Comparison

Spaced Recall vs Tempo

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

Head to head
About

Spaced Recall

Features
Read full description

Spaced Recall is a notes app that makes sure you remember what you write. Write a note, from a single fact to a page with headings, lists and pictures, and Spaced Recall brings it back for review just before you would forget it: after a few days, then a week, two weeks, a month and longer each time you remember it. WRITING NOTES β€’ Headings, bold, italics, highlights, bulleted and numbered lists, checklists and quotes β€’ Add a picture from your camera or your photos β€’ Sort notes into categories, and rename a category by holding it β€’ Search your library, and export or import it at any time REVIEWING β€’ Each day's reviews are a short stack you swipe through. A long note scrolls, and the next swipe moves on. β€’ Choose how many reviews a day and which days you rest, and your reviews are spread to fit β€’ Reminders at the times you choose, one note for each β€’ The calendar shows what is coming up and what you have done. Hold a note to move it to another day. β€’ Keep a streak, rise through the ranks, and pause everything with holiday mode LANGUAGES Practise Spanish, Italian, French or Seychellois Creole a few words at a time, from the language into English or the other way round. The drill finds your level from the first few words, and each direction keeps its own progress. THE LIBRARIAN An assistant that can tidy your categories, find notes, move reviews and change settings for you. Nothing changes until you confirm it. WORKS WITH CLAUDE AND CHATGPT Connect an AI assistant under Account, Your data, then ask it to save a note to Spaced Recall in the middle of a conversation, or to quiz you on what is due today. FRIENDS, IF YOU WANT THEM With an account, your library syncs with the web app at spacedrecall.app, and you can add friends, chat, share notes, put a note up as a story for a day and see the leaderboard. You can also share a note with anyone by link. You can report or block anyone, and delete your account from inside the app. Without an account, everything stays on your iPhone. Spaced Recall is free. An optional tip jar adds a supporter badge to your name and unlocks nothing else. Rainbow, the monthly supporter tier, is an auto-renewing subscription. You can cancel it at any time in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use: https://spacedrecall.app/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://spacedrecall.app/privacy/

About

Tempo

Features
Read full description

Start with a focus session that feels possibleβ€”and let it change when the work does. Tempo is a flexible focus timer for iPhone. Choose a short or long session, name up to three tiny intentions, and extend the timer without restarting when momentum arrives. FLEXIBLE FOCUS SESSIONS β€’ Choose a preset or set your own duration β€’ Add 5, 10, or 15 minutes while a session is running β€’ Pause without losing the time you already focused β€’ Turn a vague task into up to three concrete intentions OFFLINE AMBIENT SOUND Shape a steadier environment with four synthesized noise options and 16 nature recordings across rain, water, forest, night, and cozy sound groups. Playback stays on your device and does not require streaming. PROGRESS WITHOUT PUNISHMENT β€’ Save a private reflection after a session β€’ Review daily, weekly, and monthly patterns β€’ Earn achievements and see your focus streak β€’ Share a session card when you choose AT HOME ON IPHONE Use Home Screen, Lock Screen, and StandBy widgets, start sessions with Siri Shortcuts, optionally record mindful minutes in Apple Health, and sync focus history through iCloud. PRIVACY-MINDED No account is required. Focus data is stored on your device, with optional iCloud sync controlled through your Apple account. TEMPO PRO Tempo is free to download and try. Optional Tempo Pro purchases unlock the complete sound library, advanced insights, widgets, iCloud sync, achievements, and other premium features. Monthly, annual, and lifetime options are available in the app; prices vary by storefront. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Spaced Recall4 screens
Tempo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Spaced Recall at every 9 days against Tempo's every 4 months. Spaced Recall also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Spaced Recall sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.00 per month and Tempo 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

Spaced Recall ships an update every 9 days, Tempo every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Spaced Recall versus Tempo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpaced RecallTempo
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 days β€” betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 β€” better17.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size24 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSTEVEN DENCHEVθΏœι”‹ 叢

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Spaced Recall

Subscriptions1
  • Rainbow tip$3.001 Month
One-time3
  • Bronze tip$1.00
  • Silver tip$2.00
  • Gold tip$5.00
3 purchases

Tempo

Subscriptions2
  • Tempo Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Tempo Pro Annual$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Tempo Pro Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is Spaced Recall free?
Spaced Recall is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Spaced Recall or Tempo have ads?
Neither Spaced Recall nor Tempo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spaced Recall or Tempo?
Spaced Recall ships an update every 9 days, and Tempo every 4 months. Most recently, Spaced Recall was updated on October 31, 2026 and Tempo on November 5, 2026.

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