# Shinka vs Karin

The clearest difference is monetization model: Shinka at freemium against Karin's subscription. Shinka also leads on iOS requirement (16.2 vs 26.5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shinka sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Karin sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shinka ships an update every 10 days, Karin every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shinka | Karin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinka-focus-timer/id6753202378/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 62 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.2** | 26.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Simple. Studio Paris](https://appshunter.io/developer/1843036977) | [Adem Gurler](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864351292) |

## What reviewers say

### Shinka

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shinka-focus-timer/id6753202378)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shinka Pro Weekly | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Shinka Pro Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Shinka Pro Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Shinka Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Shinka Pro Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Shinka Pro Yearly | $44.99 | per year |
| Shinka Pro Yearly | $89.99 | per year |


### Karin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/karin/id6780915046)

This app acts as an honest mirror, helping you reflect on your daily moments of self-alignment and divergence. It identifies patterns in your week to reveal what truly defines you and what leads you astray, offering insights without judgment. It also helps you manage distracting apps by setting limits and providing friction to prevent overuse.

**Highlights:** Daily self-reflection journaling, Weekly pattern analysis, Distracting app identification, Customizable app usage limits, Friction-based app blocking, Private iCloud synchronization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Karin Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Karin Premium | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shinka free?

Shinka is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Karin free?

Karin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Shinka or Karin have ads?

Neither Shinka nor Karin shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shinka or Karin?

Shinka ships an update every 10 days, and Karin every 6 days. Most recently, Shinka was updated on September 9, 2026 and Karin on August 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*