Tempo vs Drift
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Tempo
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Tempo is a native focus timer built for the Apple ecosystem. No accounts, no clutterβjust clear work and break intervals to help you stay on track. Focus with rhythm Move through focus sessions, short breaks, and long breaks with a clean design and a distraction-free interface. Tap the ring to start, pause, or resume. Ready-made presets Choose from proven focus systems: - Classic β the standard Pomodoro method (25/5) - 52/17 β longer blocks for deep work - Short β quick intervals for fast tasks - Create your own presets with custom durations, breaks, and auto-start options. Stay on track without opening the app Live Activity on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island (supported iPhones). The timer keeps running in the background and restores when you return. Feedback when it matters Notifications when each segment ends. Optional sound and haptic feedback when you complete a session or cycle. Built for Apple Native SwiftUI design for iPhone, iPad, and Mac (menu bar). Light and dark mode, accessibility support, and a consistent experience across your devices. Privacy first Your preferences and presets are stored locally on your device. No sign-up. No tracking. Download Tempo and find your work rhythm. https://tempo.tobiasruano.com/privacy/ https://tempo.tobiasruano.com/terms/
Drift
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Drift is a random timer for moments when fixed intervals make you watch the clock. Set a floor, target, and ceiling, then let Drift ring at gentle unpredictable times that still average near your target. Use Drift for trainer-bike position changes, standing desk resets, stretch breaks, focus sessions, hydration nudges, meditation bells, or any reminder that should feel helpful instead of rigid. Pick a preset, choose a sound, and start a session with one tap. Your presets, settings, generated sounds, and session summaries stay on your device. Drift is free with banner ads and occasional cooled-down interstitials; a one-time Remove Ads purchase removes all ads permanently. Optional custom sound credits let you generate short AI interval cues from prompts you type. Notifications are optional and only used for your active timer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tempo at none against Drift's 3. Tempo also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Drift sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Tempo asks for nothing beyond the download.
Tempo ships an update every 9 days, Drift every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 14, 2026.
| Parameter | Tempo | Drift |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days β better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No β better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 β better | 18.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tobias Ruano | Clarved Inc. |
In-app purchases
Tempo
No in-app purchases
Drift
- Custom Sound (1)$0.99
- Custom Sound (5-pack)$3.99
- Remove Ads$4.99









