# Garda vs Just Start

The clearest difference is update cadence: Garda at daily against Just Start's every 11 days. Just Start's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Garda sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and Just Start sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Garda against 5.0 for Just Start. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Garda ships an update daily, Just Start every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garda | Just Start |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garda-focus-timer/id6760300679/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-start-adhd-focus-timer/id6760567262/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 50 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Health & Wellness Apps Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1618420924) | [Estus Holdings LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1879926455) |

## What reviewers say

### Garda

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garda-focus-timer/id6760300679)

This app gamifies focus sessions by growing a virtual garden. Completing focus periods plants and nurtures digital flora, while neglect causes them to wither. Collect over 40 unique plant species and track your progress with detailed statistics.

**Highlights:** Virtual garden growth, Focus session timer, Plant collection (40+ species), Detailed statistics, Garden customization, Distraction-free focus

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Garda Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Annual Access | $34.99 | per year |


### Just Start

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-start-adhd-focus-timer/id6760567262)

This app helps individuals overcome task initiation challenges with ADHD-friendly focus sessions. It offers customizable timers, AI-powered task breakdown, virtual body doubling, and ambient soundscapes to enhance concentration and productivity.

**Highlights:** Customizable Pomodoro timers, AI task breakdown, Virtual body doubling, Live Activities & Dynamic Island integration, Lock screen widgets, Ambient soundscapes, Evolving focus garden

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Just Start Pro Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Just Start Pro Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Just Start Pro Lifetime | $58.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garda free?

Garda is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Just Start free?

Just Start is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Garda or Just Start?

Garda and Just Start are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Garda or Just Start have ads?

Neither Garda nor Just Start shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Garda or Just Start?

Garda ships an update daily, and Just Start every 11 days. Most recently, Garda was updated on September 26, 2026 and Just Start on October 6, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*