Comparison

Shinka vs Gaston

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

Head to head
About

Shinka

This app gamifies focus sessions, helping users build concentration habits. Users keep their phone away from distractions to earn experience for a growing companion, making productivity rewarding.

Highlights
  • Gamified focus sessions
  • Companion evolution
  • XP and coin rewards
  • Leaderboard challenges
  • Distraction avoidance
  • Daily focus habit building
Features
Read full description

Train your focus. Evolve your Shinka. Take back control of your attention and turn focus into progress. Shinka is a gamified focus timer designed to help you stay concentrated while your companion grows with you. Every time you complete a focus session, your Shinka earns experience and evolves. The longer you stay focused, the more your Shinka progresses. Start a focus session and keep your phone away from distractions: - If you stay focused, your Shinka gains XP and becomes stronger. - If you leave the app or break your focus, your Shinka stops evolving. This simple system helps you build real concentration habits while making productivity fun and rewarding. Shinka helps you stay focused longer, reduce distractions from your phone, and build a daily focus habit. Whether you're studying, working, or creating, Shinka helps you enter deep focus sessions and improve your productivity. Choose your companion and start your focus journey. As you complete sessions you will earn XP and coins, level up your Shinka, unlock evolutions, and watch your companion grow with your progress. Your focus becomes visible through your Shinka’s evolution. Shinka encourages you to avoid distracting apps during your focus sessions so you can stay in the zone and protect your concentration. Stay present, stay focused, and watch your progress grow. Compare your progress with other players and climb the leaderboard. Challenge yourself and see who can stay focused the longest. Shinka transforms focus into a rewarding experience. Instead of fighting distractions, you train your attention and watch your companion evolve with you. Take back control of your attention and build a real focus habit, one session at a time. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Gaston

Features
Read full description

Deep work, on demand. Fifty minutes. One task. Total clarity. Gaston structures your most important work into focused sessions that actually finish – so you stop planning to focus and start doing it. Set your intention. Name your task, join a focus peer, and follow a proven session flow: share what you're working on, work in silence with the timer running, then reflect on what you completed. Every session, every time. Built for how work actually works. Simple task list for each session 1-on-1 video focus sessions Reminders to keep your streak alive Stay sharp. Stay honest. Track your progress. Unlock achievements, collect badges. Add optional coached sessions when you need more than company. Gaston keeps score so you can keep going. Accountability, not surveillance. Pairing preferences, in-session reporting tools, user blocking, and full account controls — because a great focus partner is one you chose. Report or block anyone, anytime. The rest is up to you. Whether you're writing, building, studying, or planning – 50 minutes with Gaston goes further than hours alone. Premium unlocks unlimited sessions. Subscription terms and pricing are shown in-app before purchase. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Shinka4 screens
Gaston4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Gaston at every 3 days against Shinka's fortnightly. Shinka's advantage is iOS requirement (16.2 vs 26.0). 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. Shinka sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Gaston sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $22.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shinka ships an update fortnightly, Gaston every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Shinka versus Gaston: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShinkaGaston
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.2 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSimple. Studio Parismaayot

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Shinka

Subscriptions7
  • Shinka Pro Weekly7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Shinka Pro Weekly7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Shinka Pro Weekly7 Days trial$2.997 Days
Show 4 more
  • Shinka Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Shinka Pro Yearly$24.991 Year
  • Shinka Pro Yearly$44.991 Year
  • Shinka Pro Yearly$89.991 Year
2 purchases

Gaston

Subscriptions2
  • Basic Monthly$22.991 Month
  • Yearly Basic1 Year trial$149.991 Year

Questions

Is Shinka free?
Shinka is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gaston free?
Gaston is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shinka or Gaston have ads?
Neither Shinka nor Gaston shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shinka or Gaston?
Shinka ships an update fortnightly, and Gaston every 3 days. Most recently, Shinka was updated on October 13, 2026 and Gaston on October 25, 2026.

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