Comparison

Butsu vs Onyx Focus

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

Head to head
About

Butsu

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Block apps automatically with location based blocking+strict screen time limits Reclaim your focus, reduce your screen time, and take back control of your day with Butsu. Whether you are studying for finals, trying to stay productive at work, or simply want to break your doom-scrolling habit, Butsu is the ultimate tool to block distractions before they happen. Unlike basic screen time apps that just give you a warning, Butsu completely physically blocks you from opening distracting apps, ensuring you stay focused on what actually matters. With powerful scheduling and location-based rules, you can create the perfect environment for deep work. Core Features: Strict App Blocking Block your worst digital habits instantly. Create custom groups of distracting apps (like social media or games) and lock them down indefinitely, or set a temporary timer when you need to sit down and focus. Location Geofencing Automatically block apps based on where you are! Set up a location boundary so your phone automatically locks down social media as soon as you arrive at the office, the library, or school. Beautiful Statistics & Heatmaps Track your progress with gorgeous daily and weekly statistics. Use the daily heatmap to see exactly when your screen time spikes, and track your performance against your daily screen time goals. 100% Offline & Privacy First Your habits are your business. Butsu requires no account, no login, and works entirely offline. All of your app usage statistics, location boundaries, and blocking rules are stored securely in an encrypted database directly on your phone. We do not track you or sell your data. Take the first step toward a healthier relationship with your phone. Download Butsu and start building better habits today!

About

Onyx Focus

Features
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Every app blocker lets you cheat. You delete it, or tap "ignore for today", and you're back in the feed. Onyx is the one you can't. Monk mode has no stop button and freezes your app list, so you can't delete your way out until the timer ends. Pick your apps and websites once, then block them right now, on a weekly schedule, or in Pomodoro rounds. When you open a blocked app, a calm shield stands in the way and sends you back to what matters. BLOCK NOW Choose a duration from 15 minutes to 10 hours and start. The apps stay blocked until the timer runs out. Monk mode makes it strict: no stopping early, no deleting apps, until it ends. SCHEDULES Workday, Night, Weekend, or your own days and hours, overnight included. Onyx blocks automatically every week, even when the app is closed. POMODORO Focus in rounds, rest in between. Apps are blocked while you work and free on your breaks, with a notification at every switch. ALWAYS ALLOWED The apps you really need stay usable, even inside a blocked category. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account, no server, no tracking. Everything runs on your iPhone through the Screen Time system built into iOS. Onyx cannot even see which apps you chose. FAIR PRICE Try everything free for 7 days. Then one fair yearly price, or pay once and keep it forever. Cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Onyx needs the Screen Time permission, which iOS asks for on first launch. It blocks apps on this iPhone, for you, not for managing someone else's device. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://onyxfocus.app/privacy

Screenshots

Butsu4 screens
Onyx Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Onyx Focus at every 2 days against Butsu's every 2 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Butsu sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Onyx Focus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Butsu ships an update every 2 weeks, Onyx Focus every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
Butsu versus Onyx Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterButsuOnyx Focus
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size61 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrea QuanRamona Furter

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Butsu

One-time1
  • Butsu Lifetime Premium$9.99
3 purchases

Onyx Focus

Subscriptions2
  • Onyx Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Onyx Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Onyx Pro Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Butsu free?
Butsu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Onyx Focus free?
Onyx Focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Butsu or Onyx Focus have ads?
Neither Butsu nor Onyx Focus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Butsu or Onyx Focus?
Butsu ships an update every 2 weeks, and Onyx Focus every 2 days. Most recently, Butsu was updated on October 7, 2026 and Onyx Focus on October 28, 2026.

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