Comparison

ThoughtsLeft vs Focus

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

Head to head
About

ThoughtsLeft

Capture your fleeting thoughts, ideas, and worries quickly through typing or voice. Organize them into tasks or notes, or simply let them go. Gain insights into your thinking patterns and maintain mental clarity.

Highlights
  • Instant thought capture (type or voice)
  • Organize thoughts with swipe gestures
  • Spoken Thought for hands-free capture
  • Time-based task manager
  • Notes repository
  • Activity insights
  • Optional Pro upgrade for advanced features
Features
Read full description

ThoughtsLeft is a brain dump app for people who think too much: late-night spirals, half-finished ideas, worries you can't shake, things you're scared to forget. Get them all out fast, before the mental clutter takes over. Capture however it comes to you. Type it, or speak it out loud as a Spoken Thought. No structure required, no "right way" to do it. Just thought capture, fast. Then decide on your own time. Organize thoughts into a task, note or simply let them go completely with one swipe, because not every worry needs to become something. KEY FEATURES: • Instant thought capture for ideas, worries, and reminders • Capture from anywhere with the Action Button, Siri, or a Home Screen long-press • Swipe gestures to organize thoughts into tasks or notes • Spoken Thought for hands-free, voice-based capture • Batch processing sessions for inbox zero • Time-based task manager (Today, Tomorrow, This Week, Someday) • Notes repository for everything you want to keep • Activity insights into your thinking patterns • App lock with Face ID, or Touch ID • Dark and light themes • 100% private by default, all thoughts stay on your device (optional iCloud sync available) • Export all your thoughts or delete them anytime OPTIONAL PRO UPGRADE
 ThoughtsLeft works fully without upgrading. For deeper reflection, focus, and mental clarity, an optional PRO upgrade is available. Thought Timeline & History • View your complete thought history • See how thoughts become tasks, notes, or released items • Reflect on your thinking patterns over time Pattern Insights • Discover when your mind is loudest • Understand your overthinking habits Custom Scheduling • Set exact dates and times for tasks and get notified • Plan with more clarity and precision iCloud Sync • Keep your thoughts backed up and synced with iCloud • Your thoughts stay private, sync is always optional Apple Calendar Sync • Automatically sync your Thoughts Left tasks to your Apple Calendar • View your to-dos right alongside your daily events Premium Themes • Unlock 5 calming, nature-inspired themes • Personalise your space for reflection and focus Available as a one-time purchase or an annual subscription. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Focus

Features
Read full description

The problem isn't planning. It's everything competing for your attention at once. Focus is not just another task app—it's a boundary between what matters now and everything else. WHY FOCUS WORKS One Thing at a Time Pick your focus task. Everything else fades away. Stop suffering from decision fatigue and constant context-switching. Protect Your Attention Built-in Pomodoro-style focus sessions (25, 50 min) with structured breaks. Start the timer, silence the noise, and get into flow. Stay Organized, Stay Calm Work. Personal. Ideas. Keep everything organized in smart lists, but only see what actually matters right now. SEAMLESS APPLE INTEGRATION • Live Activities & Dynamic Island: Your current focus stays visible without ever unlocking your phone. Less distraction, more flow. • Interactive Widgets: Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets show only today's priority—not your entire backlog. • Siri & App Intents: Log tasks naturally with your voice ("Log a distraction in Focus" or "Add a task to Focus"). PREMIUM FEATURES • Smart task lists with custom colors and icons • Focus Timer with detailed progress tracking • Due dates, intelligent reminders, and recurring tasks • Weekly insights, analytics, and completion streaks • 2-Way Apple Calendar Sync • Seamless iCloud sync across iPhone and iPad • Privacy-first: Your data stays securely on your device WHO IS FOCUS FOR? • People with ADHD who feel overwhelmed by traditional, cluttered task apps. • Deep workers who demand distraction-free focus time. • Minimalists who want less noise, not more features. • Creatives who think better with constraints. Focus is thoughtfully designed by an indie developer with an uncompromising attention to detail. One thing at a time. That's it. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.bytenpixels.com/privacy

Screenshots

ThoughtsLeft4 screens
Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

ThoughtsLeft and Focus are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. ThoughtsLeft sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and Focus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
ThoughtsLeft versus Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThoughtsLeftFocus
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJayasrinivasan VaradharajanJiten Siddhpura

In-app purchases

2 purchases

ThoughtsLeft

Subscriptions1
  • Thoughts Left PRO7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Thoughts Left Pro$24.99
1 purchases

Focus

One-time1
  • Focus Premium$3.99

Questions

Is ThoughtsLeft free?
ThoughtsLeft is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus free?
Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ThoughtsLeft or Focus have ads?
Neither ThoughtsLeft nor Focus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ThoughtsLeft or Focus?
ThoughtsLeft ships an update every 11 days, and Focus every 11 days. Most recently, ThoughtsLeft was updated on September 12, 2026 and Focus on September 17, 2026.

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