Comparison

Focusity vs Focus Express

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

Head to head
About

Focusity

Transform focus sessions into tangible progress by building virtual world landmarks. Block distracting apps and enjoy ambient sounds to enhance concentration. Earn rewards and track your achievements in a visually engaging way.

Highlights
  • Build world landmarks while focusing
  • Block distracting apps and websites
  • Ambient soundscapes for deep focus
  • Home screen widget for progress tracking
  • Collection of finished landmarks
  • AI-generated custom cities
  • Premium exclusive landmarks and features
Features
Read full description

You sat down to get things done. An hour later, you're still scrolling. A quick check turns into endless feeds, videos, and headlines β€” and the work, the studying, the things that actually matter slide to "later." When you finally look up, all that's left is the same quiet guilt: another day, nothing moved. It's not that your willpower is weak. These apps are engineered by the smartest people and the biggest budgets in the world to do one thing: take your time. So Focusity stopped fighting them on willpower alone. Instead, the time you spend off your phone turns into something you can see β€” a world wonder, rising one stage at a time. It turns "resisting" into "building." HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick how long you want to focus (15–120 minutes) and start 2. Every focused minute builds a world landmark β€” Machu Picchu, the Sagrada FamΓ­lia, and more β€” stage by stage 3. Finish it, and it's yours to keep in your collection Optional: choose apps to block, and they stay locked during your session Because the payoff is something you can actually see, it's a habit that sticks. BUILT FOR YOU IF β€’ You reach for your phone without thinking, and nothing gets done β€’ Plain focus timers felt too cold to stick with β€’ You want to cut your screen time β€” but actually enjoy doing it FEATURES β€” Focus, and Wonders Rise While you focus, a diorama slowly takes shape. Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal, the floating torii of Itsukushima, the Sagrada FamΓ­lia β€” build the world's landmarks with your own focus. β€” Ambient Sounds for Deep Focus Rainfall, ocean waves, a forest breeze, alpha waves. Put on a study-friendly soundscape and sink into your work. β€” Block Apps & Sites Auto-block the apps and websites you don't want to open during a session (powered by iOS Screen Time). Try to open one, and the landmark you're building asks: "Quit now?" The more you block, the faster you build β€” up to a 2x boost. β€” Home Screen Widget Your building-in-progress and today's focus time, right on your Home Screen. You see how far you've come without opening the app β€” and your hand stops reaching for the phone. β€” Collection Every finished landmark goes into your collection. The row of wonders you've built is proof of every minute you stayed focused. β€” Bonuses That Keep You Moving Early stages finish fast, so your first sense of progress comes quickly. And if you keep resisting your phone after the timer ends, that time counts toward your build as a bonus. β€” AI Craft: A City That's Only Yours Enter any theme and AI generates a one-of-a-kind city, made just for you β€” your own companion to keep you focused. β€” Share Share your finished landmarks and original cities to social media in a single tap. FOCUSITY PREMIUM β€’ Build premium-exclusive landmarks like Kinkaku-ji and Mont-Saint-Michel β€’ Pick exactly which landmark to build (free plan: random) β€’ See finished landmarks at sunset and lit up at night β€’ View them close-up, looking up, and from the other side β€’ Build the original cities you made with AI Craft β€’ Show your finished builds on the widget β€’ Use all six ambient soundscapes PRIVACY Your focus time and building data are stored on your iPhone. Note: only when you use the AI Craft feature, the theme you enter is sent to a server to generate your city (the images are AI-generated). SUBSCRIPTION β€’ Payment is charged to your Apple ID account β€’ Auto-renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends β€’ Manage or cancel anytime in iPhone Settings β†’ Subscriptions Terms of Use: https://hiro0211.github.io/focusity-legal/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://hiro0211.github.io/focusity-legal/privacy.html

About

Focus Express

This app transforms study or work sessions into a virtual subway journey. Track your focus time by traveling along real subway lines, earning a personalized ticket upon completion. It's designed for those seeking a more engaging and rewarding way to build focus habits.

Highlights
  • Real subway line focus timer
  • Customizable route selection
  • Immersive subway experience
  • Personalized focus tickets
  • Transit history tracking
  • Arrival notifications
  • Save and share tickets
Features
Read full description

Focus Express – Travel on a real subway line as long as you stay focused. When you study, work, or simply want to lock in without distractions, Focus Express turns your focus time into a journey along real subway lines. Set your tasks and target focus time, and your Focus Express train will depart. As you stop at each station on the way to your destination, every minute you spend focusing becomes your travel time. β–  How to Use 1. Enter your task and estimated time for today. 2. Choose your preferred country, subway line, starting station, and arrival station. 3. Once the Focus Express departs, your focus time ticks away as you pass through each station one by one. 4. When you reach the final station, your personalized Focus Ticket is issued. β–  Key Features - Real Subway Line-Based Focus Timer: Travel along real subway networks including Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, New York, London, and more. - Custom Route Selection: Pick your country, line, and stations manually, or use quick select to set your desired focus time in seconds. - Immersive Subway Experience: Real train vibes with departure announcements, station stops, and arrival alerts. - Personalized Focus Ticket: Get a unique travel record card upon completing each session. - Transit History: View all your completed focus sessions with total trips and cumulative focus time at a glance. - Arrival Notifications: Never miss the moment your focus session ends. - Save & Share: Download ticket images to your device and share them with friends. β–  Recommended For - Anyone who wants to track time needed for study, work, reading, or deep focus. - Anyone who finds standard Pomodoro timers boring. - Anyone who wants to build a focus habit in a fun, travel-like way. - Anyone who wants to build momentum and feel a sense of achievement by accumulating focus records. Turn today's focus into an unforgettable journey with Focus Express.

Screenshots

Focusity4 screens
Focus Express4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focus Express at none against Focusity's 5. Focus Express also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 91%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). Focusity's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price 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. Focusity sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Focus Express asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard5 real differences Β· 3 level
Focusity versus Focus Express: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocusityFocus Express
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews β€” better
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysβ€”
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported β€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS26.013.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size121 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHiroaki ArimuraJAEMIN LEE

Customer experience

Focusity

Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

Focus Express

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Focusity

Subscriptions2
  • Focusity Premium Monthly (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Focusity Premium Monthly (Yearly)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time3
  • Craft Ticket x1$0.99
  • Craft Ticket x3$1.99
  • Craft Ticket x6$3.99
None

Focus Express

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Focusity free?
Focusity is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focus Express free?
Focus Express is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Focusity or Focus Express have ads?
Focus Express shows ads; Focusity does not.

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