Comparison

Anchor vs FLIP

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

Head to head
About

Anchor

Features
Read full description

Anchor is a focus timer with a twist: it only works when your phone is face-down. Set your time, flip your phone onto a flat surface, and the timer starts automatically. Lift it early? Session broken. Stay committed until the timer ends, and you've earned your focus. WHY ANCHOR? • No willpower required — flip and forget • No apps to block, no settings to configure • Visual proof: red for broken, green for complete • Session history calendar to track your progress HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose your focus duration (1-30 minutes free, up to 4 hours with Pro) 2. Place your phone face-down on any flat surface 3. The timer starts automatically when gravity detects the position 4. Stay focused. Your phone stays down. That's it. ANCHOR PRO (One-Time Purchase) • Unlock sessions up to 4 hours • Perfect for deep work, studying, or creative sessions • No subscription — pay once, own forever The simplest way to put your phone down and actually focus.

About

FLIP

This app helps overcome procrastination by using a 2-minute rule to initiate tasks. It features a simple, single-screen interface with haptic feedback and lock-screen visibility to encourage deep work and short breaks.

Highlights
  • 2-minute kickoff timer
  • Flip phone for deep work
  • Sideways phone for breaks
  • Single-screen interface
  • Haptic feedback
  • Lock-screen and Live Activity
  • 100% on-device privacy
Features
Read full description

The hardest part of any task is starting. The 2-minute rule says: just commit to two minutes — then decide whether to keep going. Most of the time, once you've started, you'll keep working far longer. FLIP is a single-screen timer built around that idea. —————————————— HOW IT WORKS • Tap once to start a 2-minute kickoff timer. • When 2 minutes are up, flip your phone face-down to commit to a 20-minute deep-work block. • When deep work ends, turn your phone sideways to take a 5-minute break. • Hold anywhere to cancel — a segmented bar fills with synchronized haptics so the gesture is unmistakable. That's it. No accounts, no settings, no menus. —————————————— DESIGNED FOR FOCUS • Single-screen interface with a retro-digital typeface and edge-to-edge color fill that grows with the timer • Haptic feedback on every state change so you don't have to look at the screen • Lock-screen and Dynamic Island Live Activity — keep the countdown visible without unlocking your phone • A short chime when each phase ends so you can put the phone down and focus —————————————— PRIVATE BY DESIGN • 100% on-device. No accounts, no analytics, no third-party SDKs, no servers. • No data collection. The privacy policy fits on one page. —————————————— WHO IT'S FOR • People who reach for their phone instead of starting a task • Knowledge workers running Pomodoro-like sessions • Students looking for a low-friction focus timer • Anyone who wants the smallest possible app between them and beginning a task Beat procrastination by promising yourself two minutes. Then flip the phone.

Screenshots

Anchor4 screens
FLIP4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FLIP at none against Anchor's 1. Anchor's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, 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. Anchor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FLIP asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Anchor versus FLIP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnchorFLIP
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequency—Every 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYagız UGURVERENIzhan Ansari

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Anchor

One-time1
  • Anchor Pro$4.99
None

FLIP

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Anchor free?
Anchor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FLIP free?
FLIP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Anchor or FLIP have ads?
Neither Anchor nor FLIP shows ads.

Other comparisons