Comparison

Halo vs AVOW

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

Head to head
About

Halo

This app automatically limits distracting applications when you enter predefined locations like your desk or library. It helps you achieve focus for studying, deep work, or sleep without relying solely on willpower. Set up custom zones and track your progress towards healthier screen habits.

Highlights
  • Location-based focus zones
  • Automatic app blocking
  • Customizable screen time goals
  • Streak tracking for consistency
  • Preset focus modes (Study, Deep Work, Sleep)
  • Dark theme support
Features
Read full description

Halo helps you stay focused by turning places into focus zones. When you're in a zone like your desk, library, or bedroom, distracting apps are automatically limited. No willpower required. Just set it and forget it. HOW IT WORKS • FOCUS ZONES: Draw zones on a map (home, office, café, campus) and set when they’re active. Focus mode turns on when you’re there. • APP BLOCKING: Block social media, video, games, and other distracting apps—only in your zones. Uses Apple Screen Time, so you stay in control. • SCREEN TIME GOALS: Set daily limits and see how you’re doing. Your Halo level reflects your progress. • STREAKS: Build streaks with daily check-ins. Stay consistent and grow your streak over time. STUDY • DEEP WORK • SLEEP Use presets for Study, Deep Work, or Sleep—or create custom zones with your own rules. PERFECT FOR • Students studying at the library or at home • Workers doing deep work at the office • Anyone who wants healthier screen habits • People who struggle with phone distractions Dark theme. Simple setup. Your data stays on your device. Premium subscription required to unlock zone-based blocking, unlimited focus zones, screen time stats, focus streaks, and background enforcement. Free trial available; subscriptions auto-renew until cancelled and can be managed in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

AVOW

This app verifies your actual work time by pausing the timer when you step away or get distracted by your phone. It provides detailed reports on your focus, away time, and phone usage, helping you prove your productivity.

Highlights
  • Accountability Mode
  • Silent Work Audit
  • Phone Distraction Detection
  • Automatic Pause & Resume
  • Detailed Session Proof
  • Shareable Proof Cards
  • Leaderboards
  • Accountability Groups
Features
Read full description

Put your phone down. Give your work your attention. Watch your Space take shape. AVOW brings a calm timer, distinctive focus artwork and a clear record of verified progress to your day. TWO WAYS TO FOCUS Verified Focus checks your presence on your device. When you step away, verified time pauses. Return and keep building where you left off. Personal Focus gives you every Space and destination, without verification, saved progress or achievements. Choose how long to work and enjoy the experience. An optional Focus Mirror uses your camera only when you choose it. FIND YOUR SPACE Keep it simple with Minimal. Form a constellation, illuminate a city, climb a mountain, grow a flower, build an illustrated neural connection or cross a bridge. Preview every Space before starting. In Verified Focus, qualifying progress saves between sessions. A shorter session still counts toward your destination. Reach a milestone, unlock what comes next and keep focusing without interrupting your timer. YOUR PASSPORT See the lasting results of Verified Focus: destination stamps, connections built, elevation climbed, virtual bridge distance, flowers grown, stars collected, cities visited and bridges crossed. Browse your Space Collection and return to what you have started. Passport also includes premium appearance themes and themed Home Screen icons. Keep the original AVOW icon or choose a palette to match your style. These are symbolic focus illustrations. AVOW does not measure biological brain changes, physical climbing, walking distance or GPS activity. PLAN YOUR NEXT SESSION Schedule tasks and reminders, review your verified history and choose a theme that feels right. On supported iPhone and iPad devices, optionally authorize Screen Time and choose distracting apps or categories to block during your scheduled work. Cancel a plan, use Emergency Stop or revoke permission whenever you need to. Optional account and community features let you decide what to share. CLEAR SESSION ACCESS Start with three free sessions total, shared across Verified Focus and Personal Focus. After those, either mode requires an active Passport subscription (AVOW Pro) or a single-session purchase, US $0.99. Personal Focus includes every Space and destination with any valid session access. In Verified Focus, Flowers, Neural Network and Bridge Crossing require Passport; other Spaces follow the same session-payment rules. Previewing, pausing, resuming or continuing the same session never consumes another session. Passport is available monthly or yearly. Prices and any eligible introductory offer appear before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. CAMERA PRIVACY Camera processing happens on your device. AVOW does not record or upload camera footage. Account, sync and purchase services have separate data practices explained in the Privacy Policy. Privacy: https://avowfocus.com/privacy Support: https://avowfocus.com/support Terms: https://avowfocus.com/terms Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Halo4 screens
AVOW4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Halo at 14 against AVOW's 3. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Halo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and AVOW sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Halo against 5.0 for AVOW. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Halo ships an update every 9 days, AVOW weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Halo versus AVOW: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHaloAVOW
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (14 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHalo Labs LLCAhmed Khalafalla

Customer experience

Halo

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

AVOW

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Halo

Subscriptions2
  • Halo Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Halo Pro Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
2 purchases

AVOW

Subscriptions2
  • AVOW Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • AVOW Pro Annual3 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Halo free?
Halo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AVOW free?
AVOW is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Halo or AVOW?
Halo and AVOW are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 14 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do Halo or AVOW have ads?
Neither Halo nor AVOW shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Halo or AVOW?
Halo ships an update every 9 days, and AVOW weekly. Most recently, Halo was updated on October 2, 2026 and AVOW on October 10, 2026.

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