Comparison

SmartFocus vs Focus Session Timer

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

Head to head
About

SmartFocus

Features
Read full description

YOU ALREADY KNOW THE FEELING You sit down to work. You open your phone for one thing โ€” and 40 minutes later you're deep in social media, watching clips, scrolling through nothing. It's not your fault. These apps are designed to keep you hooked. SmartFocus blocks distracting apps the moment you activate Focus mode โ€” so you can actually get things done. ------ THE PROBLEM WITH WILLPOWER Every day, you tell yourself you'll stay focused. But then: - You pick up your phone "just to check" - One notification leads to ten minutes of scrolling - You open Instagram "for a second" and lose half an hour - By the end of the day, you wonder where the time went Sound familiar? Willpower alone doesn't work against apps built to be addictive. You need a system. ------ HOW SMARTFOCUS WORKS SmartFocus connects directly with iOS Focus modes. When you activate a Focus mode โ€” Work, Study, Sleep, or any custom one โ€” SmartFocus instantly blocks the apps you've chosen. No delays. No workarounds. Just a clean shield screen reminding you: you're in focus mode. 1. Create a filter preset (e.g., "Work", "Study", "Deep Focus") 2. Choose which apps and categories to block 3. Link it to your iOS Focus mode That's it. Focus on, distractions off. ------ CUSTOM FILTERS FOR EVERY MOMENT Not all focus is the same. During work, you might block social media but keep messaging open. During study, you might block everything except reference apps. At night, you might block games and news. SmartFocus lets you create unlimited filter presets โ€” each with its own name, color, and app selection. Switch between them effortlessly as your day changes. ------ BLOCK APPS AND ENTIRE CATEGORIES Don't waste time picking apps one by one. SmartFocus lets you block entire categories at once โ€” all social media, all games, all entertainment โ€” with a single tap. Or get specific and choose individual apps. Your call. ------ THE SHIELD SCREEN When you try to open a blocked app, you won't see the app. Instead, you'll see a calm shield screen telling you exactly which filter is active. A simple reminder that you chose to focus โ€” and a gentle nudge to get back on track. No guilt. No lectures. Just clarity. ------ BUILT FOR PRIVACY SmartFocus uses Apple's Screen Time framework. Your data stays on your device. We never see which apps you use, which ones you block, or how you spend your time. Your focus is your business. ------ PERFECT FOR - Students who need to lock in during exams and study sessions - Remote workers fighting the pull of social media at home - Professionals who want distraction-free deep work blocks - Parents managing their own screen habits - Anyone trying to build healthier digital routines - People with ADHD looking for external structure ------ WHAT MAKES SMARTFOCUS DIFFERENT - Native iOS Focus integration โ€” works with the system, not against it - Instant blocking โ€” no timers, no delays, no friction - Custom presets โ€” different rules for different moments - Category blocking โ€” block all social media with one tap - Beautiful shield screen โ€” calm, not punishing - Completely private โ€” all data stays on your device ------ GET STARTED FREE Download SmartFocus and set up your first filter in under a minute. No ads. No tracking. No nonsense. Just focus, the way it should be. Take back your time. Download SmartFocus today.

About

Focus Session Timer

Features
Read full description

Focus Session Timer is a simple productivity app for short, focused work sessions. Use it to start a focus session in seconds, keep track of your current timer, pause or reset when needed, and move into short breaks without clutter. Designed for a clean and lightweight experience, Focus Session Timer helps you stay on task without accounts, setup friction, or distracting extras. Key features: โ€ข Start, pause, and reset focus sessions quickly โ€ข Choose a focus duration that fits your workflow โ€ข Use short breaks between sessions โ€ข Keep a lightweight history of your progress โ€ข Clean, minimal interface built for everyday use Focus Session Timer is made for people who want a straightforward focus tool for study, deep work, or daily task sessions.

Screenshots

SmartFocus4 screens
Focus Session Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Focus Session Timer at 3 against SmartFocus's 1. Focus Session Timer also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmartFocus ships an update every 8 days, Focus Session Timer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
SmartFocus versus Focus Session Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartFocusFocus Session Timer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 8 days โ€” betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS26.015.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size15 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSelim ZoughlamiArthur Barbaray

In-app purchases

None

SmartFocus

No in-app purchases

None

Focus Session Timer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmartFocus free?
SmartFocus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Focus Session Timer free?
Focus Session Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SmartFocus or Focus Session Timer have ads?
Neither SmartFocus nor Focus Session Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmartFocus or Focus Session Timer?
SmartFocus ships an update every 8 days, and Focus Session Timer every 2 weeks. Most recently, SmartFocus was updated on September 27, 2026 and Focus Session Timer on September 15, 2026.

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