Comparison

Ember vs SYSTEM // ZERO

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

Head to head
About

Ember

This app blocks distracting applications during focused work sessions. When your break time arrives, it unlocks engaging mini-games designed to refresh your mind without disrupting your workflow. Track your progress and maintain your focus streak with this innovative productivity tool.

Highlights
  • App blocking during focus sessions
  • Mini-games for productive breaks
  • Pomodoro technique implementation
  • Focus streak tracking
  • Customizable work goals
  • On-device app blocking via Screen Time API
Read full description

The only focus app that makes your breaks worth taking. Ember blocks distracting apps the moment your session starts. When your break hits, it unlocks mini games — quick, satisfying hits that reset your brain without losing your momentum. Work hard. Break smart. Lock back in. HOW EMBER WORKS 1. Set your goal. Type what you're working on — "essay draft," "design sprint," anything. 2. Lock in. Ember blocks Instagram, TikTok, YouTube — whatever kills your focus — for the full session. Your apps come back when you're done. 3. Earn your break. Every 25 minutes, your break unlocks. Play a quick game, get a real mental reset, and go again. BREAK GAMES THAT ACTUALLY WORK Most focus apps just... make you sit there. Ember gives your brain what it actually wants during a break — a small win, a quick challenge, a real dopamine hit — so you come back sharper, not restless. This is the Pomodoro method done right. TRACK YOUR STREAK See your focus sessions, daily streak, and total hours in one view. The longer your streak, the harder it is to stop. BUILT FOR - Students who need to actually study - Remote workers who lose hours to their phone - ADHD brains that need structured breaks, not just willpower - Anyone who opens TikTok "for 2 minutes" and loses an hour Ember uses Apple's Screen Time API to block apps on-device. We never see which apps you block. Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQFd8Mhq8xa6He6CllLMVHwUdo_r4VBj9fGaatCWmYn3MorjB59ldq-CM3JuHeg64EclbrEo6wN5DO3/pub Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

SYSTEM // ZERO

Features
Read full description

YOUR LIFE. YOUR QUESTS. YOUR SYSTEM. SYSTEM//ZERO transforms personal progress into an immersive leveling experience. Set your objectives, complete daily quests and watch your character grow alongside you. Every completed mission moves you forward. COMPLETE DAILY QUESTS Turn the things you want to accomplish into missions across different areas of your life. Check them off as you complete them and build consistency one day at a time. LEVEL UP Earn progress through your actions and advance through levels and ranks. EVOLVE AS YOU PROGRESS Your system evolves with you. Unlock new stages and experience a visual progression that makes every milestone feel meaningful. BUILD YOUR STATS Develop different attributes and see your progress reflected through your stats and overall power. CHOOSE YOUR SYSTEM Customize your experience with different System Packs, each offering its own visual identity, atmosphere and progression experience. YOUR PROGRESS. SECURED. Create an account to protect your progress and keep your unlocked content connected to you. You don't need another checklist. You need a system. Enter SYSTEM//ZERO.

Screenshots

Ember4 screens
SYSTEM // ZERO4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SYSTEM // ZERO at none against Ember's shown. On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Ember sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and SYSTEM // ZERO sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ember ships an update every 10 days, SYSTEM // ZERO every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Ember versus SYSTEM // ZERO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmberSYSTEM // ZERO
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (36 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings36 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB60 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperRYAN ANTHONY RICCIRaushan Nimatov

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Ember

Subscriptions4
  • Ember Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Ember Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Ember Annual$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Ember Annual$29.991 Year
5 purchases

SYSTEM // ZERO

One-time5
  • Knight Protocol System Pack$9.99
  • Solo Level Up System Pack$9.99
  • Mass Build$24.99
Show 2 more
  • Fat Loss Protocol$24.99
  • Physique Maintenance$24.99

Questions

Is Ember free?
Ember is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SYSTEM // ZERO free?
SYSTEM // ZERO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ember or SYSTEM // ZERO have ads?
Ember shows ads; SYSTEM // ZERO does not.
Which is updated more often, Ember or SYSTEM // ZERO?
Ember ships an update every 10 days, and SYSTEM // ZERO every 3 weeks. Most recently, Ember was updated on October 31, 2026 and SYSTEM // ZERO on October 31, 2026.

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