# Focustown vs grounded | mindful screen time

The clearest difference is ads: grounded | mindful screen time at none against Focustown's shown. grounded | mindful screen time also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 77%). Focustown's advantage is ratings volume (8K vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focustown sells 21 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and grounded | mindful screen time sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Focustown against 4.8 for grounded | mindful screen time. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focustown has 8K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Focustown's written reviews are positive against 89% of grounded | mindful screen time's.

Focustown ships an update every 2 days, grounded | mindful screen time weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Focustown | grounded | mindful screen time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focustown-pomodoro-timer/id6758457625/reviews) | [4.8 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grounded-mindful-screen-time/id6761880149/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 77.1% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#199** | — |
| Size | 1.1 GB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.2** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Second Round Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818164945) | [Datrie Allman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1891920620) |

## What reviewers say

### Focustown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focustown-pomodoro-timer/id6758457625)

**Currently charting:** #199 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

This app offers a virtual study environment where users can connect with others globally. Choose from cozy settings like cafes or libraries to focus alongside real people in real time, fostering accountability and motivation for students and professionals.

**Highlights:** Cozy study environments (cafes, libraries), Study with real people globally, Earn coins and customize character, Study with friends for accountability, Built-in focus timer

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Foucstown Pro Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Foucstown Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Foucstown Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Foucstown Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Foucstown Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Foucstown Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Pocketful of Brown Beans | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pocketful Golden Beans | $0.99 | one-time |
| Purchase Coffee Boost | $0.99 | one-time |
| Single Coffee Boost | $0.99 | one-time |
| Handful of Golden Beans | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sack of Golden Beans | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Brown Beans | $3.99 | one-time |
| Bucket of Golden Beans | $3.99 | one-time |
| Super Boost Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Sack of Golden Beans | $3.99 | one-time |
| Bucket of Brown Beans | $9.99 | one-time |
| Cart of Brown Beans | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bucket of Golden Beans | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bucket of Golden Beans | $19.99 | one-time |
| Cart of Golden Beans | $39.99 | one-time |


### grounded | mindful screen time

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grounded-mindful-screen-time/id6761880149)

This app offers a mindful approach to screen time by introducing brief awareness checks before you open distracting applications. It helps you regain control over your phone usage by prompting reflection rather than outright blocking.

**Highlights:** Pre-app awareness checks, Customizable app selection, Variety of reflection prompts, Time-limited app access, Gentle relationship with phone, Focus on awareness, not control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grounded Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Grounded Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| Grounded Lifetime | $129.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Focustown free?

Focustown is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is grounded | mindful screen time free?

grounded | mindful screen time is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Focustown or grounded | mindful screen time?

Focustown and grounded | mindful screen time are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8K and 10 ratings respectively.

### Do Focustown or grounded | mindful screen time have ads?

Focustown shows ads; grounded | mindful screen time does not.

### Which is updated more often, Focustown or grounded | mindful screen time?

Focustown ships an update every 2 days, and grounded | mindful screen time weekly. Most recently, Focustown was updated on October 18, 2026 and grounded | mindful screen time on October 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*