# FocusOwl vs Bonsai

The clearest difference is monetization model: Bonsai at freemium against FocusOwl's subscription. Bonsai also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FocusOwl sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Bonsai sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for FocusOwl against 5.0 for Bonsai. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

FocusOwl ships an update every 5 days, Bonsai every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FocusOwl | Bonsai |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusowl-focus-timer/id6756440538/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonsai-focus-and-study-timer/id6759262068/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 157 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kenardo Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504748667) | [Dima Ivashchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1824969229) |

## What reviewers say

### FocusOwl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusowl-focus-timer/id6756440538)

Enhance your concentration and build effective study habits with this app. It offers Pomodoro timers, app blocking to eliminate distractions, and collaborative study rooms to keep you motivated. Track your progress with detailed insights into your focus sessions.

**Highlights:** Pomodoro timer, App blocking, Group study rooms, Focus insights, Study habit tracking, Minimalist design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| All Access | $3.99 | per month |
| All Access | $33.99 | per year |


### Bonsai

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonsai-focus-and-study-timer/id6759262068)

This app uses a unique approach to focus by growing virtual bonsai trees during your work or study sessions. If you leave the app, your tree wilts, encouraging sustained concentration. Completed sessions add unique trees to your personal digital garden.

**Highlights:** Virtual bonsai tree growth during focus sessions, Tree wilts if app is exited, encouraging focus, Collect unique, procedurally generated bonsai trees, Track focus streaks and statistics, Unlock cosmetic items for bonsai customization, Ambient background sounds for focus, Optional premium features via subscription or purchase

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bonsai Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Bonsai Premium yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Bonsai Lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FocusOwl free?

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

### Is Bonsai free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FocusOwl or Bonsai?

FocusOwl and Bonsai are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do FocusOwl or Bonsai have ads?

Neither FocusOwl nor Bonsai shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FocusOwl or Bonsai?

FocusOwl ships an update every 5 days, and Bonsai every 2 days. Most recently, FocusOwl was updated on October 12, 2026 and Bonsai on September 30, 2026.

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