Comparison

App Blocker vs Cadence Focus

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

Head to head
About

App Blocker

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App Blocker: Screen Time โ€” Focus is easier when distractions are out of reach. App Blocker combines a flexible focus timer with real app blocking, so your chosen apps and categories stay unavailable while you work, study, read, create, or take time for yourself. BLOCK DISTRACTING APPS Choose the apps and categories that pull you away. App Blocker uses Apple's Screen Time permissions to shield them during an active focus session, then restores access when the session ends. START WITH A CLEAR GOAL Write down what you want to finish, choose a session length, and begin. Pick Quick, Deep, Extended, or Open mode depending on the time and attention you have available. MAKE FOCUS FEEL BETTER Settle into an immersive timer with ocean, beach, forest, mountains, campfire, rain, or a clean minimal background. Keep the session visible through Live Activities and supported widgets. PUT FOCUS ON YOUR SCHEDULE Create recurring Smart Auto routines for the moments you want to protect. When a scheduled session is due, App Blocker asks you to Start or Skip, so you stay in control. TRACK REAL PROGRESS Review focused time, weekly goals, streaks, and session history. Completed, ended-early, and skipped sessions are recorded honestly, helping you see the routine you are actually building. BUILT FOR DAILY FOCUS โ€ข App and category blocking during active sessions โ€ข Flexible goal-led focus timer โ€ข Quick, Deep, Extended, and Open modes โ€ข Immersive animated backgrounds โ€ข Recurring Smart Auto schedules โ€ข Weekly goals, streaks, and history โ€ข Live Activities, Dynamic Island, and widgets โ€ข Calm design without a cluttered dashboard App blocking requires Screen Time authorization and only applies after you select what App Blocker should block. One full 15-minute focus session is free. No purchase or subscription trial is required for this session. Continued focus sessions and Smart Auto require a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. Existing lifetime owners keep access. Prices and any eligible annual trial are shown before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Cadence Focus

Features
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Cadence Focus โ€” Not another Pomodoro app. Your brain doesn't work like everyone else's. Answer 4 quick questions, get a focus method matched to how you actually work, and an AI Coach that learns from every session. 6 FOCUS METHODS โ€ข Pomodoro 25/5 (free), Deep 50/10, Ultradian 90/20, Flowtime, Custom, Animedoro 50/20 โ€ข 5-minute starter tip when getting started feels impossible ANIMATED TIMER THEMES Pick how your timer looks: the signature progress ring or a growing plant (both free), or Pro themes โ€” hourglass, candle, water, rocket, mountain, and an evolving pixel pet that grows the more you focus. FITNESS MODE Interval workouts with work and rest rounds. Tabata free; HIIT, Stretch and fully custom intervals with Pro. Clear on-screen WORK/REST flips, plus alarms that still fire when your phone is locked. WIND DOWN โ€” NIGHT MODE โ€ข Rain scene free; Pro sleep and breathing scenes with curated soundscapes โ€ข Guided 4-7-8 breathing; durations up to infinite AI COACH Weekly insights from your session data, smart method re-evaluation, best focus hours, distraction patterns, and daily goal tips. SOUND MIXER + SPOTIFY (Pro) 12 built-in sounds, online library, mix up to 5 sounds, save presets. Spotify liked songs and playlists during focus. CALENDAR AND SCHEDULING Plan blocks for today or tomorrow, local reminders, sync to Calendar, import events as tasks. APP BLOCKER Block distracting apps during focus with Screen Time integration and custom shield. STUDY ROOMS Join with a 6-character code, live presence, chat, and shared focus energy. GROWTH TREE & YOUR ISLAND Plant a tree each session โ€” it grows when you finish, wilts if you quit. Move the trees you earn onto your own isometric island, unlock new zones from Meadow to Summit at session milestones, and collect decorations as rewards. SMART SESSIONS Distraction tracking, +5 min extension, session journal, categories, daily goals, streaks, weekly score, Pro streak freezes. WATCH, WIDGET AND LIVE ACTIVITIES Apple Watch app, Dynamic Island, lock screen, home widget. LEADERBOARDS AND LEVELS Per-method global boards, Starter to Legend progression, achievement badges. STATS AND TASKS Heatmap, completion rates, CSV export. Link tasks to sessions. Pro: unlimited tasks. CADENCE AI PRO โ€” 7-DAY FREE TRIAL All methods, AI Coach, full stats, calendar sync, app blocker, Spotify, unlimited sounds and tasks, 2 streak freezes per month. 16 LANGUAGES Light/dark theme. Pro features are clearly marked throughout the app. Continue without an account โ€” guest sessions sync in the cloud and merge automatically when you sign up or sign in. Optional account for leaderboard, study rooms, and Spotify. Sign in with email, Apple, or GitHub. ALSO ON MAC Cadence Focus runs on Apple silicon Macs too. Your timer, ambient sounds, coach and stats sync through your account, and Cadence Pro works on every device. Pair the free Cadence companion to pause distracting sites in your browser while you focus. Learn more at https://getcadenceai.app Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://getcadenceai.app/privacy Download Cadence Focus. Find the rhythm that fits your brain.

Screenshots

App Blocker4 screens
Cadence Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: App Blocker at none against Cadence Focus's shown. Cadence Focus's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 8 days). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. App Blocker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Cadence Focus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

App Blocker ships an update every 8 days, Cadence Focus every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
App Blocker versus Cadence Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApp BlockerCadence Focus
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 3 days โ€” better
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad โ€” better
Requires iOS17.616.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size60 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYurii KoshkinRaul Alex Ratiu

In-app purchases

4 purchases

App Blocker

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Monthly Pro$5.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$89.99
3 purchases

Cadence Focus

Subscriptions2
  • Cadence Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Cadence Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.901 Year
One-time1
  • Cadence Pro Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is App Blocker free?
App Blocker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cadence Focus free?
Cadence Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do App Blocker or Cadence Focus have ads?
Cadence Focus shows ads; App Blocker does not.
Which is updated more often, App Blocker or Cadence Focus?
App Blocker ships an update every 8 days, and Cadence Focus every 3 days. Most recently, App Blocker was updated on October 31, 2026 and Cadence Focus on November 5, 2026.

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