Comparison

StartFocus vs Ping

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

Head to head
About

StartFocus

Features
Read full description

StartFocus helps you enter deep work mode with one tap. No more distractions from turning on Do Not Disturb, setting timers, or silencing notifications—just one button to start focusing. **Key Features:** - One-tap deep work launch (25/45/60/75/90 minutes, custom duration supported) - White noise background sounds (rain, ocean, birds, cafe, fireplace, night) - Circular progress ring timer - Today/This Week/This Month/All Time statistics - CSV data export - 100% offline, local data storage - Dark/Light/System mode adaptive **Why StartFocus?** - One-time purchase: ¥8, no subscription, no ads - Privacy-first: all data stored on your device, no data collection - Clean design: distraction-free interface to keep you focused - Continuous updates: we're constantly adding new features **Perfect for:** - Remote workers - Students - Freelancers - Anyone who needs deep focus Start your deep work journey today with StartFocus!

About

Ping

This app ensures you never forget important tasks by repeatedly notifying you until they are marked as complete. It understands natural language for setting reminders and prioritizes privacy with on-device processing.

Highlights
  • Persistent notifications until completion
  • Natural language input for reminders
  • On-device AI for understanding phrasing
  • Customizable re-ping intervals
  • Privacy-focused, no account or tracking
  • Supports repeating tasks
Features
Read full description

Ping is the reminder app for things you actually have to do. Other reminder apps notify you once, you swipe it away, and the task dies in a graveyard of dismissed notifications. Ping doesn't work that way. When something is due, Ping pings you, and keeps pinging on your schedule until you mark it done. There is no dismiss. Only Done. JUST SAY IT Type or dictate a reminder the way you'd say it to a person: "remind me at ten to take my meds", "laundry tomorrow", "trash every monday at 8pm". Ping understands plain language and fills in the what, the when, and the repeat. ON-DEVICE APPLE INTELLIGENCE Ping uses Apple's on-device models to understand messy, human phrasing: spelling mistakes, changes of mind mid-sentence, pasted appointment texts. When something sounds important, like medication, Ping suggests pinging more often. All of it happens on your iPhone. Nothing is ever sent anywhere. RELENTLESS, ON YOUR TERMS You choose how often Ping re-pings (every 5, 15, 30, or 60 minutes) and when it's allowed to give up, or set it to never give up. A live countdown shows the next ping. Repeating tasks roll forward when you complete them. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account. No server. No analytics. No tracking. Your reminders live in a local database on your device and die there when you delete them. Ping is for medication, deadlines, dishes, laundry, calls you keep postponing, and everything else you've ever swiped away and forgotten. Stop dismissing. Start doing.

Screenshots

StartFocus4 screens
Ping2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ping at none against StartFocus's 1. Ping also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. StartFocus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ping asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StartFocus ships an update every 4 months, Ping every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
StartFocus versus Ping: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStartFocusPing
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer通 庞VG Creative Labs LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

StartFocus

One-time1
  • StartFocus Pro Lifetime$0.99
None

Ping

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StartFocus free?
StartFocus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ping free?
Ping is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do StartFocus or Ping have ads?
Neither StartFocus nor Ping shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StartFocus or Ping?
StartFocus ships an update every 4 months, and Ping every 9 days. Most recently, StartFocus was updated on November 10, 2026 and Ping on November 6, 2026.

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