HyperFocus vs Spicy Focus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
HyperFocus
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"The Guilt-Free Timer Designed for ADHD" Have you ever given up on a timer app? Itβs not your lack of willpower. It was simply the wrong tool. HyperFocus is a productivity tool built with the ADHD brain in mind. We donβt judge or blame. Start without a plan, and get praised even when you stop midway. [4 Principles of HyperFocus] 1. Start in 1 Second (Zero Friction) No complex settings, no login required. Just open the app and press one button to dive into your flow. We eliminate the gap between thought and action to help you execute immediately. 2. Dopamine Every 5 Minutes (Micro Rewards) Do you have to endure 25 minutes to get a reward? Not here. We give you stars, haptic feedback, and praise every 5 minutes. Keep your brain stimulated and engaged without the boredom. 3. Stopping Midway is Still a "Success" (No Shame) Stopped after 14 minutes? That is not a failure. That is "14 minutes of success." Even if you stop early, your records accumulate. Your effort never goes to waste. [Medical Disclaimer] This app is a productivity tool designed to assist with time management and concentration. It does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment.
Spicy Focus
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Spicy Focus - Science-Based Timer for ADHD Brains Every feature in Spicy Focus is grounded in peer-reviewed ADHD neuroscience. Not productivity advice repackaged with a "for ADHD" label β actual research. Here's what's inside and why. FREE FEATURES Smart Duration Recommendations ("Focus Calibration") ADHD brains literally cannot predict their own focus capacity β that's time blindness (Barkley, 2015). And choosing from 7 duration options triggers decision paralysis (Baumeister's decision fatigue research). Spicy Focus learns from your history β energy levels, completion rates, time of day, activity labels β and auto-selects the duration you're most likely to complete. It nudges you up when you're on a streak (adaptive difficulty from game design) and pulls back when you're struggling. You can always override it. But you'll rarely need to. "Just 5 Minutes" Micro-Commitment ADHD brains need 2-3x more dopamine stimulation to initiate tasks (Volkow et al., NIDA PET imaging study). The 5-minute rule is the #1 clinician-recommended technique for overcoming initiation paralysis. Commit to 5 minutes. When it's up, you choose: extend or stop. Research shows 80%+ continue past the initial commitment. Session Intentions Vague goals are executive dysfunction's worst enemy. Research on implementation intentions (Gollwitzer, 1999) shows that specifying exactly what you'll do β "I will write the intro paragraph" β dramatically increases follow-through. Set one concrete task before each session. Check it off when you're done. Hyperfocus Nudge 68% of adults with ADHD report frequent hyperfocus episodes (Ashinoff & Abu-Akel, 2021). The optional Focus Nudge gently reminds you to stretch, drink water, or rest your eyes without interrupting your flow. Ambient Soundscapes A 2024 meta-analysis found that ambient noise has a statistically significant benefit for ADHD focus (effect size g=0.249, p=0.0001) β but a negative effect on neurotypical brains. The benefit is ADHD-specific (Soderlund, Sikstrom & Smart, 2007). Also free: countdown timer, stopwatch mode, energy tracking, session history, and dark mode. SPICY FOCUS PRO - $4.99 (with 7-day free trial) Unlock the full toolkit: - Insights dashboard with focus trends, heatmaps, and energy correlation charts - Focus streaks with Grace Days β your streak won't break if you miss a day, because shame-based systems backfire for ADHD brains (backed by RSD research) - Daily goals with flexible tracking - Pomodoro mode with customizable intervals - XP and leveling system for long-term motivation - Premium soundscapes - Personal records and streak calendar Every feature cites its research in the in-app Science section. 366 million adults worldwide have ADHD. This app was built for you.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HyperFocus at none against Spicy Focus's 1. Spicy Focus's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. Spicy Focus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HyperFocus asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | HyperFocus | Spicy Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | β |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad β better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Younggun Kim | Sina Sima |
In-app purchases
HyperFocus
No in-app purchases
Spicy Focus
- Spicy Focus Pro$4.99








