Comparison

Trance vs Pomonote

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

Head to head
About

Trance

Features
Read full description

Set how long you want to focus, press start β€” and your own galaxy awakens on screen. Finish your session and a new star is born, glowing along a spiral arm. This simple rule turns "putting your phone down" into a joy. With Trance, focus isn't something you endure β€” it's the joy of growing your own galaxy. The core focus timer, galaxy, and soundscapes are free β€” with no ads. β–  How it works Β· Pick a focus length β€” preset buttons, or turn the ring minute by minute (1–180 min) Β· Your galaxy lives and turns while you focus Β· Finish, and a new star is born β–  Features Β· A living galaxy β€” luminous line-art drawn in light, a gently turning spiral Β· One evolving galaxy β€” every session adds stars and constellations to a shape that's yours alone Β· Star color & size β€” shaped by when and how long you focused Β· Weekly constellations β€” reach your weekly goal to connect that week's stars into a named figure Β· Constellation collection β€” revisit completed constellations and include them in your galaxy poster Β· 16 focus soundscapes β€” from real Mars wind recorded by NASA's Perseverance rover to rain, thunder, forest, waves, campfire, cafΓ© and a singing bowl Β· Free poster β€” save and share your galaxy as a single image Β· Focus stats & insights β€” streaks, completion rate, a "night sky" activity map Β· Evolving galaxy shapes β€” spiral β†’ barred β†’ elliptical β†’ ringed β†’ irregular as you grow Β· 5 galaxy themes β€” Cyan / Rose / Emerald / Abyss / Aurora nebulae Β· Home & lock-screen widgets, plus a lock-screen timer (Live Activity) Β· Optional Trance Pro β€” app blocking during focus, multiple blocking sets, and protected-focus reports Β· No ads Β· no account β€” your focus history stays on-device (non-linked product analytics only) Start focusing β€” the most beautiful way. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pomonote

Features
Read full description

Pomonote is a simple Pomodoro timer with a signature sky-blue gradient. Build a rhythm of focus and breaks, and let it track your daily progress automatically. Features - Auto-switching focus / break / long break timer (adjustable by the minute) - Completed pomodoros are logged per day - review them in the calendar and statistics - See the remaining time on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island (Live Activities) - iCloud sync: share your records between iPhone and iPad - 30 notification sounds - tap to preview before choosing - Siri & Shortcuts: just say "Start a pomodoro in Pomonote" - Watch one short video to hide ads for the rest of the day - One-time purchase to remove ads forever Pomonote keeps things simple: open the app, press start, and focus.

Screenshots

Trance4 screens
Pomonote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Trance at none against Pomonote's shown. Trance also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Trance sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Pomonote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Trance ships an update every 2 days, Pomonote every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Trance versus Pomonote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrancePomonote
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 days β€” betterEvery 8 days
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad β€” better
Requires iOS17.016.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size21 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryusik kohSyunya Saruwatari

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Trance

Subscriptions2
  • trance Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • trance Pro Yearly$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • trance Pro Lifetime$24.99
1 purchases

Pomonote

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$5.99

Questions

Is Trance free?
Trance is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pomonote free?
Pomonote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Trance or Pomonote have ads?
Pomonote shows ads; Trance does not.
Which is updated more often, Trance or Pomonote?
Trance ships an update every 2 days, and Pomonote every 8 days. Most recently, Trance was updated on October 24, 2026 and Pomonote on October 19, 2026.

Other comparisons