Comparison

Focus Gnome vs Visual Timer

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

Head to head
About

Focus Gnome

Features
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The gnome is already sitting. Wind the dial — it runs backwards on purpose, like a kitchen timer — take three settling breaths, and begin. While you work, he meditates. Remaining time is a golden wedge that quietly shrinks; no ticking numbers to squint at. Lay the phone face down and he sinks deeper, the sounds soften, and the room gets calmer. Every sitting leaves a firefly drifting in the grove. Ending early still counts — a dimmer firefly, never a dead tree, never a broken streak, never a scolding. However long you stay counts. Nothing here is lost, and nothing is taken away. WHAT'S INSIDE • A hand-wound visual dial: 5 minutes to 2 hours, a soft click for every detent • Three settling breaths before the clock starts (skippable, and it remembers) • Face-down deepening — putting the phone away is the point, so the app rewards it • The grove: every sitting you've ever finished, drifting behind him • Name your sittings ("Thesis Ā· 45m") and keep an honest ledger • Hand-made ambient soundscapes: hearth, rain, forest night • A choosable clock: storybook or blocky, in three inks • One notification, ever: when your sitting ends NO CATCHES No ads. No account. No subscription. No streaks you can lose. Everything stays on your phone. We built Focus Gnome for everyone who has ever been scolded by a productivity app. This is the timer that doesn't punish you for being human.

About

Visual Timer

Features
Read full description

See your remaining time at a glance with Visual Timer for iPhone and iPad. Set a visual countdown by dragging the dial, choosing a preset, or entering minutes and seconds. Use Pomodoro work and break phases for study, focused work and everyday tasks. Zen mode hides the controls for a clear view of your countdown. FEATURES • Visual countdown up to 60 minutes • Precise manual time entry and quick presets • Pomodoro work and break phases • Color themes and completion chimes • Synthesized ambient audio • No registration or app account required; the timer works offline FREE AND LIFETIME PRO The free edition includes banner advertisements. An optional, one-time Lifetime Pro purchase removes ads and unlocks premium themes, completion chimes and ambient audio. There are no subscriptions or recurring payments. The localized price is displayed before purchase. Restore Purchases is available on the Pro screen using the same Apple Account. Purchasing, restoring and advertisements require internet access.

Screenshots

Focus Gnome4 screens
Visual Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focus Gnome at none against Visual Timer's 1. Focus Gnome also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Visual Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Focus Gnome asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Focus Gnome versus Visual Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus GnomeVisual Timer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 10 days—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMATTHEW MALHAMErdinc Topal

In-app purchases

None

Focus Gnome

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Visual Timer

One-time1
  • Visual Timer Pro Lifetime$4.99

Questions

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

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