Comparison

Needle · Pomodoro Timer vs Pomodoro Focus

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

Head to head
About

Needle · Pomodoro Timer

Features
Read full description

Needle is a calm, beautiful Pomodoro timer that helps you spend your time on what matters, one session at a time. Pick what you want to focus on, set the length, and start. When the time is up, take a real break. That's the whole method, proven for decades. FOCUS WITHOUT FRICTION • Set the length on a tape in the middle of the screen, then start in one tap • Focus Lock adds a few seconds of friction before you can give up early — or, set to Locked, refuses to let you stop until the block ends • Tag every session: Work, Study, Code, anything you like • A real alarm at the end of a session that breaks through silent mode and Focus SOUND AND SCENES TO WORK TO • A full-screen focus player opens as your session starts • Quran recitations, free for everyone: choose from up to 14 reciters and listen to all 114 surahs • Lofi tracks across three moods — Ambient & Zen, Chillhop & Jazz, Late Night — bundled and offline, no account, no streaming; one free track in every mood, the full library with Needle+ • 40 ambient sounds — rain, nature, night, travel and more — to layer, each with its own volume (Needle+) • Looping video scenes, or none at all SEE WHERE YOUR TIME GOES • A day view, a week strip, and a full session timeline • Build a daily streak and keep it alive • Set a daily goal that fits your life and watch it fill • Export every session to CSV whenever you want ON EVERY SCREEN YOU OWN • iPhone, iPad and Mac — on Mac, a compact Liquid Glass timer that lives in the menu bar • An Apple Watch app that runs sessions on its own • Control Center tiles • Start, pause and stop the timer from Spotlight, Siri and Shortcuts MAKE IT YOURS • Backgrounds and eight alternate app icons • Eleven languages • Dark by design, easy on the eyes at 2am Needle+ (optional subscription) The full lofi library and all 40 ambient sounds, unlimited tags and colors, detailed stats and insights, and Live Activity with the Dynamic Island. Family Sharing supported, so one subscription covers your whole family. Monthly or yearly; payment is charged to your Apple Account and renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Your time is your most valuable asset. Spend it on what matters. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pomodoro Focus

Features
Read full description

ReFocus answers one question: how should I work best today? It picks the right rhythm for you, from Pomodoro (25/5) to 40/10, 52/17 or 90-minute Deep Work, and when your attention drifts, it simply helps you come back. No blocking, no badges, no guilt. HOW IT WORKS • Answer four short questions once, in about 30 seconds • Get a daily recommendation that fits how you focus • Start with one tap; ReFocus gently notices when you step away • Two quick taps after each session make tomorrow's pick better FREE All methods, focus and break timer, Live Activity, gentle nudges, daily summary, this week's history and up to 3 work contexts, on iPhone, iPad and Mac. REFOCUS PLUS, ONE-TIME PURCHASE Apple Watch and complication, widgets, iCloud sync, month view and trends, focus insights and unlimited contexts. No subscription. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account, no ads, no tracking. Your data stays on your devices and in your own iCloud.

Screenshots

Needle · Pomodoro Timer4 screens
Pomodoro Focus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pomodoro Focus at none against Needle · Pomodoro Timer's 2. Pomodoro Focus also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Needle · Pomodoro Timer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Pomodoro Focus asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Needle · Pomodoro Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, Pomodoro Focus every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Needle · Pomodoro Timer versus Pomodoro Focus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNeedle · Pomodoro TimerPomodoro Focus
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size136 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGaliya ZhenisMikail Yurt

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Needle · Pomodoro Timer

Subscriptions2
  • Needle+ Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Needle+ Yearly7 Days trial$5.991 Year
None

Pomodoro Focus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Needle · Pomodoro Timer free?
Needle · Pomodoro Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pomodoro Focus free?
Pomodoro Focus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Needle · Pomodoro Timer or Pomodoro Focus have ads?
Neither Needle · Pomodoro Timer nor Pomodoro Focus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Needle · Pomodoro Timer or Pomodoro Focus?
Needle · Pomodoro Timer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Pomodoro Focus every 4 days. Most recently, Needle · Pomodoro Timer was updated on October 3, 2026 and Pomodoro Focus on October 7, 2026.

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