Focus Rail vs Starfocus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Focus Rail
This app transforms focus sessions into engaging train journeys across real railway routes. Stay motivated by watching your progress on a map as you complete work or study blocks. It offers a more visually dynamic alternative to traditional timers.
- Gamified train journeys for focus sessions
- Pomodoro and deep work session options
- Live Activities for active sessions
- Trip history and session statistics
- Ambient sound options
- Customizable map styles
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Focus Rail is a focus timer that turns work and study sessions into train journeys across real railway routes. Choose a starting station, set a session length, and board your train. As you stay focused, your route moves forward on the map. It is a simple idea, but it makes a plain timer feel much more alive. Focus Rail is built for people who want more than a countdown: • Start study sessions with a clear ritual • See progress through a moving train and live route • Use Pomodoro style sessions or longer deep work blocks • Keep active sessions visible with Live Activities • Review past trips and build a routine you can stick with • Add ambient sound when you want a calmer workspace What you can do: • Pick an origin station and travel to real destinations • Set short study bursts or long deep work sessions • Follow your journey on the map in real time • Use optional screen controls when you want fewer distractions • Check trip history and session stats • Choose map styles that match your mood • Get reminders to start your next session Focus Rail works well for study, reading, writing, coding, exam prep, and quiet solo work. If Pomodoro timers feel too flat and traditional focus apps feel too cold, this gives you something more motivating without getting in your way. Focus Rail Pro unlocks more map styles, full trip history, Live Activities, and extra ways to stay on track. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Starfocus
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Struggling to put your phone down, finish deep work, or stick with a focus routine that feels like a chore? Starfocus is a Pomodoro focus timer that turns your focus time into something you can collect! Every completed session intercepts a real star from the night sky, which is yours to collect, explore, and revisit. Build a productivity habit that finally feels rewarding, one star at a time. WHAT STARFOCUS HELPS YOU DO • Beat procrastination. Start a Pomodoro session and stay on task instead of doomscrolling. • Build a focus habit. Customizable focus and break phases keep you in a rhythm that sticks. • Make focus rewarding. Earn a real star every session, so your effort always leaves something behind. • Wind down between sprints. Calm, distraction-free design with Live Activity. HOW IT WORKS 1. Point your phone at the sky and pick a star to intercept. 2. Start the Pomodoro timer and focus. Take a break when it rings. 3. View your star in your Discoveries collection. A REAL, INTERACTIVE NIGHT SKY • Every star is real, drawn from a professional astronomy catalog • Explore an interactive 3D star map with AR, gyroscope, and drag controls • See the sky from your exact location, with the Sun, Moon, stars and Milky Way in real time • Open any star for Wikipedia summaries, astrometry data, and links to SIMBAD for further details YOUR GROWING COLLECTION • Build a personal collection across 5,000+ real stars • Search and sort discoveries by brightness, distance, constellation, and more • Track your focus journey: total focus time, sessions completed, and stars discovered • Organize sessions with custom, color-coded tags to see where your focus really goes • Sync and back up your sessions and discoveries across all your devices with iCloud GREAT FOR • Students studying for exams and beating procrastination • Deep work, writing, coding, and time-blocking • Building an ADHD-friendly focus and productivity routine • Stargazers and astronomy lovers who want a reason to look up • Anyone who wants a calmer, more rewarding alternative to a plain Pomodoro timer WORKS OFFLINE, RESPECTS YOUR PRIVACY The entire star catalog is bundled with the app, so focus and discovery work completely offline. Your data stays on your device: no account, no sign-in required. Turn your focus into a galaxy. Download Starfocus and start your stargazing journey! Privacy Policy: https://trystarfocus.com/privacy Terms & Conditions: https://trystarfocus.com/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
Focus Rail and Starfocus are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Focus Rail sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Starfocus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Focus Rail | Starfocus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 93 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mithilesh Chellappan | Young Shung Ng |
In-app purchases
Focus Rail
- Focus Rail Pro$3.991 Month
- Focus Rail Pro7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Focus Rail Pro (Lifetime)$35.99
Starfocus
- Starfocus Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
- Starfocus Pro Yearly7 Days trial$16.991 Year
- Starfocus Pro Lifetime$39.99









