the plan, and you still review everything before it's saved ALSO IN TEMPUS • iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac • Works offline • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, Live Activities, an Apple Watch app and complications • A native Liquid Glass interface, with a proper split view on iPad PERFECT FOR • Adults with ADHD or executive function challenges • Students managing classes, deadlines and revision • Professionals who need deep work without distractions • Anyone overwhelmed by traditional productivity apps Tempus is free to download. Tempus Pro unlocks the full experience, available monthly, yearly, or as a one-time lifetime purchase — stated once, no countdown timers. Requires iOS 26.2 or later. Planning with Apple Intelligence needs a supported device with Apple Intelligence turned on. Siri in your own words needs iOS 27. Privacy Policy: https://www.gettempus.app/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.gettempus.app/terms-of-service

About

Shift Note

Features
Read full description

Fill a whole month of shifts in one go, and know when to sleep around your nights. Type your rotation once (for example D D E E N N OFF OFF), pick a start date, and Shift Note fills the calendar for as many months as you need. Today and tomorrow sit at the top in large type, and the Sleep tab shows a plan for the week ahead. Made for nurses, factory and plant crews, firefighters, police, paramedics, call center teams and anyone on a rotating schedule. WHAT IT DOES • Pattern fill: start date + repeating pattern fills months at once • Tap any day to change the shift, saved instantly • Monthly summary: count of each shift type and total hours • Sleep plan: suggested bedtime, nap window and last-caffeine time around night shifts and quick turnarounds • Custom shift types: your own names, short codes, colors and start/end times • Home Screen widgets: small shows today and tomorrow; medium adds the next 7 days and today's sleep line • Lock Screen widgets: inline, rectangular and circular • iCloud backup: your schedule restores on any device signed in with the same Apple ID • Dark mode first, large readable type • Available in 17 languages PRIVACY AND NO FUSS • No sign-up, no login • Your schedule stays on your device and in your own iCloud backup; there is no account and no server of ours • No ad pops up when you open the app. A small banner keeps it free. The sleep plan is general guidance for shift workers, not medical advice. If you have a sleep disorder or health concern, talk to a doctor.

Screenshots

Tempus4 screens
Shift Note4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shift Note at none against Tempus's 4. Shift Note also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.2). Tempus's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On price 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. Tempus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Shift Note asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tempus ships an update every 6 days, Shift Note every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Tempus versus Shift Note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTempusShift Note
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (61 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews76.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings61 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.214.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size134 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnh Nguyenyosep lim

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Tempus

Subscriptions3
  • Tempus Pro (Weekly)$1.997 Days
  • Tempus Pro (Monthly)$6.991 Month
  • Tempus Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Tempus Pro (Lifetime)$74.99
None

Shift Note

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tempus free?
Tempus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shift Note free?
Shift Note is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Tempus or Shift Note have ads?
Shift Note shows ads; Tempus does not.
Which is updated more often, Tempus or Shift Note?
Tempus ships an update every 6 days, and Shift Note every 3 weeks. Most recently, Tempus was updated on November 12, 2026 and Shift Note on November 10, 2026.

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