Tomatoro vs TimeBarX
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tomatoro
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Tomatoro is a focus timer built around the Pomodoro Technique — designed for people who take their deep work seriously. Whether you're studying, coding, writing, or just trying to stay off your phone, Tomatoro keeps you in the zone with smart timers, beautiful environments, and zero subscriptions. --- STAY FOCUSED, YOUR WAY • Classic Pomodoro: 25-minute focus blocks with short and long breaks • Deep Focus mode: Extended sessions for serious, uninterrupted work • Creative Flow: Flexible sessions designed for writing and creative projects • Commitment Mode: Blocks pause, skip, and stop while a session is active — no excuses --- LIVE ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN • Live Activities with Dynamic Island support — see your timer without unlocking your phone • Lock screen widgets that update in real time • StandBy support: beautiful full-screen timer on your bedside table • Apple Watch companion: start, stop, and check your sessions from your wrist --- PREMIUM FEATURES (ONE-TIME PURCHASE) • Focus Environments: Immersive visual themes — Zen Garden, Rainy Library, Retro Office • Concentration Sounds: 6 ambient soundscapes — Rain, Ocean Waves, Forest Rain, River, and more • Advanced Statistics: Weekly charts, streaks, and detailed session history • Alternative App Icons: Choose the look that fits your style • Timer Profiles: Pre-configured setups for Deep Work, Light Study, and Creative Flow • StandBy Themes: Match your nightstand aesthetic No subscription. Pay once, own it forever. --- BUILT FOR FOCUS NERDS Tomatoro tracks your sessions, breaks, and daily streaks so you always know how productive you've been. The app speaks English and Spanish — switch languages without leaving the app. Compatible with iPhone and Apple Watch. Requires iOS 16.6 or later.
TimeBarX
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TimeBarX puts a countdown where you’ll actually see it - a full-screen progress ring, Live Activities on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, and Home Screen widgets. Glance at your time remaining without opening the app or breaking focus. Set a timer with the slider, pick an end time, or type in plain English. “25 minutes”, “1h30m”, “2:00 PM” - just type and go. SEE YOUR TIME • Large circular progress ring that fills as time runs down • Drag the ring to set the duration, with a tick for each minute • Live Activities on the Lock Screen, StandBy, and Dynamic Island - pause, resume, or add 5 minutes without opening the app • Home Screen widgets with quick-start controls • Near-end pulse when five minutes remain START IN SECONDS • Duration slider (free) • End-time picker and natural language input (Pro) • Presets for common focus durations - customize or add your own (Pro) • Siri and Shortcuts: start, pause, resume, repeat, or start a named preset • Picks up where you left off after quitting or restarting POMODORO WHEN YOU NEED IT • Work, short break, and long break cycles • Configurable durations, cycle count, and auto-advance (Pro) • Live phase badge while a session runs A FINISH YOU’LL NOTICE • Completion screen with optional custom message (Pro) • Effects: flash, pulse, fade, or none (Pro) • Notifications with 5- and 10-minute snooze MAKE IT YOURS (PRO) • Custom colors and customizable presets • Segmented ring with 2–6 arcs • Smart auto-pause when face-down or idle • URL scheme automation (timebar://) • Session history and optional mood check-in • Light or dark app icon, or follow the system BUILT RIGHT • Native SwiftUI for iPhone and iPad • Optional iCloud sync of timer state and settings with your other TimeBarX devices • No subscription. No account. No tracking. ONE PURCHASE. MAC + IPHONE. Free to download. TimeBarX Pro is a one-time $3.99 purchase that unlocks Pro across Mac and iPhone. No subscription, no recurring fees. If you already own TimeBarX Pro on Mac, you don’t need to buy it again on iPhone.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: TimeBarX at every 3 days against Tomatoro's every 2 weeks. TimeBarX also leads on device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Tomatoro sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and TimeBarX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Tomatoro ships an update every 2 weeks, TimeBarX every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tomatoro | TimeBarX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 97 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rene Durazo | Jonathan Tapia |
In-app purchases
Tomatoro
- Small Tip$1.99
- Tomatoro Pro$4.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
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- Large Tip$9.99
TimeBarX
- TimeBarX Pro$3.99









