Focus vs Folio
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Focus
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Focus shouldn't be a burden, but the joy of living in the moment. 【App Description】 "Focus" uses a "low barrier, count-up" approach to free you from the anxiety of countdown timers. We believe that the essence of attention is not just about intense sprinting, but also includes appropriate white space for rest. This is a focus tool that combines brain science concepts with cosmic aesthetics, accompanying you to find inner peace and rhythm in the age of information explosion. 【Key Features】 1.Attention Savings: The Neuroscience of Balance We categorize attention into two essential modes and help you balance them: • Focused Mode: Converts time into value with laser-sharp attention. • Diffused Mode: Allows "white space" to act as restoration, sparking creativity through relaxation. 2.Stress-Free Timer & Retroactive Entry Just tap start and slip into the flow. No ticking countdowns, only a dialogue between you and the present moment. Forgot to track? No problem. The app supports retroactive entry so you never miss a moment of "living in the now." 3.A Micro-Universe in Your Palm Every focus session generates a unique star based on the duration, focus type, and your feelings. Watching them shine in your personal universe makes you realize how precious every moment seized in the vastness of space and time truly is. 4.Random Quotes: Inspiration from the Cosmos Receive a random quote after every session. It provides immediate encouragement and inspiration after your effort, recharging your spirit and sustaining positive energy. 5.Immersive "Black Hole" Experience The current version features six curated ambient soundscapes (white noise and atmospheric music) to help you immerse yourself in the moment. Like falling into a black hole, you will forget the passage of time and quickly enter a deep state of flow. 6.Mood & Data Review We track more than just time; we track feelings. Review your focus history through data charts to understand your peak performance patterns and optimal state. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Folio
A minimalist journaling app designed for daily reflection. It offers a calm, private space to write, track habits, and check in with your mood without pressure. Enjoy a beautiful, paper-like experience on your device.
- Minimalist journaling interface
- Daily page prompts
- Mood check-in
- Light habit tracking
- Private by default (on-device storage)
- Cloud backup option
- Customizable themes and papers
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Folio is the beautiful journal you'll actually keep. A calm, minimalist notebook for a page a day. Some days you fill a page. Some days it's a single line. Folio never nags, and it never makes you feel guilty for skipping. You open it, you write, you close it. A minute is enough. Most journaling apps ask for too much. Complicated setup, endless features, a streak you're scared to break. That's why so many notebooks end up half-finished. Folio is the calm one you keep coming back to. A page a day, in about a minute When the page feels blank, a gentle prompt is there. Write whatever you like, or answer one small question. No essays expected. Feels like a real notebook Warm paper, soft type, and covers you'll actually want to open. The feeling of paper, with the convenience of your phone. Made for quiet moments A soft night mode for writing before bed, easy on your eyes when the lights are low. Private by default Your words, photographs, voice notes, and things to do stay on your device by default. If you turn on backup, Folio copies them only to the personal Google Drive or iCloud account you choose, never to Folio or PurposeLab servers or unrelated third parties. Anonymous analytics and crash reports never include notebook content. Beautiful, without the work Curated palettes, papers, and covers that look good the moment you open them. No design skills needed. Gentle rhythm, not streaks A quiet nudge when you want one. A simple mood check-in and a light habit tracker help you notice how your days are going, without turning life into a score. Free, with no ads Folio is free to journal, and always will be. If you want more, Folio Plus adds extra palettes and papers, yearly reflections, PDF export, and backup to your personal cloud account. Pay monthly, or once for life. Keep a daily journal, a gratitude journal, a minimalist diary, or just a quiet place to land at night. Folio is a calm home for all of it. Your words are always yours. Export them anytime. Start the notebook you'll actually keep. Terms of Use: https://purposelabstudio.com/privacy-policies/folio-terms.html Privacy Policy: https://purposelabstudio.com/privacy-policies/folio.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Folio at every 3 days against Focus's every 2 weeks. Focus's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Focus sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Folio sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Focus ships an update every 2 weeks, Folio every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Focus | Folio |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pin Run Chen | Atul Chaturvedi |
In-app purchases
Focus
- Focus PRO - Monthly$1.991 Month
- Focus Pro - Annual$14.991 Year
- Buy Me a Coffee!$1.99
- Buy Me a Coffee!$4.99
- Buy Me a Coffee!$9.99
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- Focus Pro - Lifetime$29.99
Folio
- Folio Plus$2.991 Month
- Folio Plus Lifetime$12.99









