Comparison

Focus Fox vs Dimly

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

Head to head
About

Focus Fox

This app encourages physical activity by blocking access to selected apps until you meet daily step, exercise, or calorie burn goals. It aims to improve sleep, focus, and reduce screen time by making self-discipline rewarding and gamified.

Highlights
  • App blocking based on activity goals
  • Integrates with Apple HealthKit
  • Gamified motivation and streaks
  • Daily goals for movement
  • Real-time progress feedback
  • Privacy-focused data handling
Features
Read full description

Move first, scroll later. Focus Fox helps you turn your activity into focus. By connecting with Apple HealthKit, it blocks your selected apps until you reach your daily step, exercise minutes, or active energy burned goals. Once you move, you unlock. It’s that simple. Why Focus Fox - Users report 30% better sleep after 3 weeks - 72% improved focus during work and study - 43% less screen time in the first week - Limit screen time naturally through movement - Track activity directly from Apple Health - Be present and stay in your screen zen - A true healthy app for your digital wellbeing Healthy habits, lasting change Focus Fox is more than a screen time control tool, it’s a habit builder that helps you stay mindful, active, and in control of your time. Every step, stretch, or workout gets you closer to unlocking your favorite apps β€” making self-discipline feel rewarding, not restrictive. Stay motivated - Daily goals keep you moving - App time limits that align with your health goals - Real-time feedback on your progress - Gamified motivation to keep your streak alive Designed for digital wellbeing Whether you want to unplug, focus deeply, or just move more, Focus Fox helps you find balance between your screen time and your real life. Your phone becomes a tool for growth, not distraction. Privacy First Focus Fox uses Apple’s Family Controls and HealthKit APIs securely. Your data stays private, on-device, and fully in your control. Focus Fox – The Healthy Way to Focus Build habits that last. Move, focus, and feel better, one goal at a time. Privacy Policy: https://tuzcuumut.github.io/focus-fox-privacy/index.md Support: https://tuzcuumut.github.io/focus-fox-privacy/support.md Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Dimly

Features
Read full description

Your phone is too bright. Not the screen, the pull. Dimly turns it down. Pick the apps, categories and websites that take your hours. When you open one, Dimly's shield appears instead, with a note you wrote to yourself. The app stays closed until your time is up. DIM IN ONE TAP Choose 5, 15, 25, 45 or 60 minutes, or any length up to 8 hours, and start. Ending early is always possible, but Dimly asks first and shows how far you got, because the moment you want out is exactly when one tap is too easy. PLANS THAT RUN ON THEIR OWN Set the hours when the pull is strongest: weekday mornings, deep work, after dinner, in bed. Plans switch on and off by themselves on the days you pick, even when Dimly is closed, and can run past midnight. STRICT MODE Turn it on and, while a session or plan is running, no app can be deleted from your device, Dimly included. No easy way out. WEBSITES TOO Type any address and it is blocked in Safari and other browsers whenever Dimly is dimming. HOURS BACK, EVERY WEEK History shows the time you protected, the sessions you saw through and every time you reached for something paused, so you can watch the pull fade week by week. SEE WHERE THE TIME GOES Screen Time reports show your daily total, pickups, notifications and the apps that took the most, right inside Dimly. YOUR SHIELD, YOUR WORDS Change the shield's title, message, icon and colors, so the note you see is the one that works on you. ALWAYS WITHIN REACH Widgets show what is paused today, a Control Center control starts a session from anywhere, and on iPhone a Live Activity counts down on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, with an End button. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Dimly works through Apple's Screen Time. The apps you pick stay on your device and Dimly never learns which ones they are. No account needed. iCloud sync of plans and history is optional and off by default. SUBSCRIPTION Dimly Plus unlocks sessions, plans, websites, strict mode and the custom shield. It is available as an auto-renewing subscription (weekly or yearly; a free trial is available to new subscribers on the yearly plan) or as a one-time Lifetime purchase. The price is shown in the app before you confirm. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase, or when the free trial ends. A subscription renews automatically unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it anytime in your Apple Account settings. The Lifetime purchase is a single payment and never renews. Privacy Policy: https://dimlyfocus.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://dimlyfocus.app/terms Apple EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Focus Fox4 screens
Dimly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Dimly at none against Focus Fox's shown. On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Focus Fox sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Dimly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 7 level
Focus Fox versus Dimly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus FoxDimly
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviewsβ€”
Update frequencyMonthlyβ€”
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesβ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size102 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUmut TuzcuYaysoft LTD

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Focus Fox

Subscriptions3
  • Focus Fox Weekly Premium14 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Focus Fox Annual Premium1 Month trial$19.991 Year
  • Focus Fox Annual, Intro Offer1 Year trial$19.991 Year
3 purchases

Dimly

Subscriptions2
  • Dimly Plus Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Dimly Plus Yearly1 Month trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Dimly Plus Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is Focus Fox free?
Focus Fox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dimly free?
Dimly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Focus Fox or Dimly have ads?
Focus Fox shows ads; Dimly does not.

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