Comparison

Focus by Artex Studios vs Nerve

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

Head to head
About

Focus by Artex Studios

Features
Read full description

Focus is an easy-to-use Pomodoro timer app, enhanced with a built-in habit tracker. The Pomodoro timer is a science-based method that helps you work or study in a highly focused way. You can track your completed tasks in a calendar, broken down by day and month. How the method works: - 25 minutes of focused work on your target task - 5-minute short break - 25 more minutes of focused work on your target task - 15-minute long break Key Features: - Start, pause and resume the timer - Customizable pomodoro/breaks lengths - Sound and haptic feedback notifications - Support for short and long breaks - Skip a break after the end of a session - Auto-start modes - Themes - Habit tracker Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Your subscription will automatically renew unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your Apple ID settings. Our app offers multiple auto-renewable subscription options with different durations and pricing. Detailed information about each subscription, including title, duration, and pricing, is clearly presented within the app before purchase. When you purchase a Subscription or Lifetime license, all features of the app become available, just like during the trial period. There are no in-app limitations. By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use (https://www.artexgames.com/PrivacyPolicy/tos.html/) and Privacy Policy (https://www.artexgames.com/PrivacyPolicy/pp.html).

About

Nerve

Transform unproductive app usage into a brain-training challenge. Answer logic puzzles and brainteasers to earn back access to blocked apps, with higher difficulty offering greater rewards and risk.

Highlights
  • App blocking via Apple Screen Time
  • 6 difficulty tiers with escalating rewards
  • Pick Your Risk and Gauntlet modes
  • Double-or-Nothing gambling mechanic
  • 1000 handcrafted brainteaser questions
  • ELO-inspired Brain Score tracking
  • Daily quests and achievements
Features
Read full description

Nerve turns screen time into a game of brains and risk. Block the apps you waste time on, then answer brainteaser questions to earn your screen time back. Harder questions unlock more time — if you have the nerve to try them. HOW IT WORKS Pick the apps you want to block. When you try to open one, Nerve challenges you with a brainteaser. Answer correctly and the app unlocks. Answer wrong and you're locked out on a cooldown. It's that simple. PICK YOUR RISK Choose from 6 difficulty tiers — Gimme, Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert, and Genius. Gimme questions earn you a few minutes. Genius questions earn you hours. But if you get it wrong, harder questions have shorter cooldowns while easier ones make you wait longer. Risk and reward, every time. DOUBLE OR NOTHING Got it right? Gamble your winnings on a harder question for double the screen time. Keep going until you cash out or lose it all. THE GAUNTLET Think you can go all the way? Start at Gimme and climb through all 6 tiers. Every correct answer adds time. One wrong answer and you stop — but you keep what you've earned. Complete all 6 for the ultimate payout. 1000 BRAINTEASER QUESTIONS Logic puzzles, lateral thinking, pattern recognition, wordplay, math tricks, spatial reasoning, number sense, sequencing, deduction, and visual puzzles. These aren't trivia — they're brainteasers designed to make you think. BRAIN SCORE Track your intellectual growth with an ELO-inspired rating system. Start at 1000 and climb through 7 ranks: Novice, Student, Scholar, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, and Genius. See your strengths and weaknesses across 10 question categories. DAILY QUESTS & ACHIEVEMENTS Three new quests every day to keep you on track. Earn streak multipliers for consecutive days. Unlock 20+ achievements as you progress. The more you play, the more screen time you earn per question. FEATURES - Block any app using Apple Screen Time - 6 difficulty tiers with escalating rewards - Pick Your Risk and Gauntlet challenge modes - Double-or-Nothing gambling mechanic - 1000 handcrafted brainteaser questions - 10 question categories - ELO-inspired Brain Score tracking - Daily quests with bonus rewards - 20+ unlockable achievements - Streak tracking with time multipliers - Per-category performance analytics - Weekly progress reports - Cooldown skip packs - Works entirely on-device — no account required SUBSCRIPTION Nerve requires a subscription. Plans: - Monthly: $7.99/month - Yearly: $34.99/year (save 63%, includes 3-day free trial) Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.bestdaylabs.com/nerve/privacy.html Terms of Service: https://www.bestdaylabs.com/nerve/terms.html Support: https://www.bestdaylabs.com/nerve/support.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Focus by Artex Studios4 screens
Nerve4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Nerve at every 4 days against Focus by Artex Studios's every 2 months. Focus by Artex Studios's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. Focus by Artex Studios sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Nerve sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus by Artex Studios ships an update every 2 months, Nerve every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and August 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Focus by Artex Studios versus Nerve: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus by Artex StudiosNerve
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—15 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Subscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArtex Studios, Inc.Best Day Labs, LLC

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Focus by Artex Studios

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$29.99
5 purchases

Nerve

Subscriptions3
  • Nerve Weekly$0.997 Days
  • Nerve Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Nerve Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • Cooldown Skip Pack$0.99
  • Nerve Pro Lifetime$14.99

Questions

Is Focus by Artex Studios free?
Focus by Artex Studios is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nerve free?
Nerve is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Focus by Artex Studios or Nerve have ads?
Neither Focus by Artex Studios nor Nerve shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus by Artex Studios or Nerve?
Focus by Artex Studios ships an update every 2 months, and Nerve every 4 days. Most recently, Focus by Artex Studios was updated on September 4, 2026 and Nerve on August 16, 2026.

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