Comparison

Focus Dots vs FLIP

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

Head to head
About

Focus Dots

Features
Read full description

Focus Dots is a simple focus timer. Set a duration. Press start. Focus on one thing. There are no streaks to maintain. No productivity analytics. No pressure to optimize yourself. Finish a session and earn a dot. Over time, those dots become quiet records of the moments you chose to focus. Use it for study sessions, deep work, reading, writing, or any task that needs your full attention. Whether you’re working, studying, or just trying to stay distraction-free, Focus Dots helps you stay present.  I built this because I kept getting distracted by focus tools that tried to do too much. This one does less.

About

FLIP

This app helps overcome procrastination by using a 2-minute rule to initiate tasks. It features a simple, single-screen interface with haptic feedback and lock-screen visibility to encourage deep work and short breaks.

Highlights
  • 2-minute kickoff timer
  • Flip phone for deep work
  • Sideways phone for breaks
  • Single-screen interface
  • Haptic feedback
  • Lock-screen and Live Activity
  • 100% on-device privacy
Features
Read full description

The hardest part of any task is starting. The 2-minute rule says: just commit to two minutes — then decide whether to keep going. Most of the time, once you've started, you'll keep working far longer. FLIP is a single-screen timer built around that idea. —————————————— HOW IT WORKS • Tap once to start a 2-minute kickoff timer. • When 2 minutes are up, flip your phone face-down to commit to a 20-minute deep-work block. • When deep work ends, turn your phone sideways to take a 5-minute break. • Hold anywhere to cancel — a segmented bar fills with synchronized haptics so the gesture is unmistakable. That's it. No accounts, no settings, no menus. —————————————— DESIGNED FOR FOCUS • Single-screen interface with a retro-digital typeface and edge-to-edge color fill that grows with the timer • Haptic feedback on every state change so you don't have to look at the screen • Lock-screen and Dynamic Island Live Activity — keep the countdown visible without unlocking your phone • A short chime when each phase ends so you can put the phone down and focus —————————————— PRIVATE BY DESIGN • 100% on-device. No accounts, no analytics, no third-party SDKs, no servers. • No data collection. The privacy policy fits on one page. —————————————— WHO IT'S FOR • People who reach for their phone instead of starting a task • Knowledge workers running Pomodoro-like sessions • Students looking for a low-friction focus timer • Anyone who wants the smallest possible app between them and beginning a task Beat procrastination by promising yourself two minutes. Then flip the phone.

Screenshots

Focus Dots4 screens
FLIP4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Focus Dots at every 8 days against FLIP's every 3 months. On price, ads, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Dots ships an update every 8 days, FLIP every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Focus Dots versus FLIP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus DotsFLIP
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS26.226.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDAVID SZELLIzhan Ansari

In-app purchases

None

Focus Dots

No in-app purchases

None

FLIP

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focus Dots free?
Focus Dots is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FLIP free?
FLIP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Focus Dots or FLIP have ads?
Neither Focus Dots nor FLIP shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Dots or FLIP?
Focus Dots ships an update every 8 days, and FLIP every 3 months. Most recently, Focus Dots was updated on September 27, 2026 and FLIP on September 30, 2026.

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