Comparison

Refocus vs FocusCat

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

Head to head
About

Refocus

Features
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Focus is not just about willpower. It can be designed. Refocus is a focus timer created with inspiration from scientific research on attention, breaks, and cognitive load. Today, our minds are constantly exposed to stimulation from smartphones, social media, notifications, videos, and endless streams of short information. When your mind is still filled with that noise, simply starting a traditional focus timer may not be enough to help you switch into a focused state. Refocus begins by preparing the state before focus. First, you take a short break to let your mind cool down and settle. Before the break, you can write down one small thing you want to do afterward. This helps you stop holding the next task in your head while resting, and makes it easier to return to work smoothly when the break ends. Refocus is not just about dividing time. It is about resting, clearing your mind, remembering what comes next, and returning to focus. Main features: ・A focus timer designed with scientific insights in mind ・A unique workflow that starts with a break ・A simple note feature to write down what you will do after the break ・A smooth flow that helps you return to focus after resting ・A simple cycle of focus and break sessions ・Calming animations and a minimal interface Recommended for people who: ・Take time to get into focus ・Feel mentally scattered after using smartphones or social media ・Forget what they were going to do after taking a break ・Want to reset their mind before starting work ・Prefer a simple and calm timer app ・Want to enter focus naturally, without forcing it Rest first. Clear your mind. Leave your next task behind. Then return to focus. Refocus is a timer designed to help create a state where focus can happen more naturally.

About

FocusCat

Read full description

You want to focus, but the phone keeps pulling you back. FocusCat is simple. Choose a length, start, put the phone down. Your cat stalks a butterfly on the screen while you work. Your cat hunts while you focus As the timer runs, your cat closes in on a butterfly. At first it just sits and watches, tail swishing. Then its eyes go wide as it takes aim, and it starts creeping closer. When time is up it snatches the butterfly with one paw. You can tell how far along you are from the cat's posture alone, without checking the clock. Your cat calls you when time is up When the session ends your cat meows until you tap the screen. Leave the phone face down and you still won't miss it. Leave the app and your focus breaks Switch to another app and the session is recorded as failed. There is a 25 second grace period for a mistapped notification or a short call, but stay away longer and your cat gives up waiting. That one rule is the whole app. Lofi plays while you focus A quiet loop runs in the background. One tap mutes it when you're somewhere you can't make noise. You decide the length Pick 15, 25, 45 or 60 minutes, or set your own from 1 minute up to 3 hours. A cat that grows with you Successful focus time adds up and your cat grows. No ads while you focus Ads appear only after a session ends. Nothing covers the screen while you're focusing. No account, no sign-in, no purchases. Free.

Screenshots

Refocus4 screens
FocusCat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Refocus at none against FocusCat's shown. FocusCat's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Refocus ships an update every 3 weeks, FocusCat every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Refocus versus FocusCat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRefocusFocusCat
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHiroki NishikawaHyeok Kwon

In-app purchases

None

Refocus

No in-app purchases

None

FocusCat

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Refocus free?
Refocus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FocusCat free?
FocusCat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Refocus or FocusCat have ads?
FocusCat shows ads; Refocus does not.
Which is updated more often, Refocus or FocusCat?
Refocus ships an update every 3 weeks, and FocusCat every 9 days. Most recently, Refocus was updated on October 3, 2026 and FocusCat on October 1, 2026.

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