Comparison

Nufocus vs Key

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

Head to head
About

Nufocus

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Nufocus helps you focus with less friction and stronger accountability. What you can do: - Start focus sessions that block distracting apps using Apple Screen Time controls - Build custom schedules so focus starts automatically when you need it - Use break controls that keep sessions intentional - Track progress with focus time and streaks - Add friends, send requests, and compare focus time on leaderboards - Use a Nufocus keycard for session control, including ending sessions - Use Child Mode and Strict Mode controls for stronger lock-in Built for real life: - Works with Nufocus keycard controlled sessions and scheduled sessions - Lets users choose notification categories across local and push alerts: session reminders, schedule alerts, streak warnings, friend activity, and optional product news - Works offline Privacy and control: - You can delete your account from inside the app. - Marketing notifications are optional and off by default. - Critical account, security, or service-stability notices may still be sent when needed. - Privacy Policy and Terms are available in Settings. - App-blocking selections stay on-device; account and progress data sync to your Nufocus account. - Privacy first. Your screen time data stays securely on your device - never shared, never stored elsewhere. Visit our website to learn more: nufocus.in

About

Key

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Key blocks the apps that eat your time. To get them back, you scan a small physical token called a Key, kept somewhere inconvenient on purpose: a kitchen drawer, or a shelf in another room. Locking takes one tap. Unlocking means standing up and walking to wherever you left your Key. That short walk gives you time to change your mind, and most of the time you do. HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick the apps and websites you want out of reach. 2. Lock them by holding the button, or by tapping your Key to your phone. 3. To unlock, scan your Key. There is no unlock button on the screen. MODES You probably don't want the same rules at work and in bed. Modes are separate blocklists you can switch between: a Work mode can block social apps while a Sleep mode blocks nearly everything. There is also a Light mode that inverts the idea. It blocks every app except the few you name, which turns your phone into something close to a dumb phone. SCHEDULES A schedule locks the phone for you at a set time. Sleep mode can start at 11 every night, work mode at 9 on weekdays. The lock ends when you scan your Key, or at an end time you choose. EXTRAS Auto-relock arms itself after you scan: once you spend 5, 10 or 15 minutes in your unblocked apps, Key locks them again. If you tend to delete blockers in weak moments, Key can prevent app deletion while a lock is on. Websites can go on the blocklist along with apps. FORCE UNLOCKS Sometimes you need your phone and your Key is at home. You get five force unlocks that open everything without scanning. Five is enough for real emergencies and too few to become a habit. PRIVACY Key runs on Screen Time, Apple's own framework. Apple designed it so that apps like Key receive anonymous tokens instead of app names, which means Key never finds out which apps you chose to block. Your blocklist and your history stay on the phone. The account exists only to identify you; it's an email address, and nothing else syncs. There are no streaks or scores anywhere in the app, and it will never tell you to do better. THE KEY The Key itself has no battery and nothing to set up. There is no pairing step either; any Key works with any phone. Keep one at home and one at the office if you like. The same Key works on multiple phones You pay for the Key once. The app has no subscription. Get yours at trykey.co.

Screenshots

Nufocus4 screens
Key4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Key at none against Nufocus's shown. Nufocus's advantage is iOS requirement (16.6 vs 26.2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nufocus ships an update every 10 days, Key weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Nufocus versus Key: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNufocusKey
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysWeekly โ€” better
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad โ€” better
Requires iOS16.6 โ€” better26.2
Further details โ€” not scored
Size41 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLateef ShaikTitun LLC

In-app purchases

None

Nufocus

No in-app purchases

None

Key

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nufocus free?
Nufocus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Key free?
Key is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Nufocus or Key have ads?
Nufocus shows ads; Key does not.
Which is updated more often, Nufocus or Key?
Nufocus ships an update every 10 days, and Key weekly. Most recently, Nufocus was updated on October 17, 2026 and Key on October 10, 2026.

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