Flow vs Sync
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Flow
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Flow's blocking concept relies on putting a physical object - the Flow Key - between you and your mobile distractions. Tap it to start a session, and your chosen apps and websites will block instantly. The only way back in is to tap the key again, so the moment you put it out of reach, those distractions go with it. That's where the magic happens. The Flow Key is a premium, matte black metal NFC card that pairs with the Flow app. It's solid, can fit in your pocket or wallet, and is built to be the one thing standing between you and your phone. Flow creates the kind of friction that actually sticks, so you can spend less time on your device and more time on what actually matters in your life. HOW IT WORKS - Set up a mode by choosing which apps or websites to block, or flip it and only allow the apps you need, blocking everything else. - Tap your Flow Key to your phone to instantly start the session. - Place your key somewhere out of reach and where you won't have the urge to grab it. - When you're ready to finish, simply tap the Flow Key again to end your session. The concept is simple, yet highly effective. FEATURES - Modes: Create custom modes for every part of your day. Choose specific apps and websites to block, or switch it around and only allow the apps you need, blocking everything else. Mix and match for Work, Study, Sleep, Gym, or anything else your routine demands. - Schedules: Set recurring focus sessions that start automatically at the times you choose. Your blocks kick in without you having to think about it. - Website Blocking: Block distracting websites alongside your apps. You can block specific domains, all websites at once, or enable adult content filtering, giving you full control over what you can and can't access during a session. - Emergency Overrides: Life happens. Flow includes a limited number of emergency overrides so you can regain access when you genuinely need to, without completely bypassing the system. Use them responsibly. - Personal Stats: Track your focus habits over time with detailed stats. See your daily, weekly, and all time focus time, your current streak, your best days, and how your output trends week over week. The more you use Flow, the clearer your patterns become. - Friends and Community Leaderboard: Add friends and compete on a shared leaderboard. See who's putting in the most focus time each week and use the accountability to push yourself further. YOUR PRIVACY All app blocking runs through Apple's Screen Time framework. Flow never sees which apps you use, what websites you visit, or how you spend your time. That data will always stay on your personal device. Flow is for anyone who's serious about reclaiming their time. Whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone who wants to be more present - the companion Flow Key gives you a tangible way to draw the line between distraction and focus. Welcome to your flow state.
Sync
This app helps you compare your planned schedule with your actual daily activities. It visualizes where your time goes, highlighting discrepancies and helping you identify time-wasting habits. Integrate with Apple Health and Calendar for automatic tracking.
- Dual timeline for plan vs. actual
- One-tap confirmation of planned activities
- Habit and repeat plan creation
- Real-time timer tracking
- Goal setting and to-do lists
- Apple Health and Calendar integration
- iCloud sync across devices
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Few days go exactly as planned. Sync lines up your plan and what you actually did on one timeline, and shows where they part. After a week, the hours that always slip become obvious. Plan your day in the morning, record what you did in the evening, and the two tracks line up side by side. Time that went as planned and time that drifted show in color. โ Two tracks Plan and actual share one time axis. Drag over the hours, pick an activity, done. โ One tap to confirm When a plan ends, a notification and a confirm card offer three buttons: Record as planned ยท Adjust and record ยท Skip. The buttons are right on the Lock Screen and in widgets. โ Repeats and habits Turn a plan into a repeat or a habit as you save it. When you edit a repeating plan, choose "Save for this day only" or "Save for all future days." Plans that run past midnight save in one go. โ Timer Start a timer and the actual track grows in real time. Stop it from the Lock Screen or the Dynamic Island. โ Goals and to-dos Set weekly, monthly, or yearly time goals per activity and they fill in from your actuals. To-dos can have both a scheduled day and a deadline. โ Apple Health, Calendar, Reminders Connect Apple Health (HealthKit) and your workouts and sleep โ from Apple Watch or any app that writes to Health โ flow into the actual track automatically. Read-only: Sync never writes to Health. Calendar events show beneath the plan track; choose which calendars to show, and the activity is picked for you when you import an event. To-dos stay in sync with a Reminders list. โ Close the day Close your day before bed to see your Sync and time per activity, and leave a one-line note. โ iPhone and iPad On iPad, Sync uses views made for the larger screen. Turn on iCloud sync to keep records in step on an iPhone and iPad signed in to the same Apple Account. Sync works only between Apple devices. Your records are stored on your device. With iCloud sync on, they move only through your own iCloud. No sign-up, no server of ours.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Flow at Free against Sync's $4.99. On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Flow is free to download; Sync costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Flow ships an update every 8 days, Sync weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Flow | Sync |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free โ better | $4.99 |
| Positive reviews | โ | 100.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | Weekly โ better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | โ | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad โ better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 โ better | 18.0 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rhys Nackman | 037 |
In-app purchases
Flow
No in-app purchases
Sync
No in-app purchases









