# WhyNow vs Focusly

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focusly at none against WhyNow's 3. Focusly also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 days) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. WhyNow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Focusly asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for WhyNow against 5.0 for Focusly. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

WhyNow ships an update every 9 days, Focusly every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WhyNow | Focusly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whynow-screen-time-control/id6759068920/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusly-screen-time-control/id6807078759/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 108 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Taseen Tanvir](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876638120) | [APTE Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1675202009) |

## What reviewers say

### WhyNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whynow-screen-time-control/id6759068920)

This app helps you reduce time spent on distracting applications by requiring intentional unlocks. Create custom blocking profiles and choose from various unlock methods like physical movement, QR codes, or timers to build better phone habits.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Create focused profiles, Unlock with movement challenges, Use QR codes or NFC tags, Add timers and delays, Track focus progress

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WhyNow Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| WhyNow Annual Save Offer | $39.99 | per year |
| WhyNow Annual | $59.99 | per year |


### Focusly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusly-screen-time-control/id6807078759)

This app helps you regain focus by blocking distracting applications for a set period. Easily select which apps to disable and start a focus session to concentrate on work, study, or relaxation without interruptions.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Set focus session length, Start focus mode quickly, Keep selected apps unavailable, Customizable app blocking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WhyNow free?

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

### Is Focusly free?

Focusly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, WhyNow or Focusly?

WhyNow and Focusly are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do WhyNow or Focusly have ads?

Neither WhyNow nor Focusly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, WhyNow or Focusly?

WhyNow ships an update every 9 days, and Focusly every 2 days. Most recently, WhyNow was updated on October 28, 2026 and Focusly on October 29, 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.*