SmartFocus vs Notes Index
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
SmartFocus
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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.
Notes Index
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Notes Index turns your handwritten notes into a library you can search. Scan a notebook page or loose sheet with the built-in document scanner, or bring in a photo you already took. Notes Index cleans up the page, recognizes your handwriting on the device, and files it by date. FIND ANY PAGE Search for a word you wrote and Notes Index highlights exactly where it appears on the page. BROWSE LIKE PAPER Pinch through your library from a full-width page down to a dense grid. On iPad, open two pages side by side, like an open notebook. MARK IT UP Write on your pages with Apple Pencil or your finger, and recrop a page any time. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account and no ads. Text recognition happens on your device. Turn on iCloud sync to keep your library on all your devices, stored in your own iCloud account. Export your images and text whenever you like.
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Verdict
SmartFocus and Notes Index are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters โ price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them โ neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SmartFocus ships an update every 8 days, Notes Index weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartFocus | Notes Index |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | Weekly โ better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad โ better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Selim Zoughlami | nedrelow, LLC |
In-app purchases
SmartFocus
No in-app purchases
Notes Index
No in-app purchases









