Comparison

Wayfocus vs ctrl

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

Head to head
About

Wayfocus

Features
Read full description

Pomodoro Timer • Deep Work • Focus Timer • Time Management Tired of context-switching and distraction spirals? Wayfocus is your all-in-one focus companion, making it easy to harness the power of structured work sessions, track your concentration, and build lasting habits—all in one beautifully designed app. Wayfocus implements the scientifically-backed Pomodoro Technique and other focus methods, giving you the structure you need to enter a state of deep work. We are committed to providing a premium focus experience at a competitive price, helping students, freelancers, and professionals finally get things done. Free Features: • No Ads, Forever • Core Pomodoro Timer • Limited Labels & Projects • Limited Tracking History • Basic Metronome & Nature Sounds Wayfocus Pro: • Unlimited Tracking History • Unlimited Custom Labels • Unlimited Projects • Unlimited Access to Historical Data • iOS Live Activities • Dynamic Island Support • iCloud Sync • Early Access to New Features Wayfocus is not just an ordinary timer; it's your way to a premium concentration experience. Track where you spend your time, eliminate distractions with Zen Mode, and improve your focus based on data—all while keeping your information private and secure. ~~~ Terms: https://wayfocus.app/terms Privacy: https://wayfocus.app/privacy Subscription Agreement: https://wayfocus.app/help/pro-subscription-agreement FAQs: https://wayfocus.app/help/frequently-asked-questions

About

ctrl

Features
Read full description

You're losing 4+ hours a day to your phone. That's 60 full days every year—gone forever. ctrl-time helps you take them back. WHAT MAKES CTRL-TIME DIFFERENT Most screen time apps shame you with numbers. ctrl-time does something different: it shows you what those numbers actually mean for your life. Every minute wasted is a minute you'll never get back. Every minute saved is a minute you can spend on what truly matters. YOUR LIFE IN WEEKS Inspired by Stoic philosophy, the Life in Weeks grid shows your entire existence at a glance—4,160 weeks, each represented by a single dot. The filled dots are weeks you've already lived. The empty ones are all you have left. It's not meant to scare you. It's meant to wake you up. - See exactly what percentage of your life you've lived - Tap any week to explore what you did (or didn't do) - Export the grid as your iPhone wallpaper - A daily reminder that your time is not infinite FOCUS MODE — BLOCK DISTRACTIONS One tap. Zero willpower needed. ctrl-time uses Apple's native Screen Time integration to block the apps that steal your attention. Choose sessions from 15 to 120 minutes and watch the distractions disappear. - Block Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and any time-wasting app - Native iOS integration—no workarounds or hacks - Live Activities show your timer on Dynamic Island MINUTES RECLAIMED — YOUR NEW KPI Every focus session gives you back precious minutes. ctrl-time tracks them all, showing you exactly how much life you've reclaimed. Watch the counter grow. Those aren't just numbers—that's time you've taken back from the algorithm. REPLACEMENT ACTIONS What will you do with your reclaimed time? - Read a book - Exercise - Learn a new skill - Spend time with loved ones Log your activities and give meaning to every minute you save. Turn screen time into life time. DAILY JOURNALING A minimalist journal to reflect on your day. Each entry is linked to its corresponding week in your Life in Weeks grid—building the story of your life, one week at a time. THREE MOTIVATION STYLES Choose how you want to be guided: STOIC — Direct messages inspired by ancient philosophy. "Memento mori. Your time is not unlimited." EMPATHETIC — Gentle, compassionate reminders. "It's okay to slow down. This is living too." PRAGMATIC — Data and concrete numbers. "18 minutes on Instagram = 18 minutes of life." ALWAYS WITH YOU - Home Screen widgets: Life in Weeks, minutes reclaimed, quick journal - Live Activities: timer visible on Dynamic Island and lock screen - Smart notifications: only when they truly matter PREMIUM Unlock everything: - Unlimited focus sessions - Advanced stats and trends - Goals Progression - Journaling Monthly: $9.99 | Yearly: $25 (save 79%) Spend life, not screen. Your next week starts now. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Wayfocus4 screens
ctrl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Wayfocus at none against ctrl's shown. Wayfocus also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 5 days). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Wayfocus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and ctrl sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Wayfocus ships an update daily, ctrl every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Wayfocus versus ctrl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWayfocusctrl
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 5 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua de GuzmanGiuseppe Renna

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Wayfocus

Subscriptions2
  • Wayfocus Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Wayfocus Pro Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Wayfocus Lifetime Pro$19.99
2 purchases

ctrl

Subscriptions2
  • ctrl-time Premium Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • ctrl-time Premium Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Wayfocus free?
Wayfocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ctrl free?
ctrl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Wayfocus or ctrl have ads?
ctrl shows ads; Wayfocus does not.
Which is updated more often, Wayfocus or ctrl?
Wayfocus ships an update daily, and ctrl every 5 days. Most recently, Wayfocus was updated on September 17, 2026 and ctrl on September 7, 2026.

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