Comparison

Focustown vs ReadUp

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

Head to head
About

Focustown

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
Read full description

Study with people from all over the world in a cozy low poly environment. Focustown helps you achieve your dreams one focus session at a time. Pick your vibe — a cozy cafe or a quiet library — and join a server where you can sit next to real people studying in real time. Whether you're a student grinding for exams or a working professional tackling your next big project, you're never alone on your journey. FEATURES: • Cozy Study Environments – Choose between beautifully designed cafes and libraries to set the perfect study mood. • Study With Real People – Join servers and focus alongside others from around the world in real time. • Earn Coins & Customize – Complete focus sessions to earn coins and decorate your character with fun accessories. • Study With Friends – Start sessions with your real friends and hold each other accountable. • Focus Timer – A built-in study timer to keep you on track and make every session count. Focustown was built to inspire millions of students and working professionals — reminding them that they're not alone in their journey to make a dent in this universe. Your dreams are worth every focus session. Start yours today. Similar apps include: Forest, Focus Tree, Flora, or Study Bunny Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ReadUp

This app encourages reading by temporarily blocking distracting applications. Users set reading goals and unlock their apps only after completing their reading sessions, promoting focused engagement with content.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Set reading goals
  • Unlock apps after reading
  • Curated book library
  • Focused reading experience
  • Track reading progress
Features
Read full description

Read first. Scroll later. Your phone makes scrolling effortless and reading easy to postpone. ReadUp flips that around: Block the apps that distract you. Pick books you want to read. Read until you reach your goal, then your apps unlock. No endless bans. No pretending you’ll never scroll again. Just one simple trade: Your attention, spent on something worth reading first. How it works 1. Choose the apps you want to block 2. Pick a book and set a reading goal 3. Read actively in ReadUp 4. Unlock your apps for the time you earned 5. Return tomorrow and keep your progress going You can keep reading for as long as you want. ReadUp never interrupts a good chapter just because you’ve reached your goal. Why ReadUp? Most app blockers only tell you to stop. ReadUp gives you something better to do. A chapter before TikTok.
A few pages before Instagram.
A meaningful story before another hour disappears into your feed. You don’t have to delete the apps you enjoy. You simply put reading first. What’s inside * A curated library of great books * A focused, comfortable reading experience * Custom reading and unlock times * App shielding using Apple’s Screen Time controls * Active reading and inactivity tracking * Saved reading position * Reading streaks and daily progress * Pages read, books completed, and reading time tracked * A view of how much scrolling time you’ve replaced What changes You finish more books.
 You scroll with intention. You protect time for something meaningful. Your phone comes after the promise you made to yourself. Less doomscrolling. More stories, ideas, and pages you’ll remember. Read first. Then scroll. ** Ongoing use requires an active subscription. ** Privacy Policy: https://readup-app.com/privacy/ Terms of Service: https://readup-app.com/tos/ Contact: contact@readup-app.com

Screenshots

Focustown4 screens
ReadUp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Focustown at free with in-app purchases against ReadUp's subscription. Focustown also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 10 days) and ratings volume (8K vs 6). ReadUp's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 77%). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Focustown sells 21 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and ReadUp sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ReadUp holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Focustown has 8K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Focustown's written reviews are positive against 100% of ReadUp's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focustown ships an update every 2 days, ReadUp every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Focustown versus ReadUp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocustownReadUp
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (8K ratings)5.0 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 10 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#200 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.2 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.1 GB55 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSecond Round Inc.Nedas Mikucionis

Customer experience

Focustown

All ratings8,032 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral2.6%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews934 reviews
Positive77.1%
Neutral9.7%
Negative13.2%

ReadUp

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

21 purchases

Focustown

Subscriptions6
  • Foucstown Pro Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Foucstown Pro Monthly3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Foucstown Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Foucstown Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
  • Foucstown Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
  • Foucstown Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time15
  • Pocketful of Brown Beans$0.99
  • Pocketful Golden Beans$0.99
  • Purchase Coffee Boost$0.99
Show 12 more
  • Single Coffee Boost$0.99
  • Handful of Golden Beans$0.99
  • Sack of Golden Beans$2.99
  • Bag of Brown Beans$3.99
  • Bucket of Golden Beans$3.99
  • Super Boost Pack$3.99
  • Sack of Golden Beans$3.99
  • Bucket of Brown Beans$9.99
  • Cart of Brown Beans$9.99
  • Bucket of Golden Beans$9.99
  • Bucket of Golden Beans$19.99
  • Cart of Golden Beans$39.99
2 purchases

ReadUp

Subscriptions2
  • Full Access (Weekly)$8.997 Days
  • Full Access (Yearly)3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Focustown free?
Focustown is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ReadUp free?
ReadUp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focustown or ReadUp?
ReadUp is rated higher. Focustown averages 4.8 out of 5 from 8K ratings, while ReadUp averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.
Do Focustown or ReadUp have ads?
Focustown shows ads; ReadUp does not.
Which is updated more often, Focustown or ReadUp?
Focustown ships an update every 2 days, and ReadUp every 10 days. Most recently, Focustown was updated on October 17, 2026 and ReadUp on October 11, 2026.

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