Comparison

Zenith vs Carbon

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

Head to head
About

Zenith

This minimalist productivity app uses the Pomodoro technique with atmospheric visuals and calming breathing exercises to help you achieve deep work. Customize focus sessions, breaks, and choose immersive themes to create a digital sanctuary for enhanced concentration.

Highlights
  • Aesthetic focus with dynamic mesh backgrounds
  • Immersive themes for work ambiance
  • Customizable Pomodoro technique sessions
  • Integrated breathing exercises
  • Live Activities for progress tracking
  • Session tagging for focus insights
Features
Read full description

Make room for one quiet session. Zenith Pomodoro is an atmospheric focus timer for studying, writing, and work. Choose one task, set your session length, and begin with a backdrop that fits your surroundings. A RHYTHM THAT FITS Adjust your focus, short-break, and long-break durations. Start with 25 minutes or choose your own pace. YOUR STUDY ATMOSPHERE Choose animated gradients, solid colors, and atmospheric themes. A selection of themes is included; additional themes and custom colors require Zenith Premium. TIME AT A GLANCE Follow your timer on the Lock Screen with Live Activities, and in the Dynamic Island on supported devices. A PLACE FOR BREAKS Use an optional visual breathing guide during breaks. Classic is included; additional breathing styles require Premium. LOOK BACK AT YOUR SESSIONS Tag sessions by what you worked on and revisit recent focus history. Extended history requires Premium. OPTIONAL SOUND WITH PREMIUM Blend ambient soundscapes in Focus Mix, adjust individual volumes, and choose separate mixes for focus and breaks. Focus Mix requires Zenith Premium. Start with one session. Find a rhythm that fits your routine. Requires iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later. Zenith Premium is an optional monthly or annual auto-renewing subscription. Review the purchase and renewal terms in the app before subscribing. Privacy Policy: https://cjamie.github.io/Zenith-Pomodoro-Privacy-Policy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Carbon

Features
Read full description

Carbon copies events from one calendar to another, so time blocked in one shows up in the other. Point it at a source calendar and a destination, choose what to copy, and Carbon keeps the destination in step. One way, always Carbon copies from a source calendar to a destination. It never writes back to the source. Your work calendar stays exactly as your employer's system left it. Choose what crosses over Copy full event details, or copy only a "Busy" placeholder that reserves the time without revealing the title, location, or notes. Set this per mirror, so a sensitive work calendar and a shared family calendar can be handled differently. See it before it happens Every new mirror shows you a preview of exactly what will be created before anything is written to your calendar. It won't touch what you've touched Carbon only ever changes events it created. Edit one of its copies yourself and Carbon steps back and leaves it alone - permanently. Undo any sync Sync history shows your recent runs. Reverse any one of them and the events it created are removed. Filters that keep the noise out Skip all-day events, skip invitations you declined, skip anything shorter than a set length, or exclude events whose titles contain particular words. Two years ahead if you want it Choose how far each mirror reaches - up to two years ahead and a year back. Keep the window narrow for quicker syncs, or open it up so next year is already blocked out. Everything stays on your device No account. No server. No analytics. Carbon has no way to send your calendar anywhere. The only thing it ever sends is your purchase, to Apple. Free for 30 days, then pay once Try every feature for 30 days. After that, one purchase and Carbon is yours. No subscription, no renewals, nothing to cancel. If you decide not to buy, Carbon stops syncing and leaves every event it copied exactly where it is - nothing is deleted, and you can remove the copies yourself whenever you like. When Carbon syncs Carbon syncs when you open it, and periodically in the background when iOS allows. iOS decides how often background refresh happens, and it can be infrequent. For syncs on a schedule you control, add Carbon's "Sync Calendars" action to a Shortcuts automation - Carbon walks you through it. A note on invitations iOS does not allow apps to add attendees to an event, so copies are standalone events without invitees. This is an iOS limitation, not a Carbon one. A note on work calendars Some employers restrict copying work calendar data to personal accounts, and managed accounts may block access entirely. Check your organization's policy.

Screenshots

Zenith4 screens
Carbon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Carbon at none against Zenith's 2. On price, update cadence, ads 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. Zenith sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Carbon asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zenith ships an update weekly, Carbon every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Zenith versus Carbon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZenithCarbon
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size210 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShahab DarvishBMP Research LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Zenith

Subscriptions2
  • Premium7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Premium Annual$25.001 Year
None

Carbon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zenith free?
Zenith is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Carbon free?
Carbon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Zenith or Carbon have ads?
Neither Zenith nor Carbon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zenith or Carbon?
Zenith ships an update weekly, and Carbon every 9 days. Most recently, Zenith was updated on October 28, 2026 and Carbon on October 10, 2026.

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