# PausePet vs Focus Cat

The clearest difference is rating: PausePet at 5.0 against Focus Cat's 4.0. PausePet also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Focus Cat's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Focus Cat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PausePet asks for nothing beyond the download.

PausePet holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

PausePet ships an update every 8 days, Focus Cat every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PausePet | Focus Cat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pausepet/id6761550085/reviews)** | [4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-cat-earn-screen-time/id6779987237/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 47 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joshua Desmond](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890232224) | [Jedidiah Kyle Julian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896532192) |

## What reviewers say

### PausePet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pausepet/id6761550085)

This app uses a virtual pet simulation to encourage reduced screen time. Your pet's well-being is tied to your daily device usage, with specific periods of the day impacting its mood and growth. Care for your pet, manage its environment, and earn rewards for achieving screen time goals.

**Highlights:** Virtual pet simulation, Screen time tracking, Pet care and growth mechanics, Focus point collection, In-app garden for progression, Privacy-focused data handling

**In-app purchases:** none


### Focus Cat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-cat-earn-screen-time/id6779987237)

This app helps you build healthier phone habits by rewarding focused sessions with in-app currency. Use earned coins to temporarily unlock distracting apps, while maintaining streaks and keeping a virtual cat happy.

**Highlights:** Guard distracting apps, Earn coins for focus sessions, Unlock apps with earned coins, Track daily streaks, View bypass history, Daily goals and achievements, Collectible cat companions

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Access | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PausePet free?

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

### Is Focus Cat free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PausePet or Focus Cat?

PausePet is rated higher. PausePet averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Focus Cat averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do PausePet or Focus Cat have ads?

Neither PausePet nor Focus Cat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PausePet or Focus Cat?

PausePet ships an update every 8 days, and Focus Cat every 2 days. Most recently, PausePet was updated on October 24, 2026 and Focus Cat on October 23, 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.*