Comparison

Foku vs Cairn

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

Head to head
About

Foku

This app helps you stay focused and build productive habits using timed work sessions and breaks. It offers customizable timers, progress tracking, and a clean interface for deep work.

Highlights
  • Customizable Pomodoro timer
  • Live Activity & Dynamic Island integration
  • Home Screen Widgets
  • Detailed statistics and session history
  • Streak tracking and activity grid
  • Customizable color themes
  • Notifications for sessions and breaks
Features
Read full description

Foku is a beautifully designed Pomodoro focus timer that helps you stay productive and build consistent work habits. Whether you're studying, working, coding, or creating — Foku keeps you in the zone with timed focus sessions followed by short and long breaks. The classic Pomodoro technique, reimagined with a clean, minimal interface. HOW IT WORKS - Start a focus session (default 25 minutes, fully customizable) - Take a short break when the timer ends - After completing a full cycle, enjoy a longer break - Repeat and watch your productivity grow FEATURES - Pomodoro Timer: Fully customizable focus, short break, and long break durations - Live Activity & Dynamic Island: See your timer right on your lock screen and Dynamic Island - Home Screen Widgets: Small and medium widgets showing today's focus time, sessions, and streak - Statistics: Daily, weekly, and monthly charts to visualize your progress - Session History: Review every completed session with duration and type - Streaks: Build a daily focus streak and stay motivated with an activity grid - Activity Grid: See your focus consistency over the last 5 weeks at a glance - Custom Color Themes: 7 themes to personalize your focus space (2 free, 5 Pro) - Cycles: Set custom sessions per cycle for your ideal workflow - Notifications: Get alerted when your session or break ends - Landscape Mode: Full landscape support for desk use FOKU PRO Unlock the full experience with Foku Pro: - Full statistics with weekly and monthly charts - Custom color themes (5 additional themes) - Custom timer durations - Auto-start breaks and focus sessions - Minimal mode for distraction-free focus - Support ongoing development WHY FOKU? Foku is built for people who value simplicity. No sign-ups, no clutter, no distractions — just you and your timer. Everything runs locally on your device, keeping your data private. No account required, ever. PERFECT FOR - Students studying for exams and building consistent study habits - Professionals doing deep work and focused project sprints - Developers, designers, and creators managing creative flow - Anyone building better daily routines with the Pomodoro method Start your free trial today and take your focus to the next level. Privacy Policy https://baransel.dev/foku/privacy Terms of Use https://baransel.dev/foku/terms

About

Cairn

Features
Read full description

Stack before you scroll. Cairn helps you stop scrolling by adding one small pause before distracting apps open. Choose the apps you want to protect. When you reach for one, iOS shows a Screen Time shield. Open Cairn, build the requested stone structure, and earn a short window to continue. It is enough to break the reflex. Often, that is all you needed. What's in Cairn - Stack: balance stones into target structures before the app opens. - Short unlock windows: earn a few intentional minutes, then the shield returns. - Multiple rituals: Stack, Breath, Trace, Walk, and Untie. - Stone styles: granite, basalt, riverstone, obsidian, marble, moss, and moonstone. - Sunday reflection: save a private weekly reflection about the pauses you kept. - Lock Screen widget: see minutes reclaimed today at a glance. Built for focus - Uses Apple's Screen Time controls for app blocking. - No account. - No cloud. - No ads. - Your watched-app list stays on your device. - Haptics, sound, and calm visual design built around one idea: interrupt the reach before it becomes a scroll. Free Cairn includes core blocking and daily stack rituals. Cairn Pro unlocks deeper rituals, stone styles, custom unlock windows, weekly reflection, and more ways to hold the trail. Cairn is not a dashboard for judging your phone use. It is a small threshold between impulse and action. Privacy Policy: https://cairnfocus.github.io/privacy/ Terms of Service: https://cairnfocus.github.io/terms/

Screenshots

Foku4 screens
Cairn4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cairn at every 2 days against Foku's every 6 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Foku sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Cairn 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

Foku ships an update every 6 days, Cairn every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Foku versus Cairn: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFokuCairn
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBaransel Arslanabiodun oyetomi

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Foku

Subscriptions2
  • Foku - Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Foku - Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Foku - Lifetime$19.99
3 purchases

Cairn

Subscriptions2
  • Cairn Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Cairn Pro Yearly$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Cairn Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Foku free?
Foku is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cairn free?
Cairn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Foku or Cairn have ads?
Neither Foku nor Cairn shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Foku or Cairn?
Foku ships an update every 6 days, and Cairn every 2 days. Most recently, Foku was updated on October 12, 2026 and Cairn on October 8, 2026.

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