# Terrible Focus vs Focus Monke

The clearest difference is rating: Terrible Focus at 5.0 against Focus Monke's 4.5. Terrible Focus also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4). Focus Monke's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 1) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus Monke sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Terrible Focus asks for nothing beyond the download.

Terrible Focus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focus Monke has 15 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Terrible Focus | Focus Monke |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terrible-focus/id6756170441/reviews)** | [4.5 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-monke-pomodoro-timer/id6762586619/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **15** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 40 MB | 298 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Verena Ortlieb](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789599030) | [Ben Haun](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767499438) |

## What reviewers say

### Terrible Focus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/terrible-focus/id6756170441)

This app uses a unique approach to focus by locking your phone while a virtual potato companion builds a home. Your focus directly contributes to their progress, creating a sense of shared accomplishment without pressure or punishment. It offers a gentle, human-made experience designed to reduce phone-related anxiety.

**Highlights:** Phone locking focus timer, Virtual companion progress, Hand-drawn art and animations, Pause sessions without penalty, Dynamic, evolving environment, No streaks or user comparison

**In-app purchases:** none


### Focus Monke

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-monke-pomodoro-timer/id6762586619)

This app uses a gamified approach to the Pomodoro technique, turning focus sessions into underwater dives. Earn rewards and build a vibrant reef by staying focused, with distracting apps automatically blocked. It's designed for those who struggle with distractions and need gentle encouragement.

**Highlights:** Gamified Pomodoro timer, App blocking via Screen Time, Reef building and fish collection, Reward system with bananas and bonuses, Streak tracking without guilt, Customizable app blocking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Certified Diver Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Certified Diver Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| Certified Diver Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| Certified Diver Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Terrible Focus free?

Terrible Focus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Focus Monke free?

Focus Monke is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Terrible Focus or Focus Monke?

Terrible Focus is rated higher. Terrible Focus averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Focus Monke averages 4.5 from 15 ratings.

### Do Terrible Focus or Focus Monke have ads?

Neither Terrible Focus nor Focus Monke shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Terrible Focus or Focus Monke?

Terrible Focus ships an update weekly, and Focus Monke weekly. Most recently, Terrible Focus was updated on October 16, 2026 and Focus Monke on October 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*