Comparison

Pomodoro vs Tempo

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

Head to head
About

Pomodoro

This app offers a distraction-free Pomodoro timer to enhance focus. It features customizable durations for work and breaks, automatic cycles, and live activity updates. Enjoy a clean, ad-free experience with flexible settings and visual themes.

Highlights
  • Flexible Pomodoro and break durations
  • Automatic work/break cycles
  • Live Activities and Lock Screen updates
  • Home Screen widgets
  • Customizable color themes
  • Gentle sound cues and haptic feedback
Features
Read full description

No ads. Free forever. A clean, distraction-free Pomodoro timer designed to help you focus without getting in your way. Why you’ll love it • No ads, no paywalls — focus without interruptions. • Free forever — all features included. Core features • Flexible durations Pomodoro: 15–60 min Break: 1–10 min Long Break: 5–30 min • Automatic cycles Long Break every N Pomodoros (choose 2–8). The cycle repeats automatically until you stop it. • Simple, safe controls Start / Pause / Stop / Restart with confirmation to prevent accidental resets. • Live Activities Track the current session and remaining time directly on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island while the timer is running. • Home Screen widgets Keep your focus visible at a glance without opening the app. • Ongoing notifications See your active session and remaining time while the timer is running. • Sound cues A gentle ting after Pomodoro and Break sessions, plus a short alarm when Long Break starts. • Color themes Choose from 20 carefully curated backgrounds. Changes apply instantly. • Haptic feedback Subtle, precise vibrations for satisfying adjustments (device-dependent). How it works Example (Every 2): Pomodoro → Break → Pomodoro → Break → Long Break → repeat Example (Every 4): Pomodoro → Break ×4 → Long Break → repeat The cycle continues until you press Stop. Notes • Enable notifications to receive session alerts and Live Activity updates. • Live Activities and widgets are active only while the timer is running. • Haptic feedback may vary depending on device settings. Focus better with a Pomodoro timer that’s simple, powerful, ad-free, and free — forever.

About

Tempo

This app transforms countdown timers into clear visual progress indicators, helping you stay focused on tasks like work, study, or cooking. It offers multiple visualization options and a distraction-free interface, working reliably offline without requiring an account.

Highlights
  • Multiple visualization options
  • Clean, distraction-free interface
  • Works offline
  • No account setup
  • Reliable background operation
  • Privacy-focused
Features
Read full description

If you have ever looked up and lost an hour, you do not need another number counting down. You need to see time move. Tempo turns time into something you can watch. A dandelion loses its seeds. An eclipse closes over. A snowman gives in to the sun. Glance at your phone from across the room and you know how much is left — no reading, no math. BUILT FOR TIME BLINDNESS Numbers are abstract. If your brain does not track elapsed time on its own, "20 minutes" means nothing until it is already gone. Tempo makes time spatial instead, so you feel it draining rather than having to calculate it. FROM ONE MINUTE TO ONE YEAR Most timers stop at an hour. Tempo has six scales: • MINUTE — a focus sprint or a short break • HOUR — the meeting, the work block • DAY — how much of today is actually left • MONTH — the deadline that still feels far away • SEASON — the stretch you keep meaning to use • YEAR — the one nobody shows you The longer scales run live against the real calendar. Open Tempo in August and the year is already most of the way gone. That is not a gimmick — for anyone who loses whole weeks, seeing it is the point. SEVEN VISUALIZATIONS Dandelion, Dots, Eclipse, Ember, Sand, Snowman, and Thunderstorm. Pick the one your brain actually reads, and set it as your default. ON YOUR WRIST AND HOME SCREEN An Apple Watch app and home screen widgets keep the current scale visible without unlocking anything — so checking the time stops becoming the distraction. BUILT TO STAY QUIET • No account, no sign-up, no email • Every timer works offline — no connection required • No streaks, no badges, no guilt mechanics • No ads, ever Tempo will not fix your relationship with time. It just makes time visible, so the hours stop disappearing without warning. Free to use, including the Dandelion and Dots visualizations and every scale from MINUTE through YEAR. A one-time Pro purchase adds the Eclipse, Ember, Sand, Snowman, and Thunderstorm visualizations and the SEASON scale. No subscription, ever.

Screenshots

Pomodoro4 screens
Tempo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Tempo at 5.0 against Pomodoro's 3.9. Pomodoro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (20 vs 2). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Tempo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pomodoro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tempo holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pomodoro has 20 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pomodoro ships an update every 6 weeks, Tempo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Pomodoro versus Tempo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPomodoroTempo
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (20 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings20 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMurodjon SattorovFoundry24 LLC

Customer experience

Pomodoro

All ratings20 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative8.3%

Tempo

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Pomodoro

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Tempo

One-time1
  • Tempo Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Pomodoro free?
Pomodoro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pomodoro or Tempo?
Tempo is rated higher. Pomodoro averages 3.9 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Tempo averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Pomodoro or Tempo have ads?
Neither Pomodoro nor Tempo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pomodoro or Tempo?
Pomodoro ships an update every 6 weeks, and Tempo every 2 months. Most recently, Pomodoro was updated on October 3, 2026 and Tempo on September 23, 2026.

Other comparisons