FOKUS vs Focus Arc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FOKUS
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Fokus — Focus That Lives Beyond Your Phone Fokus is a productivity and screen time blocker app designed to help you stay focused by adding something most apps can't: a physical key. This digital wellness tool uses Apple's Screen Time framework to block distracting apps and websites during focus sessions while keeping essential phone functions like calls and messages available. When it's time to end a session, distractions don't return with a tap—they return when you choose to get up and unlock them with your FOKUS device. Why Fokus Works Differently Most focus apps live entirely on your phone—which makes them easy to ignore. Fokus introduces a physical element that lives outside your screen. Place your FOKUS key in another room, like the kitchen, hallway, or office shelf. When you feel the urge to open social media or distracting apps, you're faced with a choice: stay focused, or get up and retrieve the key. That small pause makes a big difference in building better screen time habits and reducing digital distractions. FEATURES Screen Time Blocking & App Blocker Block distracting apps and websites during focus sessions using Apple's official Screen Time framework. Fokus works at the system level to help reduce interruptions from social media, games, entertainment apps, and other high-distraction content. This app blocker gives you control over which apps and websites are restricted during your focus time. Physical Key for Focus Fokus uses a physical FOKUS device to intentionally unlock blocked apps. Ending a focus session requires a real-world action—tapping your phone on the FOKUS device—helping prevent mindless scrolling and supporting social media detox habits. This physical barrier creates a deliberate separation between you and digital distractions, making it harder to impulsively return to blocked content. Focus Sessions & Scheduling Create unlimited custom focus sessions for work, study, sleep, or personal routines. Start sessions manually with a long press or schedule them to begin and end automatically throughout the day. Set specific times and days for automatic focus mode activation, helping you build consistent focus habits. Emergency Unblock When flexibility is needed, Fokus includes an Emergency Unblock option with 3 limited monthly uses to preserve the effectiveness of focus sessions while providing necessary flexibility for urgent situations. This feature ensures you're never completely locked out when something important comes up. Insights & Progress Tracking Track focus time, completed sessions, daily streaks, and screen time analytics to better understand your digital habits and improve time management. Visualize your progress with charts, calendars, and detailed statistics showing your focus journey over time. See which days you focused, how long your sessions lasted, and celebrate your focus streaks. DESIGNED FOR REAL LIFE Fokus blocks distractions—not your phone. You can still receive calls, send messages, and use essential apps while a focus session is active. Fokus is designed to support productivity and digital wellness without disconnecting you from what matters. Perfect for students, professionals, and anyone seeking better focus and reduced screen time. PRIVATE & ON-DEVICE • Works entirely on your iPhone—no cloud sync required • No account or login required—complete privacy • No ads or third-party tracking—your data stays local • Built using Apple's Screen Time APIs—system-level security • All data stored locally on your device REQUIREMENTS • iPhone with required capabilities (iPhone 7 or later) • FOKUS physical device (available at getfokus.de) • Screen Time permission (required for app blocking functionality) • iOS 17.0 or later A CALMER WAY TO FOCUS
Focus Arc
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Focus Arc turns your focus time into a little adventure. Start a timer, lock in on your task – and get cheered on by characters that root for you, hype you up, and sometimes just crack a bad joke. Stop the Doom-Scrolling Turn on Deep Focus and block distracting apps during your session. You choose which ones – Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, whatever pulls you in. No swiping, no "just a quick look". Just you and your task. Your Focus, Your Village Every session earns you coins. Use them to unlock new characters, build structures on your Focus Island, and watch your village grow – session by session. Over 25 Collectible Characters From the motivating Panda to the grumpy Troll to the philosophical Blue Pawn – every character has their own personality, their own lines, and their own animations. Some unlock through focus time, others through streaks or weekly challenges. A Timer That Fits You Classic countdown or endless mode as a stopwatch. With Live Activities on your lock screen and Apple Watch sync, you always know where you stand – even with your phone in your pocket. Daily Rewards & Challenges Log in daily for increasing rewards. Weekly challenges give you a goal and unlock exclusive content. Streaks & Achievements Keep your streak alive, hit milestones, and collect achievements. Every day counts. iCloud Sync & Apple Watch Your progress syncs across all your devices. Start sessions right from your wrist – timer sync between iPhone and Apple Watch works both ways. Focus Arc isn't just another timer app with gamification slapped on top. It's an app that genuinely tries to make focus time a little more enjoyable – with characters that feel like small companions on the way to better habits. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FOKUS at none against Focus Arc's 10. FOKUS also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). Focus Arc's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. Focus Arc sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. FOKUS asks for nothing beyond the download.
FOKUS ships an update every 3 months, Focus Arc every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FOKUS | Focus Arc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 87 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sharma & Singh GbR | Ibrahim Varli |
In-app purchases
FOKUS
No in-app purchases
Focus Arc
- Yellow Archer$0.99
- Black Lancer$0.99
- Yellow Lancer$0.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Yellow Monk$0.99
- Red Monk$0.99
- Black Archer$0.99
- Blue Archer$0.99
- Blue Monk$0.99
- Blue Warrior$0.99
- Bob$0.99









