Comparison

TimeCatcher vs Pirates

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

Head to head
About

TimeCatcher

Features
Read full description

TimeCatcher is designed to make it easy to start tracking and keep going. Instead of turning time-tracking into a chore, it gives you a lightweight way to capture what you are doing and reflect on how your time is spent. The goal is simple: help you build awareness. When you can see your time clearly, it becomes much easier to improve focus, spot patterns, and make better decisions.

About

Pirates

Take back control of your time by blocking distracting apps and websites. Utilize a focus timer with custom soundscapes to enhance productivity. Enjoy a fun, engaging experience with unique characters and ships while gaining clear insights into your progress.

Highlights
  • App and website blocking
  • Focus timer with Pomodoro
  • Customizable soundscapes
  • Engaging character and ship designs
  • On-device blocking via Screen Time API
  • Progress insights
Features
Read full description

A cozy Pomodoro timer with a crew of cat pirates. Start a focus round, sail with your cats, and earn gold when the timer ends. Your distracting apps stay locked until you're done. No accounts, no ads, no tracking. A TIMER THAT FEELS LIKE A GAME • Pick your focus and break lengths, or use the classic 25/5 • Earn gold every time a round ends, not at the end of the week • Recruit 7 cats, dress them in 170+ outfits, and decorate your ship and camp • Come home to a cozy camp with a hammock, a campfire, and cats wandering around while you work BUILT FOR DISTRACTED BRAINS • One big button to start. No setup, no to-do list first • Short rounds with a visible timer, so time stops feeling invisible • Streaks start at 1 day, so a bad week never wipes you out • Mix your own ambient sound: waves, rain, fireplace, lo-fi, and a purring cat KEEPS YOUR PHONE QUIET • Optional app and website blocking with iOS Screen Time. No VPN, no servers • You pick which apps lock during a round. Calls and texts always work • Quit a round early and you lose the reward. Hard mode locks the timer so you can't end it early MORE ON DECK • Live Activity keeps the timer on your lock screen and Dynamic Island • Three daily missions arrive in your mailbox and pay extra gold • Climb 11 pirate ranks from Deckhand to Legend of the Seven Seas • The Captain's log charts every focus minute PERFECT FOR • Students who want study sessions to feel less lonely and more finished • ADHD brains that do better with short rounds and instant rewards • Writers, developers, and anyone whose work needs long stretches of focus PRICING A monthly subscription, an annual subscription with 14 days free, or a one-time lifetime purchase. All unlock the full app. No ads, ever. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your progress stays on your phone. No account, no ads, no tracking. The lock runs on your device through Apple's Screen Time, and your app choices never leave it. The only things the app sends out are anonymous usage statistics and crash reports. Terms of Use: https://cachepapi.github.io/pirates-legal/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://cachepapi.github.io/pirates-legal/privacy/ Study with cat pirates. Your first voyage awaits, Captain!

Screenshots

TimeCatcher4 screens
Pirates4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TimeCatcher at none against Pirates's 2. On price, update cadence, ads 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. Pirates sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. TimeCatcher asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TimeCatcher ships an update weekly, Pirates every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
TimeCatcher versus Pirates: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTimeCatcherPirates
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—12 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB160 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperParotidJohn Jang

In-app purchases

None

TimeCatcher

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Pirates

Subscriptions1
  • Annual14 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is TimeCatcher free?
TimeCatcher is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pirates free?
Pirates is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do TimeCatcher or Pirates have ads?
Neither TimeCatcher nor Pirates shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TimeCatcher or Pirates?
TimeCatcher ships an update weekly, and Pirates every 4 days. Most recently, TimeCatcher was updated on September 10, 2026 and Pirates on September 25, 2026.

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