# FocusWell vs Saalo

The clearest difference is ads: Saalo at none against FocusWell's shown. Saalo also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for FocusWell against 5.0 for Saalo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

FocusWell ships an update every 8 days, Saalo every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FocusWell | Saalo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focuswell-screen-time-control/id6761383712/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saalo/id6761665623/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 71 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stanislav Varetskyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889264591) | [Tommy Witbeck](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890735375) |

## What reviewers say

### FocusWell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focuswell-screen-time-control/id6761383712)

This app helps you regain control of your daily screen time and combat excessive scrolling. It introduces a mindful pause before opening distracting applications and allows you to set custom limits and focus sessions to build lasting concentration.

**Highlights:** Mindful pause before distracting apps, Custom app limits, Focus sessions, Daily screen time insights, Distraction-free design, Private data handling

**In-app purchases:** none


### Saalo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saalo/id6761665623)

This app encourages intentional breaks from your phone by tracking the time you choose to be disconnected. Set daily goals, start sessions when you put your phone down, and observe the positive impact on sleep, focus, and well-being.

**Highlights:** Tracks intentional phone-free time, Set daily phone-free goals, Start and end sessions manually, Correlates with Oura Ring data, Scheduled phone-free windows (Clearings), Upcoming Saalo Box integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FocusWell free?

FocusWell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Saalo free?

Saalo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FocusWell or Saalo?

FocusWell and Saalo are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do FocusWell or Saalo have ads?

FocusWell shows ads; Saalo does not.

### Which is updated more often, FocusWell or Saalo?

FocusWell ships an update every 8 days, and Saalo every 2 days. Most recently, FocusWell was updated on October 14, 2026 and Saalo on October 25, 2026.

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