the boring app. vs Refocus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
the boring app.
This app is designed to break the habit of constantly checking your phone. It offers no reward each time you use it, weakening the reflex with every interaction. Enjoy a distraction-free experience with no accounts or data harvesting.
- Breaks reward loop
- Weakens checking reflex
- No accounts required
- No data harvesting
- Distraction-free
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Your phone is hard to put down. You pick it up without deciding to, open something, set it down, then reach for it again a minute later. That is not really a decision anymore. It is a habit, and habits run on payoff. Most times you check, something is waiting: a message, a new post, something you haven't seen. Rewards that arrive unpredictably are the kind that stick hardest, which is how checking became a reflex you barely notice. This app takes the payoff out of that moment. You pick which apps to block. When you go to open one, you come here first and solve a math problem. It is dull, it costs a little effort, and it gives you nothing back. The reflex still fires, but it meets a small wall instead of a reward, and a reflex that stops paying off slowly loses its grip. The cost also rises the more you lean on it. Unlock once and the gate is short; come back again the same day and it asks for more problems and gives less time. Leaning on it harder will make the app push back. You can set locked hours, when the blocked apps do not open at all and there is no problem that will let you in. Strict mode protects that: while a locked window is running, you cannot quietly widen your list, trim your hours, or shut the app off without solving your way through first. The watch app can remind you when a block is lifted, so a few earned minutes do not quietly turn into an hour. No accounts, no sign-in, no email, no data leaving your phone. Boring.
Refocus
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Focus is not just about willpower. It can be designed. Refocus is a focus timer created with inspiration from scientific research on attention, breaks, and cognitive load. Today, our minds are constantly exposed to stimulation from smartphones, social media, notifications, videos, and endless streams of short information. When your mind is still filled with that noise, simply starting a traditional focus timer may not be enough to help you switch into a focused state. Refocus begins by preparing the state before focus. First, you take a short break to let your mind cool down and settle. Before the break, you can write down one small thing you want to do afterward. This helps you stop holding the next task in your head while resting, and makes it easier to return to work smoothly when the break ends. Refocus is not just about dividing time. It is about resting, clearing your mind, remembering what comes next, and returning to focus. Main features: ・A focus timer designed with scientific insights in mind ・A unique workflow that starts with a break ・A simple note feature to write down what you will do after the break ・A smooth flow that helps you return to focus after resting ・A simple cycle of focus and break sessions ・Calming animations and a minimal interface Recommended for people who: ・Take time to get into focus ・Feel mentally scattered after using smartphones or social media ・Forget what they were going to do after taking a break ・Want to reset their mind before starting work ・Prefer a simple and calm timer app ・Want to enter focus naturally, without forcing it Rest first. Clear your mind. Leave your next task behind. Then return to focus. Refocus is a timer designed to help create a state where focus can happen more naturally.
Screenshots
Verdict
the boring app. and Refocus are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
the boring app. ships an update monthly, Refocus every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | the boring app. | Refocus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | christopher woods | Hiroki Nishikawa |
In-app purchases
the boring app.
No in-app purchases
Refocus
No in-app purchases









