Comparison

Pause vs Focused

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

Head to head
About

Pause

This app inserts a brief puzzle before you open selected apps, creating a moment of intentionality to reduce mindless scrolling. It offers various puzzles and a premium version for ad removal and full puzzle access.

Highlights
  • Puzzle before app access
  • Reduces mindless scrolling
  • Nine calming puzzle types
  • Customizable app blocking
  • Intentional use timer
  • Premium ad-free option
Features
Read full description

Pause helps you scroll on purpose. Lowers your screen time. We all reach for the same apps on autopilot. Pause puts a short, calming puzzle between you and those apps, so opening one becomes a choice, not a reflex. HOW IT WORKS • Choose the apps you want to pause. • When you try to open one, Pause asks you to solve a quick puzzle first. • Solve it, then pick how long to unlock it: 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes. • When time's up, the pause comes back automatically. That tiny moment of friction is enough to break the autopilot and remind you why you picked up your phone in the first place. TEN CALMING PUZZLES • Word Jumble • Five Letters • Word Search • Memory Match • Ball Sort • Sliding Tile • Maze • Connect the Dots • Connect the Color • Sixdoku. Every unlock is a small mental reset instead of a mindless tap. Seasonal themes keep things fresh, and this November brings a new Gratitude puzzle. DESIGNED FOR INTENTION, NOT RESTRICTION Pause never locks you out. It adds just enough space to choose. No guilt, no lectures. Just a gentle pause. SEE YOUR PROGRESS Your Week shows how many times you walked away from scrolling and roughly how much time you got back. START WITH 7 DAYS OF PREMIUM, FREE • All ten puzzles, with Easy, Medium and Hard difficulty per app • Pause as many apps as you like • Schedules for work, bedtime or family time • No ads We'll remind you 2 days before your trial ends. Cancel anytime and keep a free version of Pause: 1 paused app, 3 puzzles, with ads. Your privacy comes first. Pause uses Apple's Screen Time technology, and the apps you choose never leave your device, nor do we see the apps that you choose. Scroll less by accident. Scroll more on purpose. — SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Pause Premium is an auto-renewing subscription with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. • Annual — $49.99/year • Monthly — $4.99/month Payment is charged to your Apple Account when the free trial ends, or at confirmation of purchase if no trial applies. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you start a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://try-pause.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Focused

Read full description

Get more done and reclaim your attention. Block distracting apps, stay focused on your goals, and build productive habits. Whether you're studying, brainstorming, working, or simply trying to spend less time on your phone, Focused helps you stay on track. How it works Create a task and give it a name. Select the apps or categories that you want to block. Set a duration for your focus session. Start the session and stay committed to your goal. Focused offers two subscription plans to unlock premium features. Monthly Plan – $0.99 per month Yearly Plan – $4.99 per year Both plans give you full access to all premium features. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage your subscription and disable auto-renewal anytime in your App Store Account Settings. Privacy Policy https://app.notion.com/p/Privacy-Policy-for-Focused-Block-distractions-3b0058016d28803b9dd9fc0c2a761d53?source=copy_link Terms of use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Pause4 screens
Focused3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Focused at none against Pause's shown. On price, in-app purchases, 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. Pause sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Focused sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Pause versus Focused: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPauseFocused
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCarlos VelasquezRubban Iftikhar

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Pause

Subscriptions2
  • Pause Premium (Monthly)7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Pause Premium (Annual)7 Days trial$49.991 Year
2 purchases

Focused

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$4.991 Year

Questions

Is Pause free?
Pause is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Focused free?
Focused is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pause or Focused have ads?
Pause shows ads; Focused does not.

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